Week of 1/8/18 -1/12/18

We have had such a fun week!  The trip to see Wonder was so much fun!   The children truly enjoyed it and the message about kindness is amazing! 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 2018!!

Coming Up the Week after Winter Break:

Spelling:   New word sorts will be coming home on Monday, 1/8!  Homework will be due on or before 1/19.

Reading & Language Arts:   We’ll start the new year with a really cool book called Throw your Tooth on the Roof.  It describes how the tooth fairy traditions are carried out in other cultures.  We’ll also do some writing this week.  

The December logs are due on Monday, January 8.  A January log will be going home today; please hang on to it until January 1!   

Social Science: We will start a new chapter in Social Studies this week.  It focuses on people moving to new places and various cultures.  There will be short, open book, open notes graded reviews after each section/lesson in the chapter.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We’ll be discussing fractions when we get back from break.  A pretest/study guide will be going home on Friday, 1/12.  It will be due back on Wednesday, 1/17.  The unit 4 test will be on Thursday, 1/18.  Remind your children that it’s never a bad idea to practice math facts.  We will be starting our times table tests on Wednesday, 1/10.  We’ll start with the 2s and a practice sheet will come home on Monday.  

Important Dates:  

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break

1/9    - High Touch-High Tech in school field trip

1/15  - Martin Luther King’s birthday (day off)

2/1   - Early Dismissal (11:00)

Have a great Winter break!!

Week of 12/18/17 - 12/22/17

Some good winter weather rules for PV: With Winter almost upon us, here’s a quick note about recess: Children NEED boots to be in snow- snow pants are not required, but kids should know that if they get their clothes wet, they will be wet for the afternoon.... Snow/ice is not to be thrown for any reason at all.  They may roll it, or build with it, but not launch it, etc.

We are approaching our final week before winter break.  Lots of fun activities are in store for our Panthers!  Read below and find out!!

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   We’ve decided to take a break from spelling!  Back to normal when we get back after break.  

Reading & Language Arts:   This week we’ll read and interpret The Night Before Christmas. It will be fun!

Keep reading and filling out the December Log!

Social Science: We finished this section of Mystery Science. We’ll be starting Social Studies when we return from break.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  A short checkpoint quiz on measurement will take place on Monday.  If your child reviews pp.127 & 128 of their student book, they should be just fine!   Also, students have earned another marble party!!  We’ll celebrate with a nice treat on Thursday.  

Important Dates:  

12/19 - PV goes to see Wonder

12/20 - 3rd grade goes bowling

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 12/11/17 - 12/15/17

We are getting closer and closer to winter break, but we’re not there yet!  We have a busy week coming up; check it out:

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   We’ve decided to take a break from spelling for the next two weeks! Therefore, there will be no homework and no test!!   Back to normal when we get back after break.  

Reading & Language Arts:   This week we’ll continue reading and discussing The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco. There will be a short vocabulary quiz on Tuesday (their notes to study are in their Reading/ELA pocket.)  We will also be making our own class quilt which will describe our own family traditions!

Keep reading and filling out the December Log!

Social Science: We continue Mystery Science. Mystery 4 will be viewed and discussed on Wednesday. A study guide will go home on Wednesday and there will be a test on Friday, which will cover all 4 mysteries!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we continue Unit 4 which focuses on Measurement & Fractions.  A short checkpoint quiz on time will take place on Tuesday, 12/12.

Important Dates:  

12/19 - PV goes to see Wonder!

12/20 - 3rd grade goes bowling

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 12/4/17 - 12/8/17

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.

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   The homework will be due on or before Friday, 12/8.  Did you notice that the menu is new?  There is one problem, however.  It refers to using Spelling City.  There is a glitch with that site so I told the children to use puzzlemaker.com instead.  It’s a great site and very easy to use!  

Reading & Language Arts:   This week we will start out Trimester 2 culture and traditions unit.  Our first story is The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco.  It tells the story of a special family quilt that started in Russia and made its way to the United States in the early 20th century.  We will be making our own class quilt which will describe our own family traditions!

The December Log is coming home today!

Social Science: We continue Mystery Science which focuses on weather.

   

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  This week we begin Unit 4 which focuses on Measurement & Fractions.

Important Dates:  

12/5 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

12/19 - PV goes to see Wonder

12/20 - 3rd grade goes bowling

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break

Have a great weekend!!

Weeks of 11/20/17 AND 11/27/17

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 the Next 2 Weeks:

Spelling:   The homework will be due on or before Tuesday, 11/21.  There will only be 2 activities due since the time frame is so much shorter.  The test will also be on Tuesday the 21st.  New word sorts will go home on Monday, 11/27.   The menu homework will be due on or before Friday, 12/8.  

Reading & Language Arts:   We’ll finish up Myths.  We’ll also be focusing on verbs.  Keep track of those reading minutes for November!  The November log is due on or before 12/1.  A new one for December will be going home on that day as well.  

Social Science: We will begin a new unit of Mystery Science.  This one focuses on weather.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We’re finishing up Unit 3 on 3 digit addition and subtraction.  There will be a Unit 3 assessment on Friday, 12/1.  A pretest (study guide) will go home on Tuesday, 11/28.

Important Dates:  

11/22-11/24 - Thanksgiving break

12/5 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 11/13 /17 - 11/17/18

Tomorrow 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 word sorts are going home on Monday.   Please make a note that the homework will be due on or before Tuesday, 11/21.  There will only be 2 activities due since the time frame is so much shorter.  The test will also be on Tuesday the 21st.  

Reading & Language Arts:  This week we’ll continue to study Myths, finishing up King Midas. Furthermore, students will be bringing home a “naked turkey” to disguise.  There’s a letter attached that explains it all.  It is due back on or before Wednesday.  There will be a writing assignment attached to this project.  

Keep track of those reading minutes for November!

Social Science: Wow, we are cruising through Mystery Science and loving every minute of it.  We explored fruits and veggies this week.  We will finish up this unit on Wednesday and there will be a final assessment on Friday, 11/17.  There is not study guide; students can take a look at their short assessments to help get ready for the test.  However, students have been captivated by the videos and if they’ve been listening, the test will be fine!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We’re continuing Unit 3 on 3 digit addition and subtraction and learning various strategies to conquer these larger equations.  We will also work on rounding numbers before adding or subtracting them.   

Important Dates:  

11/22-11/24 - Thanksgiving break

12/5 - Early Dismissal (11:00)

12/21 - Last day of school before Winter Break 

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 11/6/17 - 11/10/17

Wow!  What a week we’ve had!!   We started with “no school” on Monday, Halloween party and parade on Tuesday, and our Downers Grove field trip on Thursday!   Thank you to Ryan & Mark’s mom and Marissa’s mom for coming along with us.  It was a lot of fun and we learned a lot, too.   

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   I hope everyone is working on their three spelling activities.  They are due on Friday, 11/10.  The test will be on that day, as well.

Reading & Language Arts:  This week we’ll be starting Myths.  We’ll read about the 12 gods of Olympus and King Midas.  Sequencing will be discussed as we read.  Furthermore, Adjectives and nouns will be explored further.  

Have you seen your child’s November reading log?  They should have it and have already started reading!!

Social Science: We have completed our Downers Grove unit and have finally started SCIENCE!!!   We are going to be using a really terrific program called Mystery Science this year.  We started lesson 1 today on flower pollination and will finish up on Monday.  Lesson 2 will be worked on this coming week, as well.  Ask your child about it!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We’re continuing Unit 3 on 3 digit addition and subtraction and learning various strategies to conquer these larger equations. There will be a short checkpoint quiz on Tuesday.  It will cover addition, subtraction, and rounding

Important Dates:  

11/10 - Veteran’s Day assembly

11/22-11/24 - Thanksgiving break

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 10/30/17 - 11/3/17

Halloween is almost here!  Please make sure your child brings his/her costume to school in a bag on Halloween (Tuesday.)   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.  Don’t forget about the parade!  Hopefully, the weather will cooperate...

It was so nice sitting down with you all this week!  I say this every year and it still holds true; we have the nicest, most supportive parents in this school district! Thank you for that!!

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   A new set of words will be coming home with your child on Tuesday.  The menu homework will be due on or before 11/10.  

Reading & Language Arts: Our haunted house “persuasive” writing pieces are just about finished!  They are spook-tacular!!  This week I’ll introduce adjectives and how they work with nouns.  

Please make sure your child is reading! October logs are due on or before November 1 (Wednesday.)   The November log will go home on Tuesday.

Social Science:  Our quiz on Downers Grove history will take place first thing on Thursday, 11/2.  Our field trip will be on November 2, as well.  

Science: I plan to start a program called "Mystery Science" at the end of the week!

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We have started Unit 3 which covers multi-digit addition and subtraction.  This week we’ll become experts on rounding to the nearest 10 and 100.  

Important Dates:  

10/27 - Day off (Conferences)

10/30 - Teachers’ Institute (Day off for students)

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

11/2 - Downers Grove field trip (Klacza & Burland)

Have a great, long weekend!!

Week of 10/23/17 - 10/27/17

October is flying by and before you know it, Halloween will be here!  Parents who’ve signed up 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 this coming Monday - Wednesday. Most parents have already signed up.  I look forward to sitting down with all of you and having a great conversation about your awesome children!

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   Spelling homework is due THURSDAY (no school on Friday) and the test will also be that day.  

Reading & Language Arts: Our haunted house “persuasive” writing pieces are in full swing.  We’ll also be working on the important skill of Cause & Effect.

Please make sure your child is reading! October logs are due on or before November 1.

Social Science:  We will be finishing our unit on Downers Grove history this week! There will be a short quiz on this information once we are done with our packets, which will probably be during the week of 10/30.  A study guide will be sent home soon.  Our field trip will be on November 2.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  My wonderful math students have earning a good behavior “marble party.”  We’ll celebrate for part of the math class on Monday.  But before we do, we will go over all the answers on the study guide/pretest, which is due on Monday.  The unit 2 test will be on Tuesday. Then, we're on to Unit 3 starting Wednesday which covers multi-digit addition and subtraction.

Important Dates:  

Week of 10/23 - Homeroom Conferences

10/27 - Day off (Conferences)

10/30 - Teachers’ Institute (Day off for students)

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 10/16/17 - 10/20/17

We have earned our first marble party!!  I’m so proud of our children! It will be held on Thursday during recess (and a bit afterwards.)  Students are allowed to wear PJs and bring in a favorite stuffed toy.  I’ll bring in a treat to go along with their lunch.  The students will be voting to watch a movie of their choice (within reason!)   If anyone has an objection to a movie rated PG, please let me know!!   I typically stick to Disney or Minion-type films.

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   A new set of words to sort and a new menu for homework will be coming home on Monday.  The completed homework (3 activities, one from each column) will be due on or before 10/26.

Reading & Language Arts:  This week, we’ll be working on character traits and theme.  These are very important reading skills.  We’ll also be starting our haunted house “persuasive” writing pieces.  

Please make sure your child is reading! October logs are due on or before November 1.

Social Science:  We will be continuing our unit on Downers Grove history this week!  There will be a short quiz on this information once we are done with our packets.  A study guide will be sent home soon.  Our field trip will be on November 2.  Hopefully, you’ve returned your permission slips and money.  That’s due next Friday.

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We will be wrapping up Unit 2 by the end of this week.  It covers more multiplication strategies.  Look out for the “pretest” study guide which will go home on Thursday.  It will be due on Monday, 10/23 and the test will be on Tuesday, 10/24.

Important Dates:  

Week of 10/23 - Homeroom Conferences

10/27 - Day off (Conferences)

10/30 - Teachers’ Institute (Day off for students)

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

Have a great weekend!!

Week of 10/9/17 - 10/13/17

We are halfway through the 1st trimester of third grade!  Can you believe it? Hopefully, grades are being monitored on line.  If you are having problems doing so, please call the office. We will be having our first monthly Pride awards presentation later today.  Have a wonderful Columbus Day weekend! I’m hoping the weather will cooperate!

Coming Up Next Week:

Spelling:   Homework menus have gone home and a few students have already finished the homework! The three activities will be due on or before next Friday, 10/13.  PLEASE make sure your child uses notebook paper to do their work and that one activity is chosen from each column on the menu.  The test will also take place on Friday.

Reading & Language Arts:  This week, we’ll be working on using better descriptive language when writing, character traits, theme, and cause and effect.  These are all very important reading and writing skills.  

Please make sure your child is reading! October logs are due by November 1.

Social Science:  We will be continuing our unit on Downers Grove history this week!   This unit leads to a really fun field trip visiting historical places all around our town.  

Mrs. Klacza's Math Class:  We have already finished our first module of Unit 2 “Introduction to Multiplication.”  Our first checkpoint for this unit will be on Monday, 10/10.  It will cover simple multiplication.  We'll then continue with more multiplication methods. 

Important Dates:  

10/9 - Columbus Day

Week of 10/23 - Homeroom Conferences

10/27 - Day off (Conferences)

10/30 - Teachers’ Institute (Day off for students)

10/31 - Halloween party and parade

Have a great 3-day weekend!!