"It is our choices that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ~ Albus Dumbledore

Monday, September 26, 2016

Math

Last week we wrapped up working with mental math to solve addition and subtraction problems. We then started reviewing the partial sum strategy. We also began preparing for subtracting by reviewing negative numbers. This week the homework will be:
Monday- Subtraction and combos to 10, 100, and 1,000, back
Tuesday- Subtracting over combos of 10, 100, 1,000, back
Wednesday- Subtraction page, back
Thursday- Subtraction page, back
Thanks and have a great week!
Mrs. Neal

Friday, September 23, 2016

Sept. 19-22

Reading:
This week we learned about first and third person point of view.
The students received new spelling words and took a Latin/Greek test on Thursday. They will test on spelling 9/29.

Please remember to check your child's Edmodo. This is where you will find their weekly reading grades.

Writing:
We continued writing opinion papers. We are writing about the best animal, using evidence to support our opinion. The students will be typing these - they are turning out nicely.

Grammar:
This week we learned about verbs. The students identified all the verbs they could within a busy picture.

Projects:
The students finished up, for the most part, their catapult prototypes. We spent Wednesday and Thursday sharing our prototypes and giving/receiving feedback on how to improve it when we build the full size catapult. Students typed up supply lists and we will begin gathering those supplies this weekend. Many of you mentioned having supplies around your house; I'll send an email out to all of you so I have a good idea of what I still need to get. We will start the building process very soon. I'll send an email as soon as we have that all squared away.

Misc:
Thanks again to Mrs. Sheldon-Davis and Ms. Darity - PE is super fun for our kiddos.
Check out the picture tab!
Picture day went well. As always, I love the dedication to our kiddos on picture day. It is not an assembly line where students quickly take a mediocre picture. Volunteers doll-up our children and Susan Robertson takes several pictures to ensure a good shot. We are lucky!

Monday, September 19, 2016

Math

Hello 3rd grade families, 
This week in math was all about mental math with addition and subtraction. We reviewed a couple different strategies, one of which was making a ten or hundred. We also reviewed all the combinations to make ten, one hundred, and a thousand (which are VERY helpful to know). 
One of the biggest setbacks at this point for addition and subtraction is not knowing math facts. Think of it like reading, if you couldn't read single words, how could you read whole stories and comprehend what you just read? Same goes for math, if you can't quickly recall your math facts, how can you move on to larger numbers and use addition to solve problems? We are at the point now that we want our students to be fluent in their math facts so they can focus on bigger things. With this in mind, please remind your students that they need to be practing their math facts often. Math homework is 20 minutes but anytime your student finishes early, have them use the rest of the time to practice math facts. IXL even has math fact practice, which you can find under the first grade IXL called skill builders. Also, on the days (often the weekend) that homework is to practice math facts, maybe find some games, a website, or something fun to practice math facts. If you visit my blog, I have a tab dedicated to math facts with all sorts of ideas.
The homework for this week is:
Monday- IXL C.8
Tuesday- Partial sums page
Wednesday- IXL C.1
Thursday- Subtracting negatives page

Thanks and have a great week!

Sunday, September 18, 2016

SEPT. 12-15

Reading:
We learned about the story plot: exposition, climax and resolution. We also continued identifying protagonist and antagonist.
Students had a spelling test on Thursday. They will receive new words on Monday.
There will be a Latin/Greek test 9/22 on quint/penta, hex, sept, oct.

Writing:
Students started research for their Best Animal opinion papers.

Grammar:
We reviewed the parts of speech we have covered so far this year: nouns, pronouns, abstract nouns, plural nouns, and adjectives.

Projects:
Students finished up plan A and plan B of their catapult prototypes. We are close to needing supplies for the big project - I'll get that out to you as soon as we compile the lists.

Monday, September 12, 2016

MATH FROM MS. NEAL

Hello 3rd grade families,
So far in math we have been focusing on place value and number sense. We really dug into numbers up to 1,000, including writing them in different forms (expanded form, word form, base ten) and comparing them. 

Then we used all of our knowledge of numbers to move into a new concept of rounding. We worked on rounding to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000. Last week we completed a test on these concepts which will be coming home this week.

The homework for this week is:
Monday- IXL B.7
Tuesday- IXL B.8
Wednesday- IXL C.8
Thursday- practice math facts

Also, I am still on the look out for a math fact volunteer on Tuesdays from 9:55-10:55. If you are available, please let me know!

Thanks and have a wonderful week!
Ms. Neal

Friday, September 9, 2016

WEEK 4

Reading:
We learned about theme this week. I read a couple of different stories: The Most Magnificent Thing and Stephanie's Ponytail and the students determined the themes that can be found in the stories.

We also continued to work in our book clubs and in Edmodo. If you haven't already, please check out your child's Edmodo page.
We had our first Latin and Greek test. Your child brought these home on Thursday.
Your child received new spelling words on Tuesday. They will test on 9/15.

Writing:
We continued writing opinion papers on whether or not we believe the ant should be squished.
We are almost done learning the cursive alphabet!

Grammar:
This week we learned about adjectives. Next week we will review the different types of nouns we've covered so far (noun, plural nouns, abstract nouns) and adjectives.

Projects:
The students were placed in their partnerships for the catapult project. Some students are working with kids from Mrs. Moon's class. We are excited about mixing our classes up and enjoy getting to know the other 3rd graders. They started planning their catapults by first researching ideas, deciding on a plan A and a plan B, sketching and labeling, and many groups began building their mini prototypes to test.

Misc:
-Your children are awesome! 
-Please make sure you're checking their Google calendar for daily behavior and homework.

Friday, September 2, 2016

WEEK THREE

Week three already!!

We have kept super busy. We are still working on tight transitions and other classroom rules that keep our class moving quickly and not wasting precious learning time. We have so much to cover this year so I like to ensure our class is efficient - we have fun, but we run a tight ship.

I'm enjoying getting to know your children - I've gotten to really see their cute personalities :o)

Reading:
We learned about inference this week.  This is something we do all of the time, and now we have a vocabulary word associated with it. We watched a funny commercial and a Pixar short film to practice our inference. We will continue to practice this in our book clubs as well.

We had our first spelling test on Thursday.  Overall, it went pretty well. These are in your child's mailboxes at school - it was our intention to grab them during cleanup, but we forgot. They will bring them home on Tuesday. If your child receives a 1, please sign and return the test so I know you've seen it.  Mrs. Moon and I are putting together our spelling groups this weekend, so starting Tuesday, your child will be in a differentiated spelling group based on their needs.

The students started their book clubs this week and got logged into Edmodo. Please check the Edmodo tab on our blog for information. Edmodo is where we complete all of our weekly book club assignments. This is also where you can check your child's reading assignment grades. Very rarely do papers get sent home. Please note: Edmodo is not homework - this is done in class. If your child is absent they can do it from home; otherwise, I prefer it to be done in class.  There is a parent code on their Edmodo page that you can use to follow their assignments/grades.
This week we started very basic with our responses - I just wanted the students to practice using the program.

Writing:
In cursive we are now working on capital letters! We are so close to finishing the alphabet. Once we learn all the letters, the students will work at their own pace through a cursive book.
We started a new opinion paper. We read Hey, Little Ant! and created an opinion about whether or not the ant in the story should be squished. Next, we read some non-fiction ant books and took notes. These notes form the supporting evidence for our opinions.

Grammar:
We started a DOL (daily grammar practice) that we will do every day, time permitting.
We also reviewed regular/irregular plural nouns and took a test.
On Wednesday and Thursday we learned about abstract nouns. Have your child sing you the song :o)

Projects:
This week we learned about simple machines. The students moved through centers learning about and using different simple machines. This provides the foundation for our punkin' chunkin' catapults.

PE:
The students are having fun with our awesome PE moms. THANK YOU SO MUCH, Ms. Darity and Ms. Sheldon-Davis for taking both 3rd grade classes to PE each week. We appreciate you very much!!

Misc:
We are learning all 50 states in alphabetical order through song!  We've learned the first 5 so far.  It's not a standard, but I think it's important to know that California and Utah are not other countries :o) I learned it when I was in 3rd grade and never forgot it.
*there are 4 new pictures in the picture tab