Dear Parents/Guadians,

We are approaching the end of this school year so fast I can hardly keep up. I know I have missed a couple of blog updates and I apologize. We have been working to finalize details on our third grade curriculum which includes the Chicago Play to be performed on June 8, 2010, the Chicago Trolley Tour which we experienced Friday, May 28, 2010. I am beginning to feel separation anxiety from this year's third grade. You have incredible children and I thank you for being so supportive of me and our classroom community throughout this year. I won't try to think about all the particulars of the end of the year activities but I will try to think of the main details.

I'd like to thank the parents that accompanied our classroom on the Chicago Trolley Tour this past Friday. We had a ball! We sang songs specific to Chicago that Ms. Pickens taught us. We learned about   historic landmarks in Chicago, e.g. The Hull House, The Robie House, Bronxville, and the Chicago Fire Academy that helped us to understand how important it is to have people like firefighters think beyond themselves and to think about others despite the perils it places them  in. Thank goodness for the Chicago Fire Department, right!

We ate at the beautiful Buckingham Fountain. We ran, played, and enjoyed freedom! Again I'd like to thank those parents that were able to attend. Even if you couldn't, we knew you were with us and later heard about this trip and enjoyed the verbal experience as much as we enjoyed the physical trip!

Room 204 will be working on whatever we need to to close this year out. As a teacher, I have so enjoyed watching our children grow. I have seen so much progress in terms of responsible behavior, cooperation in group learning, as well as engagement. I will so miss this year's student's. They are special, challenging and motivated: a teacher's dream!

There will be a Ray School talent show to be performed on June 11th, 2010. Necessary updates will be provided as needed. Please check Ray School's E-Mail for more details.

This week we will be working on the following:

LANGUAGE ARTS:

We will continue to practice for the Chicago Play. Please remind your child how important it is for them to speak clearly and with feeling if they have a speaking part in the play.

I will be sending a list home with he children of items we may need for our costumes for the play. Please scour your house for these items. They will be returned at the end of the performance.

MATH:

We will continue to test our multiplicaion skills as well as to continue with Unit 9 in EveryDay Math. Homework and all assignments will be as given. Check your child's assigment book for homework.

Science:

We have observed the habits of crayfish for our unit on Structrues of Life. We still have some crayfish that have survived the storm. If you don't mind your child having a crayfish to visit until whatever....please let me know. You must send a plastic container with holes in the lid if you'dlike your child to bring a crayfish home for observation;(not for cooking)!

Social Science:

We will learn the Northwestern states. We will also continue to explore Chicago's rich history and it's present times. Don't forget to mark your calenders for the Chicago Play on June 11th. There will b two performances; one will be at 9:30 a.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m. Again, I will be sending a request for props for our part in the play. Does The Wizard of Oz sound familiar?

I will send updates this week and for the following two weeks to come.

HAVE                              A                              GREAT                     WEEK!

MS. Jack