Weekend in Chicago Podcasts

Over the past couple of weeks, the students were put into research groups to work on our "Weekend in Chicago" podcasts.   Within their group, their job was to become a travel agent by researching and planning a weekend for a family to spend in the Windy City.    

Through the research, the groups learned how to take notes on attractions and activities they wanted their family to visit,  suggested restaurants for them to eat at, and provided overnight accommodations for them to stay in. (Please click here to view the websites that the students used to research from.)  

After the students researched and planned their weekend, their group created a podcast in our LMC Production studio with Mrs. Seisser to try and promote their touring itinerary.

Please click on this link to view our final podcast shows:
http://hynekclass.weebly.com/a-weekend-in-chicago-podcasts.html

Math Workshop and Math Enrichment Homework

Starting next week, math time in our class will be structured a little bit differently.  I'll now be incorporating Unit 2 of Everyday Math with a new model called "Math Workshop".   Some of you may have heard the term "Guided Math".   It is structured very similarly to the concept of Guided Reading that I utilize during literacy time where groups are differentiated.

Before a unit starts, your student is given a pre-test over the upcoming unit to determine concepts that your child already has mastered and ones that I need to reinforce with them. Based off of the pre-test, I will place your child in an appropriate guided math group with similar students working at their same ability level.   

The beginning of our math time starts off with a whole group "mini-lesson" that focuses on the math concepts for the day.   Afterwards, your student is placed with their guided math groups for more in-depth practice of the whole group skills.    Depending upon the group your child has been placed in, some students will work on reinforcement skills if I feel they can use more practice in an area, while others will work on enrichment skills if I believe that they can use an additional challenge in a particular area.

The groups rotate through stations utilizing the following stations:
1.  Meet With Teacher: Students work on journal pages with teacher involving reinforcement or enrichment skills.
2.  Math Fact Practice/ Math Boxes: Students work with a partner to practice their math facts or a review of what we've covered by working on individual Math Boxes.
3.  Supplemental Activity or Technology: Students are given group reinforcement or enrichment supplemental activities, Khanacademy.org, or other online game focusing on the topic at hand.

After each station, students are asked to reflect upon their time at each station.  Each day I look at their reflections and progress with their journal, Khan Academy, and/or supplemental activity to determine additional reinforcement or enrichment activities for the next session.   

Homework will still remain the same with the students having a Homelink page to complete. If your student missed five or less on their pretest, they are given challenge Homelinks that they can use in lieu of their regular Homelink pages.     Challenge packets will be sent home today to those that missed five or less.  Please don't worry if your child didn't qualify for the challenge packet for Unit 2 today!   Every time we start a new unit, students will take a pretest regarding that unit and will have a new opportunity to possibly work on the challenge packets.  At the same time, based off of the results of the pre-test, students may also qualify for a different math workshop group too.  

From a teacher standpoint, this new model allows me to work more individually with students that are struggling with a particular concept.  While at the same time, it also provides more of a challenge for students that need enrichment activities in a particular area.   Hopefully this success will continue and we can utilize this model with upcoming units throughout the rest of the year!  :)

September Snapshot of Events

Here's a snapshot of some of September's classroom events:

Literacy:

Our class has really been taking off with our Schoolwide Reading Fundamentals Program that focuses on important  reading strategies that we should  be implementing everyday in our reading.  Together, we've been following the reading workshop structure that involves both interactive read-alouds and mini-lessons.

Over the past few weeks, we've been working on the following skills strategies:

Using schema, making inferences, speaking to communicate, listening and responding, engaging in discussion/collaborating, text and genre features, determining importance, questioning, visualizing, monitoring and repairing comprehension, finding word meaning, and synthesizing.   

Our lessons have involved:

• Learning about routines, procedures, and expectations of members of a reading community.
• Developing an understanding about our unique identity as a reader.
• Learning how to find "just-right" books.
• Asking questions to interact with text and make meaning of what we read.
• Monitoring for meaning and us "fix-up" strategies when meaning breaks down.
• Discussing with others about their thinking of what we read.
• Creating a reading notebook to notate our thinking about texts.
• Finding evidence from the text to support and clarify our ideas and opinions.

Throughout the past two weeks, I've also been individually assessing your child in the areas of fluency and comprehension. Guided Reading groups have been formed and officially start this week.

Through the reading benchmarking assessments, I was able to place your child in a guided reading group and provide them with appropriate books that I feel matches their reading strengths and capabilities. Guided reading time involves assigning students chapters or pages to read independently, having them answer comprehension questions about their book, and meeting with their group for a novel group discussion. Throughout the year, your child may be moved to a different guided reading group depending on their needs. If your child has a difficult time finishing their reading assignment during the schedule 60 minute guided reading period, they will be asked to finish it that night for homework.

Writing:

Our class is really starting to get used to the format and routines our new WEX Writing Program. Currently, we are learning about the writing concept of "focus". Throughout our lessons, the students have been realizing that when we focus on one moment, setting, sound, or object in our writing, it results in more interesting words, unique perspectives, and surprising fun-to-read details.

Additionally, the students have also been working hard making sure that they are "showing details" in their writing. Showing is the skill of using precise observations, descriptive details, and expressive language to demonstrate emotion, create images, and present evidence within our writing. The students have been learning the difference between telling the reader what is happening in their writing versus "showing" the reader. For example, instead of telling the reader "I was cold", the students have learned that they can better show how the person is feeling by saying, "I was shivering outside on my front porch as I zipped up my coat". Thus, we are learning how to write details in our work that are more precise and authentic to the reader.

Spelling:

A big thanks goes out to all of the parents that are working with their student on spelling each evening this week with our "Words Their Way" Program!  Spelling lists are always reviewed at school with individualized groups on Monday.  Our tests will always be on Friday, unless otherwise noted. Please continue to make sure that they are sorting their words correctly into their various spelling categories. The goal of our spelling program is for the students to learn and retain the spelling rules and word patterns for future use in their writing and not to just memorize the words for the test and forget them by the next week.   The nightly spelling sorts and activities will help your student to reach this goal.  Please continue to make sure that your child completes at least three of the assigned homework activities. Each weekly homework packet is worth 6 points.  

Math:

The students just finished up with Unit 1 this week that reviewed some of the concepts that they learned already in 2nd grade. Our lessons  involved analyzing data and plotting it into various kinds of graphs, finding equivalent names for a given number, discussing the concept of chance, learning how to utilize our new calculators, and counting money. 

Social Studies:

The class has been having a fun time learning all about Chicago.   Together, we have been discussing about the meaning of the parts of the Chicago flag and learned about the first settlers that moved into the Chicago area.   In addition, the students have been reading various articles to learn more about events that happened in Chicago's history involving Fort Dearborn, the Chicago River, the Chicago Fire, the Century of Progress, and the Chicago World's Fair.   The students have been having fun responding to the articles in their online Edmodo accounts.   Parents are welcome to view their responses online at home.  Student passwords will be sent home later this week.   Have them show you how to log-in online to view their responses.   

Last week we had a blast viewing all of the things we have learned in our Chicago unit on our Wendella Boat Ride!   Please click here to see a slideshow of pics from our trip.  

Personalized Learning:

Over the past couple of weeks, students have been having fun coming up with questions that they may have for a possible upcoming Genius Hour research project.   Students have also been exploring and answering many of their questions in a website called Wonderopolis.com.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have also had a great time learning along with Mrs. Nelson, our Advanced Learning Facilitator.  Together, we celebrated "Dot Day" by reading The Dot by Peter Reynolds and discovering the creative spirit and importance of being able to try in all of us.  Through this lesson we were also introduced to positive peer feedback.   Last week, students were introduced to the "Power of Yet".   This concept focused on the growth mindset mentality that we are all on a learning journey and just because you haven't accomplished a task "yet" doesn't mean you cannot try and shouldn't give up.   

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

There is No "I" in "Team"!

Wow! It's so hard to believe that we've been in school for almost a month!  The students are really starting to get into the swing of things and are now becoming pros with our classroom routines and expectations.

My objective for this school year is to help your student have a positive and successful 3rd grade year.   In order to make this happen, it is vital for students, parents, teachers, and administrators to work together as a TEAM.   Without a doubt, as parents, you are your child's most important teacher. As a result, your input and support is so appreciated throughout the year.

Having good and effective parent/ teacher communication is extremely important for getting to know your child and to having a successful school year. The best way to get a hold of me is through email (Dhynek@sd25.org). I try very hard to read my e-mail at least once in the morning and once after school.

Because my number one priority during the school day is working with your child, please understand that I cannot always answer your e-mail during school hours or I may not be present in the classroom that day due to meetings. If you have a message that needs to get to your child before the end of the school day, be sure to direct those requests to the office first (ex.: Johnny needs to go home with Mr. Jones today; Ellie's gym shoes are in the office, etc.). The office staff will then happily direct your message to me before the end of the day.   You can also email me too.   If I do not respond to your email message to give to your child by the end of the school day, please understand that I was not able to relay the message to your child and it needs to go through the office staff.

If ever you would like me to contact you over the phone, please send me an e-mail of the various times that I can get a hold of you both before and after school. I will try my best to be able to call you within 24 hours during school week hours.

Although it's sometimes easy to do, I would greatly appreciate it if parents do not make unexpected "drop-ins" to our classroom during school hours. This rule needs to also be respected before and after school. Many times when parents do this, I may be in the middle of preparing and setting up the classroom for the school day, in the middle of a lesson with students, or on my way to a meeting or school duty. In addition, it it important to me to respect the privacy of your child. As a result, I do not feel comfortable discussing any concerns you may have about them in front of their classmates. If you have a major concern about your child, I am always more willing to schedule a before or after school appointment with you. Please feel free to contact me through e-mail to make an appointment.  All of you parents so far have been doing such a great job respecting this and I thank you for it!

I appreciate your help with open communication about your student. Here's to continuing a great 3rd grade year with you all!

Parent Night is Thursday, September 8th!

I hope that your child has had a terrific first week in third grade! As a reminder, Westgate's Parent Night will be this Thursday, September 8th. During this time, I will be discussing our classroom's curriculum, daily routines, yearly events, and answer any questions you may have.

     Listed below is the evening's agenda. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!

6:00-6:30 PM

PE, Art, Music Present in Commons

6:30-7:15 PM

Grades 1, 2, ½, and AM Kindergarten information sessions in classrooms

7:15-7:45 PM

Principal Welcome, PTA Greeting, and Introductions of New Staff in Commons

7:45-8:30 PM

Grades 3, 4, 3/4 , 5, and PM Kindergarten information sessions in classrooms

It's hard to say good-bye........

This is the part of the year where it hardest for me..........the time to say good-bye to all of the special bonds and relationships we've formed as a class together.  Look how far we've come and what a fantastic year we've had together as 3rd graders!  How fortunate I am to have such a wonderful class that I will never forget and equipped with such amazing parents so full of endless support to me.  I thank everyone for all of their help and support this year to make all of this happen.   

Because I hate formal good-byes, I will leave you with poem and thank you for entrusting me with the education of your child.  Have such a fun, restful, and safe summer with your family and friends!  :)

                                                                          Fondly,
                                                                          Donna Hynek

End of the Year Poem

Author Unknown

I give you back your child, the same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give him back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature then he was then.

Although he would have attained his growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch his personality unfold day by day and marvel at this splendid miracle of development.

I give him back reluctantly, for having spent nine months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.

Ten years from now if we met on the street, your child and I, a light will shine to our eyes, a smile to our lips, and we shall feel the bond of understanding once more, this bond we feel today.

We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish it could go on indefinitely, but give him back I must. Take care of him, for he is precious.

Remember that I shall always be interested in your child and his destiny, wherever he goes, whatever he does, whoever he becomes. His joys and sorrows I’ll be happy to share.

Thank You Parents!

Hi Parents,

My sincere gratitude goes out to the classroom Parents, students, and PTA for making Teacher's Appreciation Week so special to me!  The spectacularly decorated school,  fantastic basket full of healthy fruits and food,  class gift cards to Lou Malnati's and Starbucks, the adorable class book full of student and parent notes, the amazing coffee and treats delivered to my door, the deliciously prepared luncheon from parents, and even a massage for all of  the teachers have all have touched me throughout the week.  

I tell people all the time how blessed I am to be a part of such a special school community.   All of the support that is given make my job so easy and wonderful to come to every day! I certainly have appreciated how all of the sweet gestures, positive emails and personally touching conversations that have been given throughout the year.   None of this job could be completed without any of you.   Just know that you are all incredible!

Certainly, words cannot capture how fortunate I am to have such wonderful parents and students.   I did a few years ago however, come across this poem that summarizes how this job could not be done without all of you parents being a special part of your child's life.   So, I leave you with this poem and thank you for being an intricate part of your child's education.............

Partners (Author unknown)

I dreamed I stood in a studio,

And watched two sculptors there.
The clay they used was a child's mind,
And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher; the tools used,
Were books and music and art.
One, a parent with guiding hands,
A gentle and loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled,
With a touch both deft and skilled.
The parent labored side by side,
And all the values filled.

And when at last their task was done,
They looked at what they'd wrought.
The beautiful shape of the precious child,
Could neither be sold nor bought.

And each agreed it would have failed,
If one had worked alone.
For behind the parent stood the school,
And behind the teacher, home.

Fondly,
Donna :)