Math Key Words

When our students are solving math story problems, I tell them there are many key words that can help them to know whether to add, subtract, multiply, or divide.   I thought it would be helpful fo you to see these key words so you can help them if they are unsure.  We go over these every morning as part of our morning routine.  The key words that tell you to...

ADD:
total, in all , altogether, sum, join, plus, combined, both


SUBTRACT:
difference, minus, left, how many more, how many less, fewer, remain


MULTIPLY:
product, twice, times, multiplied by


DIVIDE:
quotient, split equally, each, split


Sometimes, we do not see these key words and we have to just *think* about what the problem is asking us.  I hope you find this helpful!

On another note, we have been working more on subtracting with regrouping this week.  It seems that students have a better handle on this.  (Thanks for your support at home.) It can take them a little longer if they have not memorized their basic subtraction facts.  Students can practice flashcards to help or check out the MATH TRAINER site that is linked up on the left of this screen.  Here students can practice their facts.  They will be timed and at the end of five minutes it will give a report on how they did...check it out!  Even just five minutes a night can help!

Home Sick

Well, 'tis the season for sickness!  I was hoping it would hold off until later, but I am home with my sick daughter today!  She has not moved far from the sofa!  I hope the darlings had a good day at school.  I did update the homework as good as I could, but you never know how things change during the day.

Happy Birthday, B.N.!!

Welcome Autumn!

After a long, hot Summer, I am very happy Fall is here!!  Check out our artwork we did this week to welcome in the new season!

Have a spectacular weekend!  Enjoy the fall weather!

Subtraction -WITH REGROUPING!

Subtraction - with regrouping...it can cause a headache - for kids, parents, and teachers!  I have had a few questions about this so I thought I would address them here.  It does seem that subtraction is much less automatic for students than addition, which can cause struggles when we get to larger numbers and the small facts aren't memorized.  I would like to see these more automatic and using flashcards with students can be very helpful.  I also added a Math Trainer site to the Check These Out! section of the blog.  Here, kids can practice facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).  I encourage you to check this out!  Subtraction strategies that can be used for those smaller numbers are: number line, using related facts, counting down, etc.  I will send home a paper about using touchpoints on numbers to count back.  Some students may find this helpful!   Please be assured, we really just started subtraction with regrouping, although, students were introduced to it last year.  We will continue to work on this next week, and I will pull kids into small groups to work with them.  It will continue to be reviewed throughout the year!  WE WILL GET IT!!  Thanks for your continued support at home!!

On another note, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE BLOG?  What information would you like to see here?  What do you like?  Is there something you do not like?  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!!  To leave a comment, simply click on the comment link below....type your comment and list as anonymous unless you have a blogger account.  Then click preview, then publish!  You can leave your name, if you want, in your post.  I really do want your feedback!

Homework Sidebar...

Hi!  This day just seemed to fly by...I just wanted to let you know that I added a sidebar to the right, titled Homework.  I will try to post the daily homework here.  Students are to fill out planners and not to rely on this, but I thought it might be a nice feature in case you had questions about assignment.  Double check the date since there may be a time that I do not get around to this each day.  I hope you find this helpful!!

Homework for the Day...

Just wanted to give a homework update.  Students should have their planners filled out and the little box in the corner will be Xed if it is already complete.  This is what is assigned for the day...

Spelling - Read, sort, and bring back spelling words. (We are continuing to figure out how this will work best in our room.  Students were given their words to cut out.  They should read the words and try to sort them using similarities or the header cards.  If this does not make sense to you or them...and it may not since we did not have time to really go over words, then they should read them and bring them back Tuesday so we can go over them more.)

Math - None

Reading - Make sure 3 genre categories (mystery, poetry, and traditional literature) have pictures that are drawn and colored in their Reading Notebook.  We did Mystery today and not everyone had the other 2 finished from Friday.

Science - We worked on labeling a human body in class.  They should also complete the Study Guide.  We have our first test on Friday and I want to be sure they have plenty of time to study!!  Students were told to take home their Human Body Folders to help them!

Social Studies - I think they needed to look over notecards to study for their test...Ms. Barton has it planned for Thursday.

I do not plan to give homework updates here daily, but I wanted to today since we have our Science test coming up and spelling words went home today.

Have a good night!

Snuggle up with a good book!

I decided to repost this since it was first posted at the beginning of the my blog days!

Do you ever snag your child's book to read on your own?  Well, maybe you should!  Recently, I found this list about why adults should read more children's books, and I thought I would share.  It might make you look twice at the book your child is reading and want it for yourself!

WHY YOU SHOULD READ CHILDREN'S BOOKS AS AN ADULT
by Jen Robinson

1.  It's fun.

2. It keeps your imagination active.

3. It strenthens your relationship with the children in your life who read.

4.  It sets an example for the children in your life, making them more likely to become readers.

5.  It clues you in on cultural references that you may have missed (both current and classical).

6.  It's fast.  Children's book are usually shorter than adult books, so if  you don't think you have time to read, you DO have time to read a children's book.

7.  It allows you to read across genres.  Children's books aren't limited to mystery OR science fiction OR fantasy OR literary fiction.  They have it all.

8.  It's like time travel - it's an easy way to remember the child you once were, when you first read a book.

9.  It's often inspirational - reading about heroes and bravery and loyalty makes you want to be a better person.  And couldn't we all do with some of that?

10.  Did I mention that it's fun?

Source: Jen Robinson's Book Page, 2005

She is right!  Children's books are fun!  So...my challenge to you...find a children's book to read this week!  Get recommendations from your child.  Check out popular books online.  Go to the library and look a the children's section.  I have two book suggestions for you...Swindle by Gordon Kormon or The 39 Clue Books...this is a series and after you read the first one, you may want to read them all!  I would love to hear what books you come up with to read.  Feel free to leave a comment and let me know!

So, go find the child in you!

Homework-opoly!

Here is a look at our Homework-opoly Board!

This week only 11 students got to roll the dice for turning in all their weekly homework on time.  Bummer!  Hopefully, next week everyone can play!  Students earn sweet treats like class cash, extra computer time, move your desk, a homework pass, write with markers, candy, and lunch bunch! 

Have a great weekend!

Choose Your Plate

In Science we are learning about the Human Body.  It does amazing things!  This week we learned about how we can eat provide our bodies with energy.  Students created their own plates based on the new Chooseyourplate.gov image.  Then they recorded what they ate that night to see how well they chose their plate!  Here is an image of one students plate.

 Check out www.chooseyourplate.gov to get more information!  There is even a fun game for kids to test their healthy food knowledge!

Grandparents Day!

We celebrated Grandparent's Day last Friday.  And boy, did we have a full house!  The darlings got to let their creative juices flow while creating an art peice with grandparents.  We still had some work to do after they left, but our finished work now hangs in the hallway.  Check it out!

Thanks for stopping in, Grandparents!

Let's Blog!!

Welcome to our Third Grade Blog!!  I am excited to get this up and running.   I hope to post a couple times a week to give you an update on how our days at PES are going!  Please keep in mind that I am an amateur at this and it may be slow moving at first!  So, please check back often to see what is new in third grade!!  I look forward to sharing all of the wonderful things we are learning with you.