Social Emotional Learning

Students have been learning to manage strong feelings by saying stop, naming the feeling, and using different Ways to Calm Down.  This is important because when strong feelings are under control, children are better able to think clearly and pay attention.  We practice belly breathing as a calm down strategy.

How to Belly Breathe
1.  Focus your attention on your breathing.
2.  Take a breath that makes your tummy move out when you breathe in, and in when you breathe out.
3.  Breathe in slowly through your nose an out slowly through your mouth.  It should be so quiet that you can hardly hear it.

A Sneak Peek Into Our Week...

Literacy:  Students began reading a novel during reading last week.  As they read the novel, they will pay close attention to the character development.  Students will look for characterization clues and analyze how the character changes in the story.  Each day, students will be expected to read a couple chapters from the text.  Once students finish the novel, they can use it towards their 40BC (Books I Read in School).

During writing, students will edit and revise their realistic fiction stories.  They will be adding in details to help readers visualize and editing for punctuation.  We will also use some of our writing time to work on Chicago ABC books.

Math:  Students will learn new strategies for muli-digit multiplication this week.  They will practice using partial products, lattice, and partitioning a rectangle to find the product.  Although we teach the lattice strategy, I encourage students to use the other strategies.  I've linked a short explanation of the other two if you're unfamiliar.

Social Studies:  This week, students will read about the famous architect, Daniel Burnham.  They'll also study the great migration and it's impact on Chicago.  On Thursday, students will take the social studies assessment.  I will send home a study guide early in the week.

Interactive Read Aloud:  I will begin a new read aloud this week, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.  If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it!  It is one of my favorites.

WGN Friday Forecaster

Soleil made her debut as a newscaster this morning on WGN News!  We are so proud of her!  Please check out the link below.  

https://wgntv.com/2020/01/17/3rd-grader-reports-fridays-weather-forecast-16/

Classroom Spelling Bee Winner

Congratulation, Milos!  He won our classroom spelling bee.  Beatriz was a close runner-up!  All contestants did a fabulous job giving their best effort.  

This Week In Our Classroom...

Happy New Year, Third Grade Families,

Thank you for your patience during my absence!  I am really excited to get back and see everyone today.  Below is a brief overview of what to expect the remainder of the week and into next week.  I'll update you again this weekend.

Literacy:  Prior to winter break, students were learning to determine the theme and find supporting evidence in a short story.  We will continue to practice this with our final short story from Every Living Thing.  Following the final couple lessons, we will begin reading a novel and applying these skills to the novel.

In the writing block, students will jump back into drafting their realistic fiction story after today's spelling bee.

Math:  Today, I will teach the final lesson in Unit 3.  Tomorrow we will review for the test.  Students will take the Unit 3 Math Assessment early next week.  Study guides will go home today.

Social Studies:  I will introduce an on-going project for the remainder of the quarter today.  Students will begin to work on this ABC book project.  They will also begin learning about the how the Chicago Fire impacted the city.

NWEA:  Third Grade will begin mid- year NWEA testing this week.

Absent work:  We've had MANY absences over the past month, including my own!  I will be checking through work and missing assignments this week and next.  Please check the parent portal for missing assignments.  I will also let your child know if he/she is missing any work.  I am flexible with make-up work and just want to make sure it is completed and turned in!  Please send/return any make-up work as soon as possible.

I am looking forward to a great 2020!  Thank you again for all of your support and let me know if you have any questions/concerns.