Two FULL months of 3rd grade down this week!

What a week we had last week! The Associative Property of Multiplication, our first Writing Unit completed and hard work celebrated, and our first timed multiplication facts test! Geez Louise, if your kids came home tired yesterday…it’s because they EARNED IT! I came home with a pile of grading, and fell asleep in the middle of working through spelling tests…for the 3rd weekend in a row

What a big week for our little buddies! I’m SO proud of all their hard work. They are growing so fast!

Please read on for a variety of reminders and announcements, particularly regarding timed multiplication fact tests and test preparation for our Unit 1 Math Test.

Thanks so much!

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Flash Cards / First Timed Facts Test (5’s) / Moving onto Timed 2’s This Week

As you may have noticed on worksheets/assessments coming home, the math curriculum in 3rd grade ramps up SIGNIFICANTLY — it is the bridge year from building block concepts of lower elementary math to higher level application demanded in upper elementary math.

Because of this, it is so important that kids know their multiplication facts REALLY well so they can move past getting hung up on basic recall of facts, to the much more complex tasks of applying and manipulating them.

A couple of parents have asked, “why are these timed?”

This is an excellent question. I am a huge advocate of NOT timing assessments, in general, so this seemed foreign to me at first, too…

• I recorded a video explaining why we assess facts in this way below. I tried to talk fast and speak both succinctly and thoroughly…hopefully it clarifies questions!
• I did forget to mention that when students depend on math drawings or strategies, there is a much higher likelihood of misreading their own work/writing and getting the wrong answer even if their strategy is appropriate for the operation.
  • • • This happens very often for kids who depend on strategies like math drawings or counting on fingers! Especially as their brains are exhausted from deciphering necessary operations and steps for the story problem, and silly mistakes or misreading tally marks/arrays happen often

We will be taking our next timed facts test this week. Students who passed 5’s will move onto 2’s; students who did not pass 5’s will retake them. Thank you for your help diligently practicing with your child!

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Unit 1 Math Test This Week – OPTIONAL Practice and Answer Keys Coming Home

This week we will be wrapping up our first unit of math, reviewing for the test, and beginning our Unit 1 Math test!

Last year I had a few kids ask for practice at home in preparation for the test, so I made practice packets and answer keys and sent them home with each kid.

*THESE ARE NOT REQUIRED! THESE ARE NOT GRADED!*

These review packets are purely optional and meant to provided added practice and confidence to kids who do not feel 100% about the assessment. I do ask that if you decide to do them with your kids, please send them back in when completed so I can keep track of who is doing additional practice for assessments. Thank you!

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Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for mid-November, however I am planning to have a brand new baby that week 🙂 Because of this, I’m working on solidifying plans with Mr. Waldie to hold conferences on two nights later this month:

• Tuesday, October 27th
• Wednesday, October 28th

Because I am conferencing  a couple of weeks in advance of the rest of the district, the sign up system being used districtwide for time slots has not been introduced yet. I will be able to get this out to you within the week!

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Halloween Party

Our Halloween party will be on Friday, October 30th.

REMINDERS:

• We will not be able to have parent volunteers or guests at this party 🙁 However your prayers, well wishes, good energy, positive vibes are all welcome as I facilitate this event at 39 weeks pregnant
• As you choose Halloween costumes, only school appropriate costumes will be allowed.
  • • Thank you for avoiding violent, gory costumes for the school setting
• Students will be able to wear their costumes to school this year! Yay!
• A Sign Up Genius with supplies for craft and snack will be sent out this week! Thank you for considering contributing to this

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Substitute Teacher Update

All is set with HR! I’m meeting with my long term substitute teacher, Mrs. Joy Lopez (currently a full time building substitute in another part of the district until Baby Deters arrives), later this week to finalize details and set a few dates for her to meet the kids.

I’m so excited to have Mrs. Lopez in our room — she is wonderful, and will be an excellent teacher for your kiddo, as sad as I am that it means I don’t get to be in the classroom with them for a while 🙁

Thank you in advance for your support of Mrs. Lopez, just like you’ve been so kind, supportive, and gracious to me in this weird year. You guys are the best group of parents out there!

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Reading Logs Turned In Monday

Don’t forget to send your child’s Reading Log in tomorrow; you will have a new one sent home as well to return the following Monday.

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Turkey Trot 2020…Virtually!

Please be sure to head to this link to read what Mrs. VanKoevering and Mrs. Nienhuis have to share about our 2020 Turkey Trot!

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Curriculum

This week begins the first lesson or two in 3rd grade content and curriculum. I can’t wait to partner with you to help your child reach his or her full academic potential this year!

• Reading: We will continue developing our first Reader’s Workshop unit, “Building a Reading Life”. We’ll work on strong evidence-based predictions, and will continue reading “Stone Fox” as our mentor text.
• Writing: This week we will take a break between units 1 and 2 of our writing curriculum to work on constructing responses to questions asked after reading a short story based on collecting evidence from the text.
• Word Work: Students will be working on spelling patterns based on individual needs indicated by a spelling inventory we took in September. This will be done through both small group and individual practice.
• Math: We will wrap up Unit 1, reviewing for and beginning our Unit 1 Math test. PLEASE work on flash cards with students at home every night! Thank you for your help in this! We will take our next timed test for our Multiplication Challenge on our 2’s fact family; if 5’s were not passed, students will retake that test.

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Upcoming Dates

• Friday, October 23: Early Release (12:15 pm dismissal)
• Monday, October 26: No School
• Tuesday October 27 / Wednesday October 28: Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences for MRS. DETERS ONLY!
• Friday, October 30: Halloween Party
• Friday, November 13: Early Release (12:15 pm dismissal)
• Wednesday, November 25 – Sunday, November 28: Thanksgiving Break (No School)