Third Grades A Hoot!

Whats Happening In Our Class?

Hello everyone. I want to thank everyone who came to conferences to discuss your childs progress in 3rd grade. Working together your child is having a great year! We are also getting excited about our Lansing trip on Tuesday, April 1st. In math we are finishing up Unit 8. and will be testing on this before spring break. This unit covers fractions, equivalent fractions and fraction number stories. We are well into our study of multiplication memorization of fact families. This week we will not be learning any new fact families, but instead will be reviewing what we have learned. The purpose of memorizing these facts is so that when we start multi digit multiplication, your child will already know the facts and can concentrate on learning the process. I have also sent home a multiplication mad minute pack. These mad minutes are a part of the weekly homework. Your child must complete as least 2 of these sheets per week. They may, however, complete up to 7. When they complete a sticker chart, they will receive a no homework coupon., candy or they can save their coupon for a stuffed animal. I have also given everyone extra challenge packs to work on when they finish their journal work. When your child turns this in they will earn a no math homework coupon for them to use whenever they wish! In addition, I have a fourth grade math pack that is available for parents. This is a take home pack to complete at home for an extra challenge. However, students may bring pages back to school if they wish. Many of these concepts may be new and will not be taught during the school day. Please let me know if you are interested in this. In language arts we are continuing to work on our 7 keys of comprehension. So far we have worked on connections, mental images, fix up strategies, back ground knowledge or schema and inferring. Everyday when students read to self they need to put these strategies to use to help with comprehension. Students show me their thinking by using sticky notes to mark down their reactions to the text. When I confer with them, they can then show me what they know! March is also reading month. Slips are due on Monday or Tuesday at the latest. We finished up our organisms unit. Our next unit will be on inertia, gravity, force, motion, and friction. In social studies we have learned about the branches of government and how a bill becomes a law. After spring break we will discuss the Judicial Branch and have a 3rd grade Mock Trial. We will also be picking our state mammals for our animal report right after spring break. More information to come on this. As I stated in my blog we are in desperate need of disinfectant wipes, pencils, pencil top erasers, and sticky notes.

Mrs. Bates 3rd Grade Class

March, 2014 mbates@rockfordschools.org 863-6363 ext. 4707 Dates to Remember: Tuesday, April 1st Lansing Trip Friday, April 4th No school April 711th Spring Break Mon. 4-14 Late Start 10:40 Wed. 4-16 PTO 7:00 Wed. 4-23 and Thurs. 4-24 Spring Pictures Fri. 4-25 Donuts with Dad Fri. 4-25 Popcorn Day