We have had a fun, full week. We’ve interviewed each other. We worked in small groups to build “tennis ball” towers and to uncover ways we can be better communicators. We read together and wrote together and created together. We thought about what we could make a positive mark on our world and took our first step.

Celebrating Dot Day

September 15-ish is International Dot Day. The day celebrates the publication of The Dot by Peter Reynolds. This year 6,945,243 people joined the celebration from 139 countries around the world. Dot Day celebrates creativity and encouragement. If you haven’t read the book, either by yourself or with your child, I hope you will. Kids relate very strongly with Vashti and celebrate her participation in the school art show with knowing smiles. I appreciate the message to me in the pages – one small act to appreciate and acknowledge effort and risk-taking can make a difference. Vashti was changed by her teacher’s choice, and she in turned inspired others.

For our Dot Day we dotted dots and drew dots. We created dot buttons and dot magnets. We framed dots and melted dots to later be hung in our windows. We baked dots and painted a super dot. Many of our dots came home your way, but many more of the dots have been hung outside our classroom doorway. If you’re in the school, we’d love to have you visit our gallery. It is full of color and creativity. Make a mark, and see where it takes you!

Problem Solving Grows

This week we began our study of place value, along with an introductory exploration of models of multiplication. We worked in small group centers with Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Oliver’s help. At some of the centers we played games, while at others we worked to solve problems. One of the problem solving centers held a sheet with three different problems. These are part of a set of problems that 3rd graders will/should be able to solve efficiently by the end of the year. I will save a copy of these sheets. They will do them again in May and compare their attempts to see how much they have changed as mathematicians. The second problem-solving center involves choice. There are 4 different problems and it is the children’s job to choose a problem to challenge their thinking. Most of the problems are multi-step and involve different operations. At this point I am learning about them as mathematicians and discovering the range problems I need to write for them. In both of these situations the feedback I have left on their papers lets them know what I can see in their work and how it allows us to see their math thinking and logic. Sometimes the calculations were wrong and I did not indicate that. At this point in the year, it is more important to encourage their attempts and efforts to try new and different things. We do strive for accuracy when we are sure the problems match the learners. I am still learning about that so the match is not complete yet. I am excited by their enthusiasm and willingness to persevere. I hope you’ll talk to your child about the math you see in his or her folder this week. You can help your child see how their understanding of math is growing from last year to this.

The other centers are “games.” Circles and Stars is an introduction to multiplication. It is a great game. I’ve included a set of directions in your child’s folder if you’d like to play. How Close to 100? explores place value and subtraction. Again you can easily play this at home with a scrap piece of paper. Taking all 7 turns, who can get closest to zero by subtracting the rolls of a die – either tens or ones. For example a roll of 2 can be subtracted as 2 or 20. The final game, Roll 2 Dice, helps children practice addition facts and develops their sense of probability (if the dice are actually rolled.)

We’ve had a fun week meeting some new math challenges.

Reading Makes You Feel Good

This week we’ve been reading poems and books about reading and storytelling. We’ve used these books to open up ideas about how we each can make our reading abilities grow. Reading becomes more about thinking in third grade. We develop strategies for keeping track of questioning, inferring and reflecting. This week, reading both picture and chapter books, we discovered ways we could help ourselves get into a book before reading. We looked at the cover, read the “blurb” or “teaser” and glanced at the first page to get ready to understand more and better. We are going to try this strategy together for another week and then give it a go independently. Recording thinking, either in words or pictures or a combination, is a challenge. At first most 3rd graders will be saying, “I don’t know” or “I don’t have a question” or “I don’t have an idea.” But with time and encouragement they will grow to be more aware of their ideas, how they grow and how they build. The more they reflect and capture their thinking, the stronger they will become as learners and problem solvers. That’s what we want!

Bits and Pieces –

• Our field trip to The Franklin Park Zoo is on September 20th. They’ve looked at the map of the zoo and explored the website. Ask your child what they discovered and what they are most excited to see. We will not be going to the gift shop so please do not send money. We also will not spend time at the play areas – we try to plan time for the children to run around after lunch. This is the last thing we’ll do before getting on the bus for the return trip. If you could talk to your child to help him or her develop even more excitement about the different animals and habitats s/he will be seeing and learning about, that would be a great help.
• Picture Day – 3rd grade will be having their pictures taken on the Make-Up Day. It is generally set at the end of October and we will let you know the date as soon as the photographers give it to us. We will keep your child’s photo envelope until that time.
• We are reading about Stuey in 3rd grade in Stuey Lewis, Against All Odds. He is a character we can relate to and enjoy.