Week of 11/2 -11/6

Enjoy some photos from our Matter Matters Presentation. We were watching dry ice create a witches' brew! Spooky!

Odds and Ends

*Thank you to the following parents for making our Halloween party a blast! We appreciate your time and energy to make our party so much fun!

Mrs. Hougaard

Mrs. Peloso
Mrs. Lukacik

Mrs. McCallion

Mrs. Crandell

*Picture Retakes: The date for picture retakes has changed to November 19th, instead of November 5th. If you would like your child to retake their photo or if you missed ordering photos the first time, please send in the photo packet (coming soon) or check and order with your child on November 19th. Thank you!

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Fri. 10/30: No School: Teacher Institute

*Tues. 11/3: Math: Chapter 4 Test

*Fri. 11/4: Spelling: List 11 Test

Reading: Cause and Effect Graded Review
Social Studies: Downers Grove History Quiz

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

*Reading: We will begin a new skill focus this week as we focus on cause and effect. We will read a variety of books as we discuss cause and effect. There will be a graded review of this skill on Friday.

*English: The student's descriptive writing about haunted houses was "spook-tacular!" The students really enjoyed applying all that they learned about descriptive writing into this creative activity. We will begin a new unit on Nouns next week.

*Spelling: We will work on list 11 next week. The focus is on double consonants in the middle of words. The students will have a test on Friday.

*Science: We will continue to work on space and begin studying the planets in the solar system.

*Social Studies: We will continue our study of Downers Grove as we explore the Underground Railroad and the historic Tivoli Theatre. The quiz covering the history of Downers Grove is scheduled for Friday, November 6th. A study guide was sent home with your child today.

*Math: We will be finishing chapter 4 subtraction this week. The test is Tuesday, 11/3. We will begin problem solving: make a table. This will be an introduction to writing t-charts: a skill that has the students write what they did and why as they solve a word problem. Look for a packet coming home next week explaining this skill. We will also be begin taking subtraction timed tests for a grade on Monday. Any retakes after Monday will result in a one point deduction.

Thank you for checking out our blog. Have a spooky, safe, and FUN Halloween!!

~Mrs. Olsen and Miss Millbrandt

Week of 10/26-10/30

Odds and Ends

*Downers Grove Field Trip: Please send in your child's permission slip and money for this trip, if you have not already. We are set to go on November 10th. I have 6 chaperons, so thank you to Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Hougaard, Mrs. Burisek, Mrs. Burne, Mrs. Lukacik, and Mrs. Crandell for volunteering to help. If you would like to meet us at Giordano's for lunch, you may meet us at the restaurant in Main Street at 11:45.

* Recycling: Our class is helping out the environment and Prairieview School in a very responsible and caring way! We have continued the recycling program that my class started last year. Each Tuesday, we go to each classroom to collect plastic bottles, cans, and other non-paper recyclables that the students and teachers have been putting into special boxes. Then Mrs. Olsen takes the large garbage bags full of recycling home to recycle. Each week we save two huge garbage bags full of recyclables from going into the landfill. Way to go!

*Picture Retakes: If you would like to have your child retake their school photo OR missed ordering photos the first time around, we will have photo retakes on November 5th. If you want to retake, please send a check and order form with your child OR the old photo packet to turn in for retakes. Thanks!

* Blank Books: Please send in $2 if you would like me to purchase a blank book for your child. If you went to Let's Learn or The Chalkboard, please send the book in with your child so I know who has one. Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS

* Thurs. 10/29: Spelling: List 10 Test

Halloween Festivities: Parade 12: 30

Classroom Party/Pumpkin Decorating 1:00-1:30

All School Assembly 1:30-2:15

*Fri. 10/30: No School: Teacher Institute Day

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

*Thurs. 11/5 : Photo Retakes

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

*Reading: We will continue to work on fact and opinion and clarifying this week. We will also so some spooky partner reading activities to build fluency. Also, please send in a 3 ring binder. I still have many students who have not yet brought one in. Thanks!

*English: We will continue to work on descriptive writing as we write our haunted house paragraphs. Next up...nouns!

*Spelling: We will work on list 10. This list focuses on words ending in double consonants. A list will be sent home Monday and the students will take a graded test on Thursday.

*Science: Students will learn about solar and lunar eclipses this week.

*Social Studies: We will continue to explore the history of Downers Grove. Next up...Underground Railroad.

*Math: We will continue to work with ch 4 subtraction. We will focus on subtracting across zeros and problem solving. The test is scheduled for Tues. 11/3. We will also begin taking the subtraction timed test for a grade on Mon. 11/2.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs. Olsen and Miss Millbrandt

10/19-10/23

Odds and Ends

*Scholastic Order: October book order is due Friday, October 23rd. Please place your order online so we can earn extra classroom books!

*Binders: Please be sure to help your child clean out the "keep at home" section of the binder each night. Many students are carrying around too many papers, making it hard to keep their binders organized. Thank you for your help!

* 2 Supplies Needed:

1. Blank Book: We will be using blank books for writing. If you would like to purchase one, please go to Let's Learn or the Chalkboard. If you would like me to order one for you, please send in $2 before November 1st. If you have already purchased one, please send it in to school so I can keep track of those students who still need books. Thank you!

2. 3 ring binders: We are still waiting for many students to bring in a new or old 3 ring binder. Any color or design is fine! We will use these to make reading/writing portfolios. Thank you!

*Downers Grove Field Trip: A permission slip will be sent home Monday for our upcoming field trip on Tuesday, November 10th. If you are interested in chaperoning the trip, please email me or fill out the bottom portion of the permission slip. Volunteers will be chosen on a first come, first serve basis. The trip will be from 9 am - 2 pm. Parents who are unable to chaperon can meet us for lunch at Giordano's in downtown Downers Grove at 11:45 am. Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Tues. 10/20: English: DOL #3 Quiz: Book Titles and Introductory Words

* Thurs. 10/22: Reading: Seal Surfer Vocab Quiz

*Fri. 10/23: Spelling: Analogy Test

Scholastic Book Order Due

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

Reading: Next week the students will be reading Seal Surfer. Monday the students will receive a list of vocabulary words that correspond with the story. On Thursday they will have a quiz over the words.

English: The students will continue working on descriptive writing. Towards the end of the week the students will receive a rubric for a descriptive paragraph they will write. We will be writing the paragraph in class and present them the following week. The students will also take a DOL #3 quiz. The quiz will cover book titles and introductory words. A study guide was sent home Friday.

Spelling: Next week we will be taking a week off of spelling and work on analogies. The students will receive a packet on Monday, and each day we will do an activity in class. On Friday, they will have a quiz on analogies.

Science: The students have been learning about moon phases in Science this week. Next week, we will continue with moon phases and learn about solar/lunar eclipses.

Social Studies: We started learning about Downers Grove this week and who founded Downers Grove. We will continue learning about the history/government next week and the weeks following.

Math: In Math, the students began subtraction. We will continue with estimating, regrouping, and subtracting across zeros. The students will start practicing subtraction mad minutes next week.

Enjoy the weekend and sunshine (hopefully!) =)

Mrs. Olsen and Miss Millbrandt

Week of October 13- 16

Odds and Ends

*Scholastic Book Order: October book orders are due Friday, 10/23. Please order online to help our class earn free books!

*Third Grade Intramural Games will be starting for all third graders in November. Permission slips are now available through the PE department. If your child is interested in this before school activity, please have them bring a permission slip home. Thanks!

* 3 ring binders: Many students still need to bring in a 3 ring binder to school to be used as a reading portfolio. The binder can be new or used and be any design or color. Thanks!

* Supplies: Can you please send in 1 blank book by November 1st? You can purchase this book at Let's Learn (near Home Run Inn Pizza on 75th and Lemont) or The Chalkboard (near Cheeseburger in Paradise on Butterfield and Finley).

OR

You can send in $2 to school and I will order a book for your child.

Size is 6.375" x 8.125" Lined Portrait Bare Book (1/2 page with lines is not, but not required). Thanks!

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Mon. 10/12: No School: Columbus Day

*Tues: 10/13: English: Mystery Object activity due

*Fri. 10/16: Reading: Night of the Pufflings Comprehension Quiz
Spelling: List 8 Review Test

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

*Reading: We will continue to work on the theme of clarifying. On Tuesday we will finish reading the story Night of the Pufflings. On Wednesday and Thursday we will work on an extended response with the story. There will be a comprehension quiz on the story on Friday.

*English: In English we have been working on descriptive writing. We will continue with this theme by working on good sentence starters and main idea sentences. The students have been working with sensory words and color words. An activity was sent home today that will be due Tuesday. In the activity the students will pick an object and describe it only using sensory words. They will share their activity on Tuesday for the class to guess the object.

*Spelling: Next week we will be working on spelling list 8. This is a review week so there will not be a list to study from this week. Instead, your child will be responsible for reviewing the spellings rules we have been learning since the beginning of the year (list 1-7). We will review these rules in class on Monday. We will also take a practice test on Monday. This practice test will be in your child's binder. It will look like the test they are going to take on Friday. To reinforce the spelling rules, we will be completing workbook pages throughout the week.

*Science: We will be continuing the space unit. Lesson 2 focuses on the MOON. We will learn:

4 phases of the moon

lunar eclipse

solar eclipse

*Social Studies: We are done with hemispheres and our map unit. Next up: community focus on DOWNERS GROVE. This unit includes a field trip to downtown Downers Grove and historic stops throughout the community. More information coming soon!

We will study:

where is Downers Grove on the map?

History

Pierce Downer and other important people

Local Government

*Math: We will begin Chapter 4: subtraction. Students will learn about fact families, estimating differences, and two-digit regrouping. We will also begin subtraction timed tests. We will spend about 2 weeks practicing them in class before they begin to count as a grade. If your child did not pass addition timed tests today, they will be retaking the test next week. Each day of retaking is one point is deducted from their score of 10 points (example : 9 points Monday, 8 points Tuesday, etc).

Thanks for checking out our blog. Have a wonderful LONG weekend!

Mrs. Olsen and Miss Millbrandt

October 5 - 9

Odds and Ends

* Matter Presentation: We will have a special in-school presentation about matter on Thurs. 10/29. This will be in the morning before any Halloween activities. Please send in $6.50 with your child if you have not already. Thank-you!

*Book order: October book orders have been sent home. If you are interested, please send in a check or purchase online (online purchases help our classroom earn free books!). All orders are due Fri. Oct. 23rd.

*Dictionaries: Thank you to the Rotary Club of Darien who donated brand new dictionaries to each of the third graders. We have enjoyed looking through them and learning so many new words and facts. The dictionaries go very well with our class read aloud, Frindle. Ask your child what this story is about and how it connects to their new dictionary!

UPCOMING EVENTS

*Wed. 10/7: Social Studies: Hemisphere Quiz

*Thurs. 10/8: Reading: Vocab. Graded Review

*Fri. 10/9: Spelling: List 7 Test

Math: Chapter 3 Test

Addition Timed Tests: Begin for grade

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK

*Reading: We will begin a new strategy: clarifying. We will read a non-fiction story called The Night of the Pufflings. We will focus on fact and opinion. Look for 7 new vocabulary words to review...we will take a graded review on these words on Thurs. 10/8.

*English: We will begin a unit on descriptive writing. We will also begin DOL #3- book titles and introductory words.

*Spelling: We will work on list 7 this week. The focus for the week is irregular plural nouns. We will have a pretest on Monday. If your child misses one or less words on the pretest, they will be given an alternative spelling list for the week that follows the same rule. They will have different activities to do for the week, due on Friday. The test for both lists will be on Friday.

*Science: The students are busy learning about the reason the seasons! Vocab focus: axis, rotation, and revolution.

*Social Studies: We will spend a few days reviewing hemispheres. A study guide will be sent home on Monday. Please review this concept at home for a graded quiz on Wed. 10/8.

*Math: Students are busy working on greater number addition and estimating sums. Please remind your child to estimate a sum using mental math or paper and pencil before solving the problem to make sure their answer is reasonable. We will have the chapter 3 test on Friday, 10/9. We will also practice timed addition tests each day this week. They will begin counting for a grade on Friday, 10/9. If your child passes on Friday, they will receive the full 10 points. For each day after Friday, a point will be deducted for retakes.

Thank you for checking out our weekly blog!

Enjoy your weekend and try to stay dry!

Mrs. Olsen and Miss Millbrandt