I spoke to many parents about the new math curriculum this week at conferences. I stumbled upon this video tonight and I think this teacher does a great job of putting many of my thoughts on Common Core math into words.
I know it can be frustrating, but I truly see students who are better equipped to think deeply about math and give quality explanations for their strategies. It is certainly going to take some time for everyone to adjust- students to have received the curriculum in each grade level, teachers who are experts on all of these strategies and at building this conceptual understanding, and parents who feel capable and empowered to continue to work with their children at home, but we are on the way!
Please watch it and share your thoughts!
Here is the link to the video.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Fresh New Start!!!
Oh no!!! I've been having some blog troubles and can't seem to upload any of my awesome pictures of my students working super hard! I'll report the problem to google and add some pics soon- but since I wrote this post LAST WEEK it is time to finally give up for now and just post it.
It is hard to believe it is the beginning of marking period 2. Last week and this week, we will spend talking about setting an important academic goal for marking period 2 and monitoring progress across the next ten weeks.
I'm very excited to meet with all parents on November 10th and 11th and discuss your child's progress. These meetings are so important in ensuring we work together to help move your child towards excellence in all areas and ensure their school experience is the best. If you haven't already sent me back your form letting me know if you can make your conference time, please do so this week. I am making my best effort to find a time that works for every parent. Now that I've had this blog for a few years, check out some of my tips to help your child at home based on past conferences here and here.
We've done some interesting things to wrap up marking period 1- including learning some new math games and centers during our multiplication unit and building simple vehicles in science. See photos coming soon!
It is hard to believe it is the beginning of marking period 2. Last week and this week, we will spend talking about setting an important academic goal for marking period 2 and monitoring progress across the next ten weeks.
I'm very excited to meet with all parents on November 10th and 11th and discuss your child's progress. These meetings are so important in ensuring we work together to help move your child towards excellence in all areas and ensure their school experience is the best. If you haven't already sent me back your form letting me know if you can make your conference time, please do so this week. I am making my best effort to find a time that works for every parent. Now that I've had this blog for a few years, check out some of my tips to help your child at home based on past conferences here and here.
We've done some interesting things to wrap up marking period 1- including learning some new math games and centers during our multiplication unit and building simple vehicles in science. See photos coming soon!
Monday, October 6, 2014
Community Service Projects
This month, Grade 3 students have their first big take home project assignment: to complete a community service experience and present all about it to their classmates.
This Friday, the first portion of the project is due: students will turn in their plan for what type of community service experience they have selected and their timeline for getting the project completed by the October 28 due date.
You may have noticed that we are assigning slightly less homework this month because we want students working on high quality projects and presentations.
So far, two students have turned in some great project ideas. Samantha plan to volunteer for the next two Sundays at a local food bank through her church. Raquel is making bandannas for a local animal shelter to help dogs get adopted. Raquel is hoping to expand this project and collect bandannas from fellow Grade 3 students. A flyer will be coming home about this with some information on what she is looking for. If you have a crafty child who is looking for a fun rainy-day project, check it out!
Read more about the Montgomery County Humane Society
This Friday, the first portion of the project is due: students will turn in their plan for what type of community service experience they have selected and their timeline for getting the project completed by the October 28 due date.
You may have noticed that we are assigning slightly less homework this month because we want students working on high quality projects and presentations.
So far, two students have turned in some great project ideas. Samantha plan to volunteer for the next two Sundays at a local food bank through her church. Raquel is making bandannas for a local animal shelter to help dogs get adopted. Raquel is hoping to expand this project and collect bandannas from fellow Grade 3 students. A flyer will be coming home about this with some information on what she is looking for. If you have a crafty child who is looking for a fun rainy-day project, check it out!
Read more about the Montgomery County Humane Society
Monday, September 22, 2014
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.
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.
Monday, September 15, 2014
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:
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:
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
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!
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!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
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:
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!!!
- 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!!!!
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