regrouping/fair trades  is a new term we use for the idea of “carrying” or “borrowing”. It helps a child connect the idea that 10 ones can be “regrouped” for 1 ten, 10 tens is a “fair trade” for 1 hundred, etc. In class we use place value blocks. Your child is learning how to draw these place value blocks so you don’t need to have these at home.

Addition strategies are addition concepts of “counting on” by one, two or three. For example, if your give your child a number line, such as a ruler, and ask them 6 + 2, they should be able to easily skip a number  and come up with the answer of 8. We are working on being able to quickly do this in our heads.

Doubles are 1+1,  2+2, 3+3, etc. Dominos are a good way to practice this strategy as they can see the dots and count them if they need to.

Doubles plus 1, plus 2, plus 3 are used for harder equations. If a child knows 3+3=6, then they can easily figure that 3+4=7

Bridge to 10 is a strategy that uses 10 as a mile post. Using their 10 fingers is a great way to bridge to 10. For a number less than 10, ask them to show you (using both hands). For a 3, they will hold up 3 fingers on one hand and a closed fist on the other. It becomes very clear to see how many more make 10. Your child may also use a number line (such as a ruler) to figure “how many more make 10″.

Ten frame is another way to make “bridge to 10″ visible. 9 + 6 is made with counters (such as beans). 9 is made as a row of 5 with  a row of 4 just below (this makes it easy for your child to see that it only needs 1 more to be 10). The 6 is displayed in another ten frame as a row of 5 with 1 below it. The child takes one away from the 6, adds to the 9. It is clear to see that 9+6 is the same as 10 + 5. Some kids catch on quick and begin to do this in their heads. Some kids need the materials to touch and move in order to master this concept.

Write everyday!

Practice spelling everyday!

Do math everyday (see math games & packet on regrouping)

Well, O.K., no homework on Thursday

Have a wonderful, safe family time.

Week of:

November 30      night, picture, being, study, second

December 7      soon, since, story, white, ever

December 14      paper, hard, near, sentence, better

January 4       best, across, during, today, however

 January 11      sure, knew, it’s, try, told

 January 18      young, sun, thing, whole, hear

 January 25      example, heard, several, change, answer,

 February 1      learn, point, city, play, toward

 February 8      himself, five, usually, money, seen

 February 15     didn’t, car, morning, I’m, body

February 22      upon, family, later, turn, move

 March 1      face, door, cut, done, group

 March 8      true, half, red, fish, plants

 March 15      living, black, eat, short, United States

 April 5      run, book, gave, order, open

 April 12      ground, cold, really, table, remember

 April 19      tree, course, front, American, space

 April 26      inside, ago, sad, early, I’ll

 May 3        learned, brought, close, nothing, though

 May 10      idea, before, lived, became, add

Main Idea Reading pages, Math4Today, Take Home Task 11, Math Worksheets, Spelling Sentences. There is an extra credit art project that your child may choose to do when the other homework is complete. Your child may turn in homework on Friday or Monday.

 If your child was not here to get the spelling words, his/her words may be:  mother, light, country, father, let. These are the words we are practicing in class this week. Some students chose challenge words instead. Challenge words are words selected from books or environmental print such as posters, cereal boxes, classroom walls, etc.

November homework: I am going to try to set up homework packets this month. These papers will be hole-punched to go into their binder and stapled together. This will allow your child to have homework practice based on his/her individual needs. We will be using the binder (not the large envelope you used in 2^nd grade). Homework assignments will continue to be written in the daily planner (along with spelling words).

Remember, you may read to your child for 15 minutes or buddy read or they may read independently. Talking about their reading with them will build comprehension and comprehension. The Main Idea reading worksheets count toward this 15 minutes of reading. And, of course, they may read more if they really get into a book!

Homework is to be turned in on Fridays (or Mondays if you need the extra time).

Friday Reflections: I did not send “Friday Reflections” home last Friday due to all the fun events: Boo-ographies, Literacy Parade and our fabulous fall party. Thanks to all of you who contributed. It was a feast! We had extra food that I will be able to provide as snacks throughout this week.

All those papers in your child’s binder/backpack: generally, on Mondays you will receive lots of important notices and flyers from the Arcadia Office. Generally, you will receive our class newsletter to update you on various events or topics of interest.  And you may receive a whole pile of your student’s classwork. If it has a check or a star at the top, I’ve seen it and it is to stay home. If your child has piled up lots of homework that has not been turned in, talk with them about turning it in the next day. If your child is stuffing their backpacks with unfinished work…hmmm….let me know and we can set up a conference if need be.

Tuesday is the ALL-DAY-WRITE

Arcadia is having its fall all-day-write (usually just half a day for 3^rd graders). Be sure your child has 4 sharpened pencils. A good night’s sleep and a good breakfast is also very helpful for his/her stamina. Even though the 3^rd grade teachers use this assignment as instructional, it will go into their records as a baseline to measure their growth as writers. If your child receives special services for writing, they will be receiving modified or alternate assignments.

Call me if you have questions or comments.

Loreen Aguirre

464-5746,  aguirrl@deerpark.wednet.org

November, 2008

11 Veteran’s Day (No School)

19-25 Elem. Conferences (DPE/Arc Early Out)

Conference Schedule for November

HALF DAY – Thursday, November 19 – Students are dismissed at 12:18 p.m.

FULL DAY of school- Friday, November 20

HALF DAY – Monday, November 23 – Students are dismissed at 12:18 p.m.

NO SCHOOL – November 24 & November 25

26 Early Release – All Schools

27-28 Thanksgiving (No School)

Read 15 minutes every night (includes Main idea worksheets)

Spelling (choice of grid, RSCPP, rainbow, sentences, pyramid, abc order)

Math4Today

Math worksheet

Rebecca Sitton worksheet

Science (extra credit)

Homework is due Friday. It may be turned in on Monday if you need the weekend. Your child may have extra practice in math if they are struggling with a strategy or concept.

Spelling: Monday-Thursday: grid, RSCPP, choice of rainbow, pyramid, abc order

Math: Math4Today

Rocket Math: practice for those who have needed more than 3 tries to pass a level

Spinners: practice addition strategies: count on 1, count on 2, count on 3, bridge to 10, doubles, doubles +1, doubles +2, doubles +3

Food Sense:  We will be beginning a series of lessons on Food Sense. They will occur once a month throughout the year. We will have extra activities as well. P.S. Does anyone know a French chef?

Harvest Party: we will have a class party later this month. I will be sending home a notice about what you might share, times, etc.

Sickness: Please keep your child home if they have symptoms similar to seasonal flu symptoms, include rapid onset of fever with cough and/or sore throat.  Some people may also have diarrhea and vomiting.  If your child or any family member experiences these symptoms, stay home until symptoms have diminished and they have been free of fever (less then 100°F, without using fever reducing medication) for at least 24 hours or as directed by your health care provider. To protect yourself and your family against H1N1 influenza, as well as seasonal influenza, and to help prevent the spread of disease, teach your children to:

• Wash their hands often.
• Cough or sneeze into their sleeve/elbow not into their hands.
• Cover their nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose.
• Promptly dispose of used tissues and wash hands with soap and water.
• Not share food, utensils or beverages with others.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.

Thank you for all your support,

Loreen Aguirre

464-5746

aguirrl@deerpark.wednet.edu

If you would like to be added to the list to receive this newsletter by e-mail, just send me an e-mail! It saves paper and doesn’t get lost in the backpack

Science: we are beginning our study of life science. I’ve received requests from boys and girls who want to bring in their critters to “show and tell”. I’ve said O.K. As long as they are kept in a container, they may come for one day only. We may have allergy concerns with anything that has “fur or feathers”. If we set up a time with advance notice for other parents, you might be able to bring these animals to share briefly (10 minutes). Please call me this week if you have allergy concerns about cat hair. And please, for safety reasons, no glass jars on the bus and no poisonous spiders.

Homophones: words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have a different meaning are the hardest spelling words. If your child has them in their spelling list, be sure that they practice them with a sentence. Context is the key!

Rocket Math homework is beginning for those who need extra practice on math facts. Just one section per day, not the whole thing. Spinners are to be kept in their binders and used to practice addition strategies (5 minutes) +1, +2, +3, doubles, near doubles +1, near doubles +2, near doubles +3

Art Contest: this is optional but if your child chooses, he/she may complete the release form and tape to the completed art project. Due back by Thursday, October 9. Please follow the directions or I cannot mail your child’s work. If he/she chooses to do this, they may have a “free homework pass for 2 days”. Just note in their daily planner on those days that they were working on the Art Contest and I will excuse the regular homework.

Friday Reflections: your child will be reflecting on each week and recording this on a “Friday Reflections” sheet. Attached to this will be any work/tests they have done in class. This is so that you can review their work and see how they are being graded. This is to be signed by you and your child then returned on Monday. This also gives you and I another way to communicate any needs, comments or questions.

Thank you for all your support,

Loreen Aguirre

464-5746

aguirrl@deerpark.wednet.edu

If you would like to be added to the list to receive this newsletter by e-mail, just send me an e-mail! It saves paper and doesn’t get lost in the backpack