Spelling Dictation

1.  Mrs. Pulido said that if we behave well in the next few weeks, we will have another celebration as an added bonus privilege in the classroom.

2.  A student said she will bring brownie-flavored ice cream treats for everyone.

3.  Another student said he wanted to share his delicious burrito from Chipotle.

4.  Our teacher does not appreciate it when students freely blurt their comments aloud without waiting for their turn to speak.

5.  We do not blame her for being frustrated, so we will make sure to be respectful of each other before we start planning fun activities. 

Peek at the Week News January 30th, 2012

Dear Parents,

First and foremost, thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and generosity in sharing a wonderful celebration of my birthday last week! The Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (heaven!), gift cards to Target (my happy place!), balloons, and other treats definitely left me feeling loved and pampered. Thank you. I will post pictures taken by Mrs. Vargas as soon as I can.

Unfortunately, I have no time to give you a detailed blog with pictures of our countless activities today as our main focus has been measuring 3rd grade students' the middle of the year DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) benchmark goals.

There is no need to practice/study for the DIBELS testing. The DIBELS measures were specifically designed to individually administer and assess 3rd grade skills, such as:

ORF - Oral Reading Fluency:  Assesses your child's skill of reading connected text in grade-level material word.

WUF - Word Use Fluency:  Individually administered to test vocabulary and oral language skills.


A printout of results will be available sometime next week.

~Mrs. Pulido

Peek at the Week News January 23rd, 2012

Dear Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Use PSIA Words #21-40 for this week's definitions. Practice dictation and study for vocabulary words for crossword puzzle test on Friday.

Reading: We finished our wonderful Chinese folktales unit on Monday with a celebration of Chinese New Year! We made dragon puppets to commemorate 2012's Year of the Dragon, and used them to do a Dragon Dance parade. We danced to the beat of the percussion and paraded from classroom to classroom. In the afternoon, we had a Chopsticks Contest (object of the game is to pick up each popcorn in his/her plate with chopsticks and move them from one side to another. Winners received a red envelope containing a free homework pass). This week, we began an introduction to the Middle Ages and the legend of King Arthur. I distributed a copy of the children's version of Knights of the Round Table edited by Gwen Gross. Please remind your child that the paperback book belongs to 3rd grade classroom, so please make sure the book is taken care of properly.

English/Grammar: We continue to practice choosing the correct verb tenses and subject-verb agreement in class.

Math: We continue our Geometry unit learning about: ordered pairs, symmetry, and transformation. In class, we will reinforce math vocabulary concepts using art. We will return to the computer lab to complete our assessment in ALEKS. At home, continue to review and fill in your pie.

Religion: In preparation for Catholic Schools Week (begins Sunday with 10 AM Mass and Open House), we are working on our Prayer Corner Paper Quilt. Each day, we continue to pray with special intentions, and we write our prayers in small paper cards. We have collected those cards and will remind each other of the prayers we have shared since the beginning of the year. Many of our prayers have been answered, and we will use our prayer quilt to remind each other about the power of prayer.

Have a blessed week!

Weekly Spelling Dictation Sentences PSIA Words #1-20

1. While I was out shopping, I found an adorable Cleaning Robot that I really wanted.
2. I knew that I had to save up a few weeks' worth of my allowance to be able to afford it.
3. I almost bought it, but I knew I had to save first.
4. The Cleaning Robot has the ability to clean everything all over the world.
5. It can adjust itself to fit in those hard to reach areas and keeps everything clean.

Our Great Halls of Discovery! Come see our hallway display in Math, Science, and Social Studies this week.

They, too, have a dream! "I have a dream that we will all come together and protect God's creation," "I have a dream that  we all stop fighting," "I have a dream that everyone will be nice to each other," and "I have a dream that there will be a cure for cancer," were just some of the notable dreams our kids have today. 

Invention Convention: Some of our "products" are on display in the hallway.  A "Hand Machine" is one  example to make life easier. According to the "inventor," this product washes your hair for you when you go camping, but it is most useful for those who are in physical therapy. 

Geometry in Art: The "Artwork of Triangles" project is designed to reinforce our 3rd graders' understanding of math concepts and vocabulary. Upon completion of our Triangles lesson, there is visual evidence of the understanding of the different types of triangles, including: right triangles, isosceles triangles, equilateral triangles, and scalene triangles. 

More Products Available at the Invention Convention! Drawing Machine,  The Lifter,  Fetch...Dog,  APWC (All Place in the World Car), and more!

Our Hard Work on Display!

John checks his ALEKS Math progress in computer lab.

Hardworking 3rd graders focus on getting their Math work done in computer lab. 

Our lessons come to life! Using the Smartboard and Discovery United Streaming technology, 3rd graders are captivated while listening and watching an eloquent speaker. On video, Martin Luther King, Jr. , delivered his prophetic vision of a better world in his "I Have a Dream" speech.  

As MLK Jr. mentioned regions and states in his famous speech, students used their geography skills to locate each state on the map. 

Students worked together to locate regions around the United States after  listening to MLK Jr.'s speech.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." - MLK Jr.

Oh, just a regular TO DO LIST we plan to tackle in the future, no big deal! :)
Writing Prompt - "I Have a Dream: How to Make the World A Better Place." 

Peek at the Week News, January 16th, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Spelling/Vocabulary: We started a new routine in Vocabulary and Spelling this week! From now on, we will use the PSIA Spelling words (I distributed a complete list to the students today) for our Vocabulary and Spelling. This week, we will use PSIA Words #1-20 to look up definitions in the dictionary. Definitions are due on Wednesday. In addition to the definitions, students will also copy weekly dictation sentences which include five of the new vocabulary words in class before the test. They must be able to use correct punctuation and capitalization to receive full credit for the quiz. Vocabulary, Spelling, and Dictation tests from now on are combined in one paper test using the crossword puzzle format every Friday (no more weekly Thursday tests).

Reading: Celebrating Chinese New Year traditions (Chinese New Year is on January 23rd this year) is an international cultural celebration. We will learn a little bit about Chinese culture and discuss the significance of the Year of the Dragon. We will read folktales, learn about Chinese cultural traditions, learn how to use chopsticks, and make paper lanterns. Using our Thinking Maps strategy, we will compare and contrast our New Year's traditions with the Chinese New Year traditions.

English: We continue to review verb tenses and subject verb agreements in class. Please encourage your child to complete English class work as much as possible because their work strongly reflects their biweekly chapter tests.

Math: During our morning work, we used our supplementary workbooks in Geometry and Spatial Reasoning to review what we have learned in our ALEKS MyPie and textbook lessons. We are introduced to lines of symmetry, congruent two dimensional figures, and comparing shapes and solids. Last week, we created art through geometry by using different types of triangles as collage to make a poster. Have your child attempt to master at least 4 topics (of his/her choice) in the ALEKS MyPie each night.

Religion: Using our school planner as a guide, we learned the different seasons of the Liturgical Year. We will observe the events in Ordinary Time.

Science: The combination of imagination and knowledge brings to life a powerful force of creativity in learning. Our Science "Invention Convention" project gave 3rd graders the opportunity to build a model of a technology-related invention using at least two different simple machines they learned in class. Students drew blueprints of what they intended to build, wrote product descriptions, and used persuasive speaking techniques (i.e., "sales pitching") to present and promote their inventions to "potential buyers" (their classmates). If you get a chance to check out our hallway display, have your child explain his/her invention to you. This week, we will begin a review of another Weather unit as part of an introduction to natural disasters and their cause and effect.

Social Studies:  "We Dare to Dream" Inspired by the words of an eloquent speaker and fearless leader, 3rd graders borrowed the words and spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. In our own words, we dare to share our dreams to make the world a better place. This week, we will learn about celebrations in different cultures. As a cross-curricular study to our Reading unit's Chinese New Year lessons, we will discuss how we celebrate New Year in different parts of the world.

Notes/Reminder:
1. Thanks to all parents who have already donated for the Casino basket! We still need more items, so please don't forget to include us in your shopping list.

Have a blessed week!
~Mrs. Pia Villanueva-Pulido

Think the Holidays are Over? Think Again! We Continue to Celebrate in 3rd Grade.

Senora Lynn with the 3rd Graders celebrating El Dia de Los Reyes Magos

Star-studded bulletin board to celebrate Three Kings

The Rosca Bread: The tradition of placing a trinket (a small figurine of the baby  Jesus) hidden in the rosca bread signifies  the flight of Jesus from King Herod.

3rd Graders prepared food (shoebox filled with grass) for the kings' camels the day before Three Kings' Day.

The next morning, 3rd graders found little sweet surprises ("gold" star medal, compass, and  a Ring Pop) to kickstart their celebration of El Dia de los Reyes Magos on January 6th. 

Celebrating another accomplishment: Ross Downes completed his Addition Math Facts QuickTables in Computer lab !

Peek at the Week News January 9th, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Unit 18 is the final weekly chapter in the Sadlier-Oxford Vocabulary Workshop textbook. Next week, we will review our skills and begin our PSIA Spelling List. Unit 18 workbook pages are due on Wednesday. Unit 18 Vocabulary Quiz on Thursday. Unit 18 Spelling Test on Friday.

Reading: Using the Essential Skills supplementary workbook, we will analyze point of view and purpose, identify literary forms and sources of information, and apply prior knowledge. We will also begin a new novel unit which is a children's version of Knights of the Round Table.

English: More on Verbs: Verb Tenses (Past, Present, Future) with Subject-Verb Agreement

Math: We continue with our Geometry lessons in the textbook this week focusing on classifying polygons (by the number of sides, vertices, angles, quadrilateral), identifying different types of triangles (right, isosceles, equilateral, scalene), and identifying congruent and similar figures. In computer lab, we will work on covering ALEKS topics in more complex multiplication and division problems as well as reinforcing what we learned in class by covering ALEKS topics in Geometry. Recommended practice at home is to cover at least four topics per night (two in Multiplication/Division slice, and two in Geometry slice).

Religion: Last week, in collaboration with Sra. Lynn's Spanish class, we celebrated El Dia de los Reyes Magos (The Day of the Three Kings) by learning the religious and cultural significance of the feast day celebrating the Epiphany. Students discussed and reviewed the story of the Three Wise Men, ate the "rosca" bread, which is the Spanish king's cake pastry traditionally eaten on January 6th. In most of Spain and Spanish speaking countries, January 6th is the day when children traditionally receive presents, which are attributed to the Three Kings (not Santa Claus). Since the kings rode camels the night before, kids leave their shoe or an empty box stuffed with grass to give the camels something to eat. In the morning of the feast day, the grass is gone but a sweet surprise is usually left in its place! 3rd graders received some sweet treats when they returned to school that day!

Science: We will continue building our models in class (using simple machines) and begin to demonstrate our inventions this week. We will also conduct and collect data with our observations.

Social Studies: We will discuss Dr. Martin Luther King's role in the civil rights movement and briefly recount how segregation affected his childhood. We will watch video clips and discuss parts of his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Notes/Reminder:
1. 2nd Quarter grades will close this Friday. Be on the lookout for report cards mid-month. We will soon begin 3rd quarter.

Have a blessed week!
~Mrs. Pia Villanueva-Pulido

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 3rd Grade Peek at the Week News January 3rd, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Weekly testing schedule changed this week! All Unit 17 workbook pages due tomorrow (Thursday) but Unit 17 Quiz is on Friday. Spelling Test Unit 17 moved to Monday.

Reading: Essential skills practice in facts vs. opinions, making predictions, and making inferences.

English: Chapter 13 Test over Main and Helping Verbs tomorrow. We will do a group review today. Study page 462.

Math: Students are introduced to Geometry as they explore plane and solid figures, perimeter, area, volume, congruent and similar figures in the textbook on Chapter 9. In ALEKS, most students are still working on completing their Multiplication and Division portion of the pie, but students this week are encouraged to master at least two topics in the Multiplication/Division portion, and two topics in the Geometry portion at home.

Religion: Students will learn and know the cultural and religious significance of celebrating The Three Kings this week (cross curricular study in their Spanish class).

Science: We will continue to explore technology innovations, inventions, and simple machines.

Notes/Reminder:
1. Ask your child about what he/she wrote in today's composition assignment (New Year's Resolutions) and discuss ways to improve themselves.
2. Spirit Day tomorrow. Wear plain jeans and Spirit Day shirt.
3. This week's Tuesday folders will not log in any homework defaults/flips - new year = clean slate! Keep your kids motivated as we complete the second half of the year.
4. Thank you for your generosity as you have showered and pampered the 3rd grade teacher this Christmas! I am blessed to witness the growth and development of your children, and I am equally blessed to have strong partnerships with their parents.

~Mrs. Pia Villanueva-Pulido