Greetings Parents!
Welcome to Room 303. Please feel free to look around the room.
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20 minutes (or more) with a good book
- Reading log + HW Packet (due tomorrow)
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Friday, November 13, 2015
Weekly Update + Report Cards!
Hello!
Here's what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts - We have been finishing up lots of book group projects in our room. Students are given three (3) options upon the completion of a book group book:
1) Character Model - Using "model magic" (molding clay), create a character from your book, including as many details as possible. Please attach three character traits that describe the character.
2) Poster - Using special poster paper, create a poster that advertises your book to other students in the class. Include an illustration and as many fun facts as possible. Please also include a brief summary of the story written in your own words (as you might find on the back of a book).
3) Triorama - Using folded poster paper, create a 3-D scene from your book. The scene should be a major event in the story. Please include as many details as possible related to the setting and characters. Also include a caption that describes what is happening in the scene.
Being a Writer - Nearly every student has completed a typed, "final copy" of their written work. Students selected a favorite written piece from their writing journals and did some light revising and editing before using Microsoft Word to type their stories.
We will be starting a non-fiction writing unit in the coming weeks!
Social Studies - Last week, we finished up our economics unit with a "Class Market". Students were asked to produce 5 goods (or coupons for services) at home, and bring them in to sell to their classmates. Each student received $5 of fake money and we held 3-4 rounds of buying and selling. I think everyone learned a lot about supply and demand, consumer behavior, and what it means to specialize in a miniature (classroom) economy.
In a separate task, students were asked to work in groups to use natural resources (sticks, leaves, pinecones, pasta, beans, etc.) to create a good or service that others might find useful. Students produced everything from a roller coaster, to a truck, to a catapult - all in 20 minutes!
This week, students are creating their own civilization! We are basing their projects on the book, Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman. You can watch the video below:
Finally, here is a link to the work students have been doing (taken by our excellent Assistant Principal, Mr. Crutchfield). This is after multiple days of planning everything from a staple food crop, what the shelter will look like (and what resources can be used for construction), inventing an alphabet, and more. I'm excited to see how the civilizations will grow and evolve next week!
Math - We have been working on adding and subtracting whole numbers up to 9,999. After introducing a variety of strategies, we have been choosing the most efficient ones to practice problems where regrouping occurs (my teacher called it "borrowing" back in the day). There's a very cool website (link) that uses base 10 blocks to show the process of regrouping when adding and subtracting.
We have also been enjoying a variety of fun ways to practice our math facts. Our gifted resource teacher has books with "Math Line Designs From Around the World", picture puzzles that have directions in English and Spanish and involve cutting out pieces and gluing them on correct sums/differences, as well as practice problems that can be colored, cut out, and folded/taped/glued into 3-D shapes!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall so far! We have many things to be thankful for. I'm certainly thankful for the 23 students that show up every day to do their best in school!
Have fun!
- Mr. B
P.S. Report cards for the 1st quarter of the school year are "going home" today. There is a parent portal website where you can access your child's report card starting today. A few paper copies went home today for those parents that requested that method of delivery. Please feel free to contact me with any questions/comments!
Here's what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts - We have been finishing up lots of book group projects in our room. Students are given three (3) options upon the completion of a book group book:
1) Character Model - Using "model magic" (molding clay), create a character from your book, including as many details as possible. Please attach three character traits that describe the character.
 |
| Here's an example of a character model from the book Pippi Longstocking. |
2) Poster - Using special poster paper, create a poster that advertises your book to other students in the class. Include an illustration and as many fun facts as possible. Please also include a brief summary of the story written in your own words (as you might find on the back of a book).
3) Triorama - Using folded poster paper, create a 3-D scene from your book. The scene should be a major event in the story. Please include as many details as possible related to the setting and characters. Also include a caption that describes what is happening in the scene.
Being a Writer - Nearly every student has completed a typed, "final copy" of their written work. Students selected a favorite written piece from their writing journals and did some light revising and editing before using Microsoft Word to type their stories.
We will be starting a non-fiction writing unit in the coming weeks!
Social Studies - Last week, we finished up our economics unit with a "Class Market". Students were asked to produce 5 goods (or coupons for services) at home, and bring them in to sell to their classmates. Each student received $5 of fake money and we held 3-4 rounds of buying and selling. I think everyone learned a lot about supply and demand, consumer behavior, and what it means to specialize in a miniature (classroom) economy.
In a separate task, students were asked to work in groups to use natural resources (sticks, leaves, pinecones, pasta, beans, etc.) to create a good or service that others might find useful. Students produced everything from a roller coaster, to a truck, to a catapult - all in 20 minutes!
This week, students are creating their own civilization! We are basing their projects on the book, Weslandia, by Paul Fleischman. You can watch the video below:
Finally, here is a link to the work students have been doing (taken by our excellent Assistant Principal, Mr. Crutchfield). This is after multiple days of planning everything from a staple food crop, what the shelter will look like (and what resources can be used for construction), inventing an alphabet, and more. I'm excited to see how the civilizations will grow and evolve next week!
Math - We have been working on adding and subtracting whole numbers up to 9,999. After introducing a variety of strategies, we have been choosing the most efficient ones to practice problems where regrouping occurs (my teacher called it "borrowing" back in the day). There's a very cool website (link) that uses base 10 blocks to show the process of regrouping when adding and subtracting.
We have also been enjoying a variety of fun ways to practice our math facts. Our gifted resource teacher has books with "Math Line Designs From Around the World", picture puzzles that have directions in English and Spanish and involve cutting out pieces and gluing them on correct sums/differences, as well as practice problems that can be colored, cut out, and folded/taped/glued into 3-D shapes!
I hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall so far! We have many things to be thankful for. I'm certainly thankful for the 23 students that show up every day to do their best in school!
Have fun!
- Mr. B
P.S. Report cards for the 1st quarter of the school year are "going home" today. There is a parent portal website where you can access your child's report card starting today. A few paper copies went home today for those parents that requested that method of delivery. Please feel free to contact me with any questions/comments!
Monday, October 19, 2015
Bee Bop & Parent Conferences
Hello!
Apologies for not posting a weekly update last week. I was busy running with all of the other students and teachers during my planning time for Brownsville's annual BEE BOP. It was great to get outside and run around with the 2nd and 3rd graders!
Some important dates to share:
October 19th-October 30th (next two weeks) is the window for Parent-Teacher Conferences. A link to a sign up genius (online sign up website) went out on Friday. Please email me at jbalnave@k12albemarle.org if you aren't able to sign up online, or if you would like a different day than those offered (M/T/Th/F).
October 23rd will be the last official day of the 1st Quarter of the school year.
We will be taking a cumulative 1st Quarter Math Test on Friday, 10/23. The test will include questions related to our study of graphing, time, place value, and rounding.
We are also working hard to complete finished writing products by the end of this week. Students have the choice of using "final writing paper" or typing their stories on a laptop and printing them out.
Also, just a friendly reminder that this year our report cards will be going out electronically (on Parent Portal) unless requested otherwise. Report Cards will be available in early November.
Finally, a reminder that with Autumn months come Autumn temperatures. Thanks to everyone for helping to make sure our students are dressed warmly for school! We play outside every day, weather permitting.
Have fun!
- Mr. B
P.S. Tonight's Homework:
*Read for 20 minutes (or more)
*HW Packet -> Due Friday
*Bring Back Monday Folder
*1st Quarter Math Test -> This Friday (10/23)
Apologies for not posting a weekly update last week. I was busy running with all of the other students and teachers during my planning time for Brownsville's annual BEE BOP. It was great to get outside and run around with the 2nd and 3rd graders!
Some important dates to share:
October 19th-October 30th (next two weeks) is the window for Parent-Teacher Conferences. A link to a sign up genius (online sign up website) went out on Friday. Please email me at jbalnave@k12albemarle.org if you aren't able to sign up online, or if you would like a different day than those offered (M/T/Th/F).
October 23rd will be the last official day of the 1st Quarter of the school year.
We will be taking a cumulative 1st Quarter Math Test on Friday, 10/23. The test will include questions related to our study of graphing, time, place value, and rounding.
We are also working hard to complete finished writing products by the end of this week. Students have the choice of using "final writing paper" or typing their stories on a laptop and printing them out.
Also, just a friendly reminder that this year our report cards will be going out electronically (on Parent Portal) unless requested otherwise. Report Cards will be available in early November.
Finally, a reminder that with Autumn months come Autumn temperatures. Thanks to everyone for helping to make sure our students are dressed warmly for school! We play outside every day, weather permitting.
 |
| It is officially Fall! Almost time to start making Leaf Print T-Shirts! |
Have fun!
- Mr. B
P.S. Tonight's Homework:
*Read for 20 minutes (or more)
*HW Packet -> Due Friday
*Bring Back Monday Folder
*1st Quarter Math Test -> This Friday (10/23)
Friday, October 9, 2015
Weekly Update
Hello!
Here's what we've been working on in room 303 this week:
Language Arts - We started new word study sorts this week. Students have two weeks to work with these words before they will be quizzed on them (next Friday). We also continued to improve our language arts rotations. There are three book groups going on in my room (Tornado, Pippi Longstocking, and Frindle), and one going on in Mrs. Dettmann's room (The Family Under the Bridge). We're developing a sense of independence and responsibility for completing one's work. I'm personally really enjoying the fact that I'm able to meet with small groups of kids and listen to them read, ask them questions about their books, and share in the excitement of reading new stories!
Being a Writer - This week we learned about acrostic poems. The class read the book, Silver Seeds, which is a book full of nature words that the authors (Paul Paolilli & Dan Brewer) have turned into acrostic poems. Each letter of the word begins a new line, and all of the lines in the poem are supposed to describe the word in some fashion. For example, for the word "SUN", the poem reads: "Sliding through the window,/Underneath the door,/Nudging us out to play." Students had the opportunity to create their own poems, in addition to having time to work on other stories in their writing journals.
Social Studies - We successfully completed our study of Maps and Globes this week! Today we took the quiz, which asked students to show what they know about the 7 continents (can you find them on a map?), 5 oceans (wait...there's a southern ocean?), and other geographic vocabulary words and concepts. We learned about map legends, symbols, directions, coordinates and more! We even created motions to our very own game of Simon Says! Thanks for all you do at home to encourage geographic literacy.
Read Aloud - Currently, we are nearly 2/3 of the way through the book, The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynn Reid Banks. We are at a suspenseful part of the story where Omri and Patrick are looking for the missing key to the cupboard. Yesterday we talked about the word "sieve" since it came up in the story. Students discovered the word was similar to "strainer" and "colander", or something that one might use to separate small things (or liquid) from big things. Each day we're trying to find new and unfamiliar words that we can all learn.
Math - This week, we continued to work on rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand. We practiced this by playing a game called "Round it!" The game involves flipping over 4 digit cards, arranging them into a 4-digit number (e.g. 4,582), and then rolling special dice (labeled with 10, 100, and 1,000). Depending on the roll, students would round their number to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand. In general, most kids are able to round to the first digit (thousands place), however, things are slightly more difficult when rounding a 4-digit number to the nearest hundred or ten. Common mistakes are: leaving off part of the number (4,582 rounding to 600), rounding to the wrong place (4,582 rounding to 5,000 or 4,580...both correct answers but for different places), and just not knowing or being able to visualize the number line when getting specific with large numbers (which just takes more exposure to, and practice with, numbers up to 9,999).
We also experimented with a review game called "Sink or Swim". It's an attempt to review math concepts in a setting that emphasizes teamwork (students are grouped in teams and encouraged to collaborate), sharing mathematical thinking (a spokesperson is selected to present answers), good-natured competition, and fun! Ask your child to find out more...
In general, it's clear to me that we're making great progress each week. Our classroom community has developed to the point where people are getting comfortable and the expectations are known. I'm already looking forward to next week!
Thanks for reading!
- Mr. B
P.S. Thanks to all of the parents and friends who came early to school this morning to decorate our sidewalks with positive chalk messages. It made for a great day!
Here's what we've been working on in room 303 this week:
Language Arts - We started new word study sorts this week. Students have two weeks to work with these words before they will be quizzed on them (next Friday). We also continued to improve our language arts rotations. There are three book groups going on in my room (Tornado, Pippi Longstocking, and Frindle), and one going on in Mrs. Dettmann's room (The Family Under the Bridge). We're developing a sense of independence and responsibility for completing one's work. I'm personally really enjoying the fact that I'm able to meet with small groups of kids and listen to them read, ask them questions about their books, and share in the excitement of reading new stories!
Being a Writer - This week we learned about acrostic poems. The class read the book, Silver Seeds, which is a book full of nature words that the authors (Paul Paolilli & Dan Brewer) have turned into acrostic poems. Each letter of the word begins a new line, and all of the lines in the poem are supposed to describe the word in some fashion. For example, for the word "SUN", the poem reads: "Sliding through the window,/Underneath the door,/Nudging us out to play." Students had the opportunity to create their own poems, in addition to having time to work on other stories in their writing journals.
 |
| This book showed us how cool acrostic poems can be! |
Social Studies - We successfully completed our study of Maps and Globes this week! Today we took the quiz, which asked students to show what they know about the 7 continents (can you find them on a map?), 5 oceans (wait...there's a southern ocean?), and other geographic vocabulary words and concepts. We learned about map legends, symbols, directions, coordinates and more! We even created motions to our very own game of Simon Says! Thanks for all you do at home to encourage geographic literacy.
 |
| This is a map of the earth at night. Can you locate the continents? The oceans? |
Read Aloud - Currently, we are nearly 2/3 of the way through the book, The Indian in the Cupboard, by Lynn Reid Banks. We are at a suspenseful part of the story where Omri and Patrick are looking for the missing key to the cupboard. Yesterday we talked about the word "sieve" since it came up in the story. Students discovered the word was similar to "strainer" and "colander", or something that one might use to separate small things (or liquid) from big things. Each day we're trying to find new and unfamiliar words that we can all learn.
 |
| Sieve- a utensil consisting of a wire or plastic mesh held in a frame, used for straining solids from liquids, for separating coarser from finer particles, or for reducing soft solids to a pulp. (Definition according to Google) |
Math - This week, we continued to work on rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand. We practiced this by playing a game called "Round it!" The game involves flipping over 4 digit cards, arranging them into a 4-digit number (e.g. 4,582), and then rolling special dice (labeled with 10, 100, and 1,000). Depending on the roll, students would round their number to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand. In general, most kids are able to round to the first digit (thousands place), however, things are slightly more difficult when rounding a 4-digit number to the nearest hundred or ten. Common mistakes are: leaving off part of the number (4,582 rounding to 600), rounding to the wrong place (4,582 rounding to 5,000 or 4,580...both correct answers but for different places), and just not knowing or being able to visualize the number line when getting specific with large numbers (which just takes more exposure to, and practice with, numbers up to 9,999).
We also experimented with a review game called "Sink or Swim". It's an attempt to review math concepts in a setting that emphasizes teamwork (students are grouped in teams and encouraged to collaborate), sharing mathematical thinking (a spokesperson is selected to present answers), good-natured competition, and fun! Ask your child to find out more...
 |
| Poseidon traded in his trident for a beach ball for our game of "Sink or Swim". |
In general, it's clear to me that we're making great progress each week. Our classroom community has developed to the point where people are getting comfortable and the expectations are known. I'm already looking forward to next week!
Thanks for reading!
- Mr. B
P.S. Thanks to all of the parents and friends who came early to school this morning to decorate our sidewalks with positive chalk messages. It made for a great day!
Friday, October 2, 2015
Weekly Update
Greetings!
After some thought, I'm going to shoot for weekly classroom updates, to be published on Friday. Here is the recap from this week in room 303:
Language Arts - This week our class made great progress with our "Language Arts Rotations" plan.
Every morning, after our morning meeting, students spend 15-20 minutes reading self-selected books independently. They are allowed to sit anywhere in the room, but are encouraged to choose spots that are comfortable, quiet, and distraction-free. Starting the morning with everyone reading books that make them happy is a great way to begin the day. It also ensures a calm and quiet environment, making the reading time that much more enjoyable for all.
At ~8:40 a.m., we begin our first rotation. There is a schedule that is projected on the board with groups of students working on different language arts tasks at the same time. For example, one group of students might meet at the round table for a book group meeting (all students reading the same book, with teacher support). Another group of students might be working with their word study words, choosing from a menu of activities. Yet another group might be finishing up an assignment for a future book group meeting (e.g., finish chapter 2, find 3 unfamiliar words, etc.). Students are expected to work independently for the duration of the 20 minute rotation. So far, the class is doing great!
We transition to another rotation (#2) at around 9:00 a.m. This allows another group of students to meet for a book group while the rest of the class works on independent reading, writing, and spelling activities. Some students leave the room to meet with other teachers for more advanced reading groups or small group assistance. The students seem to enjoy the independence and choice the rotations allow (they are allowed to be in control of their own learning to an extent). I like the rotations because I'm able to work closely with groups of similar readers and really work on improving reading skills.
Every other Friday we will be having a word study quiz related to the words each student is studying. The word sorts will change every 2 weeks! We had quizzes today, so next Monday students will get their WS journal back with a graded quiz and a new set of words to work with and master.
At 9:25 a.m., we break for snack!
Being a Writer - This week, we focused on learning about pattern books and getting more ideas for our own writing. We read the books Fortunately, by Remy Charlip, Animalia, by Graeme Base, and O is for Orca, by Andrea Helman (photos by Art Wolfe). The students enjoyed the detailed illustrations in Animalia, and some even attempted to create an alphabet book of their own. The class also enjoyed the humor and patterns found in Fortunately - a book that alternates good things ("fortunately...") and bad things ("unfortunately...") that happen to the main character.
Social Studies - We started our study of Maps & Globes this week! We have been learning about map features like a legend/key, a compass rose, a scale, a grid system, and more! Students have been introduced to world maps, globes (even watching a video about how globes are made), atlases, and computer mapping programs like Google Earth. Yesterday, we spent some time creating our own treasure maps that we will then use to learn about coordinates. Next Friday we will finish up the unit with a test on the continents, oceans, and various map features and skills that we have covered in class.
Math - This week we introduced the concept of rounding. Many students remembered rounding from 2nd grade, however, this year we are rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000. To develop the concept of rounding, we spent our time doing three things each day. First, we spent time practicing the art of estimating (estimation180.com). The idea of an "educated guess" and thinking "about how many" is a great way to warm up the brain for rounding. Next, we spent time making "count by" lists. Counting by 10s starting from 10, counting by 100s starting from 100, and counting by 1,000s starting from 1,000 are all things we did to get familiar with these benchmarks that will be used when rounding numbers. Later in the week, we counted by the same amounts, but started from different numbers (e.g., by 10s starting from 680, by 100s from 3,200, by 1,000s from 18,000).
The strategy I used to introduce rounding was "building mountains" - basically a number line that helps students visualize the choice of "which number do I round to?" We practice identifying the place that we're rounding to, choosing "friendly numbers" (e.g., when rounding 274 to the nearest 100, the friendly numbers would be 200 and 300), and then placing the number on the number line. This helps students visualize the somewhat abstract concept of rounding. Next week, we'll spend time reviewing all of the place value skills that have been taught (reading/writing #s up to 6 digits, comparing and ordering #s, etc.).
Thanks for reading!
Have a great (& dry) weekend!
- Mr. B
After some thought, I'm going to shoot for weekly classroom updates, to be published on Friday. Here is the recap from this week in room 303:
Language Arts - This week our class made great progress with our "Language Arts Rotations" plan.
Every morning, after our morning meeting, students spend 15-20 minutes reading self-selected books independently. They are allowed to sit anywhere in the room, but are encouraged to choose spots that are comfortable, quiet, and distraction-free. Starting the morning with everyone reading books that make them happy is a great way to begin the day. It also ensures a calm and quiet environment, making the reading time that much more enjoyable for all.
At ~8:40 a.m., we begin our first rotation. There is a schedule that is projected on the board with groups of students working on different language arts tasks at the same time. For example, one group of students might meet at the round table for a book group meeting (all students reading the same book, with teacher support). Another group of students might be working with their word study words, choosing from a menu of activities. Yet another group might be finishing up an assignment for a future book group meeting (e.g., finish chapter 2, find 3 unfamiliar words, etc.). Students are expected to work independently for the duration of the 20 minute rotation. So far, the class is doing great!
We transition to another rotation (#2) at around 9:00 a.m. This allows another group of students to meet for a book group while the rest of the class works on independent reading, writing, and spelling activities. Some students leave the room to meet with other teachers for more advanced reading groups or small group assistance. The students seem to enjoy the independence and choice the rotations allow (they are allowed to be in control of their own learning to an extent). I like the rotations because I'm able to work closely with groups of similar readers and really work on improving reading skills.
Every other Friday we will be having a word study quiz related to the words each student is studying. The word sorts will change every 2 weeks! We had quizzes today, so next Monday students will get their WS journal back with a graded quiz and a new set of words to work with and master.
At 9:25 a.m., we break for snack!
Being a Writer - This week, we focused on learning about pattern books and getting more ideas for our own writing. We read the books Fortunately, by Remy Charlip, Animalia, by Graeme Base, and O is for Orca, by Andrea Helman (photos by Art Wolfe). The students enjoyed the detailed illustrations in Animalia, and some even attempted to create an alphabet book of their own. The class also enjoyed the humor and patterns found in Fortunately - a book that alternates good things ("fortunately...") and bad things ("unfortunately...") that happen to the main character.
 |
| Each picture is filled with things that begin with a letter of the alphabet. |
Social Studies - We started our study of Maps & Globes this week! We have been learning about map features like a legend/key, a compass rose, a scale, a grid system, and more! Students have been introduced to world maps, globes (even watching a video about how globes are made), atlases, and computer mapping programs like Google Earth. Yesterday, we spent some time creating our own treasure maps that we will then use to learn about coordinates. Next Friday we will finish up the unit with a test on the continents, oceans, and various map features and skills that we have covered in class.
Math - This week we introduced the concept of rounding. Many students remembered rounding from 2nd grade, however, this year we are rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000. To develop the concept of rounding, we spent our time doing three things each day. First, we spent time practicing the art of estimating (estimation180.com). The idea of an "educated guess" and thinking "about how many" is a great way to warm up the brain for rounding. Next, we spent time making "count by" lists. Counting by 10s starting from 10, counting by 100s starting from 100, and counting by 1,000s starting from 1,000 are all things we did to get familiar with these benchmarks that will be used when rounding numbers. Later in the week, we counted by the same amounts, but started from different numbers (e.g., by 10s starting from 680, by 100s from 3,200, by 1,000s from 18,000).
The strategy I used to introduce rounding was "building mountains" - basically a number line that helps students visualize the choice of "which number do I round to?" We practice identifying the place that we're rounding to, choosing "friendly numbers" (e.g., when rounding 274 to the nearest 100, the friendly numbers would be 200 and 300), and then placing the number on the number line. This helps students visualize the somewhat abstract concept of rounding. Next week, we'll spend time reviewing all of the place value skills that have been taught (reading/writing #s up to 6 digits, comparing and ordering #s, etc.).
Thanks for reading!
Have a great (& dry) weekend!
- Mr. B
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Testing...testing...
Hello!
Just a quick update from Room 303:
Today most of the triorama projects went home. Please be on the lookout for them! Some students opted to wait a day so that their dismissal schedule was more triorama-transportation friendly.
In class today we discussed homophones, or words that have the "same sound". These words are tricky sometimes because they can be spelled differently. We read the book Dear Deer, by Gene Baretta, and talked about the meaning of words like "moose"/"mousse", "kneaded"/"needed", and "feat"/"feet". Can you think of any other words that have the same sound but different meanings?
Students also spent time reading and then explaining (and drawing) a connection they made when reading the story. We have been practicing the skill of making connections to text. Students should be familiar with "text to self", "text to text", and "text to world" connections. For example, if I was reading a Geronimo Stilton book and one of the characters in the story climbed a mountain, it might remind me of the time I went hiking in the Rocky Mountains this past summer. That would be a "text to self" connection because the book reminded me of something that I experienced personally. Similarly, "text to text" connections happen when one book reminds the reader of another book, and "text to world" connections happen when a book reminds the reader of something they've heard about in the world, but haven't experienced (like a volcanic eruption, hopefully!).
We also continued our measurement rotations today! The class visited other 3rd grade classrooms and learned about reasonable units to use when measuring distance, as well as a lesson on telling temperature by reading thermometers. Students had a chance to measure the temperatures of five objects (ice, hot water, room temperature, etc.) and record both the degrees fahrenheit and degrees celsius for each.
Finally, a sincere thank you to the folks who attended Back to School Night last night. It's always fun sharing 3rd grade with other adults and I hope it was worth your while to attend! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email me at: jbalnave@k12albemarle.org
Best,
Mr. B
P.S. Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes with a good book
- Reading Log (and HW packet) due Friday, 9/11.
Have fun!
Just a quick update from Room 303:
Today most of the triorama projects went home. Please be on the lookout for them! Some students opted to wait a day so that their dismissal schedule was more triorama-transportation friendly.
In class today we discussed homophones, or words that have the "same sound". These words are tricky sometimes because they can be spelled differently. We read the book Dear Deer, by Gene Baretta, and talked about the meaning of words like "moose"/"mousse", "kneaded"/"needed", and "feat"/"feet". Can you think of any other words that have the same sound but different meanings?
 |
| Students did a great job identifying the homophones in this book! |
Students also spent time reading and then explaining (and drawing) a connection they made when reading the story. We have been practicing the skill of making connections to text. Students should be familiar with "text to self", "text to text", and "text to world" connections. For example, if I was reading a Geronimo Stilton book and one of the characters in the story climbed a mountain, it might remind me of the time I went hiking in the Rocky Mountains this past summer. That would be a "text to self" connection because the book reminded me of something that I experienced personally. Similarly, "text to text" connections happen when one book reminds the reader of another book, and "text to world" connections happen when a book reminds the reader of something they've heard about in the world, but haven't experienced (like a volcanic eruption, hopefully!).
We also continued our measurement rotations today! The class visited other 3rd grade classrooms and learned about reasonable units to use when measuring distance, as well as a lesson on telling temperature by reading thermometers. Students had a chance to measure the temperatures of five objects (ice, hot water, room temperature, etc.) and record both the degrees fahrenheit and degrees celsius for each.
 |
| Brrrrr...chilly! |
Best,
Mr. B
P.S. Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes with a good book
- Reading Log (and HW packet) due Friday, 9/11.
Have fun!
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Back 2 School Night 2015!
Greetings Parents!
Welcome to Room 303. Please feel free to look around the room.
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20 minutes (or more) with a good book
- Reading log + HW Packet (due Friday)
Welcome to Room 303. Please feel free to look around the room.
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20 minutes (or more) with a good book
- Reading log + HW Packet (due Friday)
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Back to School Night 2013!
Greetings Parents!
Welcome to Room 303. This is where your child spends most of their time when at school each day. Please feel free to get up & look around the room. There is a letter addressed to you at your student's desk. If you feel up to the task, take a minute and respond to it (on the front or back)!
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive and find the room.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20-30 minutes with a good book
- Reading log + Packet (due Friday)
- We will have a Math (graphing) quiz this Thursday (9/12).
- We will have a Social Studies (citizenship/government) quiz this Friday (9/13).
Monday, December 17, 2012
Hello again!
The blog is back after a November hiatus...
Here is what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts - We have been working on a number of reading comprehension skills in Language Arts class. One day, students listened carefully to the words read aloud in the children's folktale, The Emperor and the Nightingale, by Fiona Waters and Paul Birkbeck. Students drew pictures based on what they heard and visualized in their heads. Then they compared their pictures to those of the illustrator to monitor their own understanding of the details of the story.
We have also been choosing
characters from our book group novels for a final project. The idea for
this project was to really focus on the character development in the
story. Students made a model out of clay and listed four character
traits that described how the character looked, behaved or thought in
the story. Students even spent time looking back in their books to find
actual "proof" from the text for each trait they listed.
Writing - In writing we spent a great deal of time producing finished books for the animal research projects. They are now bound and published, complete with title pages, tables of contents, pictures, captions and even a few indexes (indices?) and glossaries!
We have also selected other stories from our writing journals to revise, edit and publish. Recently, we worked on adding details to good sentences in order to make them great! For example, students were shown the sentence "I walked to the tree." With some coaching and encouragement, our class eventually changed that sentence to "I walked happily to the huge maple tree." "He went home." changed to "He drove to a big brick house in a hot rod." We decided that these new sentences gave the reader a better picture to visualize in their head!
Social Studies - During Social Studies, students have been learning all about the European explorers who discovered North America in the 15th/16th centuries. We discussed the history of human settlement of the "New World" (North and South America) dating back to a land bridge over what is now the Bering Strait between Alaska and eastern Russia. We studied the reasons European explorers chose to explore new, uncharted territories (e.g. "They wanted to find a faster route to Asia so they could trade for things like silk and spices."). Students also chose one explorer to become an expert on (Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de Leon, Jacques Cartier or Christopher Newport) and completed a project of their own choosing (a poster, a map, a journal or a letter to the king/queen). Projects will go home this week.
This week we will be creating civilizations in room 303! Based on the book, Weslandia, by Paul Flieschman, students will be tasked with creating their own imaginary group of people based around a staple food crop, a common language, similar clothing/shelter/food/music/games, etc. Here's a video of the story for your home-viewing entertainment:
Math - We recently finished up our unit on addition and subtraction of large numbers (up to 4 digits). Quizzes went home to be signed and returned, thanks for your support at home! I'm allowing students to make corrections to any missed questions for 1/2 credit.
We are also working with money in Math. Aside from learning how to read and write different amounts of money, students have been working on adding, subtracting and making change using prices from various restaurant menus! By the end of one lesson, we were even discussing how much tax would be added on to a bill of $2.60, and consequently, how much change would one receive if they paid with $15.00? (and even... "Why would you pay with $15.00 if the total is only $2.60?").
Parents, don't forget:
*Math Midyear Test happens this Wednesday, December 19th!
*Grandparent/VIP Day happens this Thursday, December 20th!
*Class Winter Party happens this Friday, December 21st!
Please feel free to call or email with any questions concerns. Thanks for reading!
Best,
Mr. B
The blog is back after a November hiatus...
Here is what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts - We have been working on a number of reading comprehension skills in Language Arts class. One day, students listened carefully to the words read aloud in the children's folktale, The Emperor and the Nightingale, by Fiona Waters and Paul Birkbeck. Students drew pictures based on what they heard and visualized in their heads. Then they compared their pictures to those of the illustrator to monitor their own understanding of the details of the story.
 |
| "Close your eyes. Listen carefully. Ok, now draw what you heard." |
Writing - In writing we spent a great deal of time producing finished books for the animal research projects. They are now bound and published, complete with title pages, tables of contents, pictures, captions and even a few indexes (indices?) and glossaries!
We have also selected other stories from our writing journals to revise, edit and publish. Recently, we worked on adding details to good sentences in order to make them great! For example, students were shown the sentence "I walked to the tree." With some coaching and encouragement, our class eventually changed that sentence to "I walked happily to the huge maple tree." "He went home." changed to "He drove to a big brick house in a hot rod." We decided that these new sentences gave the reader a better picture to visualize in their head!
Social Studies - During Social Studies, students have been learning all about the European explorers who discovered North America in the 15th/16th centuries. We discussed the history of human settlement of the "New World" (North and South America) dating back to a land bridge over what is now the Bering Strait between Alaska and eastern Russia. We studied the reasons European explorers chose to explore new, uncharted territories (e.g. "They wanted to find a faster route to Asia so they could trade for things like silk and spices."). Students also chose one explorer to become an expert on (Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de Leon, Jacques Cartier or Christopher Newport) and completed a project of their own choosing (a poster, a map, a journal or a letter to the king/queen). Projects will go home this week.
This week we will be creating civilizations in room 303! Based on the book, Weslandia, by Paul Flieschman, students will be tasked with creating their own imaginary group of people based around a staple food crop, a common language, similar clothing/shelter/food/music/games, etc. Here's a video of the story for your home-viewing entertainment:
Math - We recently finished up our unit on addition and subtraction of large numbers (up to 4 digits). Quizzes went home to be signed and returned, thanks for your support at home! I'm allowing students to make corrections to any missed questions for 1/2 credit.
We are also working with money in Math. Aside from learning how to read and write different amounts of money, students have been working on adding, subtracting and making change using prices from various restaurant menus! By the end of one lesson, we were even discussing how much tax would be added on to a bill of $2.60, and consequently, how much change would one receive if they paid with $15.00? (and even... "Why would you pay with $15.00 if the total is only $2.60?").
 |
| "Hmm...what to order?" |
*Math Midyear Test happens this Wednesday, December 19th!
*Grandparent/VIP Day happens this Thursday, December 20th!
*Class Winter Party happens this Friday, December 21st!
Please feel free to call or email with any questions concerns. Thanks for reading!
Best,
Mr. B
Monday, October 15, 2012
Picture Day, Conferences, etc.
Hello!
This is just a reminder that we will have yearbook pictures taken tomorrow (Tuesday, October 16th) at 1:00 p.m. Order forms went home to all students last week. There are extra order forms in the main office if needed.
Also, today I sent home a note about upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Please check your child's agenda binder for more information! In short, I will be meeting with any interested parents next week. Monday, Tuesday and Friday are the days I have set aside, however, I will be happy to work with you if your schedule does not work with those days. If you have any specific questions/concerns, please email me.
This week we are beginning our book group "rotations" in Language Arts. Students will have two tasks assigned to them each morning (after our independent reading time). During these rotations, I will be meeting with groups of students to discuss and guide their reading. At the end of two rotations, all students will have 15 minutes to choose the activity of their choice (from the options listed). Examples of Language Arts activities are: completing a character map, making riddles with word study words, reading with a partner, working on writing, listening/reading/quizzing on www.raz-kids.com, summarizing a book, etc.
Today we finished most of our presentations for our terrestrial (land) environment projects! We saw lots of great posters, skits and comic strips that showed knowledge of environments like deserts, rainforests, temperate forests and grasslands. Thanks to the students for all of their hard work this past week! Students also shared their outstanding "Make-A-Camouflage" bugs last week. This week we will be focusing on food chains and animal adaptations. We will learn words like producers (living things that make their own food), consumers (living things that must find and eat their food), and decomposers (living things that break down dead or decaying plants/animals). We will also learn about carnivores (animals that eat primarily meat), herbivores (animals that eat primarily plants) and omnivores (animals that eat both meat and plants).
In math we are still working on rounding, comparing and identifying different numbers and values within those numbers. This Friday (October 19th) we will have our Place Value Test! A review packet went home to help students prepare for next week's 1st Quarter Math Test, which is a cumulative review of all the math we have studied so far this school year (mostly graphing & place value).
Leaf T-Shirts will be going home in Ziploc bags tomorrow! Thanks for your help and patience with that project. Also, (as always) thank you for making sure your child is rested, fed and gets to school on time!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
This is just a reminder that we will have yearbook pictures taken tomorrow (Tuesday, October 16th) at 1:00 p.m. Order forms went home to all students last week. There are extra order forms in the main office if needed.
Also, today I sent home a note about upcoming parent-teacher conferences. Please check your child's agenda binder for more information! In short, I will be meeting with any interested parents next week. Monday, Tuesday and Friday are the days I have set aside, however, I will be happy to work with you if your schedule does not work with those days. If you have any specific questions/concerns, please email me.
This week we are beginning our book group "rotations" in Language Arts. Students will have two tasks assigned to them each morning (after our independent reading time). During these rotations, I will be meeting with groups of students to discuss and guide their reading. At the end of two rotations, all students will have 15 minutes to choose the activity of their choice (from the options listed). Examples of Language Arts activities are: completing a character map, making riddles with word study words, reading with a partner, working on writing, listening/reading/quizzing on www.raz-kids.com, summarizing a book, etc.
Today we finished most of our presentations for our terrestrial (land) environment projects! We saw lots of great posters, skits and comic strips that showed knowledge of environments like deserts, rainforests, temperate forests and grasslands. Thanks to the students for all of their hard work this past week! Students also shared their outstanding "Make-A-Camouflage" bugs last week. This week we will be focusing on food chains and animal adaptations. We will learn words like producers (living things that make their own food), consumers (living things that must find and eat their food), and decomposers (living things that break down dead or decaying plants/animals). We will also learn about carnivores (animals that eat primarily meat), herbivores (animals that eat primarily plants) and omnivores (animals that eat both meat and plants).
 |
| Some animals eat only plants! These animals are called herbivores. Are you an herbivore? |
In math we are still working on rounding, comparing and identifying different numbers and values within those numbers. This Friday (October 19th) we will have our Place Value Test! A review packet went home to help students prepare for next week's 1st Quarter Math Test, which is a cumulative review of all the math we have studied so far this school year (mostly graphing & place value).
Leaf T-Shirts will be going home in Ziploc bags tomorrow! Thanks for your help and patience with that project. Also, (as always) thank you for making sure your child is rested, fed and gets to school on time!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Monday, October 8, 2012
Weekly Update
Greetings!
Here's the weekly update:
Language Arts - We will be starting book groups in class this week! Students will be placed in groups of 3-6 and will choose from a limited selection of "good fit" books. I will be working with each group on specific reading strategies, helping them manage their time and find creative ways to show their understanding of the text. We will also discuss specific characters and practice identifying character traits (words that describe how a character thinks/acts/looks). Students will learn how to distinguish between "round" characters (fully developed with many possible traits) and "flat" characters (undeveloped with few possible traits).
Writing - In writing class, we are learning about different ways to write about non-fictional topics. Students have seen examples of a caption, glossary, index, etc. and are getting ready to use that knowledge to help research and write a non-fiction book about an animal of their choice.
Science - We are continuing our study of terrestrial (land) environments. We have also discussed and defined different vocabulary words related to animal/plant survival. Your child should now know about and be able to discuss different adaptations such as camouflage, migration, hibernation and mimicry. This week students will be asked to produce a project (either a poster, a skit/play, or a comic strip) that shows their knowledge of different terrestrial environments and the animals/plants that live there.
Math - This week we will be working on rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand. Today, students did a great job of "building mountains" to help show their understanding of numbers and how they can be rounded.
For example: When rounding the number 73 to the nearest ten, we drew a number line with "friendly tens" on either side. In this case, 70 and 80 are the friendly tens that are closest to 73. We identify the halfway point (75) and draw a mountain above our number line with the peak matching the halfway point. Since 73 falls on the left side of our mountain, it "rolls" down to the number 70. If the number falls exactly on the halfway point, our fictional mountain has wind that blows it down the right side towards the bigger number. I find that creating this imaginary mountain scenario helps kids relate to the somewhat abstract concept of rounding.
The goal is to master even the most difficult rounding problems by the end of this week! Some of the more difficult problems might be:
Round 382 to the nearest ten.
Round 5,064 to the nearest hundred.
Round 340 to the nearest thousand.
Round 7,299 to the nearest ten. And so on...
This week is also special because we will be making our annual Fall Leaf T-Shirts! Thursday morning we will work on decorating the shirts with leaves from outside. Then, with help from parent volunteers, we will spray the shirts with bleach to create a cool looking leaf pattern! Please remember to bring in a 100% cotton, dark colored t-shirt by Wednesday, October 10th. I will make sure that everyone has a shirt by Thursday. Thanks for your continued support at home!
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Here's the weekly update:
Language Arts - We will be starting book groups in class this week! Students will be placed in groups of 3-6 and will choose from a limited selection of "good fit" books. I will be working with each group on specific reading strategies, helping them manage their time and find creative ways to show their understanding of the text. We will also discuss specific characters and practice identifying character traits (words that describe how a character thinks/acts/looks). Students will learn how to distinguish between "round" characters (fully developed with many possible traits) and "flat" characters (undeveloped with few possible traits).
Writing - In writing class, we are learning about different ways to write about non-fictional topics. Students have seen examples of a caption, glossary, index, etc. and are getting ready to use that knowledge to help research and write a non-fiction book about an animal of their choice.
Science - We are continuing our study of terrestrial (land) environments. We have also discussed and defined different vocabulary words related to animal/plant survival. Your child should now know about and be able to discuss different adaptations such as camouflage, migration, hibernation and mimicry. This week students will be asked to produce a project (either a poster, a skit/play, or a comic strip) that shows their knowledge of different terrestrial environments and the animals/plants that live there.
 |
| Caption: This pangolin (scaly anteater) has specially adapted skin to help it survive! |
Math - This week we will be working on rounding numbers to the nearest ten, hundred and thousand. Today, students did a great job of "building mountains" to help show their understanding of numbers and how they can be rounded.
For example: When rounding the number 73 to the nearest ten, we drew a number line with "friendly tens" on either side. In this case, 70 and 80 are the friendly tens that are closest to 73. We identify the halfway point (75) and draw a mountain above our number line with the peak matching the halfway point. Since 73 falls on the left side of our mountain, it "rolls" down to the number 70. If the number falls exactly on the halfway point, our fictional mountain has wind that blows it down the right side towards the bigger number. I find that creating this imaginary mountain scenario helps kids relate to the somewhat abstract concept of rounding.
The goal is to master even the most difficult rounding problems by the end of this week! Some of the more difficult problems might be:
Round 382 to the nearest ten.
Round 5,064 to the nearest hundred.
Round 340 to the nearest thousand.
Round 7,299 to the nearest ten. And so on...
This week is also special because we will be making our annual Fall Leaf T-Shirts! Thursday morning we will work on decorating the shirts with leaves from outside. Then, with help from parent volunteers, we will spray the shirts with bleach to create a cool looking leaf pattern! Please remember to bring in a 100% cotton, dark colored t-shirt by Wednesday, October 10th. I will make sure that everyone has a shirt by Thursday. Thanks for your continued support at home!
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Monday, October 1, 2012
Weekly Update
Hello!
Thanks for being patient as I get used to doing a weekly update! The past two weekends have taken me to Fairfax, Roanoke, Richmond and Virginia Beach for soccer games (phew). I promise to do better!
Here is what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts: Each day, I have made sure to include 15 minutes (or more) of independent, silent reading time. During this time I encourage students to pick books that will "stretch" or challenge them. After reading, we have been working on generating both "thick" (or "fat") and "thin" (or "skinny") questions.
Thick questions take a lot of thought and explaining to answer.
For example: "Why do you think Omri wants to go home straight after school instead of skateboarding with his friends?"
Thin questions are easy to answer with only a few words.
For example: "What is the main character's name?"
We have also been continuing our study of different types of words. Identifying syllables, explaining the meaning of words through art, identifying words that rhyme or don't rhyme, etc. We even have a "word of the day" that we choose from challenging words that come up during read aloud or perhaps science/social studies. After working with the same word study sort for two consecutive weeks, students took their first word study quiz last Friday, September 28th. We will have word study quizzes on a bi-weekly basis (students are encouraged to study their words at home the night before).
Writing: In writing class we have been working on a project related to the book Amos & Boris, by William Stieg. After hearing the story, students got to work brainstorming characters who would end up as unlikely friends. We followed a similar plot-structure to Amos & Boris, however students had the freedom to choose their own characters, setting and even the problems the characters would face. Upon completing a rough draft and sharing the story with a writing partner, students have been working diligently to produce a final copy that we can all be proud of!
Science: This past week we learned all about various aquatic ("water") environments! After learning a little bit about each and sharing what we already knew, each student chose from a list of aquatic environments (oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, rivers, lakes, etc.) to research. We used books from the classroom, public library and laptop computers to help create brochures that contain relevant info about the different environments (animals/plants that can be found, fun facts and an advertisement). This week we will learn all about terrestrial ("land") environments!
Math: In math we are learning more about place values for numbers and different ways to think about how numbers relate. For example, students have enjoyed making "count by..." lists that challenge their brains in different ways. We have counted forwards by 2, starting from the number 1 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11...). Counting by 3s and 4s is a good way to prepare for our upcoming study of multiplication. Other examples include: counting by 10s starting from 231; counting by 100s starting from 3,486; counting backwards by 5s starting from 125; counting backwards by 1,000s starting from 31,020, etc. We're focused mainly on being able to read/write/work with numbers up to the hundred thousands place, however, we did have a student write an extremely long number that ended up being one septuagintacentillion (1x10^513)! We spent time making the largest/smallest possible number given ____ digits and we spent some time comparing numbers (>, <, =). We will have a place value quiz on Friday, October 7th (study guide coming soon!).
That's about it! It has continued to be a fun start to the year! We spend time each morning getting to know each other (greeting, sharing, playing) and we're becoming fast friends. Thanks for all that you do at home!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Thanks for being patient as I get used to doing a weekly update! The past two weekends have taken me to Fairfax, Roanoke, Richmond and Virginia Beach for soccer games (phew). I promise to do better!
Here is what we've been working on in room 303:
Language Arts: Each day, I have made sure to include 15 minutes (or more) of independent, silent reading time. During this time I encourage students to pick books that will "stretch" or challenge them. After reading, we have been working on generating both "thick" (or "fat") and "thin" (or "skinny") questions.
Thick questions take a lot of thought and explaining to answer.
For example: "Why do you think Omri wants to go home straight after school instead of skateboarding with his friends?"
Thin questions are easy to answer with only a few words.
For example: "What is the main character's name?"
We have also been continuing our study of different types of words. Identifying syllables, explaining the meaning of words through art, identifying words that rhyme or don't rhyme, etc. We even have a "word of the day" that we choose from challenging words that come up during read aloud or perhaps science/social studies. After working with the same word study sort for two consecutive weeks, students took their first word study quiz last Friday, September 28th. We will have word study quizzes on a bi-weekly basis (students are encouraged to study their words at home the night before).
Writing: In writing class we have been working on a project related to the book Amos & Boris, by William Stieg. After hearing the story, students got to work brainstorming characters who would end up as unlikely friends. We followed a similar plot-structure to Amos & Boris, however students had the freedom to choose their own characters, setting and even the problems the characters would face. Upon completing a rough draft and sharing the story with a writing partner, students have been working diligently to produce a final copy that we can all be proud of!
Science: This past week we learned all about various aquatic ("water") environments! After learning a little bit about each and sharing what we already knew, each student chose from a list of aquatic environments (oceans, coral reefs, wetlands, rivers, lakes, etc.) to research. We used books from the classroom, public library and laptop computers to help create brochures that contain relevant info about the different environments (animals/plants that can be found, fun facts and an advertisement). This week we will learn all about terrestrial ("land") environments!
Math: In math we are learning more about place values for numbers and different ways to think about how numbers relate. For example, students have enjoyed making "count by..." lists that challenge their brains in different ways. We have counted forwards by 2, starting from the number 1 (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11...). Counting by 3s and 4s is a good way to prepare for our upcoming study of multiplication. Other examples include: counting by 10s starting from 231; counting by 100s starting from 3,486; counting backwards by 5s starting from 125; counting backwards by 1,000s starting from 31,020, etc. We're focused mainly on being able to read/write/work with numbers up to the hundred thousands place, however, we did have a student write an extremely long number that ended up being one septuagintacentillion (1x10^513)! We spent time making the largest/smallest possible number given ____ digits and we spent some time comparing numbers (>, <, =). We will have a place value quiz on Friday, October 7th (study guide coming soon!).
That's about it! It has continued to be a fun start to the year! We spend time each morning getting to know each other (greeting, sharing, playing) and we're becoming fast friends. Thanks for all that you do at home!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Monday, September 17, 2012
Weekly Update
Greetings!
My goal for this blog is to share what we are doing on a weekly basis in Room 303 at Brownsville Elementary School.
Here is this week's update:
Language Arts - We started our first word study sort today. Right now we're still learning different word study activities so the whole class has a sort related to commonly used words beginning with "a-" and "be-" (e.g., "about", "because"). We have also learned about synonyms (words that have the same meaning), antonyms (words that have opposite meanings), and homophones (words that sound the same but have different spellings/meanings). As we read, we are learning to make different kinds of connections to ourselves and the world around us. We have also been spending time learning how to use tools like the dictionary and thesaurus.
Writing - We have been brainstorming different topics to write about. So far we have read books that model writing about our family, creating our own character(s), using memories from our own life and creating complex alphabet books that rhyme! Right now students have the freedom to write about anything that interests them. Soon we will choose a piece that we can take through the writing process (revising, editing, etc.).
Social Studies - We played "Simon Says" today with geography vocabulary that we have learned in our Maps & Globes unit. Students came up with creative ways to act out words like "hemisphere", "southwest", "prime meridian" and "coordinates". We will have a Social Studies quiz this Wednesday on Citizenship (last week's study guide) as well as Maps & Globes (this week's study guide).
Math - This past week our class has been "rotating" through the 3rd grade learning about different ways to measure things. For example, in my room, students learned about measuring the mass (weight) of an object. We used both U.S. Customary units (ounces, pounds) and metric units (grams, kilograms). Students worked with different types of scales including kitchen scales, balance scales and bathroom scales. In other rooms, students measured distance, temperature and liquid volume. Soon we will begin our unit on Place Value. More info to come!
Parents, thanks for all that you do each day to make sure your child is prepared to learn here at school!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
My goal for this blog is to share what we are doing on a weekly basis in Room 303 at Brownsville Elementary School.
Here is this week's update:
Language Arts - We started our first word study sort today. Right now we're still learning different word study activities so the whole class has a sort related to commonly used words beginning with "a-" and "be-" (e.g., "about", "because"). We have also learned about synonyms (words that have the same meaning), antonyms (words that have opposite meanings), and homophones (words that sound the same but have different spellings/meanings). As we read, we are learning to make different kinds of connections to ourselves and the world around us. We have also been spending time learning how to use tools like the dictionary and thesaurus.
Writing - We have been brainstorming different topics to write about. So far we have read books that model writing about our family, creating our own character(s), using memories from our own life and creating complex alphabet books that rhyme! Right now students have the freedom to write about anything that interests them. Soon we will choose a piece that we can take through the writing process (revising, editing, etc.).
 |
| We are learning about globes! |
Social Studies - We played "Simon Says" today with geography vocabulary that we have learned in our Maps & Globes unit. Students came up with creative ways to act out words like "hemisphere", "southwest", "prime meridian" and "coordinates". We will have a Social Studies quiz this Wednesday on Citizenship (last week's study guide) as well as Maps & Globes (this week's study guide).
 |
| We measure the "old school" way, with balance scales! |
Math - This past week our class has been "rotating" through the 3rd grade learning about different ways to measure things. For example, in my room, students learned about measuring the mass (weight) of an object. We used both U.S. Customary units (ounces, pounds) and metric units (grams, kilograms). Students worked with different types of scales including kitchen scales, balance scales and bathroom scales. In other rooms, students measured distance, temperature and liquid volume. Soon we will begin our unit on Place Value. More info to come!
Parents, thanks for all that you do each day to make sure your child is prepared to learn here at school!
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Back to School Night 2012!
Greetings Parents!
Welcome to Room 303. This is where your child spends most of their time when at school each day. Please feel free to get up & look around the room. There is a letter addressed to you at your student's desk. If you feel up to the task, take a minute and respond to it (on the front or back)!
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive and find the room.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20+ minutes with a good book
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Social Studies/Math packet (due Friday)
- We will have a Social Studies quiz next Wednesday (9/19). It will cover Citizenship/Government & Maps/Globes
Welcome to Room 303. This is where your child spends most of their time when at school each day. Please feel free to get up & look around the room. There is a letter addressed to you at your student's desk. If you feel up to the task, take a minute and respond to it (on the front or back)!
We will start once everyone has had a chance to arrive and find the room.
Thank you very much for coming! My hope is that this blog will be a useful tool for students, parents and friends of our class.
Sincerely,
Mr. Balnave
P.S. - Tonight's homework is on the board:
- Read 20+ minutes with a good book
- Reading log (due Friday)
- Social Studies/Math packet (due Friday)
- We will have a Social Studies quiz next Wednesday (9/19). It will cover Citizenship/Government & Maps/Globes
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Homework
Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes with a good book
- Look over Social Studies SOL Review Packet (5-10 min. each night)
Our reading SOL test will take place this Thursday (5/17) and Friday (5/18). Social Studies will be next Wednesday (5/23), Math next Friday (5/25). Parents, thank you for making sure your child is fed, well-rested and gets to school on time! I appreciate your help!
Great job today!
- Mr. B
- Read for 20 minutes with a good book
- Look over Social Studies SOL Review Packet (5-10 min. each night)
Our reading SOL test will take place this Thursday (5/17) and Friday (5/18). Social Studies will be next Wednesday (5/23), Math next Friday (5/25). Parents, thank you for making sure your child is fed, well-rested and gets to school on time! I appreciate your help!
Great job today!
- Mr. B
Monday, May 14, 2012
Homework + Science SOL Test
Tonight's homework:
- Get plenty of sleep!
- Eat a healthy breakfast!
- Look over your Science SOL review packet if needed*
*Tomorrow morning we will be taking our first SOL test (Science). Please arrive at school on time. We will relax, eat a snack and talk about some strategies before beginning the test at around 8:30 a.m. The best advice I have is to get plenty of sleep - your brain will remember more if you let it rest!
If you're looking for some last-minute review, here's a link to some online practice questions. Good luck! If you have any questions/concerns, please just let me know!
- Mr. B
- Get plenty of sleep!
- Eat a healthy breakfast!
- Look over your Science SOL review packet if needed*
*Tomorrow morning we will be taking our first SOL test (Science). Please arrive at school on time. We will relax, eat a snack and talk about some strategies before beginning the test at around 8:30 a.m. The best advice I have is to get plenty of sleep - your brain will remember more if you let it rest!
If you're looking for some last-minute review, here's a link to some online practice questions. Good luck! If you have any questions/concerns, please just let me know!
- Mr. B
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Homework
Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet: "Reading a Schedule" due tomorrow
- Moon calendar due tomorrow (you may look online for help if the moon is/was not visible)
- Study science SOL review packet (5/10 minutes each night)
Good luck!
- Mr. B
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet: "Reading a Schedule" due tomorrow
- Moon calendar due tomorrow (you may look online for help if the moon is/was not visible)
- Study science SOL review packet (5/10 minutes each night)
Good luck!
- Mr. B
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Homework
Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet "Reading a Schedule" (due Friday)
- Science: Moon Calendar (due Friday)
- Science: SOL Study Packet*
*Parents, a science study guide was sent home on Monday. Please spend a few minutes each night (this week and next) reviewing the vocabulary and quizzing your student (or have them quiz you!). A letter went home detailing the best way to use the packet - please let me know if you have any questions!
Enjoy!
- Mr. B
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet "Reading a Schedule" (due Friday)
- Science: Moon Calendar (due Friday)
- Science: SOL Study Packet*
*Parents, a science study guide was sent home on Monday. Please spend a few minutes each night (this week and next) reviewing the vocabulary and quizzing your student (or have them quiz you!). A letter went home detailing the best way to use the packet - please let me know if you have any questions!
Enjoy!
- Mr. B
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Homework
Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet (due Friday)
- Math: Geometry perimeter activity (due Friday)
- Science: Moon calendar (due April 30th)
- Return signed report card envelopes
Current units:
Language Arts: In addition to our normal diet of independent reading and book group work, we are reviewing long and short vowels this week. Students have been searching for words that contain, for example, the long /a/ sound ("apple"). We have started lists in our word study journals and will be adding to them all week.
Writing: We are developing ideas for personal narratives (true stories told by the author, from the author's life).
Science: We are studying soil! Today we learned about the 4 different ingredients of soil (humus, silt, sand and clay). Our plastic bottles did a great job of separating the ingredients into layers so that we could see real life examples. We also learned about weathering and erosion. Soon we will be studying the effects of different soil types on the growth of a kidney bean!
Math: We are learning geometry! Yesterday, students used toothpicks to show different geometric concepts like parallel lines, intersections, line segments and more! Today we used mini-marshmallows and toothpicks to build 3-dimensional shapes. We learned about and counted the vertices (corners), edges, and faces (sides) for the pyramid and cube.
Parents, SOL tests are coming up soon (mid-May). Please be on the look-out for information about how you can help your child study for these end of year tests! There are also helpful study links on our 3rd grade portaportal site (link). Thanks for all that you do!
Best,
Mr. B
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!) with a good book
- Reading packet (due Friday)
- Math: Geometry perimeter activity (due Friday)
- Science: Moon calendar (due April 30th)
- Return signed report card envelopes
Current units:
Language Arts: In addition to our normal diet of independent reading and book group work, we are reviewing long and short vowels this week. Students have been searching for words that contain, for example, the long /a/ sound ("apple"). We have started lists in our word study journals and will be adding to them all week.
Writing: We are developing ideas for personal narratives (true stories told by the author, from the author's life).
Science: We are studying soil! Today we learned about the 4 different ingredients of soil (humus, silt, sand and clay). Our plastic bottles did a great job of separating the ingredients into layers so that we could see real life examples. We also learned about weathering and erosion. Soon we will be studying the effects of different soil types on the growth of a kidney bean!
Math: We are learning geometry! Yesterday, students used toothpicks to show different geometric concepts like parallel lines, intersections, line segments and more! Today we used mini-marshmallows and toothpicks to build 3-dimensional shapes. We learned about and counted the vertices (corners), edges, and faces (sides) for the pyramid and cube.
Parents, SOL tests are coming up soon (mid-May). Please be on the look-out for information about how you can help your child study for these end of year tests! There are also helpful study links on our 3rd grade portaportal site (link). Thanks for all that you do!
Best,
Mr. B
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Homework
Tonight's homework:
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due tomorrow)
- Math: Probability HW (due tomorrow)
- Poetry: Read Robert Frost poem (questions due next Friday)
- Science: Record moon phase each day this month*
*Sometimes, if it's cloudy or hard to find in the evening, the moon is visible in the morning before school. There are also websites (like the one linked above) that will show the moon's current phase. Once we establish a pattern, it will be much easier to "guess" the phase of a given day.
Also, please know that tomorrow is "Jump Rope for Heart" day! Jump Rope for Heart is an annual fundraiser led by the P.E. teachers at BES. Proceeds go to the American Heart Association. From the event's website:
"Through Jump Rope For Heart kids learn jump rope skills, how their heart works and raise money to help kids with special hearts. Have fun, learn how to stay healthy and make a difference in the lives of others!"
The 3rd grade will be jumping during their normally scheduled P.E./specials time (11:20am-12:20pm).
Have fun!
- Mr. B
- Read for 20 minutes (or more!)
- Reading log (due tomorrow)
- Math: Probability HW (due tomorrow)
- Poetry: Read Robert Frost poem (questions due next Friday)
- Science: Record moon phase each day this month*
*Sometimes, if it's cloudy or hard to find in the evening, the moon is visible in the morning before school. There are also websites (like the one linked above) that will show the moon's current phase. Once we establish a pattern, it will be much easier to "guess" the phase of a given day.
 | ||
| We are learning about the different phases of the Earth's moon. |
Also, please know that tomorrow is "Jump Rope for Heart" day! Jump Rope for Heart is an annual fundraiser led by the P.E. teachers at BES. Proceeds go to the American Heart Association. From the event's website:
"Through Jump Rope For Heart kids learn jump rope skills, how their heart works and raise money to help kids with special hearts. Have fun, learn how to stay healthy and make a difference in the lives of others!"
The 3rd grade will be jumping during their normally scheduled P.E./specials time (11:20am-12:20pm).
Have fun!
- Mr. B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)