Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes or more!
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Math review (due Friday, Test Friday)
- Economics review (due tomorrow, Test Friday)*
     *Parents, today I sent home the answer sheet to the review questions (along with Social Studies binders).  Please use the answer sheet to "quiz" your student and check for understanding.  Thanks!

Good luck!

- Mr. B

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due Fri.)
- Math review (addition/subtraction test on Fri.)
- Econ review (due Thurs.)
     *We will have a short Economics test on Friday.  A vocabulary list will go home tomorrow.

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Monday, November 28, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Math review sheet (due Friday)*
     *There will be a computation (addition and subtraction) test this Friday, Dec. 2nd!  Students will be asked to solve and estimate problems using numbers up to the thousands place (four digits).  Parents, it wouldn't hurt to practice a few extra problems each night this week - subtracting with regrouping can still be challenging for some.

We will also be finishing up our study of economics this week.  Keep an eye out for a study guide coming home soon!

- Winter food drive this week!  The 3rd grade is responsible for cans of baked beans, sweet potatoes and spaghetti sauce!

Have a good day!

- Mr. B

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving Break!

Dear class,

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

You have much to be thankful for...be good, have fun, enjoy your family and come to school ready to learn again!  I hope you find some time to read a good book over the break.

I plan to rest up, see my friends and family and watch the occasional football game.  I might even be able to find some time to try some of my grandma's apple pie (usually I can make that happen)!

For those of you that are traveling this week, please be careful and get back safely!

Thanks for a great start to the school year.

Sincerely,

Mr. B

Let's go Hokies!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)

*Our winter food drive starts next week (Monday, November 28th)!  The 3rd grade is responsible for bringing in cans of baked beans, sweet potatoes and spaghetti sauce.  If you are able, please donate to this wonderful cause.

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Math:  addition/subtraction packet (due Friday)
- Sign and return report card envelope

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more) with a good book
- Reading Log (Due Friday)
- Math:  Addition/Subtraction packet (Due Friday)
- Sign & return Report Card envelope

Tomorrow we will be "buying" from the book fair as a class.  Please feel free to send in money with your student's wish list tomorrow. 

Here is the Book Fair schedule for the rest of the week:


Tuesday (11/15)  Classes view & Open sales  7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday (11/16)  Classes buy & Open sales  7:30 AM - 4:00 PM* 
     *5:30 - 8:00 PM is Family Night #1
Thursday (11/17)  Classes buy & Open sales  7:30 AM - 4:00 PM**
     **5:30 - 8:00 PM is Family Night #2
Friday (11/18)  Classes buy & Open sales  7:30 AM - 4:00 PM


Enjoy!

- Mr. B

Friday, November 11, 2011

Kid Pan Alley

Tonight there will be an evening performance of our Kid Pan Alley assembly.

If you are interested in coming, please make sure the students are at school 15 minutes before the 7:00 showtime.  I will be in my classroom between 6:30-6:45pm to meet with our performers and get ready for the show.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Mr. B

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Homework + Kid Pan Alley

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Return Square 1 Art order forms*
     *Mrs. Mahanes would like them back as soon as possible.  Please return the form whether you're ordering items or not!

Also, this week has been Kid Pan Alley week!  Kid Pan Alley is a program run by visiting musicians who help introduce song making and writing to each class they see.  Our class has been working together to create lyrics (a chorus and two verses) and record our very own song.  The process is student-driven and the kids have really gotten in to the process.

Tomorrow we will have a rehearsal (practice) followed by a school assembly at 1:30 p.m.  There will also be an after-school performance at 7:00 p.m. for those that are interested!  Visitors are welcome!

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Finish Math Word Problems (addition/subtraction) that we started in class.

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due tomorrow)
- Math packet (due tomorrow)

Enjoy!

- Mr. B

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Math packet (due Friday)

We learned a new strategy for addition and subtraction today.  It's called "Break it apart!" (expanded form)

523 + 446 = ???

First step is to break the number into pieces based on the place value(s), just like the expanded form of the number.

500 + 20 + 3 + 400 + 40 + 6 = ???

The next step is to add the ones to the ones, tens to the tens and hundreds to the hundreds.  This forms easier addition problems that can be done quickly!

3 + 6 = 9
20 + 40 = 60
500 + 400 = 900

Finally, add up the remaining pieces (900 + 60 + 9) to get your answer (969)!

Tomorrow we will be presenting our science projects related to different terrestrial (land) environments that we have been studying.  Students have been working alone and in groups on projects that include:  comic strips, interview skits (plays) and display posters.  The environments we have been studying are:  the desert, rainforest, temperate forest and grassland/savanna.  Parents, ask your child all about it!

Have fun!

- Mr. B

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Homework

Tonight's homework:

- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Math packet (due Friday)

Today we practiced a strategy to solve addition and subtraction problems.  We're calling the strategy "Draw the Blocks!" (representational form).  Students were asked to draw pictures of base 10 blocks to model addition and subtraction problems.  We had good discussion about why it's important to start with the ones place (you may have to go back and change things if you start from the left side) and why counting on your fingers to add numbers only works sometimes (sometimes you run out of fingers!).

Have a great day!  Enjoy the beautiful weather!

- Mr. B