Week in Review

Click here to open a new window with a math tutorial to aid with homework this weekend.

Here's what we learned this week:

MATH: We are reviewing place value and are using place value drawings to illustrate what individual digits in a multi-digit number are worth. We're using multiple strategies to solve multi-digit addition problems and using proof drawings to illustrate how problems with regrouping work. For homework this weekend students are asked to use both the conventional method for regrouping as well as the, "Show All Totals," strategy for problems on the first page. They are to prove the accuracy of their solutions by providing proof drawings as well. If that sounds confusing to you, just click here for a short tutorial on the three strategies.

How you can help- The Show All Totals strategy is new to students, but is an efficient strategy for solving problems mentally without paper or pencil. Give your child a few triple digit addition problems and encourage them to solve them without paper or pencil. Watch the tutorial. Then allow your child to quiz you. Use the Show All Totals strategies and verbalize the thinking that is going on in your head. Encourage your child to check your work by solving the same problem with the conventional method.

SCIENCE: We have begun our exploration of the metric system by investigating the need for a standard unit of measurement for length. We discovered that the meters and centimeters are used to measure length in the metric system.

How you can help-The metric system can be a difficult concept for third graders. They struggle with understanding the difference between the US customary system and the metric system. Allow your child to explore the metric system using a tape measure. Encourage him or her to measure common household objects in both inches and centimeters.

READING: We are reading the old classic Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. We are creating character maps using adjectives to record the changes in characters as the story progresses. We met our kindergarten Reading Buddies and enjoyed sharing books with them.

How you can help-Encourage your child to read for a minimum of 20 minutes every night. Be ready to ask for reading logs next week. If you're looking for book ideas, consider checking out scholastic.com. There is a link at the top of this page and you can order new books online. Our class earns bonus points for each order and we use them to buy items for our classroom.

Have a great weekend!