Weekly Update: November 22, 2019

Happy Friday 3B Parents!

The students and I have had a great week! They are very much looking forward to our field trip next week along with Thanksgiving break!

Field Trip Information: Students will be traveling to Plimoth Plantation next Monday 11/25 for our field trip! Please make sure your child is at school on time that morning.  We will be leaving close to 8:30. Our field trip is usually a fun day.  Dress code is casual, weather appropriate clothing. We have gone in all types of weather over the years, snow, rain, windy and bitter cold, and a few years of mild temperatures.  Please help your child to dress according to weather predictions.  Layers are always best.  We spend the greatest portion of the day outside.  Please pack their lunch in a disposable bag with no glass bottles or containers at all.   

We have been asking all students to be sure they are memorizing the words to the songs they will sing in the Christmas Pageant.  We have begun preparations for that this week. They are performing so well!

***Please remind your child to continue memorizing the lyrics to the Christmas songs that they will sing as part of the pageant***They need to especially practice: "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," “The First Noel,” and “Drummer Boy.” 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, November 25^th---Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation

Tuesday, November 26^th---Chapter 4, Lesson 5 Science Quiz

Tuesday, November 26^th---Topic 4 Math Test

Wednesday, November 27^th-Friday, November 29^th---Thanksgiving Break

Thursday, December 6^th---Topic 4 Math Test

Thursday, December 5^th---First Trimester Report Cards

Friday, December 6^th—No School (Faculty Professional Day) 

Tuesday, December 10^th—Christmas Concert: 1:00pm & 6:30pm

Math: We have begun studying multiplication.  Students have learned how to draw an array to display a multiplication sentence. They have learned that multiplication is also known as repeated addition and have learned the Commutative Property of Multiplication. This is a short topic and we will have the test next Tuesday.

 It would be a good idea to start thinking about making or purchasing flash cards (Dollar Tree is always a good bet!) as the students will soon be asked to start memorizing these facts. Beginning with 0 and working their way up is the best way to study.

You Can Help: The following link shows a great example of an array and how students can derive a multiplication sentence by looking at the model: http://www.eduplace.com/math/mw/background/3/05/te_3_05_array_develop.html

The link also explains the Commutative Property of Multiplication which the students have learned as well. Basically it states that regardless of the order of the factors the product will be the same. 4x2 is equal to 2x4. 

-Students have learned that in a multiplication sentence, the first factor describes the amount of equal rows or groups in the array (or word problem) and the second factor describes the amount of items in each group or row.

-Students sometimes get confused on how to write a multiplication sentence as an addition problem. To help, in class we continuously remind students that 6x3 is stating that there are 6 groups of 3, therefore as an addition problem it would be written as: 3+3+3+3+3+3=18.

Reading: This week we finished up working with making connections as we read. We read the book, The Name Jar and students practiced making different types of connections on sticky notes.

After Thanksgiving we will begin a Gingerbread Reading Unit where we compare the different book versions of the Gingerbread Man! They will be comparing characters, setting, and problems. They will be describing the different gingerbread men using skills learned during our Character Trait unit.

Writing: The 3B elves have been busy creating their elf application forms for Santa! They have started writing letters to try to persuade Santa to hire them for their elf job of choice. Check out our bulletin board after Thanksgiving!

Science: This week students learned about different animal adaptations. They have learned that adaptations help organisms survive. 

After Thanksgiving there will be only one more lesson before the Chapter 4 Test. After the test, students will no longer be working through the science book. They will have gained the background knowledge necessary to make important deductions for upcoming science activities. Science will be taught through a series of activities, experiments, and story books. Let the fun begin!

Have a happy weekend!

Weekly Update: November 15, 2019

Happy Friday 3B Parents!

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful long weekend! We are gearing up for the holiday season! Christmas is always an exciting time, to make it even more exciting, third graders found out about their important role of acting out the Nativity at the school Christmas Concert!  Students will be given their parts on Monday for the upcoming Christmas Pageant! From there, they should begin practicing their lines and working on memorizing the song lyrics! 

Upcoming Events:

Friday, November 22^nd—Chapter 5 Religion Test

Monday, November 25^th ---Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation
Tuesday, November 26^th---Chapter 4, Lesson 5 Science Quiz

Wednesday-Friday, November 27^th-29^th--Thanksgiving Break 

Math: Students took their Topic 3 math test today. Topic 3 introduced multiple ways to add and subtract 3 digit numbers. We want students to add/subtract the way they feel makes the most sense to them. Sometimes it is by using regular regrouping, or by drawing place value blocks, other times it is by using expanded form to compute mentally.

You Can Help: Following are some key points we touched on in class for this topic, it is helpful for parents to review missed problems with children.

1.  Expanded Algorithm to add:

452 + 237=

458= 400 + 50 + 2

237= 200 + 30 + 7

400+ 200= 600

50+ 30= 80

2+7= 9

600 + 80 + 9= 689

452+237=689

2. Using place value blocks to add 3-digit numbers (as seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK9d_bIqu24 )

4. Subtracting with Expanded Algorithm:

534-124=

534-100=434

434-20=414

414-4=410

5. Using place value blocks to subtract 3-digit numbers (as seen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcafTDw-LQs

6. Subtracting 3-digit numbers by stacking and using regular regrouping strategies.

Phonics: We are continuing our work through Unit 2. Students are learning that when vowel suffixes (ing, ed, etc.) are added to a specific type of word, they need to double to consonant. Students learned that they have to be on the lookout for 1-1-1 words. These words have 1 syllable, 1 vowel, and 1 consonant after the vowel. An example of a 1-1-1 word is run. If they are adding a vowel suffix to run, students are learning that they need to double the consonant and then add the suffix (running).

Reading: Lessons this week continued to focus on making connections. Students learned the difference between making shallow and deep connections with texts.

They learned that sometimes we can make connections with texts and characters but unless they are deep and meaningful, they don’t help us understand the book better. These are shallow connections. 

An example of a shallow connection would be: Lucy from the book Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun has curly hair and I have curly hair too!

Students learned that deep connections help us identify with how a character feels, helps us understand a particular situation or event, or helps us make predictions. 

An example of a deep connection would be: I remember when my friend got picked on in the cafeteria at lunch like Lucy from the book Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun. It made me upset that she was upset so I stood up to the bully. I predict that Harriet will stand up for Lucy.

Students also learned about different types of deep connections. They practiced making Text-to-Self, Text-to-Text, and Text-to-World connections as we read Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun.

This book also taught us few great lessons that were discussed as we read. Lucy was picked on by a boy named Ralph because she was different. The book taught us:

• The world would be a boring place if we were all the same, it’s good to be different!
• We might be different on the outside but all of us have hearts and feelings.
• We should always try to treat others the way we want to be treated.
• If we feel someone is being unkind to us we should stand up for ourselves and others but always remember those people have feelings too.

Writing: This week, students learned about hooking in their readers with an exciting lead. They learned that they could start their story with a sound, action, dialogue, or question. After modelling some of these leads, students then wrote 4 different possible leads for their Ouch Stories. Later, they shared their drafts and chose their favorite lead to begin their story. Next week, we will continue drafting and revising these stories.

Weekly Update: November 8, 2019

Happy Long Weekend 3B Parents!

I hope you all enjoy a well-deserved, relaxing holiday weekend. A big thank you to all the amazing Veterans!

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday, November 13^th ---Class Picture Day/Retakes (Students should wear uniform, bring “Picture Day” clothes to change into)

Friday, November 15^th ---Topic 3 Math Test

Monday, November 25^th ---Field Trip to Plimoth Plantation

Wednesday-Friday, November 27^th-29^th--Thanksgiving Break 

Math: We will be continuing with Topic 3 next week. This week they learned how to use expanded form to add 3 digit numbers as well place value blocks using regrouping strategies. They also rounded and add added three digit numbers to check if their answers were reasonable.

You Can Help:

Students have practiced breaking apart numbers to add using “Expanded Algorithm" (Breaking Apart).

We have also introduced how to use place value blocks and drawings to add 2 and 3-digit numbers. Please see the math tutorial videos below for an idea of how I am teaching these concepts in class.

Adding with Place Value Blocks

Breaking Apart 3-Digit Numbers

Phonics: We will continue our work through Unit 2. Students have learned about suffixes, we have been working specifically with “ed” suffix. Students have learned that “ed” can make 3 sounds-/t/, /d/, and /id/.

Next week, students will learn about changes we make to basewords when adding vowel suffixes. Stay tuned!  

Grammar: This week lessons focused on synonyms and antonyms. To practice, students were each given a word. They had to circulate through the classroom to find the student with the synonym match to their word. Next, they had to add them to our chart. After, we completed the same activity with antonyms!

Reading:  This week students started learning about making connections as they read. We first read Oliver Button and students made Text-to-Self connections with the character. Later, we read Amazing Grace and students were able to make many connections between Grace and Oliver. These, students learned were Text-to-Text connections. We will continue this into next week through our read aloud, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun.

Religion: We have finished working through Chapter Four. Class discussions focused on the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ. Students have read about the Ascension of Jesus and the mission that was given to the Apostles to spread the Good News. They learned that the Apostles were filled by the Holy Spirit which then gave them courage to preach about God. We have talked about how students can share the Good News of Jesus and help inspire others to be followers of Christ. 

Students are expected to write complete sentences on the short answer portion of the test. We have discussed what a complete sentence looks like and will continue to do so. They have also been asked to describe their drawings by including a descriptive sentence. We understand that students are still grasping this concept as it is new to them and we will continue to review these expectations.

Writing: Students worked very hard on their newest bulletin board project. They were given the assignment to write how to trap a turkey! Please stop by our bulletin board to check them out!

Halloween Fun!

Hi 3B Parents!

Important Dates to Remember: 

• Thursday, November 7th---Chapter 3 Science Test (review of all 3 lessons)

• Thursday, November 7th---Early Dismissal at Noon 

• Thursday, November 7th---Parent Teacher Conferences 

• Friday, November 8th---Chapter 4 Religion Test 

Pumpkin Project Fair:

The students had a busy week celebrating Halloween! First, students shared their awesome pumpkins at the Pumpkin Fair in the morning. Mrs. Newell and I were so impressed with their creativity and hard work! Thank you for stopping by to check them out!

 Escape the Room Challenge (Halloween Edition)

Later, both classes were joined together to complete an Escape the Room challenge! Students had to work together to solve math problems and puzzles to escape a haunted house! It was great seeing them collaborate as teams and be so engaged in learning!

Halloween Party:

Lastly, parents hosted a wonderful Halloween party for the class, with games, crafts, and snacks! Thank you so much to all the parents who helped make the party such a fun success!