Catie's Third Grade Class Blog: Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

Math

The students have been working on learning strategies for solving multiplication and division problems. They have easily memorized the rules for 0 and 1. We developed strategies for multiplying by 2 (doubling), 3 (doubling plus one more group), 4 (doubling twice), 5 (the minute hand on a clock), 6 (minute hand plus one more group), and 10 (counting by tens which they find pretty easy). Next week, we’ll take a break from multiplication and division to start our unit on fractions. The reason for jumping into this, unfortunately, is due to the upcoming state math test. A large portion of the test’s questions deal with fractions, and I want to make sure that the students are prepared for this. We will probably take the state math test in about a month.

Writer’s Workshop

Thanks to so many of you for attending our Poetry Slam - it was great! This week, they have been wrapping up their poetry anthologies, personal page for our class poetry book, and experimenting with Dog Tag Poetry (look for your students poem in the hallway on your way to student led conferences).

Reader’s Workshop

This week, we refocused on identifying “iPick” books. I’ve noticed a number of students choosing books that were not “just right” during silent reading time. Students are tempted to choose books that are too difficult, too easy, or simply because of the cool pictures in them. We’ll continue focusing on this during this week. See the graphic I created based on the class criteria, and each student now has their own new bookmark, copyright 2013!

Portland Study

You may have heard about the “mysterious” messages that we received and decoded this week. This led to the class learning about Portland’s various land forms and creating a class-made map of Portland’s geography. We’ll finish the map this week and see where things go from here.

Student-Led Conferences

Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, March 20th for student-led conferences. These conferences are an opportunity for your child to lead you through their current studies, reflect on progress, and set goals for the spring. Keep in mind that this is not a time to conference with me - if you would like to do that, please contact me to set up a time to meet. It is "Open House" style, and you may come and conference with your child any time between 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

Ask Your Third Grader...

How did it feel to read your poem at the Poetry Slam? Why do you think poetry is important?

Tell me about pentominoes.

What is geography? What are some of the Portland land forms you know of? How were they formed?

Important Things Coming Up...

March 20 - Late Opening

March 20 - Student Led Conferences 3:30-7:30

March 23-31 - Spring Break

Thanks for sending such creative and collaborative students to school each day,

Catie

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If your child is absent due to an illness I am happy to provide an overview of the work they missed in class that day or for those days they are out sick. Inevitably there are times when trips need to happen during the school year and your student should be assured that although they are missing class time, I encourage them to embrace the learning opportunities outside the walls of our school. Parents often ask me for a packet to bring along to keep their child engaged in some learning and kept busy in a car or on a plane, but I don't assign "trip work" packets. Trips on their own have the potential to be rich learning experiences from airport or car, to destination and back. Instead I ask that students keep a journal, photo journal or scrapbook of their trip which could be shared with me upon their return to class. They are also welcome to share these with the class, but I don't require them to do so. Finding a secret spot and having a special little journal in hand in which to write and sketch what they see is infinitely more valuable to your child than me giving them a story prompt. If you do want your child to have some 3rd grade-level busy work during travel you could visit Learning Palace or a similar store to purchase 3rd grade skills workbooks. The following are some ideas for meaningful learning during trips:

Math:
Have your child use math, reading and writing skills as often as possible. Have them pay for things and count change or add up the coins received back, use maps, figure out elapsed time or the time an activity took to complete, compare prices of menu items, look for patterns in nature or architecture, estimate the time it will take to complete an activity, collect data of some kind and create a bar graph (cars vs. trucks on a five mile stretch of road or the kinds of people around you on the plane who order soda vs. juice for example), etc.

Writing:
Have them bring their writer's notebook or more fun, have them choose and buy a special little notebook just for the trip where they can sketch possible characters, special spots or images to use in future writing. Everyone and everything they see can be given new life as a character or setting in future writing. A little set of colored pencils or tiny watercolors to go along with it can make it more fun as well. Have your child write and mail a postcard or letter to our class (even if it arrives after they return). Our school's address is 3421 SE Salmon St., PDX 97214. Thank you notes for guest accommodations or for hotel operators is always fun, too.

Reading:
Trips can be made more fun if your child is taken to the library or to Powell's for a special trip book or two. Perhaps they could visit a local book store at your destination where they can choose a book to read or purchase for the time they are there or for the trip back. As time permits, be sure they read at least 30 minutes or more each day.

Science or Social Studies:
We study rocks and minerals in 3rd grade and it's always a joy for kids when we begin this unit in winter to bring in a special rock from a place they have visited during the year. We also learn about the first peoples who lived on this land long before white settlers came to what is now known as Portland. It can be interesting for kids to learn about other first peoples who lived in places you visit. Just learning a bit about the history of a new place with a city walking tour, nature hike, scenic route or collecting little souvenirs or scraps can be fun for your child as well.