Book Fair!

We had a blast visiting the book fair today!  There were so many great books to choose from!

Book Fair!

Our class will be visiting the book fair tomorrow (Tuesday, January 30) from 11:40-12:10.  Students may bring money tomorrow and shop at this time.  Please let me know if you have any questions!

This Week...

January 23- January 26, 2018

Reading:  We talked about the difference between literal and figurative language.  We discussed examples of similes, metaphors, personification, and idioms.  We also learned that a moral is a lesson that the author is trying to portray through the story’s main elements.  We read various fables and figured out how the elements help form the moral.  Students did an excellent job making inferences to determine the moral of the story.  In the fable, The Camel Dances, students came up with some of the following themes: follow your heart, don’t give up on your dreams, and believe in yourself.    Reading Logs are due Monday, January 29.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We began unit 8!  Students learned how to divide by making equal groups.  They also learned how to use their multiplication facts to help them solve various division problems.  Students figured out quotients and remainders using counters.  At the end of the week, students learned that when odd numbers are divided by 2, the remainder will always be 1.

Social Studies:  Branches of government continued to be our main focus in social studies this week!  We discussed how each branch of the government has a specific job, which helps the power stay balanced in our country and our state.  Students learned that the legislative branch makes the laws, the executive branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws.  We also discussed the Illinois economy.  Mrs. Toth from the Cook County Farm Bureau visited our room to discuss agriculture in our state.

Writing:  After reading the next chapter in My Name is Maria Isabel, students learned that Maria Isabel was shy.  The found details from the text to support their thinking.  They also worked on putting text evidence in their own words when describing a moment from the book.

Word Study:  This week, students worked on past tense verbs.  They learned that you typically add –d or –ed to show that the word is in the past tense.  We looked carefully at the sounds they produce and realized there are three distinct sounds: /t/, /ed/, and /d/.  Students completed a 3-way sort to differentiate between various words.

Miscellaneous:  Just a reminder, our Erin’s Law presentation will be taking place on Friday, February 16.  Also, the book fair is coming to Dryden next week!  Information will be sent home today explaining all the details.  We also enjoyed a book talk from the Arlington Heights Memorial Library this morning!  Finally, an email was sent home this week with the scheduling link for spring conferences.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Enjoy the sunshine this weekend!

Agriculture in the Classroom Field Trip!

Mrs. Toth, from the Cook County Farm Bureau, came to our classroom to teach us about Illinois agriculture!  We learned about farming practices and different foods that are grown in Illinois.  Mrs. Toth shared that Illinois is the top-producer of pumpkins!

 

This Week...

January 16- January 19, 2018

Reading:  A major focus for the week was developing theories for mystery stories.  We talked about the importance of citing text evidence and our background knowledge to support our theories.  Students were very engaged and interested in our main mystery about the Mary Celeste, a mysterious ship from the 1800s whose crew went missing.  Students also read a Chinese folktale, Gu Dong is Coming, which was about two different characters.  They analyzed the characters’ actions, words, feelings, and thoughts to determine appropriate character traits.  Students took their reading MAP test today.  Reading Logs are due Tuesday, January 23.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We reviewed and practiced concepts from unit 7.  Students applied their knowledge of multi-digit multiplication to various story problems.  We took the unit 7 test on Thursday.  Students also took their math MAP test on Tuesday.  An informational letter will be going home today explaining details for unit 8!

Social Studies:  Students learned about different historical moments in Illinois history, including the Great Chicago Fire and the Great Depression.  They learned that Chicago used the fire to rebuild their city with stronger materials, such as steel.  At the end of the week, we learned about the three branches of government.  Representative Carroll also came in to do a presentation about how our state government works.

Writing:  We continued reading in our Maria Isabel books.  Students learned how to use evidence from the text to develop appropriate character traits for Maria Isabel.  Then, students wrote about a person in their own lives and connected him/her to a particular trait.

Word Study:  This week, students worked on various spelling patterns.  They focused on words with double consonants.  They learned that the double consonant can be in the middle or at the end of the word.  Usually, a short vowel sound will precede a double consonant, but that’s not always the case.  Students sorted words based on these characteristics.  They also learned about spelling patters that create the /oi/ sound.

Miscellaneous:  A letter went home this week explaining our upcoming participation in Global Play Day, which will take place on February 7.  Just a reminder, there is no school on Monday.  As we get more snow and have colder temperatures, please make sure your child is prepared to go outside with the appropriate gear.  Please let me know if you have any questions.  Have a great 3-day weekend!

State Representative Visit!

On Thursday, the third grade classes were fortunate to have Illinois Representative Carroll come visit!  He spoke to the students about state government and how laws are made.  He also shared important information about what a typical day looks like and how our government functions.  Representative Carroll enjoyed answering all our questions!

Global School Play Day- February 7th

Dear Dryden Families, January 17, 2018

Classrooms at Dryden will be participating in Global School Play Day, taking place on Wednesday, February 7th.  Countries and schools from all over the world come together on this one day to celebrate the necessity of unstructured play in our students’ lives at school.  Research shows that unstructured play has a positive influence on:

• physical and mental health
• language development
• problem solving
• risk management
• independent learning skills
• academic skills
• classroom behavior
• healthy emotional attitudes
• better adjustment to school life

The learning will continue as the students play- it just may appear differently. Individual classrooms will determine the length of play from an hour to a half day, as it allows in their schedule. There will be opportunities for students to document and reflect as they play and learn. We encourage you to send a game or toy to school with your child on February 1st. NO ELECTRONIC GAMES/TOYS PLEASE!  We will do our very best to ensure that the games and toys are returned in the same fashion that they came to school.  Your child’s teacher may request certain types of games/toys (for example: math) and will let you know if that is the case.

For further information about Global School Play Day, visit http://www.globalschoolplayday.com/ or contact Laurie Wasik, Advanced Learning Facilitator.  

Sincerely,

Laurie Wasik

The Size of the Problem

This week, we learned how to analyze the size of our problems!  We also learned what appropriate reactions are depending on the problem.  We read a great book, entitled You Get What You Get.  Then, we worked in groups to brainstorm problems that fit into each category: big, medium, and small.

This Week...

January 8- January 12, 2018

Reading:  At the beginning of the week, we read various fables.  We analyzed the characters’ actions to determine appropriate character traits.  We also talked about how authors use sensory details to evoke a certain mood from the reader.  We practiced identifying positive and negative moods conveyed by the author.  Reading Logs are due Tuesday, January 16.  (100 minutes)

Math:  We continued learning new concepts from unit 7.  Students learned how to multiply double- digit x single-digit numbers, as well as triple- digit x single-digit numbers.  We discussed how to regroup using base-10 blocks.  The unit 7 test will be on Thursday, January 18.  A review guide went home today.

Social Studies:  Students created Abraham Lincoln collages based on significant events in his life.  We had a great discussion about the impact Lincoln had on our country and our state.  Students also learned how Illinois became a state.  We discussed how Native Americans and Europeans played a role in the history of Illinois.

Writing:  Students worked on a New Year’s Resolution writing project!  They developed various resolutions based on four aspects of their lives: home, school, personal, and character.  We also began unit 2 in our WEX writing program!  Unit 2 focuses on a response to literature.  We started the book My Name is Maria Isabel and students identified showing details that helped develop the main character.  In grammar, students identified action verbs in various sentences.

Word Study:  This week, students worked on identifying words that contained silent letters.  They also learned that consonants can produce different sounds in different words.

Miscellaneous:  Happy New Year and welcome back!  I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing break with family and friends.  Just a reminder, January book orders went home this week…they are due January 31.  Students were also introduced to our new states and capitals region: the Northeast!  The Northeast test will be at the beginning of February.  On Thursday, students enjoyed a wonderful assembly called The Pro-Kids Show!  They learned about the importance of showing good character…thank you to the PTA for sponsoring this event!  Just a reminder, MAP testing starts next week.  We will be taking the math MAP test on Tuesday and the reading MAP test on Friday.  There will be no school on Monday in honor of MLK Day.  Please let me know if you have any questions…have a great weekend!