Yikes! You can tell it has been a busy week. I’m writing our newsletter and I don’t have new photographs (I’ll update the post later on today so you can see our work  – come back again.) We’ve been doing lots of reading and writing. We’ve been reflecting on learning accomplished in the first two thirds of the year and are setting goals for further accomplishments during the remaining third. Book groups have continued, along with observations of change. We’re building a 3-D map of Sassafras Springs. There’s a lot going on in 3E.

Our S.E.L. focus is on Self-Management and Self-Awareness

We’ve been asking ourselves what is it that we would like to accomplish in the remaining months of third grade. We are considered our present accomplishments and began wondering about what would still like to do. The list of thing our class has already accomplished is a rather long one. It was surprising and rewarding to see. We are looking forward to presenting our learning to families in student led conferences and portfolio shares at the end of the school year. What are our hopes and dreams – we know they’ll only happen if we make mindful choses and consider how our actions affect those around us.

Map Reading and Team Work

This week we further are map reading skills with Mr. Caron. The class worked in teams to read maps and locate battleship pegs hidden throughout the downstairs hall. The class had to keep their maps real so they could read and follow them to get to the correct spot. They also had to share responsibilities; sometimes taking the lead and other times following the lead of others. It was nice to see how well the teams did with this and how satisfying it was when each team knew they were making great choices.

Working with Fractions

This week we began our work with fractions. We know that a fraction is part of a whole. We have explored fractions by dividing groups into smaller groups – labeling groups of classmates “5 of 16 or 5/16 are wearing stripes.” We are exploring the notion of “fair share.” We explored equivalent fractions. We saw that 1/2=2/4=3/6=4/8. We will be working with geoboards and pattern blocks to develop this understanding by exploring congruent eighths and finding all the ways a hexagon can be built.   Each student will be making a set of fraction bars. With them we will explore the relationship between denominators. Children can see how knowing multiplication helps in seeing how amounts are related. For example 6/12 = 1/2 because 6×2=12. It was exciting to see and hear all the great math thinking going on with fractions this week.

Moving Toward More Efficient Math Strategies

Each day this week the children have been solving a wider variety of problems to help them discover what their most efficient strategies are. We are going to use these sheets as an anchor and see if we can explore and grow from hear. The problems, as you will see in work brought home, are written in many different formats. The children have been asked to record their math thinking in equations where possible. The problems have challenged the children to follow different lines of logic and work as efficiently as possible. For example if there were 98 balls in a shipment and each ball cast $2.00, how much would it cast to sent three shipments. With this problem some children chose to use the standard algorithm while others multiplied. Some found the total number of balls and then doubles while others found the cost of one shipment and tripled that. It was interesting for the class to see all three approaches came to the same solution. And each approach was evidence that the students had master new skills. It was a concrete example of learning that is not always easy to see.

Launching the State Project

Today your child learned what his or her state is for the state project. We have begun our study of the United States.  We are excited about this project because it combines so many different areas of study and it is fun!  We do, as always need your help at home.  In mid-April we’ll be sending home the guidelines for how you and your child can create a “float” for the Parade of the States. The children will be learning about their states and identifying that state’s ” wonders.”  These wonders will be represented on a float/sandwich board to be presented in the Parade of the States.  It is our plan that the children will have researched and identified their wonders by April vacation.  Mrs. Haight is collaborating with us and has planned several units of study to coincide with this project.  In school the children will be creating a collage of a state symbol, a model of a man-made structure and a representation of person important in their state.  These will represent three of the wonders to be placed on their float or sandwich boards.

We will send home complete and clear guidelines for the float when the time comes.  A couple of the children talked about beginning the building process right away.  Please don’t do that yet.  We have learned from past parades that we should slow the process down. We believe we have planned the project with enough time so that learning AND building fit together for a great event. (Be on the lookout for further parade information in next week’s homework folder.)

Bits and Pieces –

• Growing seeds is exciting. There are so many changes to observe and record. Seeds are amazing.
• We are reading a second book by Betty Birney, Spring According to Humphrey. That class is looking for signs of spring just as we are. It is FUN-FUN-FUN to read about a class in a book that is doing things as we are.
• Thanks to so many of you for exploring the student blogs and commenting. The class was grateful.
• Book groups are continuing.   What a great learning experience this is. Not only are the children reading great books, they are also learning how their choices impact the group. They need to read what they agreed for a discussion to happen. They need to record their thinking and their wondering so they have original thoughts to share.
• Our cursive capitals are nearly done!