Week of 4/9

Odds and Ends: 

PARCC Testing: We will be taking our Math PARCC tests during math block this week. There are 4 tests that we will begin on Mon and end on Thurs. Friday will be make up tests. We will take 3 ELA PARCC tests the following week (Mon, Wed, Thurs).  Please make sure your child's chromebook is fully charged every night and they have working headphones at school.  A good night's rest, healthy breakfast and snack help, too! Also, we find that a working mouse is helpful for the test. Thank you! 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

*Mon. 4/9: Math PARCC Test 1

*Tues. 4/10: Math PARCC Test 2

*Wed. 4/11: Math PARCC Test 3

*Thurs. 4/12: Math PARCC Test 4

*Fri. 4/13: Math: 3's division fast fact 

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK: 

*Reading: We are continuing to read and discuss The One and Only Ivan. The students love this story and we are enjoying reading and talking about the book together. 

* Spelling: We will get a new word sort this week. We will have 3 activities due on Fri. 4/20 as well as a test. 

* Social Studies: We are busy learning about the Great Chicago Fire. It was a devastating yet interesting part of our city's history. We will continue to talk about the rebuilding of Chicago and then take Quiz 2. Students will receive a study guide for Quiz 2. They can use the completed study guide (they need to fill this out on their own) for the quiz, but NOT their book or packet. 


*Mrs. Olsen's Math Class: We will be working on Unit 6 on Monday and Friday this week since we are taking our math PARCC tests most days this week. We are continuing to practice finding area and perimeter of irregular shaped rooms. We will take our 3's division fast fact on Fri. 4/13. Please continue to do daily math fact practice. It really makes a difference!

Have a great weekend! Fingers crossed for more sunshine than snow! 

Mrs. Olsen 

Week of 4/3

Thank you to the parents who joined us for our Shedd Aquarium field trip! It was a great success, full of learning and fun. Thank you to Mr. Dimitriou, Mrs. Manganello, Mrs. Wawro, and Mrs. Free.  Check out our See Saw journal to see pictures of the trip. If you don't have a See Saw account, please email me and I can send you the directions. You can also view them on your child's Chromebook through their account. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

Happy Spring Break! No School 3/26 - 4/2. Return to school Tues. 4/3. 


*Tues. 4/3: Return to school 

*Fri. 4/6: Prefix/Suffix test
Math:  11's division fast fact test

A LOOK AT THE NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We will continue to read The One and Only Ivan. We are focusing on similes and metaphors, as well as answering comprehension and vocabulary questions as we read. We will take an open book review on pgs 1-18 on Wed. 4/4. 

*Spelling: We will continue to work on Prefix and Suffix.  The students will take a test on Fri. 4/6. They can use their packet to help them study. 

*Social Studies: We will continue on part 2 of our Chicago packet as we focus on the industrial boom and growth of our great city. Quiz II will be announced and a study guide will be sent home several days before the quiz. Your child can fill out the study guide on their own and they can then use it for the quiz. They will not be able to use their packet or book on the quiz, only the completed study guides. 

*Mrs. Olsen's Math Class: We are continuing to work on Unit 6 as we focus on perimeter and area. We are working on finding the area and perimeter of more complicated shapes. We will also focus on 11's division with a timed test on Fri. 4/6. 

Thank you and have a safe, fun, and relaxing break! Happy Easter!  

Mrs. Olsen

Week of 3/12

I hope your child is working on the planning and creation of their leprechaun traps. These will be used to write a "How to..." paper on Thurs and Fri. We will also set the traps up on Thursday before we leave and see if we catch anything!

Our last Jr. Achievement with Mr. Blocker will be on Wed. We have enjoyed having him visit our room and teach us so much!

Don't forget to "spring forward" this weekend!

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK: 

*Reading: We will work on starting a new novel study, The One and Only Ivan, as we discuss standing up for what you believe in. This is a fantastic books and a favorite among 3rd grade teachers. Please feel free to read it too so you can discuss it along side your child. It is a very quick read!  

*Spelling: Homework is due on Fri. 3/16. We will also take our test that day. 

*Social Studies: We will be continuing our unit on Chicago. We will be focusing on water waters, founding of Chicago, and the water ways. We are working on designing our own flags that represent what we love about our great city!

*Mrs. Olsen's math class: We are working on Geometry in Unit 6. We will focus on quadrilaterals, polygons, and perimeter and area. We are also working on 5's division this week with a test on Friday. 

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Olsen 

Week of 3/5

Odds and Ends: 

Today marks the end of Trimester 2. Grades will be updated and completed soon. I cannot believe we are two-thirds of the way through third grade. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

*Wed. 3/7:  Jr. Achievement 

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK: 

*Reading: We are continuing our study of non-fiction pieces and learning about features and structures.  Also, a new March reading calendar log was sent home yesterday. They will be due on or before April 2nd. 

*English: We will continue to work on pronouns this week. We are also working on dictionary skills and prefix and suffix. 

*Spelling:  Students will be taking home a list of spelling words to sort and use for homework on Monday. 3 activities and test will be on Fri. 3/16. 

* Social Science:  We will continue our Chicago unit this week as we work on learning about the early days and history of Chicago. 

*Mrs. Olsen's Math Class: We will work on Unit 6 as we study geometry.  We will study tangrams, constructing polygons, and using geoboards.  We will also work on 0, 1, and 2's division facts.  

Week of 2/26

Odds and Ends: 

We are so excited about next week's culture presentations! Please make sure your child is prepared and practice their presentation over the weekend. They were given copies of their report today so they can select their 3 favorite chapters to practice reading aloud. If your child is bringing in a food item, please remember it must be NUT free. Sending in a recipe or the packaging helps us to know what the food contains to keep everyone safe! Thank you for your help!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

* Thurs. 3/1: Spelling: Test and 3 activities due
*Fri. 3/2: Institute Day: No School

A LOOK AHEAD: 

*Reading: We are working on our non fiction text unit. We will continue to work on non fiction text features and structures.  We will also work on our speaking and listening skills as we share our culture day presentations.

We are working on pronouns. We will be having a graded review on pronouns this week.

*Spelling: Our spelling homework and test will be on Thurs. 3/1. Please check with your child to see what they have to complete.  Thanks!

*Social Studies: Sweet home, Chicago! We will begin our unit on Chicago this week.

*Mrs. Olsen's Math Class: We will begin Unit 6 on Geometry this week. We will also practice our mixed multiplication facts.

Have a great weekend!
Mrs.  Olsen

Week of 2/20

Odds and Ends:

Thank you to the wonderful room helpers that made our Valentine's Party fun for all! Thank you to Mrs. Karchmar, Mrs. LaRocco, Mrs. Copora, Mrs. Free, Mrs. Mangello, and Mrs. Wawro for providing a fun party for the students! Thank you to those parents who sent in treats or paper goods. We appreciate your help! 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS:

*Fri. 2/16: No School
* Mon. 2/19: No School
*Wed. 2/21: Dental Presentation
*Fri. 2/23: Math: Ch. 5 test and 12's x test
Jr. Achievement

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK:

*Reading: We are working on Unit 2 as we continue to explore non fiction text features and structure. We are working on applying our understanding of these features to our next Social Studies unit as we explore our Chicago books. 

We are working on writing informational text as we work to finish our reports on our cultures. The typed, finished copy of the culture reports are due by Thurs. 2/22. We will work on reading our reports on Fri. 2/23 as we prepare for the culture presentations the following week.  Your child should have brought home a paper detailing the project for their culture presentation. Please email me with any questions! 

*Spelling: New word lists will be sent home this week. The test and homework will be due on Thurs. 3/1 since there is a teacher institute day on Fri. 3/2. 

*Social Studies: We will begin our next unit on Chicago soon!

*Mrs. Olsen's Math Class: We are wrapping up Unit 5. We will spend this week continuing to explore area and decomposing larger, irregular shaped rooms into smaller squares and rectangles to find the total area. A study guide/practice test was sent home last week. It is due on Thurs. 2/22 and the test will be on Fri. 2/23.  Unit 6 will be on Geometry.  We will also work on 12's multiplication this week with a timed test on Fri. 2/23. 

Thanks!
Mrs. Olsen 

Week 1/29-2/2

We will begin having Mr. Blocker in our room for 5 sessions to do Jr. Achievement with our class. He is a wonderful volunteer and we are looking forward to having him on Wed. afternoons. 

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

*Thurs. 2/1: Early Dismissal 
*Fri. 2/2: Math: 8's multiplication facts test 

A LOOK AT NEXT WEEK: 

*Reading: We will continue to work on culture and tradition as we write about our special objects and do research about our culture and country. 

*Spelling: Please check in with your child about spelling homework: 3 assignments are due on Friday and we will take the test on Friday. 

* Social Studies: We have started our ch. 3 unit on culture and immigration. We will be taking our first open book quiz on Monday while I model to the class how to use notes and a textbook to help when taking one of these quizzes. 

*Mrs. Olsen's math class: We are working on Unit 5: multiplication, division, and area. We will work on writing and solving word problems using arrays. We are working on 8's multiplication facts and we will take a test on Friday. 

Have a great weekend!
Mrs. Olsen