Week of 10/12/15 - 10/16/15

ODDS & ENDS:

It's Fall: Enjoy this 3-Day weekend! Happy Columbus Day!

The weather is getting cooler: Please have your child wear a jacket or sweatshirt hoodie to school on these cooler days. They are having PE and Recess outside.

Student of the Week: Alana is our "Star Student" this week. She will be sharing a poster about herself and her favorite things. We can't wait for her to share! : ) When your child is "Star Student", they will bring home a poster to complete. They can also pick a day to bring in a show-and-tell. We pick a student's name every Thursday.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Spelling:   The new spelling lists are coming home. The 8 spelling activities "menu" & work are due in two weeks on Friday, 10/23. The spelling test will be that same day (10/23).

Reading & Language Arts:  We are continuing our first unit of study, “Tales as Old as Time.”  The Fables focus on the "moral", or lesson, of the story. We will be starting our next writing project: descriptive and persuasive writing. The students will be "persuading" a pretend movie producer to buy their haunted house for use as a filming location.

Students will start reading their next "good fit" fictional book #2 this week and completing their 2nd Independent Reading Contract (creative activities based on their book to check for comprehension & understanding of the story, as well as, some vocabulary and word work). These should be completed by 11/13/15 (before Thanksgiving Break).

Keep reading for 20 minutes a night! October reading logs will be due Nov. 1st. Completed reading logs are worth 10 points!

Social Science:   In Chapter 9/Lesson 2 we've been learning about the steps of The Water Cycle. Check out our Google Classroom Homeroom to watch our video! We'll take an open-book quiz on Monday 10/19.

Mrs. Lopez & Mrs. Forsman's Math Class:  We're into Unit 2: Multiplication! We'll take a Checkpoint Quiz on Tuesday 10/13, to gauge the students' understanding of the skills and concepts presented so far. This next math module (or chapter) covers Multiplying with Arrays & Number Lines.

IMPORTANT DATES:

10/12 - Columbus Day (no school)

10/15 - Fall Book Fair/Taffy Apple Sale

10/30 - Halloween Parade & Classroom Parties

Have a great weekend!!!

- Mrs. Lopez

Week of 10/5/15 - 10/9/15

ODDS & ENDS:

Can you believe that we are almost halfway through our 1st Trimester of school?: Remember that you can see your child's assignments and grades online using "PowerSchool Parent". If you have trouble accessing this program, please contact our school's main office.

The weather is getting cooler: Please have your child wear a jacket or sweatshirt hoodie to school on these cooler days. They are having PE and Recess outside.

Student of the Week: Aaqil is our "Star Student" this week. He will be sharing a poster about himself and his favorite things. We can't wait for her to share! : ) When your child is "Star Student", they will bring home a poster to complete. They can also pick a day to bring in a show-and-tell. We pick a student's name every Thursday.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Spelling:   The 8 spelling activities "menu" & work are due on Friday, 10/9. Student work should be stapled to the activities "menu" sheet to turn in. The students will also take their 15 words spelling test on the same day (10/9). Study those words! : )

Reading & Language Arts:  We are continuing our first unit of study, “Tales as Old as Time.”  This week, we’re starting Fables and focusing on the "moral", or lesson, of the story. We will be reading The Tortoise and the Hare.

Students are finishing their "good fit" fictional book this week and completing their first Independent Reading Contracts (creative activities based on their book to check for comprehension & understanding of the story, as well as, some vocabulary and word work). I will work with each student individually to evaluate his/her work. Next week, they will chose and read a new "good fit" fictional book which will be by 11/13/15 (before Thanksgiving Break).

Keep reading for 20 minutes a night! October reading logs went home on Thursday. Completed reading logs are worth 10 points!

Social Science:   We've been learning about The Water Cycle by exploring where water is found on Earth (Chapter 9, Lesson 1). We'll take an open-book quiz on Tuesday 10/6. Continuing onto Lesson 2, students will learn the steps of The Water Cycle.

Mrs. Lopez & Mrs. Forsman's Math Class:  We've started Unit 2: Multiplication! Our class took a pre-assessment giving us a better idea of how much multiplication our students already know. They will be given this same pre-assessment later, at the end of this unit, to help them study & prepare for the Unit Test (mid-November). This multiplication unit immerses students in a wide variety of multiplicative situations. In this first chapter, they will be solving problems that are embedded in different contexts and that invite them to think of multiplication in different ways. During this Unit, students will make use of various models including equal groups, arrays, the number line, and ratio tables.

IMPORTANT DATES:

10/6 - Fall Picture Day
10/9 - Early Dismissal (11:35 am)
10/12 - Columbus Day (no school)
10/15 - Fall Book Fair/Taffy Apple Sale

10/30 - Halloween Parade & Classroom Parties

Have a great weekend!!!

- Mrs. Lopez

Week of 9/28/15 - 10/2/15

ODDS & ENDS:

Thank you to families who donated supplies for Johnny Appleseed's Birthday: Our class had so much fun learning about the folktale legend of Johnny Appleseed and making homemade applesauce. The entire 3rd grade area filled with the sweet scents of warm apples & cinnamon! Thank you to all families for sending in those apples! A huge thank you goes out to Ella, Sam, Brennan, and Nedas' families for sending in apple juice, bowls and spoons. Check out our Homeroom Google Classroom for more pictures.

Student of the Week: Oscar is our "Star Student" this week. He will be sharing a poster about himself and his favorite things. We can't wait for her to share! : ) When your child is "Star Student", they will bring home a poster to complete. They can also pick a day to bring in a show-and-tell. We pick a student's name every Thursday.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Reading & Language Arts:  We are continuing our first unit of study, “Tales as Old as Time.”  This week, we’re comparing classic fairy tales to fractured fairy tales.  Students will be writing their own fractured fairy tale this week and writing their own version of Cinderella from another character’s point of view.

Students have been reading their own "good fit" fictional book during our Daily 5 - Read to Self station. They should start finishing their books. When done, they will complete some activities so that I can assess their comprehension level of that book. Those activities will be due Friday, 10/9.

Also September Reading Logs (reading 20 minutes for 20 nights this month) are due by Thursday, 10/1. Also, watch for the October Reading Logs to come home that day. Thank you to those students who already turned their Sept. logs in. : )

Spelling:   Students will get their new spelling words list this week. The 8 spelling activities "menu" & work are due in two weeks on Friday, 10/9. Student work should be stapled to the activities "menu" sheet to turn in. The students will also take their 15 words spelling test on the same day (10/9). Study those words! : )

Students are finding creative ways to complete their spelling activities! Ella used flour.  : )

Science:   On Wednesday, we'll begin Chapter 9, The Water Cycle.

Social Studies:  The Hemisphere quiz will be on Tuesday, 9/29. Students should know the names & locations of the 4 hemispheres, the 2 poles, the equator, and the prime meridian. A study guide was sent home. Students can use their worksheets in their Social Studies folders & the Map Essentials book for reviewing.

Mrs. Lopez & Mrs. Forsman's Math Class:  We're finishing up Unit 1 "Addition & Subtraction Strategies" this week with a Unit 1 Test on Wed. 9/30. Study Guide practice sheets were sent home (it's the same Pre-Assessment we gave the students before we started the unit, but now they should recognize & be able to solve more of the problems). Then we start Unit 2 "Multiplication". Our Math Class has been developing their teamwork skills in solving story problems and skip-counting with friendly numbers!

 

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

9/29 - Last Magazine Drive turn-in day
10/12 - Columbus Day (no school)

10/30 - Halloween Parade & Parties

Have a great weekend!!!

- Mrs. Lopez

Week of 9/21/15 - 9/25/15

ODDS & ENDS:

We're celebrating Johnny Appleseed's Birthday on September 25: Your child brought home a note home about our upcoming Johnny Appleseed celebration. If you are willing to send in some apple juice boxes, disposable bowls or plastic spoons for our homemade applesauce, please email me (HLopez@ccsd66.org) . It will be a fun time!

Student of the Week: Diamond is our "Star Student" this week. She will be sharing a poster about herself and her favorite things. We can't wait for her to share! : ) When your child is "Star Student", they will bring home a poster to complete. They can also pick a day to bring in a show-and-tell. We pick a student's name every Thursday.

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Reading & Language Arts:  We are continuing our unit of study, “Tales as Old as Time.” This week, we're comparing The Ballad of Mulan, The Mysterious Giant of Barletta, and Fin M'Coul. Then we will begin our close read of Rumpelstilskin. 

Spelling:   The "Words Their Way" 8 spelling activities "menu" & work are due on Friday, 9/25. Student work should stapled to the activities "menu" sheet to turn in.The students will also take their 15 words spelling test on the same day (9/25). Study those words! : )

Science:   In a couple weeks, we'll begin studying the water cycle!

Social Studies:  The continents and oceans quiz will be on Monday, 9/21. Students should know the locations of the 7 continents and 5 oceans and are expected to spell them correctly. There is a word bank of all the continent and ocean names on the quiz for our students to use. Check out our Google Classroom Homeroom for our class' version of the "7 Continents Song" and the PAAIS mnemonic to remember the ocean names. Next we will be studying Earth's hemispheres.

Mrs. Lopez & Mrs. Forsman's Math Class:  We’ll continue with addition and subtraction this week. Our specific focus will be double-digit addition and subtraction strategies when solving story problems.

IMPORTANT DATES:

9/22 & 9/24 - Magazine Drive turn-in days

9/24 - Early Dismissal (11:35 am)

9/25 - Johnny Appleseed’s birthday celebration

9/26 - Fall Family Day & Community BBQ (Team 66)

Have a great weekend!!!

- Mrs. Lopez

Week of 9/14/15 - 9/18/15

Remembering 9/11:
Yesterday was the 14th anniversary of 9/11. Our class discussed it by reading the story, Fireboat.  It’s an inspiring, true story about the John J. Harvey fireboat, used to put out the fires in NYC on 9/11... since all the fire hydrants were broken.

ODDS & ENDS:

MAP TESTING: We finished up our MAP testing (Math & Reading) yesterday. Our class was excited to take the tests on their own Chromebooks! The children are being very responsible by charging their Chromebooks each night & bringing then back to school each morning. Keep up the great work, 3rd Graders!!!

ABSENCES & EARLY PICKUPS: 

* If your child will not be coming to school, please call Prairieview's Attendance Phone #630-783-5290 and leave a message for our school office secretaries.

* If you need to pick up your child early from school or they will be going home in a different way, you have a few options...

• Write me a quick paper note (Mrs. Lopez) with your signature and the date & send it to school with your child in the morning, or 

• Email me (HLopez@ccsd66.org) AND the school office secretaries (ktannhauser@ccsd66.org) & (ncaliendo@ccsd66.org) to let us know, or

• Call our school office secretaries, Kathi or Nisa, at the main office phone #630-783-5100

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

Reading & Language Arts:  We are continuing our first unit of study, “Tales as Old as Time.”  This will cover folktales, fairytales, myths, legends, tall tales, and fables.  We read Mulan for the first time and will be “digging deeper” this week.  We’ll then read The Mysterious Giant of Barletta.  Daily 5 stations are also starting.   

Spelling:   We will be starting the Words Their Way spelling series. Many of our students used it in 2nd grade at Elizabeth Ide. Watch for a Spelling homework "menu" coming home.

Science:   Coming soon!!

Social Studies:  We’ll continue our "Using Maps Unit" with identifying continents and oceans.

Mrs. Lopez & Mrs. Forsman's Math Class:  We’ll continue with addition and subtraction this week.

IMPORTANT DATES:

9/14 - Magazine Drive kick-off

9/24 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

9/25 - Johnny Appleseed’s birthday celebration (more information coming soon!)

9/26 - Fall Family Day & Community BBQ (Team 66)

Our class learning how to complete assignments through Google Classroom.

Have a great weekend & enjoy the beautiful weather!!!

- Mrs. Lopez

Week of 9/8

Odds and Ends: 

* Thank you to all of the parents who attended Curriculum Night. It was so great to see all of you and hope that the night was informative for you. If you were unable to attend, please view this link to learn about the Chromebook.

http://www.zaption.com/tours/55b7dab6aa298778608079d6

To see the Curriculum Presentation, please use this link:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1l_n3sKS5JbBnEGyHQwQFxQbimiarA5KCvDKO9Ds0t8E/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=5000


* It has been a pleasure for Mrs. Lopez and myself to get to know your children. We have a great class and are looking forward to a wonderful year.  Due to medical reasons, my year long maternity leave will begin today, Fri. 9/4 instead of my originally planned date of Fri. 9/18.  I will keep Mrs. Lopez and the class posted on the arrival of the baby. Thank you all of your continued support as I leave and welcome Mrs. Lopez into a long term maternity leave position. She is a tremendous teacher and your children are so lucky to have her this year.  Mrs. Lopez and I will continue to be in communication through out the year and she has a great team of 3rd grade teachers to help support her this year. It's going to be a Prairieview Perfect year!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

*Mon. 9/7: No School: Labor Day. Happy Birthday Jokubas!

*Tues. 9/8: Chromebooks sent home with optional insurance paperwork

*Wed. 9/9: MAPs Reading Test

*Thurs. 9/10: MAPs Math Test
Social Studies: Directions Graded Quiz

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK: 

*Reading: We have been busy learning about close reading and reading strategies that we will use through out the year. We will begin our first ELA unit; Tales as Old As Time, learning about genres and folktales next week.

*English: We will begin our interactive notebooks as we learn how to write accurate, complete sentences.

*Spelling/Words Their Way: We will begin our first word sort on 9/14. Stay tuned for more information:)

* Social Studies: We are working on learning our directions and using a compass rose. A study guide was sent home today. There will be a graded quiz on Thurs. 9/10. We will begin a unit on continents and oceans next.

* Science: We will begin our first unit in a few weeks.

*Math: We are learning about addition facts in math. The students are doing a great job!

Have a great long, relaxing holiday weekend!

Mrs. Olsen and Mrs. Lopez

End of the Year

It's hard to believe the end of the year is already here! Thank you all for an amazing year of learning together. I will miss each of you and hope you come visit me next fall! Enjoy your summer vacation and remember to read every day! 

We compiled our favorite memories from this year and the upcoming summer and school year for our last blog post. We went to the lab and students practiced typing quotes. Enjoy!

“The best part in 3rd grade was we made new friends from the first day to the last day of school," 

said Ben .

“Next year I will miss Mrs. Olsen , Declan and Liam,” said Alana.

“This summer I can’t wait to go to Cyprus Cove and swim and play with my friend, ” said Cherlys Parish.

“The best part of third grade was the first day,” said Claire.

“My favorite memory of 3rd grade was when we went bowling with the 3rd grade classes,” said Gayathri.

“My favorite memory of third grade was when we went to the Tivoli for a movie,”  said Bella.

“My favorite memory of 3rd grade was Limo Lunch with Mr. Pagel,” said Lauren.

“My favorite part of 3rd grade was going to the Tivoli,” said Evi.

“My favorite part of third grade was when we went to the Tivoli Theatre, and having Mrs.Olsen as a teacher,” said Reese.

“My favorite memory of 3rd grade was when we went to Downers Grove," said Richard.

Sabrina said, “My favorite thing about third grade was having Mrs.Olsen as a teacher.”

“My favorite part of third grade was having Mrs.Olsen as a teacher,” said Seema.

“I’ll miss Mrs.Olsen so much from all the things we’ve done, " sadly said Tyler.

"My favorite thing was the Downers Grove field trip, " said Vilius.

“My favorite 3rd grade thing is Miss.Olsen saying she is going to have a baby,” said Eric R.

“ My favorite part of third grade was everything!” said Zachary.

Drew said, ‘’My favorite part of third grade is when I won the pride awards.’’

“I want to go on vacation,” said Eric Kenyeri.  

Lucas said, “I am looking forward to going to Canada over the summer”.

“My favorite memory is when Mrs. Olsen told us that she was going to have a baby," said Kelly.