blogs
11/3-11/7
On Tuesday we have a half day of school. The students will be getting out at 11:55
We also have our first art adventure! We are very excited to learn new things about art!
Geometric Art Patterns
Week of 10/27-10/31
The week is Red Ribbon Week!
-Monday we will be decorating the fence outside between South and Aspen
-Tuesday we will write about our promise to stay drug free
-Wednesday we will plant red tulips
-Thursday students will wear red
- Friday say "BOO" to drugs and celebrate Halloween! (Party at 1:30-2:30)
Please note* My phone is currently not working. It you need to get ahold of me please write me an e-mail: cymermanc@hawthorn73.org
Thanks!!
Week of 10/20-10/24
We are lucky to have two special visitors coming to visit our class. Both visits relate to our Ecosystems Science Unit.
On Monday a woman with owls is coming to explain birds of prey, adaptations and food chains and webs.
On Tuesday another visitor will come to teach us all about WORMS!!!
We are all very excited about our visits and can't wait until next week!
Week of 10/13-10/17
The 4th grade will get their first chance to visit the school store on Thursday October 16th Please send money with your child to school.
Things to know...
Week of 10/13-10/17
The 4th graders will get their first chance to visit the school store on Thursday, October 16th. Please send money with your child.
Week of 10/6-10/10
There is no weekly homework this week due to a short week. The students will receive homework on Wednesday October 8th that will be due the following week.
Directions for Origami Bird
Decorate both sides of your paper before folding
Fold paper in a landscape fold (hamburger fold) making sure the edges match.
Fold one edge back to the folded edge.
Turn over.
Fold the other side to the folded edge.
Now, unfold the side you just folded.
Lay it down on the table.
Half of the paper will have a double thickness.
The other half will be a single thickness.
You are going to fold all four corners of the paper over to the center fold line, creating a triangle.
Make sure to line the edge up with the center fold.
This creates a guide to fold your triangles to.
When all four folds are done, take both sides of the paper and fold in half.
You will be cutting on the long side of the fold.
Figure out where the middle of the long edge is and make a cut with your scissors about one quarter to one half of an inch.
On each side of the middle cut, make two more cuts the same length and about 1 and a half inches apart.
Fold back each cut and on both sides
Between the cuts, pull back both sides, creating the triangular shape for the bird.
Decorate with eyes, add wings and feet . Have fun
Aloha!
I am so excited to get to know you and have a great year!
"I couldn't figure out my homework last night" - We have a plan of attack for that problem. Students can exercise multiple "life lines" to try and remedy this problem. They have exchanged phone numbers to "phone a friend". They have the option to try emailing me, however, this is not always available. In some cases they have on-line resources. And, when all else fails, students are to come into the office when they get to school in the morning, and ask to come down and work in my room. I am available most days beginning at 8:00 a.m. Even if a child arrives on the bus, they can skip morning recess and come in to get help :)
What is AAA?
Our Advanced Ability and Achievement (AAA) program provides an enriched and accelerated curriculum to challenge the students’ abilities in the areas of reading and math.
In the area of reading, students come to our class for the scheduled 40 minutes of guided reading time. In our class your child will participate in class novel studies in many different genres. Students will use 21st Century skills to explore areas of interest, both teacher and student generated. We will also be monitoring our independent reading through literature circles and a reader’s workshop format. Students will use higher order thinking skills to explore philosophy and current events. We will be constantly building our communication skills through word work and writing.
In the area of math, the curriculum moves at an accelerated pace and at a grade level above. We explore the same big areas of mathematics as the child’s grade level: Number Sense, Estimation and Measurement, Geometry, Algebra and Analytical Methods, Data Analysis and Probability; but we will go deeper and wider in our exploration of the content. There is a great emphasis on problem solving and writing in math to explain our thinking.
Who participates in AAA?
Students in grades 3 - 5 are screened and identified according to aptitude and achievement scores, and when appropriate, individualized testing. The students initially need to rank in the top three percent of the grade on local norms.
Utilize the links on the right for more detailed information for each class.
You can contact me at waggonerk@hawthorn73.org or 847-990-4838
Welcome Back 2008 - 2009 Students
The 2008-2009 school year is going to be a great one! I look forward to meeting all of you at "Get Acquainted Night." See you soon!
fun links
50 States for Kids
States Game (new)
Social Studies for Kids-Check out the Elections Link
Art Link
My Pet and Me
Fun Brain
Brainpop *New*
Fun Learning Games
Fact Monster
Kindergarten Links
Fun Sentences (new)
National Zoo
Fun New Coloring Pages
Clover Leaf
Learning Our Letters
Alphabet Book Game
Puzzles
Animals in ABC Order
Coloring Page
Matching Letters to Sounds
1. Hibernation from Enchanted Learning
2. Hibernation
3. Bear Slide Show
Study Island
Custom Typing
Free Typing Game
Find Your Typing Speed
Dance Mat Typing for Younger Grades
3rd Grade Prairie Links
Learning About Prairies
Learning About Prairie Animals
Kid Zone
Desert Dictionary
National Geographic
Nature Works
Bell Museum
Bell Museum Field Guide
Third Grade Math
Usborne Books ... Use the Links at the top of this page
Kids Astronomy
Usborne Books
2nd Grade Links
Communities Resource Page
4th Grade Links
Biomes and Habitats 4th and 5th
4th Grade Biome Links
Lexile Framework for Reading
Mrs. Schorsch's 4th Grade Links
Kids Mining Information
Montana Mining
Michigan Mining
Mining Coal
Check it out!
Miss Holt has been busy working on getting her website ready for a new school year! Check it out! www.missholt.com
End of the year party
Our end of the year party is Friday June, 6 from 12-2. We'll be having a picnic in the park. Pizza, drinks, and dessert will be provided by our room parents. Don't forget to bring a shirt for your classmates to sign!
May 26-30
Spelling Words:
It's a review week! The children will be tested on only 15 words from the past 5 weeks. Lists went home on Friday. This will be our last spelling test!
Reading Skills:
Children will be taking our unit 6 reading test this week.
In writing, we will write a persuasive letter to parents about a place to visit for vacation.
Math Skills:
We will be reviewing for and taking our Chapter 11 test on multiplying and dividing greater numbers. My math class will have their test on Wednesday, May 28th.
In my homeroom, we have been taking timed multiplication tests on mixed facts. Children are only given one minute! Keep practicing those facts at home!
Social Studies:
We are learning about the 3 branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive. Be sure to ask your child to describe each branch to you!
Important Upcoming Dates:
* No School Monday, May 26th Memorial Day
* Pen Pals from North Visit us on Tuesday, May 27th
* 3rd Grade Field Trip, Thursday, May 29th Wendella Boat Ride
All children will need to bring sack lunch this day!
* We see Chinese Acrobats at Middle School South, Monday, June 2nd 1-2 PM
* We visit our Pen Pals at North on Wednesday, June 4th
* End of the Year Party, Friday, June 6th 12-2. Students will NOT need to order or bring a lunch that day since our wonderful room parents have planned to serve pizza!
* Last Hour of School and Report Cards sent home, Monday, June 9th 8:40-9:40 AM
The year is almost over!
The school year is winding down, and our schedule is packed! Here are some upcoming events:
May 26 - No School
May 27 - Our penpal class comes to visit us.
May 29 - Field trip to Chicago *Don't forget to bring a lunch!
June 2 - We watch Chinese acrobats perform.
June 4 - We go to visit our penpal class at Elementary North.
June 6 - End of the year party
June 9 - Last day of school, report cards go home.
May 19-23
Spelling Words:
1. candle
2. needle
3. eagle
4. apple
5. bottle
6. woman
7. relax
8. tiger
9. before
10. order
11. mirror
12. monkey
13. wonder
14. basket
15. market
Reading Skills:
* distinguish a realistic story from a fantasy
* use context clues to figure out unfamiliar words
* decode words with the affixes un-, dis-, -ful, -y
* writing a persuasive piece
Math Skills:
This week in my math class, the children will be focusing on:
* multiplying money
* using objects to divide
* division with greater numbers
In my homeroom, we have been taking timed multiplication tests on mixed facts. Children are only given one minute! Keep practicing those facts at home!
Science:
This week the children will be making their own scale model of the solar system here at school! They will be using a choice of crayons, markers, paper, and/or water color paints to create their model on black paper.
We continue to learn about how astronomers observe the solar system.
Social Studies:
We continue to share our biographies on the famous Illinoisans the children chose to research and write about.
We will also begin a mini unit on government for the remainder of the school year. Children will learn why people vote and run for political office in a democracy later in the week. We will learn what different kinds of elections are there and what they know about upcoming elections.
Important Upcoming Dates:
* Scholastic Book Orders and $ due Wednesday, May 21st
* Ice Cream Day Wednesday, May 21st
* Art Adventure Thursday, May 22nd 12:10-12:35
* No School Monday, May 26th Memorial Day
* Have a wonderful 3 day weekend!
* 3rd Grade Field Trip, Thursday, May 29th Boat Ride
All children will need to bring sack lunch this day!
May 12-16
Spelling Words:
1. fruit
2. friend
3. night
4. thought
5. does
6. again
7. said
8. people
9. believe
10. tried
11. tired
12. died
13. eight
14. Friday
15. Saturday
Reading Skills:
* recognize important story events to determine the plot
* use antonyms as context clues to figure out unfamiliar words
* identify and decode words that contain ui and ew digraphs
* commas
Math Skills:
Last week we completed a shorter unit on decimals. This week we will begin a new unit on multiplying and dividing greater numbers. Math groups will remain the same for this unit as in the decimals and fractions units.
* multiplying and arrays
* breaking numbers apart to multiply
* multiplying two-digit numbers
* multiplying three-digit numbers
Please keep practicing basic multiplication facts at home with your child! This will help with multiplying and dividing by greater numbers for this new unit!
Science:
The science test on the planets has been postponed until Thursday, May 15th! A study guide will be sent home on Monday the 12th.
We will also start our next essential question of: How do astronomers observe the solar system?
Social Studies:
We are reading and learning about famous achievers from Illinois. Children chose from a list of famous Illinoisans to write a biography on this person. They researched online to find facts about this person's childhood, adulthood and accomplishments. They will be writing their papers this week and drawing an illustration of this person! Be sure to ask your child about their biography.
Important Upcoming Dates:
* Early Dismissal, Friday, May 16th. 11:55 AM.
* Ice Cream Day Wednesday, May 21st
* Art Adventure Thursday, May 22nd 12:10-12:35
* No School Monday, May 26th Memorial Day
* 3rd Grade Field Trip, Thursday, May 29th Boat Ride
All children will need to bring sack lunch this day!
New student!
We're getting a new student in our class! We're thrilled to welcome Crystal to our group. Everyone has really gone out of their way to welcome her!
May 5-9
Spelling Words:
1. walking
2. talk
3. chalk
4. stalk
5. drawing
6. straw
7. claws
8. awful
9. lawn
10. thaw
11. because
12. fault
13. sauce
14. haunted
15. cause
Reading Skills:
* discuss visual images based on text descriptions
* use synonyms as context clues to figure out unfamiliar words
* decode words with au, aw, and al
Math Skills:
We started our Chapter 10 unit on decimals and measurement.
* tenths
* hundredths
* adding and subtracting decimals
* centimeters and decimeters
Science:
We will have our a science test on Friday, May 9th. Your child will be given a study guide on Tuesday to take home and study each night before the test. Students will be researching a planet of their choice. They will be using this information to write a postcard from this planet. Children will pretend they are on this planet and write to someone giving facts about what they see, feel, location in space, and other interesting facts.
Social Studies:
Children will be learning about famous Illinoisans. They will choose one person to research and write a bibliography describing all about this person's childhood, adulthood, and accomplishments in life. Children will present their biographies to the class!
Important Upcoming Dates:
* Library Books Due: Wednesday, May 7th
* Early Dismissal, Friday, May 16th. 11:55 AM.
* Ice Cream Day Wednesday, May 21st
* Art Adventure Thursday, May 22nd 12:10-12:35
* No School Monday, May 26th Memorial Day
* 3rd Grade Field Trip, Thursday, May 29th Boat Ride
All children will need to bring sack lunch this day!
April 28-May 2
Spelling Words:
1. found
2. one
3. sure
4. until
5. always
6. almost
7. alone
8. a lot
9. doing
10. hasn't
11. couldn't
12. hadn't
13. angry
14. hungry
15. special
Reading Skills:
* locate details of setting in the text
* use context clues to figure out the meanings of multiple-meaning words
* use common syllable patterns to decode new words
* write a friendly letter
Math:
My math group will be reviewing and taking our unit 9 test on fractions on Thursday, May 1st.
Our next unit in math will be on decimals and measurement. We will keep the same math groups for this chapter.
Science:
The children have been working so hard in small groups creating a dance focusing on the inner and outer planets. They are very creative in their movements showing how the planets are different by inner/outer, what they are made of (rocky/gaseous), their temperature, and if they have moons and rings. On Monday our class will perform their dance in front of some other classes. We will all get to see Zephyr, the dance company perform later that day!
Social Studies:
We have been building our buildings for our mini Chicago project! They are working so hard and we can't wait for you to visit our third grade mini Chicago on Open House this Thursday, May 1st.
Thank you so much to the parents who were able to come in and help the groups construct their buildings.
Important Upcoming Dates:
* Zephyr Day, Monday, April 28th.
* Heritage Dolls due Monday, April 28th
* Open House Thursday, May 1st 7-8 PM
Come see the third grade concert in the gym from 7:00-7:30, then come down to our classroom and visit from 7:30-8:00!
* Library Books Due: Wednesday, May 7th
* Early Dismissal, Friday, May 16th. 11:55 AM.
