Monday, March 25, 2013

KenKen

Third grade mathematicians learned how to solve a new, fun puzzle today! KenKen puzzles are almost like Sudoku, but there's even more thinking involved...Can you KenKen? Room 221 third graders can! :o)

Learn how to KenKen by clicking here.

Already an expert? Go right to kenken.com, where they frequently publish more puzzles for you and your third grader to try!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spelling City

This week's Spelling City assignments are now posted. Some third graders may notice that they are repeating a list with which they have previously worked. This is intentional. I repeated some lists based on children's performance on student test scores. I have created new activities to go with teach review list in hopes that with more experience, children will become more adept at spelling the assigned words.

Happy Spelling!

:o)Melanie

Friday, March 22, 2013

State Fair

Click here to check out photos of our proud third graders and their awesome dioramas!

Third Grade Assembly

Click here to see photos of our wonderful Third Grade Assembly!

Homework

In an effort to return our schedule to normalcy, I have assigned the typical homework assignments this week including: weekly math, homework packet, Spelling City,  reading and Xtra Math. However, I do understand that Passover is celebrated early this week. It was my intention that the homework could be completed this weekend, and on Wednesday evening. However, if honoring Passover gets in the way of your child completing their homework this week, they will not be penalized. Please right me a quick note or email and the homework can be returned on Monday, April 1.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Parent Conferences

Fourth grade is fast approaching!  Time goes by so quickly when we are all working so hard!    It’s so exciting to see how much the children have already learned.  Each child has grown so much.  I’m looking forward to showing you lots of evidence of that growth, as well as things on which your child continues to work.

I’m hoping to do all (or most) of my conferences on Friday, May 3.  While the children are working with a guest teacher, I will be meeting with all of you. 

Technology is taking over! Hopefully using "Doodle" to sign up for conferences will simplify the process!

1.  Click here to schedule your parent conference. Please note that I am attempting to schedule most of my conferences on Friday, May 3. However, if you are unable to schedule something that day, I would be happy to accommodate you in any way I can. Just email me separately.

2. You do not need to enter an email and password so skip the login. A
calendar will appear with times on May 3. Each time slot will have a select
button underneath. Find a time that works for you and select the
button underneath. You can only sign up for one time slot. In the row next to
your select button is a location for you to type your child's name. Then click SAVE.

3. You will receive a confirmation message. Click the return
to poll link to view your entry on the calendar.

4. You should see your name and OK in green. No one can select your slot
now that it has been entered.

DELETING OR EDITING A SELECTION
1. If you’d like to change your originally selected date, click the Delete an entry
link under Functions at the bottom of the webpage.

2. Click on the red X and choose the option: Yes, delete. Then Return to poll
to schedule a new date or time using the directions above.

I look forward to meeting with you!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Challenge #4

Technology

*The name of this apparatus comes from the Greek word meaning "calculating board."

*It is generally recognized as the first calculating machine, since it was used by Babylonian traders as early as 1000 BC and in China in 800 BC.

*This counting machine is still used in many countries to teach the elements of the numerical system.

*The device consists of beads that serve as counters, strung on wires in a frame; different wires represent different place values (1s, 10s, 100s, 1000s, etc..).

*By moving the beads up and down, an adept user can quickly perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; no pen, paper or electricity is used, and it works in any base number system.

Answer: Challenge #3

Challenge #3

Science:

*The name of this configuration translates to "The Big Hunter"; in Greek mythology, he boasted that no animal could defeat him.

*One of the most recognizable patterns of stars in the Northern sky, it is home to super giant stars named Rigel and Betelgeuse.

*Extremely rich in bright stars and in deep sky objects, the constellation is useful in locating other stars.

*In the Northern Hemisphere, this cluster of star lights up the night sky from late fall to early spring.

*It depicts a hunter standing by the river accompanied by his faithful dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor. 

Answer: Orion

MCAS


As many of you know, the Reading MCAS begins next week. We had a brief practice test on Wednesday. This was fairly short, and simply gave the children an exposure to the experience.

The actual test will be administered on Monday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 20 at 9:00am. The test is created to take about 60 minutes. Some children will be done sooner, and others will take longer. The test is untimed, so the children can take as long as they need.

I am asking all students to be in bed by 8:00 the nights before the test (Sunday and Tuesday night). Please help your children follow this guideline. In addition, all children should eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school each test day.

The children are welcome to bring in an extra healthy snack if they would like to eat before the test begins. They will be encouraged to eat lightly so they don't become sleepy from overeating. After all children have completed the test, they will also be able to eat snack and relax for a short time. The children will get extra recess each test day in order to run off any extra steam.

Next week will look different in terms of homework. Written homework will not be assigned. I do not expect children to complete Spelling City.  Your children should continue to read (or be read to) for at least 20 minutes each night and continue to use Xtra Math at least 3 times this week.

Most importantly, I do not want your children to feel stressed about MCAS. It is important that they know we believe they will do well. Please encourage them to work hard and do their best. However, also remind them that no matter how they do on MCAS, we know they are smart children!

Thanks for your cooperation. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.

State Fair

Thank you to all who were able to attend the state fair. The children were very proud (and deservedly so) to show off their learning through facts, songs and their creative dioramas. Photos will follow soon! 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Pattern blocks are incredibly useful learning tools! Today and yesterday we used them to expand our knowledge of fractions. If a yellow hexagon is the whole, then a green triangle is 1/6 because it takes 6 green triangles to evenly fill up a hexagon. Similarly, a blue rhombus is 1/3 because it takes 3 blue rhombi to evenly fill up a hexagon. Finally, a red trapezoid is 1/2, because it takes 2 red trapezoids to evenly fill up a hexagon. 

As children manipulated the blocks, they realized they could fill a hexagon using a combination of blocks. For example, you can fill a hexagon with 1 trapezoid, 1 blue rhombus and 1 green triangle. Therefore, we know that 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/6 = 1. We talked about adding fractional pieces. We learned that we can only add fractions (in our head) if the denominators are the same. For example, we can add 1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4. The denominator of 4 is consistent. In the example 1/2 + 1/3 + 1/6 = 1, the children used a model (the blocks) to solve it. They would not be able solve it mentally because the denominators are not the same. However, some very smart third graders realized that 1/3 + 1/6 = 1/2 (because 1/3 = 2/6) so the same problem can also be solved 1/2 + 1/2 = 1. (Sounds like fifth grade fraction studies, don't you think?)

Challenge your child to solve these addition and subtraction problems:

1/3 + 1/3 =
3/4 + 1/4 =
5/6 - 3/6 =
3/5 - 1/5 =

Fractions

Our class has been working on fractions in math. Your child has been using fractions to make "fair shares" of things like paper "brownies" and pattern-block "cookies." By working with these materials, your child is learning how "wholes" come apart into fractions and how fractions fit together as wholes. 

Here are some ways that you can help at home:

*When your family is sharing food, talk about "fair shares" and help your child name fractions. If you want to split the pizza among five people, how can you split it fairly? How much does each person get?

*Cooking is another great way to learn about fractions. How can we measure 3/4 cup? Look together at how the fractions appear on a measuring cup. Doubling recipes, or cutting them in half, can help your child understand how to make new numbers with fractions.

The purpose of this unit is for students to visualize and compare fractions, to find different combinations of fractions that make a whole, to learn which common fractions are equivalent, and to begin to use fractions to solve problems like this one:

Six people at a party shared all the cookies evenly. Each person ate 1 and 1/3 cookies. How many cookies did they eat?

We love fraction action! :o)Melanie

Potato Hill Poetry

Thanks so much to the PTC for bringing third grade Potato Hill Poetry! Mr. Andrew Green was a pleasure to work with in our classroom Monday. He shared many of his wonderful poems with us. As he shared, he talked about many important techniques and strategies writers can use to create powerful poetry.

*Think about how words sound together
*Poems repeat
*Poems can have patterns
*Poems can have refrains
*Write about small moments


Mr. Green also helped us consider the theme of unity. He encouraged children to brainstorm ideas, words and phrases that they connected with unity. We used these ideas to begin a whole class poem. The other third grade classes are working on similar poems based on different themes. We are really excited that a Dance Team will come to us next week to help each class choreograph a dance that will match their poem. We will end the week by sharing our poetry and dance with the entire school at assembly.
 
Thanks again to the PTC for providing us with this wonderful opportunity! 

Friday, March 1, 2013

Talented Room 221

Congratulations to Nicole and Victoria! Both were highlighted today at our school assembly. Nicole played "The Pink Panther" wonderfully on the piano. Victoria has several pieces of her artwork hanging in the lobby. Woo hoo! They both should be very proud. :o)

Needham Unplugged



It is so easy to get caught up into electronics --- TV, computers, Internet, Gameboy, and Nintendo are fun, entertaining, and a nice way to relax. The problem becomes when you find yourself spending 2, 4, 6 or even 8 hours a day plugged in and little time is devoted to interacting with family and friends or simply engaging in a quiet activity such as reading or walking.
Needham Unplugged is an awareness campaign to remind Needham families and residents to unplug their electronics and plug into each other. It is a reminder that there is more to life than what is on the other side of a plug. Watch for announcements about activities that do NOT require electricity and that emphasize person-to-person interaction and health. The highlight of the program is no-homework, no-sports, and no-activities night for Needham Public School Students. In addition, there will be no town-related meetings and virtually no community and religious meetings held on that night.


See the towns website for flyers! [ http://www.needhamma.gov/index.aspx?nid=113 ]http://www.needhamma.gov/index.aspx?nid=113   No HW/No meeting night Thursday March 21st

Social Network Free Thursday March 7th

Text Free Tuesday March 26th