May 17, 2024

Hi Families!  This week students attended an orchestra demonstration to learn about the orchestra program in District 96.  Students also had an opportunity to play the string instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass) and listen to an orchestra performance by Woodlawn students. It was great fun!

This evening is the Family Picnic from 5:00-7:00 pm.  Please stop by to say, “hi” and enjoy terrific food and games!   

Field Day Lunch:

The PTO would like to provide a FREE pizza lunch with a drink, side, and dessert to all students on Field Day, May 29th. If you would NOT like your child to receive the pizza lunch, please fill out THIS SURVEY. If you choose for your child not to participate, there will be normal hot lunch options available in the cafeteria.

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: Students learned and practiced how to write and solve equations for 2-step word problems containing parentheses and variables.  Students were reminded that when there are two operations in an equation, parentheses tell you what to do first.  A checkpoint was given later in the week on Target 3.OA.8 (Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding).

Reading: We read “The Wave Catcher” which is an article about how Duke Kahanamoku set out on a mission to bring surfing to America. We also read “The Record Breaker which was about how Carissa Moore became the first female surfer to win an Olympic gold medal.  WIth these two articles, students identified text features, details that were similar and different, and learned new vocabulary (beloved, culture, hooked, spectacular, stunts).

Writing:  We planned our new analytic prompt using TAK (Topic, Audience, Key Words), a divided circle map, and the Core 4 (Simple Sentence, Number Sentence, Question, Situation/Stance) to write a multi-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting how Duke Kahanamoku and Carissa Moore are similar and different.  Students were reminded to use examples and details from both texts to support their ideas.  They were also reminded to indent  each new paragraph, and edit for proper capitalization and punctuation.

Science: We started our final science unit of Environmental Influences On Traits.  Students learned the definition of influence and looked at different examples of what caused a specific environmental trail (nutrient availability, diet, weather, space availability, camouflage).  We also played a game called Keep or Pass Inherited or Environmental Traits.  Students had to decide if a given statement was inherited or environmental.  Before the points were revealed, students had to decide if they wanted to keep or pass them to another team.  We also did a Mystery Science lesson on the topic, “How long can people (and animals) survive in outer space?”  Students learned how physical traits can be influenced by the environment.  Students also analyzed how a NASA astronaut’s traits changed during their “year in space”.  Each student measured their own physical traits (arm strength, height, and balance) and made a prediction of how their traits may change after living in space.

Important Dates: 

-Friday, May 17th-Family Picnic-5:00-7:00 pm

-Tuesday, May 21st-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Thursday, May 23rd-Dessert Day

-Friday, May 24th-½ day-Students dismissed at 11:45 am 

-Monday, May 27th-No School-Memorial Day

-Tuesday, May 28th-3rd Grade Field Trip to Botanic Gardens

-Wednesday, May 29th-Field Day

-Thursday, May 30th-Field Day Rain Date

-Friday, May 31st-Last Day of School; Students dismissed at 11:45 am; Report Cards online

Have a great weekend!

May 10, 2024

Hi Families!  Thank you so much for making all the Kildeer Staff feel extra special this Teacher Appreciation Week.  We are so fortunate to work with such amazing students and families!

The Volunteer Breakfast this week was also a special celebration.  We enjoyed spending time with parents who helped at class parties and/or school events.  We can’t thank you enough for all that you do!  

Field Day Lunch:

The PTO would like to provide a FREE pizza lunch with a drink, side, and dessert to all students on Field Day, May 29th. If you would NOT like your child to receive the pizza lunch, please fill out THIS SURVEY. If you choose for your child not to participate, there will be normal hot lunch options available in the cafeteria. 

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: Students took a Fractions Checkpoint on Targets 3.NF.2 (Understand a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram), 3.NF.3 (Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions.  Explain why the fractions are equivalent.  Express whole numbers as fractions, and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers), and 3.NF.3d (Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size.  Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole.  Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions).  This week students also solved division or multiplication equations with an unknown quantity and learned about the Order of Operations.  Students then practice solving 2-step word problems using variables and/or parenthesis.

Reading: We read two new articles this week, “Sneaker Nation” and “Jeans Take Over”.  We discussed text features found in both articles to better help us understand both texts.  We also compared and contrasted “Sneaker Nation” and “Jeans Take Over”.  Next, we summarized both articles and identified cause and effect relationships.

Writing:  We planned our new analytic prompt using TAK (Topic, Audience, Key Words), a divided circle map, and the Core 4 (Simple Sentence, Number Sentence, Question, Situation/Stance) to write a multi-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the history of sneakers and jeans.  Students were reminded to use examples and details from both texts to support their ideas.

Social Studies: Students finished researching, writing out their speech, and practicing it for the Wax Museum.  Today several Kildeer students from various grades came into our classroom to hear speeches.  Students had so much fun with this assignment!

Important Dates: 

-Friday, May 17th-Family Picnic-5:00-7:00 pm

-Tuesday, May 21st-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Thursday, May 23rd-Dessert Day

-Friday, May 24th-½ day-Students dismissed at 11:45 am 

-Monday, May 27th-No School-Memorial Day

-Tuesday, May 28th-3rd Grade Field Trip to Botanic Gardens

-Wednesday, May 29th-Field Day

-Thursday, May 30th-Field Day Rain Date

-Friday, May 31st-Last Day of School; Students dismissed at 11:45 am; Report Cards online

Have a great weekend!

May 3, 2024

Hi Families!  This week was very busy!  We had Early Release on Tuesday, Map Testing on Wednesday and Thursday, and Special Lunch on Friday.  Some students also got to take part in the Stevenson Art Show!

As a reminder, Wednesday, May 8th is the PTO Volunteer Breakfast from 7:45-8:15 am in the cafeteria..  If you have helped during any of our class parties or school events this year, we would love to see you there!

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: We began our last math unit on fractions.  We reviewed the definition of fraction, numerator, and denominator.  Students also learned what an improper fraction is and what a mixed number is.   We then worked on dividing a number line in a fraction, as well as locating and labeling fractions on a number line.  Utilizing an egg carton container, students had an opportunity to create equivalent fractions.  Students also compared fractions with same numerators and unlike denominators or unlike numerators and same denominators.  We ended the week by taking a checkpoint on Target 3.OA.8 (Solve two-step word problems using the four operations. Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity. Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding).

Reading: This week we continued working on Targets IT3.3 (Demonstrates comprehension of a text by describing the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect), IT.3.9 (Demonstrates comprehension of a text by comparing and contrasting the most important points and key details presented in two texts on the same topic), IT.3.2 ( Demonstrates comprehension of a text by determining the main idea of a text; recounting the key details and explaining how they support the main idea) with “Monster Goldfish” and “Pigs on the Loose”.   

Writing:  We planned our new analytic prompt using TAK (Topic, Audience, Key Words), a divided circle map, and the Core 4 (Simple Sentence, Number Sentence, Question, Situation/Stance) to write a multi-paragraph essay  of similarities and differences between Monster Goldfish and Wild Pigs.  Students also learned the “Block It Out” Strategy to help them organize their writing.

Science: Some of our caterpillars have turned into beautiful butterflies!  We love watching them grow and flourish!

Social Studies: Students began researching their famous person for our Wax Museum.  They were given an organizer to fill out that included: name of their person, time period person lived in, birthdate, reason this person is famous, experiences that made this person famous, important contributions this person made to society, biggest obstacle, and three or more interesting facts about this person.

As a reminder, the research and paragraph will be completed at school.  We will present the results of this work at a Wax Museum in our classroom on Friday, May 10th in the afternoon.

Important Dates: 

-Week of May 6th-Staff Appreciation 

-Wednesday, May 8th-PTO Volunteer Breakfast

-Friday, May 17th-Family Picnic-5:00-7:00 pm

-Tuesday, May 21st-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Thursday, May 23rd-Dessert Day

-Friday, May 24th-½ day-Students dismissed at 11:45 am 

-Monday, May 27th-No School-Memorial Day

-Tuesday, May 28th-3rd Grade Field Trip (more information to come soon!)

-Wednesday, May 29th-Field Day

-Thursday, May 30th-Field Day Rain Date

-Friday, May 31st-Last Day of School; Students dismissed at 11:45 am; Report Cards online

Have a great weekend!

April 26, 2024

Hi Families!  This week we reviewed school expectations, specifically honing in on the use of appropriate language.  We read The Very Inappropriate Word and discussed how we can use expected language across all school settings.  After this lesson, students were told they could earn a weekly extra recess by following expected behaviors.  However, if these behaviors are not followed, students will fill out a behavior sheet and meet with Mrs. Cumpata or Mr. Higgins.  

This week we also celebrated Earth Day by reading books and sharing jokes!  In addition, we visited the Book Fair.  There were some amazing books we purchased!  

As a reminder, Tuesday, April 30th is an Early Release.  Students will be dismissed at 2:05 pm this day.

Wednesday, May 1st and Thursday, May 2nd is Map Testing.  Please make sure your child comes to school with a fully charged iPad.  Thanks in advance.

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: We reviewed for the Unit 6 Post Test.  Students participated in an Escape Room and Jeopardy.  At the end of the week, students took the assessment.  Targets included: 3.G.1

(Understand that shapes in different categories may share attributes, and that the shared attributes can define a larger category. Recognize rhombuses, rectangles, and squares as examples of quadrilaterals, and draw examples of quadrilaterals that do not belong to any of these subcategories), 3.MD.7d (Recognize area as additive. Find areas of rectilinear figures by decomposing them into non-overlapping rectangles and adding the areas of the non-overlapping parts, applying this technique to solve real-world problems), 3.MD.8

(Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving perimeters of polygons, including finding the perimeter given the side lengths, finding an unknown side length, and exhibiting rectangles with the same perimeter and different areas or with the same area and different perimeters).

Reading: Text Features were reviewed. Examples included: Title, Headings, Captions, Bold Words, Photographs, Charts.  Students then looked through Scholastic News with a partner and recorded text features they found, why they were important, and what they told the reader.  Later in the week we read Chimpanzees and Jane Goodall and compared and contrasted these two stories.  We also compared/contrasted Monster Goldfish and Wild Pigs.

Writing:  We reviewed components of Analytic writing.  Students used the article “The Race To Save Rhinos” to do a quick write on reasons why the rhino population is at risk.  Students also completed a quick write on the article “The Day the Sun Disappears” to explain how a solar eclipse happens using two pieces of text evidence to support their answers.  At the end of th week, students used the texts Monster Goldfish and Wild Pigs, to wrote how they are similar and different.  With all writing pieces, students were reminded to provide two pieces of text evidence to support their answers.  

Science: Our caterpillars are thriving!  They are beginning to turn into chrysalises and eventually will emerge into butterflies.  We love monitoring all of the changes taking place!

Social Studies: Students worked in groups to investigate key events and people that took steps toward justice and equality and presented their research to the class.  Students were then given the  essential question, “Who plays a role in bringing about change?”  Students investigated the roles that citizens played in the March on Washington and the importance of each role.  

Students were also given information about our upcoming Wax Museum.  They filled out a google form indicating their top three choices of who they would like to research and were then notified of their famous person.  As a reminder, your child will research then write a paragraph about their person.  The paragraph will be presented in a speech format.  All of this will be completed at school.  We will present the results of this work at a Wax Museum in our classroom on Friday, May 10th in the afternoon.

Important Dates: 

-Tuesday, April 30th-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Wednesday, May 1st-MAP Testing

-Thursday, May 2nd-MAP Testing

-Friday, May 3rd-Special Lunch-Papa Johns

-Week of May 6th-Staff Appreciation 

-Wednesday, May 8th-PTO Volunteer Breakfast

-Friday, May 17th-Family Picnic-5:00-7:00 pm

-Tuesday, May 21st-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Thursday, May 23rd-Dessert Day

-Friday, May 24th-½ day-Students dismissed at 11:45 am 

-Monday, May 27th-No School-Memorial Day

-Tuesday, May 28th-3rd Grade Field Trip (more information to come soon!)

-Wednesday, May 29th-Field Day

-Thursday, May 30th-Field Day Rain Date

-Friday, May 31st-Last Day of School; Students dismissed at 11:45 am; Report Cards online

Have a great weekend!

April 18, 2024

Hi Families!  This week we met with our buddies to celebrate Earth Day.  Students listened to a read aloud titled The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be and created a hot air balloon craft made out of recycled materials.                                                 .  

As a reminder, there is no school tomorrow as it is a Teacher Institute Day.  Tuesday, April 30th is an Early Release.  Students will be dismissed at 2:05 pm that day.

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: Students took a Unit 7 Pretest.  Targets covered included: 3.NF.3 (Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions  Explain why the fractions are equivalent.  Express whole numbers as fractions and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers), 3.NF.3d (Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size.  Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole.  Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions), 3.OA.8 (Solve two-step word problems using the four operations.  Represent these problems using equations with a letter standing for the unknown quantity,  Assess the reasonableness of answers using mental computation and estimation strategies including rounding), 3.NF.2 (Understand a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram).

Students also took part in stations where they solved area word problems, found the area of rectilinear shapes, classified quadrilaterals, and identified time to the nearest minute.  Guess Who was also played where students drew a shape on a piece of paper and colored it in.  Their partner had to ask yes or no questions to guess the shape, covering up options the answer could not be.

Reading: We took a CFA on Target Lit 3.9 (compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters) and L.3.4 (Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases) using the texts When Little Bear Would Not Work and When Mother Skunk Helped Little Bear.  We also continued reading our assigned book for our book study groups and answered comprehension questions using the RACE Strategy.

Writing: Students took a PBA in which they had to write a new narrative story about Little Bear.  They had to use what they know about the characters, setting, and events from When Little Bear Would Not Work and When Mother Skunk Helped Little Bear to choose a new idea for their story.  Targets assessed on the PBA included: L.3.1 (Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking), L.3.2f (Use spelling patterns and generalizations in writing words), NW.3a.1 (Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters), NW.3a.2 (Organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally), NW.3b (Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations), NW.3c (Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order), NW.3d (Provide a sense of closure)  

Social Studies: We read “What is Citizenship” and determined whether specific examples such as voting, respecting the environment, and choosing where to live are rights or responsibilities.  We also learned the difference between equality and inequality along with what actions contribute to equality and what the causes and impacts of inequality are.  As the week progressed, students learned about different types of laws: Jim Crow, Federal, State, Local and what creates barriers between people.

Important Dates: 

-Friday, April 19th-No School (Teacher Institute)

-Tuesday, April 30th-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Wednesday, May 1st-MAP Testing

-Thursday, May 2nd-MAP Testing

-Friday, May 3rd-Special Lunch-Papa Johns

-Week of May 6th-Staff Appreciation 

-Wednesday, May 8th-PTO Volunteer Breakfast

-Friday, May 17th-Family Picnic-5:00-7:00 pm

-Tuesday, May 21st-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

-Thursday, May 23rd-Dessert Day

-Friday, May 24th-½ day-Students dismissed at 11:45 am 

-Monday, May 27th-No School-Memorial Day

-Tuesday, May 28th-3rd Grade Field Trip (more information to come soon!)

-Wednesday, May 29th-Field Day

-Thursday, May 30th-Field Day Rain Date

-Friday, May 31st-Last Day of School; Students dismissed at 11:45 am; Report Cards online

Have a great weekend!

April 12, 2024

Hi Families!  On Monday we were fortunate enough to view the Solar Eclipse.  Before we went outside, we discussed the importance of not looking directly at the sun without the viewing glasses provided to us. After seeing the eclipse, students participated in classroom activities such as the stats of eclipses, solar humor, and a word search.

Items Needed for Buddies on 4/18

Please have your child bring to school clean and empty paper towel tubes and/or toilet paper tubes.  We will be using them next Thursday for our Buddy Activity.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Classroom Reminder:

Daily snacks should come from the Daily Snack List.  

  

This week in…

Math: Students worked in small groups to complete shape tasks in which they had to build the least amount of shapes as possible and include diagrams to show their thinking.  Tasks included: has three angles, has four sides, has a perimeter of 20 cm, is a polygon, has equal sides, has an area of 16 sq. cm.  Afterwards, students took part in a class discussion to answer: Which constraints pair nicely? Which constraints cannot be paired?  Is it possible to solve in a 2, 3, or 4 shape?  We also reviewed telling time and finding the area of rectilinear shapes.  We then played a game of Who Dun It in which students had to solve ten clues to determine the animal described and what problem they had.  The week ended with a March Number Corner Assessment on Target 3.MD.1.1 (Tell and write time to the nearest minute).

Reading: Students continued reading their assigned book and answering comprehension questions for our Book Club.  Being prepared, listening and respecting each other’s ideas, asking questions, and using the RACE Strategy were some key aspects when meeting with me.  Comprehension Strategies were also utilized.  These included: monitoring comprehension, asking questions, visualizing, connecting to background knowledge, making inferences, determining importance, and summarizing and sythesizing.

Writing:  A student friendly narrative rubric was reviewed with students.  Criteria for how to earn a mastery or extends for establishing a situation, organization, using dialogue, actions, thoughts and feelings to develop characters, temporal words, closing, and conventions were shared.  Once students were reminded of this, they took part in a mini lesson of fixing sentence fragments.  They then had an opportunity to continue working on their narrative story about what Jasper Rabbit found creepy and how he dealt with it.  

Science: We wrapped up our unit on inheritance and variation in traits.  Students took a CFA on Target 3-LS3-1.  For this assessment, students were asked to look at a picture of a dog and determine which dogs could possibly be its parents noting similarities and differences in traits.  Students were also asked to look at a group of puppies who are siblings and tell why they do not look exactly like each other.

Science: Today we learned about our class pets, caterpillars!  Over the next several weeks, students will be observing how the caterpillars change into butterflies.

Social Studies: We began a new unit on the 20th Century Civil Rights Movement.  Some vocabulary terms students learned were: equality, justice, citizen, protest, right, civil right, citizenship, responsibility.  As a class, we discussed how people voting, volunteering, speaking out, and marching are working for equity and justice.  We then discussed what are some rights  and responsibilities we have both at school and home.  Next, we explored how people and the government participate in protecting our rights and learned about each of the branches of government.  

Important Dates: 

-Wednesday, April 17th-Dessert Day

-Thursday, April 18th-Early Release-Students dismissed at 11:45 am

-Friday, April 19th-No School (Teacher Institute)

-Tuesday, April 30th-Early Release-Students dismissed at 2:05 pm

Have a great weekend!