As we move into the second half of quarter two we have begun to find the area of rectilinear shapes, otherwise known as two rectangles joined together in an L or T shape. We continue to work on multiplication and division word problems as well. Look in your childs Friday folder for the Quarter 2 part 2 letters with more detailed information regarding what we are learning in math and reading. Progress reports will be included this week as well. Remember to continue to practice with your child the math facts he or she is still not fluent with. Enjoy the links below as they have some fun ways to practice.
Design a Party
Area and Perimeter Practice
Zoo Designer

Also... if you haven't heard your child singing it yet, here is a great rap to help remember the multiples of 6!

Flocabulary Multiples of 6 Song

Math Games This Week

Kenken website (problems like math challenge last week)

Times Table Grid Game

This Week in Math

Wow! I can hardly believe how long it has been since I posted last. We are very busy in math relating division to multiplication and using a variable (a letter) to represent the unknown. This week is super busy with conferences. I promise more posts soon. Thanks to all parents for such great questions at conferences. As always, if you leave a conference and remember something you wanted to ask, please feel free to email me at Lisa_A_Bradley@mcpsmd.org.

This week in math..

We  have been working on different ways to subtract this week. Check out the great instructional videos under the tab "videos that help me learn." I included videos on the same change, trade first and counting up subtraction algorithms. This week's Friday folder included an instructional sheet reviewing these strategies. Students are encouraged to use what is most comfortable for them, including the traditional "cross out and carry" method most parents are familiar with. However, we are constantly talking about being "cognitively flexible" and trying new things that help us to reason and expand our minds in the way we view, reason and discuss mathematics. Remember to compliment your child on his/her hard work in attempting new strategies, even though he/she may not understand them at first or choose to use them later.

Our Math is Modern!

This week in math we are learning addition and subtraction compensation strategies. What is a compensation strategy? Technically, a compensation strategy is a mental math strategy in which you change one addend to a multiple of ten and then adjust the other addend to keep the balance. Whew, that's a lot! What does it look like? Ideally, if you learn this type of strategy, you can solve math problems in your head faster than on paper. Here's a video to help, so you can help your child.

Compensation Strategy for Addition

Compensation Strategy for Subtraction

Today we explored the scientific method.

Today in science, we took our lesson outside. We formed a hypothesis about how the movement of a ball would be effected if we changed the texture of the surface it was rolled on. The weather was great and we had a lot of fun testing our predictions.

Shout Outs!

The following students were "shouted out" at our town hall meeting this Friday. Here's why:  John and Dean (not shown) were very respectful during math stations, working quietly and cooperatively. Vanua improved two reading levels since school ended this summer, making her a model for personal responsibility. Camia and Aisha were on task in math group and asked relevant questions to improve their understanding. Way to go... I am so proud of you!!

Math Centers

Math Stations

While I am at work with students doing small group math, students rotate between the following math stations: independent work, math bcr's (brief constructed responses), math journal, basic facts practice and partner games. Here are some students who were "caught being good" and on task.

At this station, Grace writes a spelling word down and uses place value blocks to find the total value of the word. Each letter is assigned a different value (one, ten, hundred or thousand).You can't see what she wrote in the picture, but you can notice she is using a timer to see how fast she can find the value.

In this picture this group is sorting addition sentences to determine if you need to compose a ten, hundred, both or no composing at all.

These girls were reviewing rounding to the nearest hundred using a number line.

Here, Neansha was using the rounding rap to round to the nearest ten.

Here Alivia explains her thinking with a number line and  in writing. Way to go!!

 Reading/Writing Update:

This week in reading students heard the story Ooka and the Honest Thief. Students then reread the story with a partner. They had to determine if Ooka, the judge, was fair or not fair following this format: " I think Ooka was a fair or unfair judge because...(insert opinion) In the story...(insert story evidence) That's why I think Ooka was a fair or an unfair judge." It is often challenging for third graders to answer a question in more than one sentence. We discuss how using a thesis statement at the beginning is important. Backing up your opinion with evidence from the story is the next step. Finally, students close their argument by firmly by restating their opinion.

This week in math we are working on analyzing addition problems to see if you need to compose a ten, hundred, both, or none. We discussed how "compose" is the new word for "carry," a term parents (of my generation) are familiar with. So we chanted... "When I say "carry," you say "compose!" Here are some pics...

Wow, here we are in week three of school. I can't believe it is going by so fast. I can't wait to meet the parents of my students tomorrow night. I added a link to Ms. Sherry's blog on the right so you can check out her blog too. She posted some solutions to last weeks math challenge homework. I am so proud of how hard our third graders are working. Remember to let them know how proud you are of them too!

            This Week in Math

       We have been working on rounding two and three digit numbers to the nearest hundred and nearest ten. 

We learned how to use a number line.

We learned how to use a 1,000 chart.

We learned to think of the nearest ten as a gas station and the number we needed to round as the car. We asked ourselves, "Which gas station is closer?"

Some students prefer to rap... here's a great rap I found on another third grade teacher's blog.

Rounding Rap!

      Well, here we are at the start of another school year. I am super excited about my current batch of newbie third graders. I can't wait for Back to School Night so I can get permission to post pictures of my students and all the hard work they are doing. As a student said last week to a friend next to him..."See, I told you we would learn cool stuff in third grade!"  That comment just re-energized me after a week of classroom prep, curriculum review, and general fatigue. I thought since my class was now tech ready with our new smart board, I had to get this blog going. This was one of my resolutions last year, so I made it just in time for another great year at Page. I am always looking for inspiration  and I found this great video online... 
http://video-subtitle.tedcdn.com/talk/podcast/2013S/None/RitaPierson_2013S-low-en.mp4
       I love the phrase she had her students say daily, "I am somebody. I was somebody when I came and I'll be a better somebody when I leave. I am powerful and I am strong. I deserve the education that I will get here. I have things to do, people to impress, and places to go."

...That's what I'm talkin' about!