Our Week: Short in Days, Long in Learning

It was a short but busy week in third grade! The students were really excited to share how they spent their Labor Day weekend.

Hard at work on our first math test!

Students in the third grade math class took their first test of the year  and did so well! They worked really hard and persevered through each question. In third grade, we emphasize the importance of using the whole time and checking each problem multiple times to make sure silly mistakes and errors are caught. We will now move on to Unit 2.  Unit 2’s emphasis is on addition and subtraction.  There are four main areas of focus:

• To review fact families and number families
• To solve “What’s my Rule?” problems
• To use diagrams to help solve number stories
• To review algorithms for addition and subtraction

We also wrapped up our work on geography in social studies.

• See if your child can tell you the three things we use to describe a place's physical geography.  Students should be able to tell you we use physical features, climate, and natural resources.  
• Check and see if your child can describe the physical geography of Indiana.  

We'll be starting our Rocks and Minerals unit next week in science!

In writing, we wrapped up how to SHOW instead of tell when writing  narratives. Students learned that if they use action, dialogue, thoughts, and sensory details, they can produce wonderful writing! Ask your child how they've turned a boring, telling sentence into a great, descriptive paragraph that keeps their reader interested! Next week, we'll focus on how to write great beginnings.

The 100 Book Club has started again!  Although completing the program to 100 books is optional, we would like all third graders to record the books they read in the packet.  Many times students are overwhelmed at the idea of reading 100 books, but they are then surprised at how quickly the books add up with all of the reading they do in 3rd grade.  The students were very excited to get the packets and set a goal to make it to the 25 books level.  Please help them achieve this goal by reminding them to record the books they finish at home.

We're excited to see what next brings in third grade!

Have a wonderful weekend!