Math news

The students took their first math test on Friday. Remember, you may log into their Pearson account to view their test and see what they did well on, as well as what they need more work on.    Their passwords went home on Curriculum Night.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this.

This week we will be starting to add and subtract numbers.  We will be using the following vocabulary words during our study of this unit:

Addends:  number added together to give a sum

Sum:  the answer when two or more addends are added together
Commutative Property of Addition:  Numbers can be added in any order and the sum will be the same
Associative Property of Addition:  Numbers can be grouped in any way and the sum will be the same
Identity Property of Addition:  The sum of zero and any number is that number
Difference:  the answer when you subtract two numbers
Fact family:  A group of related facts using the same numbers
Estimate:  to give a number or answer that tells about how many or how much
Compatible numbers:  Numbers that are easy to add, subtract, multiply or divide mentally

 We will be working on the following standards:

3.NBT.A.2  Use concrete materials and concepts of addition to model the Commutative, Associative and Identity properties of addition

3.NBT.A.2  Recognize situations when subtraction is used to solve a problem and write a number sentence
3.NBT.A.2  Solve problems by adding with mental math
3.NBT.A.2  Solve problems by subtracting with mental math
3.NBT.A.2  Solve problems by estimating sums
3.NBT.A.2  Solve problems by estimating differences
3.OA.D.8  Solve word problems and check for reasonableness

Students should be practicing their math facts each night on the Xtramath website.  Please let me know if your child is unable to use this website for any reason, and we will arrange another method for practicing their facts. 

Moon Journals

Today we had a morning meeting with all third graders to introduce our Moon Journal Project.  Students should begin logging their pictures of the moon as well as their facts/observations tonight.  They will be drawing a picture every night, including weekends, for the next month, and also writing 5 facts/observations each week.  Please read the instructions in the packet carefully, and contact me with any questions.  Here is a link to the packet given out today so that you can print an extra if needed.

I also handed out a paper with the phases of the moon, which the children will be quizzed on this Friday.  Here is a video that may be helpful when studying for this quiz.

Choosing just right books

We have been spending a lot of time in class talking about choosing just right books.  This was also something we discussed at Curriculum Night last night.  One of the questions I hear most often is, "How do I know if my child is in a just right book?"   Click here for a link to a bookmark that breaks this task down into a few simple steps.

The theory is that if the child doesn't make any mistakes the book is like one you might take on vacation.  It is very easy, and fun to read occasionally.  If the child makes two or three mistakes, there is room for growth and new learning.  If a child struggles with more than three words, this could lead to frustration, and therefore it would be best to save the book for a later date, or have it read aloud.

 A word of caution regarding this topic. At times, students are able to read a text with apparent fluency.  Attention must also be paid to the comprehension strategies used while reading.  When learning new strategies, it is important for the text level to be lowered so that more attention can be paid to practicing the new comprehension strategy without having to struggle with the decoding piece.

At times, it can be disappointing to find that a book we are interested in is beyond our reach at the current time.  We have developed a list in our reading journals to note what books we look forward to reading in the future.  This serves as a reminder that although we may not be reading something yet, it is still within reach in the near future. Another wonderful option is to read the book with an adult, creating memories both of you will look back on with fondness.

Razkids

Today in class the students logged onto Razkids.  This is a terrific website that has books for the children to read.  They really enjoyed it!  It is a motivating way to get the students to read more.  I have put the link to this website in the interesting website link part of this blog.  Enjoy!

Welcome!

Welcome to Room 20 News.  We have had a terrific start to the new year.  We have been busy engaging in get to know you activities, learning the routines of third grade, as well as beginning academics.  I hope you will check in often to see pictures from the classroom, and to learn about what we are doing, and how you can help your child have a successful year.

In Reader'sWorkshop we have been learning to choose just right books, and building stamina within our books.  Here is a link to the visual we used to discuss choosing just right books.  In Writer's Workshop we are writing summer memory stories that we will share with you on Curriculum Night next week.  In Fundations, we are reviewing concepts from previous years including closed syllables and reading and writing words with digraphs and trigraphs.

In math we are building a strong understanding of place value.  Some of the vocabulary words that are important to this unit include:

Digits - The symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, used to write numbers.

place value - The value of the place a digit has in a number.  Example: In 150, the place value of the digit 1 is hundreds.

standard form - A number written in a way that shows only its digits. Example: 385

expanded form =-A number written as the sum of the values of its digits. Example: 2,476  2000 + 400 + 70 + 6

word form - A number written in words. Example: 125 5 one hundred twenty-five

round - To replace a number with another number that tells about how many or how much.

We will be studying the solar system in science.  Be sure to check out the links on this blog to help your child learn more about the solar system. 

In Social Studies, we will begin the year learning about Pilgrims, Puritans, and the Wampanoag people.

I am looking forward to meeting you all at Curriculum Night next Wednesday!