Attributes of Geometric Figures

We have been working with identifying attributes of geometric shapes. Most students are proficient at naming a variety of shapes. Where they usually run into trouble is when we have to classify and sort shapes according to their attributes. We look at attributes like side lengths, number and types of angles and parallel lines. I have two examples of the anchor charts that are up in the classroom for the students to use as reference guides. Along with the anchor charts in the room, we also have a math strategies book that we put in all our math strategies for each unit. You may have seen a red booklet come home with them when they have math homework to complete, that's their math strategies booklet. The students are allowed to use their strategies booklet and the anchor chart when they have a test or work to complete. In the new year we will be working on measurement and probability.
    Now I have some homework for parents and kids to do over the holidays and into January. PLEASE start working on multiplication math facts. The best way to do this is to complete a Fact Family for each number. For example:

2 x 3 = 6     then 2 x 4= 8
3 x 2 = 6             4 x 2= 8   
6➗ 2= 3             8➗2= 4
6➗3= 2              8➗4= 2

By the end of grade 3 they should be able to know their multiplication facts up to 9 x 9 and the corresponding division facts. A little every day will go a long way.

Math Test Friday

We will be having a math test on Friday. I will send home their math text books every night this week with some review work for them to complete. I have a list below of some of the skills that they will be required to demonstrate on the test Friday.
They are allowed to use their math strategies notebook to help them and of course they can use any of the anchor charts that are in the classroom,

• should be able to find the missing number in a simple equation (4 + __ = 11)
• should be able to add and subtract 2 and 3 digit numbers
• should be able to use mental math strategies to solve addition and subtraction problems for examples (40 - 19=?, then show how they use mental math strategies to solve it)

40-19=?, I know that 40-20=20 , now add back the 1 to 20 and I get 21, so 40-19=21

• word problems that have to be solved using addition or subtraction
• be able to use front-end estimation and rounding to estimate a sum or difference
• the final  thinking question will involve using both front end estimation and rounding to solve a word problem. 

Comprehension Strategies

Reading goes far beyond just mechanically being able to read the information placed in front of you. Students need to engage with the text in order to comprehend the important ideas in the text. The way we do this is by teaching students  a variety of Reading Comprehension Strategies that they can use before, during and after reading. I am including a picture of all the strategies we teach over the course of the year. Along with the strategy there are short prompts to get the students thinking about how to use the strategy. To this point in the year we have taught then Predicting, Making Connections and Visualizing. How do we use this information?? Well your child should be reading for 30 minutes a night regardless of what else is happening in their day. Use this chart as a tool to ask good questions every few days. Sit them down and ask them to make a prediction of what will happen next in their story. What pictures do they see in their minds when they read certain passages? Don't forget to make them support their answers with evidence from the story. It's just a way for you to sit with your child and help them get a deeper understanding of what they are reading. Good luck and Enjoy the time with your child.

Practice can be fun!

The last few days we have been having some difficulty with rounding numbers to 10’s and 100’s.  Today we are playing a rounding game that hopefully help the students with practicing this skill.

Coding in grade 3

Check out the video of the students coding. They are learning how to use the building blocks of computer programming. Once we finish this initial coding practice we will be moving on to our Dash and Dot robots. Follow this LINK to check out more information and videos about coding.

Ontario Landform Regions

Our first unit in Social Studies will cover Ontario and the 3 landform regions that make up our great province. We will be exploring how we live, work and play in God's creation and how we are connected to the land. I am including 3 short videos that explore each of the 3 landform regions in our province. I recommend you sit with your child and watch the videos together as a way of introducing the topic to them. At this age, not a lot of children have traveled extensively in the province, so the videos are a good way to show them some of the sights and sounds from these areas.