Friday, August 29, 2008

September 1-5, 2008

Butterfly in the Wind
A child is a
butterfly in the wind
some can fly higher
than others:
But each one flies the
best that it can.
Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different.
Each one is beautiful.




Dear Parents,

Website of the Week:

Internet for the Classroom-

http://homepage.scholastic.com/CHBuilderWeb/LiveLinks.action?userAction=USER_LOGIN&goTo=liveUfl


Please come to 3rd Grade Curriculum Night on Monday, September 8th at 7:00P.M. You will have a chance to meet the other third grade teachers and the principal. We will discuss what the year will be like and how you can help. I look forward to seeing you.

RTI Meeting-

This will be addressed on Thursday, Sept. 4th at 7:00, not at Curriculum Night!


Book Orders:
Book orders are due Monday, September 15th! Please order these on-line.


SNACK-
The children are allowed to bring one healthy drink or water and a healthy snack to school each day. NO Peanut products, please!


Goody Basket-
The Goody Basket is used as a reward system. If the student receives 5 tickets, they get to pick out of the special basket at the end of the day! Donations for toys, pencils, and other items of interest are always appreciated.


Spelling (My L.A. class only)
This week we will do Lesson 1 in the spelling book. There will be NO spelling test this week.

We will take a spelling pre-test on Friday for Lesson 2.

The usual spelling week will look something like this:


Thursday-

SPELLING TESTS ARE GIVEN!


Friday-

All homework and book work are due today

Take the Pre-Test for the next lesson.

Homework given for next lesson, which will be due a week from today.


English/Writing (L.A. Group only)
We are starting with our "Me Bags." The students will get information on this, Wednesday, 9/3. We will present during the week of 9/8.

We will start Unit 1, called “The Sentence.” This will start the week of the 16th!

Reading (L.A. Group only)
We will begin reading by going over the reading strategies. They include: predicting/inferring, questioning, decoding, evaluating, connecting and visualizing. We have learned that good readers do these things as they read. This helps with comprehension and fluency. We will read several small books this week. We will practice a different reading strategy each day.

The first story we will work on is called, Dogzilla! The strategy will be visualizing!

Independent Reading Folders (Homeroom only)

Due on Wed. 10/1


Science
We will start chapter 1, called
“The Body’s Systems.” The students will learn about what parts make up the body in lesson 1. Next, we will read and discuss lesson 2 and 3. These lessons are about bones and muscles and the body systems.

If you are in the medical field and would like to talk with our third graders about the systems of the body, etc., please let me know and we can set up a time for you to be our "guest speaker."

Contact me at : tspakaus@ccsd66.org


Social Studies
We have started map skills. We have learned about keys and symbols on a map and we will be studying the continents and oceans. We will also be learning about the directions and the hemispheres.

There will be a quiz on the 7 continents and 4 oceans-FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH!


Math
We will start by studying
chapter 1. This chapter is called, “Place Value.”

Check out the music blog!
http://www.ccsd66music.com/




What Mrs. Spakausky’s Class will Pack in their Box Marked Summer-Poem
By Mrs. Spakausky’s Third Graders 2008-2009

Jonathan will pack away memories of being a Cub Scout in the 4th of July Parade,
While Ross will remember his vacation in Florida and staying in a neat hotel.

Eve will remember swimming with friends at Cypress Cove,
While Adam won’t forget memories of Disney World and his favorite ride, Space Mountain.

Elena will pack away memories of being on Lake Michigan and her corn-on-the-cob fight,
While Jennifer will remember walking everywhere and seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York.

Lucas will never forget playing carpetball and swimming at camp in Indiana,
While Steven D. will remember playing sandpit tag at Camp Rodgers in Michigan.

Kailee will pack away her memories of the tropical storm while she was in Florida,
And Marc will remember the Mall of America in Minnesota.

Olivia will remember her birthday party at the pool,
While Allison won’t forget donating $90 to the Rhinos for her birthday, in place of presents.

Max will always remember the Nickelodeon Cruise and meeting the person, who does the voice for Sponge Bob and Sam and Freddy,
And Eric will pack away memories of seeing Clone Wars for his birthday.

Stephen K. will remember playing video games, especially the complete Star Wars Saga,
While Alec won’t ever forget going to Space Camp and meeting a famous astronaut.

Natalie will pack away memories of rock climbing at Lifetime Fitness for her birthday party,
And Ethan will remember hiking and camping at Yosemite Park (and seeing a bear).

Chantalle will never forget her trip to Costa Rica and seeing the volcano,
While Emily will never forget visiting Yellow Lake in Wisconsin.

Finally, Mrs. Spakausky will pack away memories of the beach at Braidwood, tubing in Wisconsin, whale watching in Monterey, the museums and zoos in Chicago and our cousin’s wedding in San Francisco!
Good-bye Summer!
Have a good week!
Mrs. Spakausky