Week of January 2, 2017 - January 6, 2017

We have had such a fun week!  The trip to see A Christmas Carol was so much fun!   The play was so well done and little bit scary!! We have such a wonderful PTO!!    Bowling was a lot of fun, too. The students were very well behaved and polite.  I've noticed that supplies are starting to dwindle.  Please ask your child what he/she needs to replenish as we start a new year together.   Thank you!

I hope you all have a joyous and healthy holiday. Enjoy your families and keep them close. See you all in 2017!!

Coming up in January:

Spelling:   New spelling words will be going home on Tuesday, January 3.  The homework is due on 1/13.   A test will also be on that date.  

Reading & Language Arts:  We continue our unit, "Culture and Traditions."  Literature Circles are going very well.  Ask your child about their book!  We will be reading the story The Keeping Quilt and students will be creating a “quilt piece” on a family tradition.  We’ll also be writing about our New Year’s resolutions!!   

Your child’s December reading logs will be due on January 3.  New logs for January will go home on the 3rd.  

Social Studies:  We’re on hiatus!

Science:   We’ll be starting a unit on Matter!  A “graded review” (quiz) will occur on Friday the 6th.  We’ll be reading and taking notes all week long, leading up to this open book, open note quiz.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We continue Unit 4 on Measurement and Fractions.  We’ll be focusing on time and the measurement of mass this week.  There will be a short checkpoint quiz on time on Thursday, January 5.  

Important Dates:  

12/16 - Last day before the holiday break

Jan. 3 - Back to school!

Jan. 16 - Martin Luther King’s birthday (day off)

2/2 - Early Dismissal for Teacher Institute

Have a great holiday break!!

Week of 12/12/16 - 12/16/16

We have a really crazy, fun-filled week coming up. Wednesday will be the third graders’ first trip to Brunswick Bowl.  If your child would like to buy snacks, that is a-ok with me.  Consult the snack prices on the pink permission slip for ideas on how much to send with your child.  Also, chances are they won't be very hungry upon arrival back to school.  Therefore, it's probably a good idea to send a light lunch from home that day.  

On Tuesday, we will be visiting the Drury Lane Theater in Oak Brook to see A Christmas Carol.  I am so excited!  We’ll talk more about proper behavior/etiquette during a live theater performance on Monday.

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   I am expecting 4 activities to be completed from the homework menu.  It will be due on or before Friday, 12/16.   A test will take place on that day, also.

Reading & Language Arts:  We have begun our new unit, Culture and Traditions.  We’ve begun our Literature Circles and they seem to be going very well.  Ask your child about their book!  

Your child’s December reading logs will be due on January 3.  Keep reading!!

Social Studies:  We finished our Downers Grove/Communities unit.  We’ll go on a brief hiatus while we switch gears to science.  

Science:   We’ll be starting a unit on Matter when we return from Winter break.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We’ve begun Unit 4 on Measurement and Fractions.  We’ll be focusing on time and measurement this week.

Important Dates:  

12/13 - PV goes to Drury Lane to see “A Christmas Carol”

12/14 - Third grade bowling trip to Brunswick Bowl

12/16 - Last day before the holiday break

Jan. 3 - Back to school!

Have a great weekend!!

Welcome to December!  The weather is starting to feel winter-like so please remember to have your child dress appropriately for the weather; we do go outside for recess.  

There are a couple of permission slips coming home today: bowling and Drury Lane. Please sign them and send them back to school as soon as you can.

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   New spelling words will come home on Monday.  I am expecting 4 activities to be completed from the homework menu.  It will be due on or before Friday, 12/16.   A test will take place on that day, also.

Reading & Language Arts:  We have begun our new unit, Culture and Traditions.  We’ll begin Literature Circles on Monday.  Twas the Night Before Christmas will be our close read.

The December reading log has gone home.  It will be due on January 3.  Keep reading!!

Social Studies:  We’ve begun to read about communities from our Social Studies textbook.  Lesson 1 has been read and students have taken notes.  They may use their notes and their book for a short lesson review (quiz) on Tuesday.  The lesson 2 review will be on Friday (also open notes, open book.)

Science:   We are on hiatus while we learn about communities.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class: Today a pretest/study guide will come home.  It will be due on Tuesday, 12/6.  We’ll go over it carefully together on that day.  The test for Unit 3 is planned for Wednesday, 12/7.  We’ll then move on to Unit 4 which covers measurement and fractions.

Important Dates:  

12/7 - Early Dismissal (11:35)

12/13 - PV goes to Drury Lane to see “A Christmas Carol”

12/14 - Third grade bowling trip to Brunswick Bowl

12/16 - Last day before the holiday break

Jan. 3 - Back to school!

Have a great weekend!!

Weeks of 11/21/16 - 11/25/16 and 11/28/16 - 12/2/16

Today is the end of Trimester 1. What a wonderful first one-third of the year we’ve had!!  Grades will be finalized soon.  

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving break with your families.  This blog will include information for the two days next week and also the following week. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Coming up in the next two weeks:

Spelling:   The homework will not be due until Monday, 11/28 (The test will also be on that day.)  I’ve been encouraging the kids to get it done by Tuesday so it won’t get lost in the holiday shuffle.  We will do an inventory on Tuesday, 11/29 to see where everyone places for trimester 2.  New words will come home on 12/5.

Reading & Language Arts:  We are wrapping up our unit on Fairy Tales, Myths, and Legends.  We’ll be starting the next unit, Culture and Traditions, the week of 11/28. First, we’ll explore and close read “Circle of Life” from the Lion King.  Then, later in the week, I’ll introduce Literature Circles to the students.  

Please keep reading and filling out the November reading log.  It will be due on or before December 1.

Social Studies:  We’ll continue reading about Modern Day Downers Grove.  There will be a culminating test taking place after we read, but I’m not sure of the date yet.  I’m tentatively planning on either 11/30 or 12/1.  If we do 11/30, it’ll be before we head off for our field trip.  I’ll keep you posted.  

Science:   We are on hiatus while we learn about Downers Grove.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Unit 3 on multi-digit addition and subtraction.  On Friday, 12/2, a pretest/study guide will come home.  It will be due on 12/6.  We’ll go over it carefully.  The test for Unit 3 is planned for Wednesday, 12/7.

Important Dates:  

11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving break

11/30 - DG field trip for Klacza/Lopez

12/7 - Early Dismissal (11:35)

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 11/14/16 - 11/18/16

Today is Veterans’ Day and we had a wonderful assembly honoring our own veterans (those who have a connection to our Panthers.)  There weren’t a lot of adult dry eyes in the house!  If you are a veteran, thank you! Please ask your child about this wonderful assembly!

We have one more week to go in Trimester 1.  Please make sure you keep an eye on your child’s grades.  

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   New spelling lists will be coming home on Monday.  Completed menu/homework will be due on or before 11/28.  Please make sure your child does one activity from each column.  A test on your child’s list will be on 11/28, as well.   

Reading & Language Arts:  Today there is a fun activity coming home.  Students are asked to “disguise” a turkey using any materials they can find.  The turkey and the letter describing this activity is coming home today.  They are due on or before Wednesday.  We will then start a writing assignment to go along with the disguised turkey.  We’ll also be writing a turkey cinquain next week.  

Please keep reading and filling out the November reading log.  It will be due on or before December 1.

Social Studies:  We will finish our Downers Grove history unit this week.  A study guide will be going home Monday and a quiz on the history of DG will take place on Wednesday.  We’ll then start reading about modern day Downers Grove.   Our DG field trip will be on November 30.

Science:   We are on hiatus while we learn about Downers Grove.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Unit 3 on multi-digit addition and subtraction.  We have been learning different methods to find an answer.  On Tuesday, students will be completing a short “work sample” and on Thursday, there will be a short checkpoint quiz.  

Important Dates:  

11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving break

11/30 - DG field trip for Klacza/Lopez

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 11/7/16 - 11/11/16

Wow, what a week this has been!!   First, a glorious Halloween was had by all. Thank you to all the moms who contributed!  Then, two days of conferences followed.  Thank you to all the parents who came out to see me and discuss our awesome children!  Lastly, what a wonderful World Series our city experienced! Congratulations to all the Cubs fans reading this blog. Now, back to normal...

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   Completed menu/homework will be due on or before 11/11.  Please make sure your child does one activity from each column.  A test on your child’s list will be on 11/11, as well.

Reading & Language Arts:  Our Haunted House argumentative essays are done and handed in.  We’ll have another writing assignment starting in a week or two.  In the meantime, we’ll finish up myths and learn about cause and effect.

Please keep reading and filling out the November reading log.  It will be due on or before December 1.

Social Studies:  We will continue our Downers Grove unit this week.  We’ll be learning about E.H. Prince and the pond named after him.  Ask your child about the clever way he talked people into buying one of his houses!  We’ll then learn about Casper Dicke and the Tivoli Theater.  After we read about the history of DG, we’ll learn about modern day Downers.  Our DG field trip will be on November 30.

Science:   We finished Chapter 9 and will be on hiatus until further notice.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we’ll continue Unit 3 on multi-digit addition and subtraction.  We have been learning different methods to find an answer.  There will be a checkpoint quiz on Thursday, 11/10.  It will be on rounding to the nearest 10 and the nearest 100.

Important Dates:  

11/7 - Day off (conferences)

11/8 - Day off (Teacher’s Institute)

11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving break

11/30 - DG field trip for Klacza/Lopez

Have a great, long weekend!!

Week of 10/31/16 - 11/4/16

Halloween is Monday and that means our annual party and parade will be taking place!!  Please make sure your child brings his/her costume to school in a bag on Halloween.  No weapons please!  Costumes should be easy to get on and off.  Students will be changing in the classroom (we separate the boys and the girls.) If you have any questions, send me an email.

Conferences for home room students’ parents will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Most parents have already signed up.  I look forward to sitting down with you all and having a great conversation about your awesome child!

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!!   

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   A new spelling/sort list will be going home on Monday.  Completed menu/homework will be due on or before 11/11.  Please make sure your child does one activity from each column.  

Reading & Language Arts:  We’ll be continuing our first “argumentative” piece this week: “Please Buy my Haunted House!”  Not only will students write about it, they’ll also create it (on paper, of course!)   

Please keep reading and filling out the October reading log.  It will be due on or before November 1.  The new November log will be going home on Tuesday.

Social Studies:  We will continue our Downers Grove unit this week.  We’ll be learning about Israel Blodgett, who had strong opinions against slavery.  His family home will be visited on our DG field trip in late November.  After we read about the history of DG, we’ll learn about modern day Downers.  

Science:   We will be on hiatus until further notice.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  I’ll be returning the Unit 2 tests on Monday and students will be taking a pre-test for Unit 3 on that day as well!   We’ll then plunge into Unit 3 which covers multi-digit addition & subtraction.  This week’s focus will be on rounding to the nearest 10 and nearest 100.

Important Dates:  

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

11/7 - Day off (conferences)

11/8 - Day off (Teacher’s Institute)

11/23 - 11/25 - Thanksgiving break

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 10/24/16 - 10/28/16

October is flying by and before you know it, Halloween will be here!  Parents have been notified about the upcoming party on the 31st.  I’m confident the preparations are going well. Please make sure your child brings his/her costume to school in a bag on Halloween.  No weapons please!  Costumes should be easy to get on and off.  Students will be changing in the classroom (we separate the boys and the girls.) If you have any questions, send me an email.

Conferences for home room students’ parents will be held November 1 and 2. Most parents have already signed up.  I look forward to sitting down with you all and having a great conversation about your awesome child!

Enjoy the brisk Autumn weather this weekend!

Coming up next week:

Spelling:   Spelling homework (3 items on the menu, 1 from each column) will be due on or before 10/28.  You’ll notice that we are using Menu 2.   A test will also occur on that day.  

Reading & Language Arts:  We’ll be writing our first “argumentative” piece this week: “Please Buy my Haunted House!”  Not only will students write about it, they’ll also create it (on paper, of course!)   

Please keep reading and filling out the October reading log.  It will be due on or before November 1.  

Social Studies:  We’ll be starting our Downers Grove unit this week.  Pierce Downer and his family will be introduced and discussed.  After we read about the history of DG, we’ll learn about modern day Downers.  

Science:   We finished Chapter 9 and will be on hiatus until further notice.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week, we’ll finish up Unit 2 on methods of multiplication.  Our test will be on Friday, 10/28.  A pretest (study guide) will be coming home on Tuesday for your child to complete.  Feel free to look it over with him/her.  We’ll go over all the answers on Thursday.

Important Dates:  

10/26 - Early Dismissal (11:35)

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

11/7 - Day off (conferences)

11/8 - Day off (Teacher’s Institute)

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 10/17/16 - 10/21/16

We have earned our first marble party!!  I’m so proud of our children!

It will be held on Wednesday during lunch (and a bit afterwards.)  Students are allowed to wear PJ pants and bring in a favorite stuffed toy.  I’ll bring in a treat to go along with their lunch.  The students voted to watch the movie “Minions”. If any parent has an objection to their child watching this movie, please let me know!  

Coming up next week:

 Spelling:   Spelling homework (3 items on the menu, 1 from each column) will be due on or before 10/28.  You’ll notice on Monday that we are using a new menu.   A test will also occur on that day.  

Reading & Language Arts:  We will finish writing our fractured fairy tales this week.  They are due on Wednesday.  They need to be 5 paragraphs long and be similar to Cinderella.   Please feel free to read your child’s on their Chromebook.  Furthermore, we will be continuing myths this week, specifically reading about King Midas.  

Please keep reading and filling out the October reading log.

Social Studies:  We’re taking a break from Social Studies as we explore Science.  

Science:   We will finish up Chapter 9, “The Water Cycle.”  The Lesson 3 Graded Review will occur on Monday.  Keep in mind that the students can use their book and their notes to take this quiz.  On Thursday, 10/20, there will be a science test on the entire unit.  A study guide will go home on Monday.  This is a typical test, no notes or book may be used while the students are taking it.  It does require studying!    

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We continue Unit 2, Introduction to Multiplication  The various methods and strategies of solving multiplication problems will be explored this week

Important Dates:  

10/26 - Early Dismissal (11:35)
10/31 - Halloween party and parade

11/7 - Day off (conferences)

11/8 - Day off (Teacher’s Institute)

Have a great weekend!!