Welcome to the Grace 3A news update page. This is the place to go to find out in more detail what's going on and coming up in 3A.
Nov. 23
Subtraction Facts |
I am very happy with how well the students have learned their addition facts. Some students have moved onto their multiplication facts, but after teaching the class a new subtraction game I am putting the brakes on and we will focus on subtraction facts for the next while.
Subtraction facts are harder to practice than addition facts, since the MINUEND (starting number in a subtraction equation) must be the largest number in the equation (in Gr. 3). Flashcards for subtraction are often triangular shaped. We will be making these in class and they will need to bounce between home and school each day for practicing in each location. PS - I just learned the terms minuend and subtrahend. I was never taught these in school. |
Board Game Supplies |
We are now making board games in class! Your children may be coming home with requests for various materials and I encourage parents to be part of the discussion and ask how they will be using the supplies, and even give ideas about how things might be made. A lot of this process will involve trial and error and then redesigning, but good modelling from parents and teachers is also very useful for helping children to see what is actually possible.
Here are some things that the class could use if you have any at home (non need to rush out and buy - we will make do with whatever we have). These things can be sent in anytime between now and next Monday: cardboard (like cereal boxes, packing boxes, etc) crafting supplies (pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, modelling clay...) packing tape (wide clear) duct tape (any colour) Each team will also need a large container for holding supplies (like a Rubbermaid tote or large cardboard box). Ask your child if they have one already before sending in. I will teach the students how to make a foldable board using tape and cardboard. Ideally, while the students are in teams, they will each be able to make their own board to take home and play at the end of the project. I will be able to photocopy things like cards, boards, and money so there can be multiple copies. At home, if your child needs identical shaped cards (like Chance cards in Monopoly) I suggest parents helping by printing out a table on Microsoft Word with identical boxes that can be cut out. I have that yellowish tagboard at school onto which this can be photocopied if needed. This project is so great for helping children make their imaginations come to life and make things possible. The teamwork aspect also encourages patience, listening, and validating of others' ideas. Mrs. Lewis and I will be helping a lot to show the teams ways to reach agreements and make compromises, and speak to each other with kindness so everyone feels heard and appreciated and has fun. Thanks for your support and please email me with questions. |
BONUS WORD: |
minus
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Nov. 17
Photo Retakes |
Thursday - Nov. 19
Thanks to the parents who inquired about this. If your child is having his or her picture taken this Thursday please send them in regular uniform and gym strip/runners in a bag. |
Spelling Suffixes |
This week and next are short weeks so what a perfect time to have a 2-week Spelling unit. The focus is suffixes (word endings) and most of the class can use quite a lot of practice with this since there are so many rules involved. I am finding quite a few students are forgetting their silent 'e' rules as well, which drastically affects suffixes. Parents are encouraged to take a look at the Spelling homework as it's being done and to help and guide as needed. The more times things are spelled correctly the better they will be learned.
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Nov. 6
Board Game Design Time
To enhance our Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies studies, we are now starting a Board Game Group Project. This will tie in SO many things, like the core competencies of communication, creativity, and personal awareness. The students will be able to draw from past experience, share ideas, develop plans, and identify their own strengths to better help the group. And the best part is at the end we get to play them all!
This weekend, I am encouraging the students to go home and play/inspect any board games they can get their hands on. The will look for things that make the games fun and make them want to play again. How were these parts made and can we do a simpler version in class? Can we substitute other things that work just as well?
On Tuesday we will have a Board Game Day where the students can bring one or two favourite board games to share/play with other students in class. If you have a game at home with tiny pieces (like RISK) that you want shared but not played in class (for fear of losing parts) please clarify this with your child before sending it and maybe send me an email as well so I can be aware ahead of time.
This is going to be a ton of fun. Have a great weekend of board gaming!
This weekend, I am encouraging the students to go home and play/inspect any board games they can get their hands on. The will look for things that make the games fun and make them want to play again. How were these parts made and can we do a simpler version in class? Can we substitute other things that work just as well?
On Tuesday we will have a Board Game Day where the students can bring one or two favourite board games to share/play with other students in class. If you have a game at home with tiny pieces (like RISK) that you want shared but not played in class (for fear of losing parts) please clarify this with your child before sending it and maybe send me an email as well so I can be aware ahead of time.
This is going to be a ton of fun. Have a great weekend of board gaming!
Nov. 5
Bonus Bonus Word |
matter
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Nov. 4
Math Facts |
Today the students completed their 2nd addition fact assessment and I am happy that most of the students showed improvement. I am sending home the red Math duotangs today with the assessments so parents can see how their children are doing and what areas need improvement. There are several students who completed the assessment very quickly and they are now to be practicing multiplication facts in class and at home. I have given all the students a times table chart in their planner pockets which is to stay there for reference, and we will all be starting times tables later in the year. If your child has not yet mastered their addition facts, please encourage regular nightly practice.
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Home Reading |
Just a check-in. Is your child reading nightly for 20 minutes? Is it a book that takes at least a week to finish and is being read every night, or is your child jumping from book to book and not completing anything?
Some of the students are quite competent readers and I am encouraging them to read longer books (like +100 pages). Some are attempting pretty huge books and are having difficulty - a big cause of this is that longer books require a longer sitting time commitment to focus and actually "get into" the book each time. It is helpful at home to have a regular set reading time and place, like a nighttime reading routine, so your child can get the most out of his or her reading time. |
Bonus Word!!! |
saint
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Oct. 16
Scholastic Books |
I am sending home Book Order Magazines via your child today. Our class gets free books and equipment when students place orders and we are very thankful! You can also access the online catalogue here:
https://editions.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=674017 Our class code is: RC229321 All orders are now online for safety. Please send no money and no order forms to school. |
Oct. 15
Cross Country |
Cross Country practice is for the Grade 2 and 3 classes tomorrow.
Please come in full gym strip and it will be worn all day. 8am start! |
Heritage Project |
Just a reminder this is due on Tuesday. We will decide tomorrow (Friday) who is presenting on Tuesday and who will present Wednesday. I strongly recommend that a script be written and referred to during the presentation in case of memory lapse due to performance anxiety.
Parents, encourage looking up, speaking slowly and clearly, and using an interesting voice. Short is good! |
Healthy Snack Thanks! |
I am SO impressed with the amount of fruit and vegetables being sent and EATEN by students in our class! Times are definitely different than when I went to school. Kudos to you parents and keep sending those healthy snacks! PS - no nuts still!
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Nightly Adding |
Please continue to encourage nightly adding practice. When we practice in class I still have students practicing adding by 1 and others still adding by 2. After close to a month of nightly practice they should be gaining fluency with 3s, 4s, and 5s. We are moving onto adding with regrouping soon and it will be much more difficult struggling to recall basic facts and regrouping together.
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Sept. 23
10s or Twins
Try this card game with your child or children to help learn the valuable skill of recognizing sums of 10.
Sept. 22
Culture Studies |
We are starting out studies in culture and communities this week. Parents are encouraged to chat about their family culture with their children - things like foods, clothing, special events and celebrations, names and/or languages, music and dancing, etc... The variety of cultures is what makes our country great - particularly the food! We should all know and be proud of our cultures!
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Sept 15.
Photo Day Reminder |
Wednesday, Sept. 16. Tomorrow.
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Homework
There will be different things coming home either to be completed at home or to be worked on at home. There might be a time mentioned like (10 min.) and this is all I am expecting, but if your child is feeling inclined to work on it a bit more I am fine with that.
Colouring expectations - in the lines, no white spaces in the coloured sections. Pencil crayon colouring almost always with sometimes marker outlining allowed. Drawing is done in pencil and finelining can be done but it should be the last thing. I don't require finelining that often.
Written sections - full sentences with capitals and periods. In Grade 3 we will be aiming to add more description and details in sentences. I will be encouraging rereading aloud everything that is written to help ensure complete ideas.
Math practice - we will be starting addition practice today. This is to be done nightly for 5 or so minutes. I will be teaching how to practice with cards and including an addition table in your child's planner that will stay there for school and home practice purposes.
Colouring expectations - in the lines, no white spaces in the coloured sections. Pencil crayon colouring almost always with sometimes marker outlining allowed. Drawing is done in pencil and finelining can be done but it should be the last thing. I don't require finelining that often.
Written sections - full sentences with capitals and periods. In Grade 3 we will be aiming to add more description and details in sentences. I will be encouraging rereading aloud everything that is written to help ensure complete ideas.
Math practice - we will be starting addition practice today. This is to be done nightly for 5 or so minutes. I will be teaching how to practice with cards and including an addition table in your child's planner that will stay there for school and home practice purposes.
Try this game as an alternative for practicing addition with cards.
I suggest using the Make 10 game as this is a very useful skill to master quickly. |
Various Things...
NO NUTS PLEASE!!! - ?We have some severe nut allergies in class so please remember to send nut-free products only. Thanks!
Water bottles - Since the school no longer has water fountains, please send a plastic or metal water bottle so your child can keep hydrated throughout the day. Still water only please, not juice or pop.
Runners for Gym - The students will not be changing into gym strip for the next while, and gym runners can be kept at school.
Book for Silent Reading - I have quite a few books in class that the students are welcome to borrow. Books are also welcome from home. Please ask your child if they have a book they have chosen from the class or if they need one from home. Chapter books are good, illustrations are good, graphic novels are okay... so long as your child can read a page with only one or two challenging word per page. Fluency is key!
Planners - Please check and sign your child's planner nightly. If you start a habit now it will help for the future. Maybe arrange a routine for your child to put the planner in a certain spot (with a pen for signing) or check right when your child arrives home from school - pick something that works best for your family situation. I am instructing students to put a check mark by items that have been completed in class. If there is no due date listed by an activity it is assumed to be due tomorrow. Otherwise there will be a due date attached.
Water bottles - Since the school no longer has water fountains, please send a plastic or metal water bottle so your child can keep hydrated throughout the day. Still water only please, not juice or pop.
Runners for Gym - The students will not be changing into gym strip for the next while, and gym runners can be kept at school.
Book for Silent Reading - I have quite a few books in class that the students are welcome to borrow. Books are also welcome from home. Please ask your child if they have a book they have chosen from the class or if they need one from home. Chapter books are good, illustrations are good, graphic novels are okay... so long as your child can read a page with only one or two challenging word per page. Fluency is key!
Planners - Please check and sign your child's planner nightly. If you start a habit now it will help for the future. Maybe arrange a routine for your child to put the planner in a certain spot (with a pen for signing) or check right when your child arrives home from school - pick something that works best for your family situation. I am instructing students to put a check mark by items that have been completed in class. If there is no due date listed by an activity it is assumed to be due tomorrow. Otherwise there will be a due date attached.