Week of 9/29/14 - 10/3/14

Today we celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s birthday.  Thank you  to all the parents who sent in juice boxes, spoons, and bowls so we can enjoy a fun snack later today!   You’ll see the recipe for the applesauce in your child’s backpack.  

Coming up this week:

Spelling: Lesson 6 – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework (assigned on Tuesday) is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  Cursive homework needs to be completed by the next day (Tuesday.)

Please make sure your child uses notebook paper for all written homework.  We have a lot here at school; students are welcome to take some home whenever they need it!

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  

We will continue unit 2 in English on Nouns.

We are continuing “Word of the Day” this week.  I will introduce the students to a different word each day, Monday through Thursday.  They will write down the word and definition in their spirals.  On Friday, there will be a short quiz on the four words.

Reading Logs are due on October 1!!  

Social Studies:   There will be a short quiz on continents and oceans on Monday.   

Science: We'll continue our first unit on ecosystems (Chapter 4.)   Our lesson 3, open book/notes, graded review will be on Wednesday.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class: Your child will be receiving his/her test back today.  The grades are already in the grade book; you may check them if you wish.  This week we’ll start Topic 2, Addition Meaning and Properties.  

Important Dates:
9/30 - Final Magazine sale turn-in day

10/8 - Picture Day

10/10 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 9/22/14 - 9/26/14

We have had some very interesting September weather lately and I am grateful for the warm days!   Please make sure your child brings a jacket or sweatshirt to school every day. It does get chilly in the mornings if we go out for gym and also at recess time.   

Next Friday, September 26, we celebrate Johnny Appleseed’s birthday.  Please make sure you find the very important note in your child’s backpack regarding this fun day in room 105!

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Lesson 5 – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day (Tuesday.)

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll continue reading the novel The One and Only Ivan. Please check your child’s assignment notebook nightly regarding homework.  

This week,  we begin unit 2 in English on Nouns.  I will give the students a pretest on Tuesday.  This will determine whether or not they can “skip” a mini-lesson on that topic and work on a challenge activity instead.  For instance, your child may really be good at finding proper nouns and “passed out” of that section on the pretest.  Therefore, on the day we study proper nouns, he/she may go out to the middle area and work on a challenge project instead.   You will find a contract in his/her binder some time this week.  

We are starting “Word of the Day” this week.  I will introduce the students to a different word each day, Monday through Thursday.  They will write down the word and definition in their spirals.  On Friday, there will be a short quiz on the four words.  

Social Studies:   There will be a short quiz on hemispheres on Monday.   We will then be focusing on continents and oceans.   

Science: We'll continue our first unit on ecosystems (Chapter 4.)   Our lesson 2, open book/notes, graded review will be on Tuesday.  The students were quite successful with the first graded review for lesson 1 and I am expecting the same for lesson 2.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class: This week, we’ll be finishing up Topic 1 on Numeration.  Our final lesson on Monday will cover problem solving with organized lists.  Our test will take place on Wednesday with a review on Tuesday.  Then on to Topic 2 on Friday (Addition & Subtraction!!)   

Important Dates:

9/23 - Magazine Order turn-in day 

9/25 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

9/26 - Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday (see attached note in binder)

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 9/15/14 - 9/19/14

We experienced our first full week together and we survived!!   It has been a terrific week.  To cap it off, today is my birthday and I received some absolutely beautiful cards from my thoughtful students. Thank you everyone!

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Lesson 4 – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day (Tuesday.)

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll finally get started reading about Ivan, a mighty silverback gorilla in the novel The One and Only Ivan.  There will be a short quiz on Thursday, 9/18, on pp. 1-18 and on a worksheet in the reading pocket called “All About Gorillas.”  They may use the book AND this worksheet during the quiz.  

Your child’s MAP goal sheet is in his/her Reading pocket.  The lexile score is highlighted.  I showed the children how to find a lexile score in our classroom books and how to use their “range” to help them find a “good fit” book.  

In English, 2e will conclude Unit 1 this week, “The Sentence.” There will be a test on Wednesday, 9/17.  We will review Monday and Tuesday.  Children should be bringing their textbooks home starting today!  They may keep it at home until Wednesday.  A study guide will also be coming home today.   By the way, have you met Mr. Morton? Ask your child about it!!

Social Studies:   There will be a short Directions quiz on 9/16.  Then, we’ll move on to hemispheres.

Science: We'll continue our first unit on ecosystems (Chapter 4) this week.  Our first open note/open book graded review will take place on Monday,  9/15 and will cover lesson 1.  I will help and encourage the students when seeking out the text-dependent questions.  We’ll then begin lesson 2.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  I’m so excited to finally have a math class!   It contains 24 bright math students and one very happy teacher.  Please expect homework most nights from the workbook which I’ll be handing out today.  Our first chapter is on numeration and includes place value, using number lines, and rounding numbers.  

Important Dates:

9/13 - Center Cass District 66 Community Day 

9/25 - Early Dismissal

9/26 - Johnny Appleseed’s Birthday

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza

Week of 9/8/14 - 9/12/14

Thank you to all those parents who attended our Curriculum Night. I hope it was informative. If you ever have a question or comment for me, please let me know!

We are truly getting into our 3rd grade curriculum and are starting quizzes and tests very soon. Watch the blog for news in each subject!   GO BEARS!!!!

Coming up the week:

Spelling: Second lesson of the year (Lesson 3) – Pretest Monday, Test Friday (unless your child passes the pretest.)  All homework is due on Thursday. Students that are using the “challenge” list will choose 2 activities (please refer to “All About Spelling”) and students using the "regular" words will be putting the words in ABC order. ALL students will practice their cursive with a sheet that will come home after every pretest.  This homework needs to be completed by the next day (Tuesday.)

Language Arts:  This week, we’ll get to know Ivan, a mighty silverback gorilla.   We’ll be starting our anchor text, The One and Only Ivan.  

Also, your child’s assignment notebook will most likely say “Read” every day.  Please make sure you are logging his/her reading time on the September reading log.  This activity is part of the LA grade.  It will be worth 10 points.  Read on!!!

We will continue Unit 1 this week, “The Sentence.” There will be homework on days we learn a new lesson. Some students will finish in school but I encourage them to bring it home anyway and go over it again.   Most homework will be from the English workbook; however, it will be torn out and in the Return to School pocket.

Social Studies:  We'll continue our focus on directions and the compass rose this week.  There will be a short quiz on 9/16.  

Science: We'll start our first unit on ecosystems (Chapter 4) this week.  Our first open note/open book graded review will tentatively take place on 9/15.  I will help and encourage the students when seeking out the text-dependent questions.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We should be determining your child’s math teacher very soon!  In the meantime, our homeroom has been working on the “Math Minute” and several of the Mathematical Practices.

Important Dates:

 9/13 - Center Cass Community Day

9/25 - Early Dismissal

Have a great weekend!   Mrs. Klacza