Peek at the Week News April 23rd, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: PSIA Words #261 to 280 definitions due on Wednesday. Test on Friday.

English: All About Adjectives: Adjectives That Compare, Adjectives That Tell What Kind/How Many and Articles

Reading/Social Studies/Science/Character Building: Last week, we enjoyed a very meaningful lesson from the wisdom of classic children's books such as The Giving Tree and The Lorax. By analyzing the narrative elements and fictional characters' decisions from simple children's stories from Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss, students became aware of how the choices they make affect others and their communities. In celebration of Earth Day, we learned a little about environmental Science. Students became aware of the importance of sustainability, economy, and technology to their environment. They also learned that making wise choices about these things will help make a positive impact for their future. All these great lessons stem from the simplicity of widely popular children's books. What a great reminder that we are never too old to learn from the wisdom of children's literature!

As we continue to celebrate April's National Poetry Month, students are working on carefully selecting their poems to perform on stage for the Spoken Word open mic show on April 30th in the Parish Hall (parents are invited - more details such as time, props, etc to follow). Many of the 3rd graders have already shown me at least two or three poems that they are considering, and I will help each student make a final selection to practice. Ask your child if he/she has already shown me at least two poems for consideration. A good performance consists of the following:

• Preparedness
• Enthusiasm
• Posture and Eye Contact
• Pitch (Voice/Volume to convey appropriate emotions)
• Speaks Clearly
• Listens to Other Presentations

Consider practicing with your child at home every night. I will have the winners of the PSIA Poetry Interpretation district contests from 5th grade to perform in front of my 3rd graders  as examples for their performances in my class.

Math: Outside of computer lab time filling up our pies in ALEKS, we have done some fun, hands-on lessons using our Elmo and Smartboard to review lessons in Fractions and Measurements. Students made and used their own fraction strips to represent the length model, discover fraction relationships, and work with equivalent fractions. At this stage of the unit, students have been able to demonstrate understanding that a fraction can be represented as part of a whole. Continue to work on the ALEKS MyPie for practice. Focus on Fractions. 

Religion: This week, we will make connections with the Last Supper to our First Holy Mass and understand the Bread of Life. In celebration of the 3rd week of Easter, we will discuss what the word MINISTRY means in our faith. 

Notes/Reminder:

1. Mark April 30th in your calendar: Spoken Word Open Mic Show. Details such as time and other necessary props to follow. You are more than welcome (but not obligated) to attend.

2. May Crowning is first week of May. More details to follow as well. 

Holy Week Guest Speaker: Mr. Michael Marquez

3rd Graders Get Up Close as They Listen to Mr. Marquez share his faith and reminds them that God has a special plan for us. What a great way to end our Holy Week and begin our Easter season with renewed faith!

Peek at the Week News April 11, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Spelling/Vocabulary: PSIA Defintions #221-240 due on Thursday. Vocabulary and Spelling Test in crossword puzzle format on Friday.

Reading: In celebration of April's National Poetry Month, we will dedicate an extended unit on poetry. As we learn and discover poets, we will begin to select some of our favorite poems that have personal meanings to perform at our "Annual Open Mic Show"at the end of the month. Please discuss and help your child select a poem in the coming weeks. Details to follow.

English:  We began our 4th and final quarter of 3rd grade, and this is the time of the year for review. This week, we will focus on cumulative review and revisit the grammar rules we have learned since the beginning of the year. We will review Chapters 1-25 covering units on:

• Sentences
• Subjects and Predicates
• Complete Sentences
• Common and Proper Nouns
• Singular and Plural Nouns
• Verbs
• Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
• Verb Tenses
• Irregular Verbs
• Subject and Object Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Adjectives

Math: Once again, I will continue to assess benchmark goals in the core subjects to prepare them for 4th grade. As we align our learning mode with the ALEKS program, we continue to revisit our textbook and cross check Math topics in our 3rd grade benchmark goals. This week, we will do a cumulative review over Chapters 1-12 covering units on:

• Place Value
• Addition (with Regrouping)
• Subtraction (with Borrowing)
• Multiplication Concepts and Facts
• Division Concepts and Facts
• Statistics and Probability
• Measurement and Time
• Geometry
• Multiplication with Regrouping
• Division (with Remainders)
• Fractions

Practice on ALEKS will help with any or all of these topics covered in the textbook.

Religion: We had a very eventful Holy Week last week, taking time to reflect on our lives with campus-wide events, including the Living Stations of the Cross. We also had a special guest speaker Mr. Michael Marquez who shared his faith with us. He told a wonderful story to the kids and showed them a neat paper trick using only one sheet of paper to make a cross. His reminder about how God has a special plan for us really resonated in our hearts during this Holy Week. Our 3rd graders this year as so blessed with the gift of having such faith-filled parents and role models in their lives.

We continue to celebrate the season of Easter by discussing how we proclaim the Resurrection. For reflection, we discussed how singing or rejoicing in "Alleluia" move us to share the good news of Resurrection with others. We will brainstorm some practical, age-appropriate ways that we can share in the mission of the Church by examining our faith focus through journal reflection: What did the first witnesses of the Resurrection tell us about Jesus? How can we be a witness to the Risen Lord?

Science: Using last week's tornado warning experience, we will review and create together a learning unit on tornadoes. We have learned how tornadoes are formed, and we also learned basic tornado safety tips last week. This week, we will review the United States geography to locate the "tornado alley," look at video clips of recent tornadoes in our surrounding area, and discuss ways we can help our community.

Notes/Reminder:

I just have to say that I am so proud of all of our 3rd graders who were so brave during the tornado warning. They acted quickly and behaved so well. We evacuated the school and the rectory in a few minutes and quickly gathered everyone in the basement under the cafeteria. The 3rd graders stood still when we told them, they sat down when we asked them, and the entire school recited the rosary in unison. I was so moved by how well we all came together as a school and church community. Good job, everyone! :)

Blindfold Stations of the Cross with Guest Speaker Pati Tinajero

Peek at the Week News March 27th, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Definitions are due tomorrow for PSIA Words #181 to 200. No dictation sentences this week. Test is crossword puzzle format on Friday.

Reading: We are learning all the parts and terminology of a Shakesperean sonnet! The kids have been so eager to learn higher level Language Arts concepts from being exposed to the narrative elements of Shakespeare's plays. This week, we will discuss the following concepts: number of lines in a sonnet, iambic pentameter, rhyme scheme, and identifying quatrains. Encourage your child to look over class notes (and keep them handy in class for reference) for an upcoming quiz.

Math: We are learning and reviewing Division With Remainders (with two digit quotients). We are spending quite a bit of time reviewing our math multiplication and division facts, as many of us have forgotten them! We're back to Math drilling in class as well as spending some time in computer lab so that I can assist them with their ALEKS issues. I thank you all for your patience as we continue the last quarter finishing up our MyPie charts.

English: We are almost done with our Pronouns lessons (Possessive Pronouns). Our next lessons are on Adjectives. We continue to do grammar reviews in class with songs and class work.

Religion: As we continue our Lenten journey, we have had the privilege of welcoming faith-filled guest speakers who have shared so many wonderful insights to our 3rd graders. This week, Ms. Pati Tinajero (former junior high Religion teacher at HFN and 3rd grader Antonio's aunt) featured a hands-on Stations of the Cross experience in class. 3rd graders learned briefly about the lives of saints (and how they, too, can live their own lives like saints). Then we took advantage of the beautiful warm weather to re-enact the Passion of Christ using the Blindfold Stations of the Cross. Students were blindfolded and led outside by the adults. Together, they carried plywood (as symbolic of the cross), heard the stories of each station, and reflected on the last hours before Jesus' death. Today we wrote in our reflection journals about the experience, and they have learned so much! Ask your child about it and see what he/she has to say!

Notes:
1. 3rd Quarter ends today. 4th quarter begins.
2. Report cards out next Monday.
3. Early dismissal (noon) next Thursday April 5th for Holy Thursday.
4. No school next Friday April 6th for Good Friday.

Blessings,
Mrs. Pia Villanueva-Pulido

3rd Grade Peek at the Week News March 6, 2012

Dear 3rd Grade Parents,

Please take a look at this week's highlights:

Vocabulary/Spelling: Use PSIA words #141-160. Dictation sentences in previous post. Crossword puzzle format test for Vocabulary and Spelling on Friday. Definitions due on Wednesday.

Reading: "Introduction to Shakespeare and His Works." While Shakespeare may not be common on the elementary school curriculum, his poetry (sonnets) is a natural match for young readers and writers. The students relish the sound of Shakespeare’s language: his wonderfully inventive words and powerful rhythms, as well as his vivid descriptions (figurative language/metaphors). In our Reading/Language Arts class, we have interpreted Sonnet #18 (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day”) as one of his most popular love poems. We are also learning the narrative elements of some of his most famous plays, such as Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, and Merchant of Venice, translated in the children’s version ( Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children edited by E. Nesbitt)

English: We continue with our grammar drills in different types of pronouns using "The Pronouns Cheer" (yes, we really did need pom poms and megaphones in class, in case you were wondering). We have learned and reviewed subject and object pronouns. This week, we will learn to properly use "I" and "me" as well as possessive pronouns.

Math: More drills in multiplication as we get a little bit more complex with our multiplication with regrouping larger numbers in class. We will also fill our ALEKS Pie as much as possible in computer lab as well as review skills we learned online, with focus in Processing and Reasoning skills in the ALEKS pie.

Religion: Our school will participate in a variety of Lenten activities this week, including the Rosary. Special thanks to last Friday's guest speaker who prepared us for this special occassion. Mr. Robert Downes gave a lecture on the history and significance of the Rosary in our everyday lives as well as its healing powers. His brief bio below:

Catholic husband father

Attended HFN

Graduate BBA Finance UT Arlington

Parishioner Mater Dei in Irving

Soccer coach and cub scout leader

Father of 4 Boys Ross, Ryan, Robby, and Andrew

Notes/Reminder:
1. Early dismissal this Friday, March 9th.
2. Spring Break is March 12th-16th.

Have a blessed week!
~Mrs. Pulido

Sentence Dictation

1. My friends spent a lovely evening camping outside in our backyard over the weekend.
2. We thought we were fearless hiding in our tents under the stars.
3. Then we heard strange noises outside, and we were afraid that it was coming from a hungry falcon  who was ready to seize our snacks.
4. I felt very feeble when I let my imagination run wild, and my friends also started to cry.
5. We had nowhere to escape, so we decided to just fall asleep and hope for the best.