3rd Grade Newsletter
Monday, November 8 - Friday, November 19
Student Spotlight
If you would like to be featured in a future newsletter for our Student Spotlight, please complete this form. You will need to be logged into a Google account if you are not already. (Directions to make a Google account can be found here.) Be sure to complete the media release form below if you have not done so already!
The Role of the Learning Coach
Reminders:
- Learning Coaches should read and respond to emails daily.
- If your student is absent, please email all of your student's teachers.
- Make sure student is attending live Class Connects and completing daily lessons in the OLS.
Announcements & Upcoming Dates
Missing Mondays
Reminder: Log in Every Day!
Quarter 2 TGAs
Math TGA, a Writing TGA, and a Writing Work Sample. Teacher Graded Assignments are worth 30% of your grade in Math and ELA. These TGAs are an opportunity for students to apply the skills they are learning in classes and lessons and for teachers to provide individualized feedback. It is vital that students complete these and turn them into Seesaw each quarter. See below for information on the 2nd quarter TGAs.
Math TGA - due in Seesaw by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 29th
- Big Ideas-Mini Project from Math Unit 2, Lesson 23- Shopping on an Alien Planet
- See attachment below and click here for a video explaining the Math TGA.
Writing TGA - due in Seesaw by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 10th
- Final draft of your Narrative-Short Story from Units 2 and 3 of the ELA course. Final draft is from Unit 3, Lesson 8
- See attachment below and click here for a video explaining the Writing TGA.
Writing Work Sample - due in Seesaw by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 23rd
- You will be reading two stories, "Lacy's Trip to the Lake "and "The Chair Mistake" and writing a journal entry as one of the characters from the stories.
- See attachment below for directions and click here for a video explaining the Writing Work Sample.
Join a Club!
Important Upcoming Dates
- November 10- Quarter 1 Writing TGA due in Seesaw
- November 11-Veteran's Day Assembly at 3pm
- November 23- Quarter 2 Writing Sample due in Seesaw
- November 24-26- No School-Thanksgiving Break
Course Information
ELA
Unit 4-Snowy Days
In Unit 4 of ELA, we will be diving into nonfiction while learning all about snow! We will be learning about the different features we see in nonfiction, including text features such as graphs, photographs, diagrams, glossary, captions, and more. In the second half of Unit 4, we will be learning about informative writing skills.
Math
Four Multiplication Strategies for 3rd-Graders
Make Equal Groups
One of the first multiplication strategies for 3rd graders we start with is making equal groups. This is so that kids can visually see why two factors multiplied equals the product.
It helps to have kids start with some type of manipulatives like yellow and red counters. You can even have them use beans or pasta as a cheap alternative.
Start by writing a multiplication fact. For this example, we'll use 3x4.Tell your student to make 3 groups and place 4 counters in each group. Ask how many total counters you used. This shows 3x4=12.
Make an Array
Just like with groups, we use counters to create an array for 3x4. Make 3 rows with 4 counters each to show 3x4=12.
Something important to go over is that when you make an array, you need to make sure the counters make equal rows and columns. I like having students use a pencil to help them line it up and space it out.
Repeated addition
After making equal groups and arrays with counters, we move on to using just numbers. However, repeated addition can be combined with making equal groups and arrays.
When I teach repeated addition, I tell students that they can flip the factors if they find it easier. For example, if they are finding the product of 5 and 3, they can add 5+5+5 or 3+3+3+3+3. I show them that counting by 5’s is easier so I would add 5, three times.
Skip Counting
Just like repeated addition, skip counting can be used in conjunction with making equal groups and arrays.
Students can label the groups as they skip count how many in each group. This helps students who may struggle to keep track of their numbers.
For the example 4×3, I teach students that they can skip count by 4 three times or skip count by 3 four times. 4,8,12 or 3,6,9,12
MindPlay
In order to complete the lesson, students need to click the "Open MindPlay" link inside the course and actively work for 30 minutes in MindPlay before marking the lesson complete in the OLS.
Foreign Language
Mr. Thomas & Mrs. Ratzloff's Corner
If your child has a disability, special education can help your child learn, develop social skills, and enjoy school again.
Special Education Information:
- You will work as part of a team along with others from the school to develop an Individualized Education Program or IEP.
- The IEP is developed by the IEP team at a meeting. An IEP is good for one year. It can be changed anytime during the year in another IEP team meeting.
- The IEP team has a very important job. You will want to attend the meetings to be part of all the decisions about your child.
- You know your child best. The IEP team needs you!
7 Mindsets Corner
Tips & Tricks for a Successful School Year
- Class connect attendance is extremely important in addition to completing online coursework. Please prioritize attending class, including Morning Meeting, every day and email all teachers if you know you are going to be absent. Communicate with your homeroom teacher about any scheduling conflicts.
- Create a family schedule to stay on track with all students' class connects.
- Come to class prepared. Be sure to eat, use the restroom, do chores, etc. before or after class connects. Log in to class a few minutes early with your materials and be ready to start on time.
- All assignments require 80% mastery in order to be marked complete. Click here to watch a video showing how to retake an assessment. If you run out of attempts, contact your homeroom teacher.
- Watch recordings of any missed class connects. Click here to see how to access recordings.
- Clear out browser cache, cookies, and history daily to ensure that your computer runs smoothly with Newrow. Click here for instructions. Shut down your computer each night.
Important Websites
Teacher Contact Information
Erin Brady
Emily Marks
Mary Matheson
Holly Moore
Danielle Younger
Marissa Gage
Jennifer Ratzloff
Ryleigh Lane
Call: (405) 259-9478, ext. 3338
Seth Thomas
Special Education Teacher
Call: (405) 259-9478 ext.3345
Call or Text: (495) 633-2446