Math:

3M - We have been on multiplication and division. We have been using arrays to help us with our multiplication. We learned how to use our rulers and a map scale to tell how many miles it takes to get from one place to another.


3G - We have been working on darn difficult decimals. We have also learned how to find the percentage of something. We have been adding, subtracting, and ordering decimals from smallest to largest.

3S - We have also been working on decimals. We have been adding, subtracting, and ordering decimals too! We are learning how to read the decimals.


Language Arts:

This week in reading we read a story called Rosie, a Visiting Dog. We focused on singular possessive nouns this week. We wrote an extended reading response telling how Rosie was a good visiting dog.

Social Studies:

This week we learned about Native Americans. We learned about where they live, what type of religion they had, we learned about POW WOWs. We learned about Mesa Verde and kivas. They have made Mesa Verde into a national park. Next week, we will be back in Science learning about different types of habitats and food chains.

LMC/Computer Lab:

This week we learned about the Almanac with Mrs. Ory. We also took a technology assessment this week. Keep reading those AR books!

Mrs. McClung's News:

Dear Parents,

I wanted to let you know about a new face in 3M. Christine Greenstreet joined our classroom as an enrollment aide. She is a certified teacher and she will be working with all the students in 3M. If you see her in our classroom, please say hello!

If you have not returned your report card envelope, please sign and return it.

Thanks,

Mrs. McClung

This Week's Newsletter

Math:
3M Math - We have begun our measurement unit. We measured things around the room and ourselves. We have also measured from the ceiling to the floor of our homes. We have continued to make ballpark estimates with our addition and subtraction.

3G Math - We have been working on multiplication/division fact triangles. We are learning how to use line graphs to plot data. We had a fact quiz for multiplication facts that we used to plot in our line graphs. We are continuing to use What's My Rule. We learned how to play baseball multiplication and then we played it at home too!

3S Math - We have also been working on multilication/division fact triangles. We are continuing to work on median and range. We are also working on greater and less than.

Language Arts:

This week we read the story "Turtle Bay." We focused on Author's purpose. Our grammar focus was writing compound sentences. We have been working in our guided reading groups and focusing on important points in a story. We are continuing to read Esperanza Rising as our read aloud book!

Social Studies:

We have been talking about different types of landforms, natural resources, and the environment. Ask me about Paracas, Peru! We took a test today. Next week we will be back with Mrs. McClung as we begin Science. We will be learning about plants and animals.

Mrs. McClung's News:

We are still looking for parent volunteers to help us with reading fluency. If you are interested, please e-mail me at vickie_mcclung@ipsd.org. Have a great long weekend!

Mrs. McClung

Math:
3M - We have been working on using different types of diagrams to answer story problems. The different diagrams include, quantity quantity difference, start change end, and part part total. We will be testing next Friday for chapter 2.

3G - We are learning about partial sums and column addition. We will be testing next Friday for chapter 2.

3S- We are also learning about partial sums and column addition. We also learned some strategies for subtraction.

LMC/Computer Lab- We learned how to search the library catalog.

Language Arts: - This week, we read the story Allie's Basketball Dream. We wrote a story about a "magic" basketball. We practiced our vocabulary words by writing sentences. We also practice writing the beginning, middle, and end of a story.

Social Studies: We continued to talk about the three types of communities; urban, suburban, and rural. We finished our posters and we even wrote a paragraph about the different types of communitites.

Mrs. McClung's News:

Dear Parents,

We finally had a full week and we accomplished quite a bit. Many students are having to use the bathroom within the first 15 minutes of school. If we could please make sure they are using the bathroom before coming into school, that would be great! It takes a lot of time out of our day if we start off that way! If you are volunteering to help with the reading fluency, please come to a meeting on Tuesday, September 29 @ 8:30 in the LMC.

Thanks,

Mrs. McClung

Art Awareness

September 20th, 2009

Dear 3M Families,

Next month, your children are scheduled to begin the educational enrichment program Art Awareness, an organized approach to studying great masterpieces of art at the elementary school level. Six times each year, from kindergarten through fifth grade, parent volunteers will share a reproduction of a famous artwork with their child’s classroom, including an age-appropriate history of the artist and his/her work, the techniques and tools used, and unique features of the print or artwork being presented.
The PTA needs Art Awareness presenters for 3M, and no knowledge of or expertise in art is necessary. Volunteers are given a structured format with all the information they need on the artist, as well as ideas for crafts or activities with the children. It is a one-time commitment which takes less than an hour.
There are still two months unfilled in 3M, and I would hate to have the kids miss out! I would be happy to assist parents with preparation if needed– this is a great way to be in your child’s classroom. Please let me know ASAP if you are available to be a 3M presenter in January or May. The date and time can be coordinated with Ms. McClung at your convenience.

Sincerely,
Theresa Hus, Art Awareness Chairperson
630-961-5348 or husfamily@wideopenwest.com

Math:

3M—We have been using patterns to solve different equations. We have been using our rulers to measure in inches and centimeters. We worked with a stationary poster to buy items. We learned how to put money into dollars and cents. We learned how to play name that number and less than you. We will be taking our first test next Wednesday!

3G– We have been working on geometry. We have been using a compass to draw circles. We have also drawn different polygons inside the circle. Ask me what this is called?
Mrs. Gouldsberry walked around the classroom imitating a ray, a line, and a line segment. We learned about the different types of angles. We had our first test today!!!

3S– We also learned about rays, line segments, and lines. We also used the compasses to draw circles. We learned about acute and obtuse angles. We also learned about concave and convex polygons. We also took our first test today!

LMC/Computer:

We have been going to the LMC as needed on a daily basis!

Language Arts:

This week, we read Pepita Talks Twice. Our focus this week was on Narrative Elements (characters, setting, plot). In grammar, we focused on statements and questions. In writing, we worked on writing our authority list. We began a new read aloud story this week, Esperanza Rising.


Social Studies:

We have been learning about the different types of communities. There are three types of communities. There are urban, suburban, and rural.

Dear Parents,

If you have not yet sent in your PBIS yellow sheet from curriculum night, please make sure that is sent in this week!

Pictures are tomorrow! Please make sure to send in your child's picture envelope if you plan on buying some pictures.

August 20, 2009

Dear Parents

Welcome back! I hope that all of you had a great summer! I am looking forward to meeting and working with you and your child. This is the first of many newsletters to let you know what’s happening in our classroom. This will be the only newsletter that your child will be bringing home. We will be posting our newsletter on our classroom blog each week. www.mcclungsmessages.blogspot.com
Please visit our class blog, as it will also include as section from me regarding special projects, materials that might be needed and upcoming tests. I will go into detail as to what’s coming up this school year at Curriculum Night on Thursday, August 27th. There are a few things that you’ll need to know before the 27th.

All About Me: We have a special feature in our room each week. It’s called “All About Me.” Each child will be featured for one whole week during the year. At the end of each week, I will secretly send home a note to the next student being featured in “All About Me.” This note will include a short survey of the student’s favorites, wishes, and goals to be filled out and returned to me along with all of their other “things” on Monday or Tuesday of the following week. The “All About Me” student is also asked to bring in any collections, photos, favorite books, and things that are special to them on that Monday or Tuesday. At the end of the week, the “All About Me” items will be available for everyone to see. On Friday, the “All About Me” student will spend some time each day explaining their things and answering questions of their classmates. All things will be packed up on Friday and sent home after school. Feel free to send in anything that would be of interest to our class.
Snack: The third grader’s lunch is at 11:15 a.m. For this reason, the children may bring in a “healthy snack beginning tomorrow to be eaten at their desks in the afternoon, while they are working. Please be sure that the snack is healthy and that it’s something that isn’t messy, so that they can continue working while they munch.

Water bottles: You may send a water bottle to school with your child to be used as needed during hot days.

Socks: Please send in a sock to be used for erasing slates in math class.

School Supplies: If you haven’t already done so, please make sure that your child has all of his or her school supplies as soon as possible.

I am anxious to meet all of you and am looking forward to an exciting year! If you have any questions or concerns before the August 27th meeting, please send me a note or give me a call. My phone number is 630-428-6817. E-mail vickie_mcclung@ipsd.org
Classroom blog: www.mcclungsmessages.blogspot.com


Sincerely,


Vickie McClung