Wrapping up Addition and Subtraction!

Across the next two weeks, we will wrap up our review of addition and subtraction.  Although this was a review of grade 2 material, we did introduce some new and interesting strategies that can be used to add and subtract.  We also focused on strategies that help us to be most accurate and efficient!

Here are some pictures of students demonstrating strategies they know to the class.  Raquel practiced the "Counting Up Algorithm" of subtraction at home with her mom and came in and taught it to the whole class!

Very shortly, we will be diving into multiplication and division!  Your child needs to have a strong foundational mastery of addition and subtraction basic facts to be successful in this area! Each Friday, we take a timed basic facts quiz.  Currently, the goal is that your student can complete 50 addition facts with accuracy in 2 minutes. In a few weeks, we'll do a few subtraction timed quizzes and then we will begin the work of beginning to memorize our multiplication facts.  You should see these quizzes coming home each Friday in your student's take home folder.  If the quiz is not complete, this is a good indication that your child needs to spend 5-10 minutes each night drilling these facts through flashcards, worksheets and online games. Please contact me if you need support in this area.

Sliding into September!

It is hard to believe that this is the fourth week of school and next week we'll have a half day so I can create interim reports for parents and students to look at! 

This week, students have their first spelling group word list.  Students are responsible for learning all of the words on the list.  They will be tested on Friday on a randomly selected ten words.  Students now have their nightly spelling homework written out in a chart that is glued into the back of their agenda books.  Spelling homework will be consistent from week to week.  Students will need a dictionary or online resource on a weekly basis to complete the homework. We'll also be doing activities to practice the words in class.

This week in science, students used classroom materials to design a way to make an object (a bouncy ball) change motion.  Student groups were assigned different changes in motion (direction, speed, stop, start) and worked together collaboratively to come up with a way to demonstrate this change to the class.  Below are pictures of the students working on the designs:

Welcome to a new school year!!!

We are off to a great start this year in Grade 3.  The students and I spent a lot of time last week discussing and creating rules and procedures for our classroom and the school building. We also began our study of rounding to the nearest ten and hundred and examined patterns on the addition table. We read a wonderful school story called Crow Boy and discussed the character's traits, feelings and point of view. We will continue to read realistic fiction books throughout the first half of marking period 1.

This is the third year that I am keeping a classroom blog. I use it to send out important information and announcements to parents and students.  Each year, I have gotten positive feedback about how much parents enjoy seeing photographs and work samples posted here to get a window into their child's school day. I only post student pictures and work sample with permission and I never include last names, etc. Please check out what the blog has been like for the past two years by reading some of my older posts using the tabs on the right side of your screen.  Soon, you will receive a permission slip coming home and you can decide if you'd like your child included in my postings or not.

Please plan to attend Back to School Night next Wednesday, September 10th.  I have a presentation for parents planned with information all about our curriculum and expectations for the school year.  I look forward to seeing all parents then!

Science Fun Day!

Today in place of our cancelled Smith Center Field Trip, students participated in 3 different activities with Grade 3 teachers to learn more about life science topics in new ways.  With Mrs. Byrd, classes learned about different types of seeds and how wind can help the spread of those seeds.  Ask you child to see the seed they "made" with her!  In Mrs. Bradley's room, students made a compost with special worms and learned about the benefits to making a compost at home.  Additionally, they made a yummy edible compost that they can enjoy (with parent permission) as an after school snack.

In my classroom, students went outside to explore the local habitat.  We took a nature walk with buddies and recorded all that we discovered on a "Habitat Scavenger Hunt" sheet.  See some photos of the kids at work and our cool finds below!  After exploring, students were assigned an animal and had to determine if this habitat is a good one for the animal.

All in all, a great science-filled day!
Continue to scroll past the photos for some important reminders!!!

Some important reminders:

• Tonight (May 22) is International Night.  It begins at 6:15 pm and is a wonderful event to celebrate all of the amazing cultures our school community has!!!
• Tomorrow (May 23) is field day.  Upper grades go out to enjoy fun in the sun beginning at 12:30.  Please ensure that your child is dressed comfortably and has sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle to enjoy the afternoon to its fullest!
• Our Author's Tea for parents is going to be on Tuesday, June 10 from 9:15-10:15 in the All Purpose Room.  Hope you can join us to celebrate all of hard work!!!!

Vacation Budget Project

For our last homework project of the year, students will plan a family vacation and develop a budget for the trip. This project supports our Social Studies (economics) and math (problem solving) curriculum and is a great way for students to practice some real-life skills.  Talk to your child about how you plan for family expenses tonight.

Here is my post from last year with helpful hints and great websites to use!

Please look over the project with your child and sign the parent letter tonight!

"The Jungle Book"

Today we braved the rain and went to see "The Jungle Book" at Adventure Theatre in Glen Echo Park.  Due to this nasty weather, we missed out on our picnic lunch, the awesome playground and the historic carousel.

Here are some pictures of our kids before the play began:

There are so many great things to do at Glen Echo Park! This Sunday is "Family Day"- take advantage and go check it out!!!

Click here for more info.!

Spring Updates!!!

Spring is most definitely here in our classroom!  We all enjoyed a restful Spring Break and we are working hard for these last 7 weeks of third grade!

We are typing away!  We have spent weeks writing long realistic fiction stories full of details and dialogue.  Look for an invitation to an Author's Tea coming home soon- probably in the first week of June!

We celebrated Earth Day with a wonderful assembly and a special science experiment about heating and cooling water.  Ask your child about our results!

We got a few really quality book reports that came in this month!  One big hit was Rama's board game designed to help students learn about the book she had read.  Another famous one was Noura's puppet show!!!!! Here is just a short clip from the end:

A few quick reminders:

• Check out the NEW multiplication websites we've discovered to help students master their facts!!! We have one student who is so close to passing his 0-12 Facts Quiz and being the first in our room to receive a special medal.  Please practice each night with your child!
• Next Wednesday, April 30 is our field trip to see "The Jungle Book". Please send your child with a light jacket and a BAG lunch- no large lunch boxes, please- I have to carry them :)
• Beginning on May 1 all children are invited to eat a free breakfast each day at school in the classroom at 8:40.  Learning will begin by 9:00.
• Thursday, May 22 is our science field trip to the Smith Center!
• Sometime in the first week of June- Author's Tea.  Invite to follow.