Geometry: Tangrams

Our class is learning about TANGRAMS as we study geometric shapes. By linking to this site, you can arrange the shapes and learn about tangrams with us. A click of the right mouse button will rotate the shape, and shapes can be arranged to create interesting patterns and pictures!

The Planets

The class is beginning to study the Solar System and its planets. So far, we've learned about the Inner and Outer planets, as well as a few fact about each planet. We're taking the information we are learning, as well as finding pictures to illustrate each planet, and combining the pictures and information into a PowerPoint presentation in the computer lab. We'll be sharing our presentations with our 3rd grade friends in Mrs. Mahler's class in coming weeks. Ask your child about the PowerPoint presentation he or she is working on!

Instructional Focus - Elapsed Time

Every week, students study two important subjects that are covered by the ISATs. This week, we're discovering how to figure elapsed time by using both digital and analog clocks. Students are creating their own problems to share and solve. An example of one student's problem is:
I started cooking pancakes at 4:5. I was done 2 hours and twenty minutes later. What time was I done?

Multiplication Facts

We've started learning our multiplication facts! The facts for x1 and x2 are becoming fairly solid, but most students need to work on the speed at which they can give an answer. These facts can be practiced with a deck of regular cards in much the same way as students play "WAR." A deck of cards is divided between two players, with face cards removed. Students flip the top card of each stack fac up. The student who can gives teh correct product of these two cards wins the cards. Play continues until all cards are used. The player with the most cards is the winner!

IRI scores through the ROOF!

Our class raised scores from 52% reading at or above grade level in the Fall to greater than 90% of the class reading at or above grade level as of this week! The Winter IRI scores showed that out of the 10 students who needed improvement in order to reach grade level, 8 students gained significantly and reached their goal. The two students who need to improve are working to reach their own goals. It's very important to realize that we have another IRI in the Spring, and our reading fluency will still need to show gains. The Winter fluency goal was 128 words per minute. Our goal for the Spring is 164 words per minute. Every student should continue reading aloud every night to meet this coming goal! To help families understand how to work with their children, the school will sponsor an IRI night for 3rd graders on Thursday, February the 16th. Please plan to attend! We'll work from 6:00 until 7:15 with specific strategies to help you understand what the test covers and how to help your child prepare for the IRI in May. Look for a note this week about the coming IRI night.