Grade 3's blog

Math Practice Website

Posted November 23, 2011 - 8:10am

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to tell you that we have begun using a website called IXL in our classroom. IXL is a comprehensive math practice site with an unlimited number of math practice questions in hundreds of skills — all of which are aligned to the provincial curriculum. One of the best things about IXL is that your child can access it from home, so you have a chance to see your child's progress!

To get your child started on your home computer, please follow these easy steps:

  1. Go to www.IXL.com 
  2.  Enter your child's username and password in the top right-hand corner and click Sign in.
    (Note: You will find your child’s username and password in his/her agenda.)
  3. Navigate to your child's grade level.
  4.  Find a skill to practise by doing one of the following:
  • Select a specific skill to practise from the list of skills. You can place your mouse over any skill to see a sample question and click on the link to begin.
  • Click on the Awards tab. Each grade level has an embedded game board with challenges for your child to conquer and virtual prizes to be uncovered.
  • Place your mouse over any challenge to begin. 

In addition to making math practice exciting, IXL is designed to help your child learn at his or her own pace.The website is adaptive and will adjust to your child's demonstrated ability level. The site also saves all of your child's results, so you can monitor your child's progress anytime by clicking on the Reports tab.

I hope you'll encourage your son or daughter to use IXL daily. Here's to a year of working together to make math fun for your child!

 

Sincerely,

Miss Fletcher

Stellarium - Free Planetarium

Posted November 8, 2011 - 3:28pm

Dear Parents, 

 

As you are aware, grade 3 students are currently learning all about stars and planets. Today, we used a computer

program called 'Stellarium' to explore the constellations. Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer.

It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. This is a fantastic

learning tool for your children and I highly recommend you download it if possible. 

 

You can download it easily by going to this link: www.stellarium.org

 

Happy stargazing! 

 

Miss Fletcher 

New Math Unit: Numbers to 1000

Posted October 11, 2011 - 12:09pm

Hello Parents!

Grade 3 has begun a mathematics unit on Numbers to 1000.

In this unit, your child will:

  •  Show a 3-digit number in different ways, using concrete materials, pictures, words, and numbers.
  • Compare and order 2-digit and 3-digit numbers.
  •  Skip count by 5s, 10s, and 100s forward and backward to 1000.
  •  Skip count by 3s, 4s, and 25s forward and backward to 1000.
  • Estimate how many items are in a large collection by comparing it to a known quantity.

Here are some activities you can do at home to support this learning:

  • Use play money to model numbers and to develop understanding of trading or grouping. For example, show that $342 can be modelled as $300 + $40 + $2. Using play bills for $1, $10, and $100 helps to reinforce place value.
  • Play a number comparison game:
    Remove the tens and face cards from a deck of regular playing cards. Deal 3 cards to each player.
    Each player uses the cards to make the greatest possible 3-digit number. The person with the greater number gets a point.
    Repeat. The first player to get 10 points is the winner.
    Play the game again, this time making the least number possible.

Remember to make mathematics part of your children's daily life. Mathematics will become more meaningful when your child see how important it is in so many real-life situations. Encourage them to use math in practical ways. For example, ask them to space new plants a certain distance apart, count objects by 3s, double a recipe, pay bills in stores etc. 


   Miss Fletcher 

Home Reading Program & Spelling Program

Posted September 23, 2011 - 2:47pm

Hello Parents!

Grade 3 students will be starting their Home Reading Program on Monday, September 26. The children are asked to read their allocated books for a minimum of 20 minutes each night to improve their reading fluency. (Students are encouraged to read additional books from home/school library in addition to their allocated books.)

Each week students will complete a written activity related to what they have read. This will help them to develop their reading comprehension skills. (Instructions will be found in their 'Home Reading Folder' which they will bring home on Monday.)

Students will make a record of what they read in their reading log every evening for homework. Please remember to initial every entry once reading is completed. Students will share their reading logs and written activities with their classmates each Friday. They will discuss what they read, what they liked/didn't like/characters/setting/interesting words, etc. 

Grade 3 students have also started their Spelling Program. Each Friday students will receive a list of spellings in their spelling folder. This list is for students to refer to if they are absent during the week or forget their agendas. Children may also use this list in order to test themselves as the week progresses. Students are asked to study four spellings each evening for homework and write four sentences into their L.A notebook. Some weeks there will be an activity/assignment relating to the spellings. This is not due until the following Friday. 

I have attached a document with some information and guidelines to help with spelling. The spelling strategies I have included in this document will be used throughout the year in class. Please try to reinforce these strategies at home.  

 

Have a great weekend, 

 

Miss Fletcher

 

 

 

 

Grade 3 Timetable

Posted September 14, 2011 - 6:35am

Dear Parents,

 

It was great meeting with you yesterday evening.

Please find attached our timetable for term 1.

I have also attached a letter with information from the meeting last night for those of you who couldn't make it. 

 

Many thanks, 

Miss. Fletcher 

 

 

September Math

Posted September 13, 2011 - 1:14pm
 

Grade 3 students have started a mathematics unit on increasing and decreasing patterns.

Recognizing and analysing patterns is an important part of mathematical thinking.

Patterning concepts lead to work with algebra in higher grades.

In this unit, your child will:

  • Identify, extend, create, and compare increasing patterns.
  • Identify, extend, create, and compare decreasing patterns.
  • Find pattern rules.
  • Display number patterns on hundred charts.
  • Use patterns to solve problems.

What can you do at home?

Patterns can be found all around us.

Encourage your child to look for patterns around the home, and talk about them.

Look for patterns in your family’s activities as marked on a calendar at home.

What activities do you do daily? Twice a week? Every week?

Use small objects like buttons or coins to make patterns that grow or shrink.

Encourage your child to describe and extend the patterns.

Count coins by 5s and by 10s.

Find examples of geometric patterns in floor tiles or on game boards.

 

Welcome to Grade Three!

Posted September 8, 2011 - 3:29pm

   

Dear families, 

 

I am very happy to be working with Grade 3 this year. I know that by all of us working together we can make this a very successful year for all students. 

Please check this blog on a regular basis for information regarding school/class events, field trips, projects, etc. 

  

Book order forms - You child will be bringing home Scholastic book Club order forms today. If you would like to make an order, please send the order form and payment to school no later than Wednesday September 14th. 

Labels - Please label every item you send in with your child before it is brought to school. This will help everyone keep track of clothing, books, etc. Please include lunch kits, sweaters, shoes, shirts, blouses and all small items such as pens, erasers, etc. 

Art Shirt - All Grade 3 students will need an old shirt or apron for art class this year. Please label the clothing and send it into school with your child before Thursday, September 15th. 

Physical Education - Children from Grade 3 will have P.E with Mr. Kelly each Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Please make sure that your child wears their gym strip underneath their uniform on these days. 

Birthday Photo - Please send a photo of your child into school as soon as possible. Please label the photo on the back with his/her name, grade and date of birth. These photos will be posted on our school birthday board during the month of your child's birthday. (July and August birthday's are posted in June). 

Library Day - Grade three students will have library time on Friday mornings. Please make sure that all library books borrowed from the school library are returned to school on Thursday mornings. 

 

If you need to contact me throughout the school year please email me at gr3@stpaulschool.ca or write a note in your child's agenda book. In the event of an emergency or if you would like to make an appointment to see me urgently please call the school at 604-277-4489.

 

I consider it a great privilage and responsibility to be your child's teacher this year, and look forward to meeting with each of you at our 'Meet the teacher night' on Tuesday September 13th at 6:45pm. 

   

Sincerely,  

Miss Fletcher