Third Grade News

Dear Third Grade Families,

We are having a great month of fun and learning in Room 15!  We welcomed a new student into our classroom this week, we earned an extra outside break time by being such amazing students, and Pajama Day and Popcorn Friday were a lot of fun!

Room 15 is full of awesome mathematicians!  Students have done an amazing job of learning the multiplication facts from the Zero Facts through the x 7 Facts. When we look at the multiplication table below, we can see that we have only THREE facts left to learn (8 x  8, 8 x 9, and 9 x 9)!!! We are so excited to be in the home stretch!  

We call the x 8 facts "Double-Double-Doubles" because they can be solved with the strategy below. This strategy involves using a known fact to solve an unknown fact and doubling numbers.

What is the product of 8 x 9?

I know 8 x 9 can mean 8 groups of 9  (9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 + 9 +  9 + 9 ).

Double Once:                             2 x 9 = 9 + 9  = 18        Start with the product of  2 nines.

Double a Second Time:             4 x 9 = 18 + 18  = 36    If 2 nines = 18, then 4 nines = 18 + 18.

Double a Third Time:                8 x 9 = 36 + 36  = 72    If 4 nines = 36, then 8 nines = 36 + 36.

                                                   So...  8 x 9 = 72.             

Third graders have shared that they are practicing with flashcards at home, family members are quizzing them, they are playing the multiplication board games sent home, and they are using multiplication games from my blog, or practicing at www.ixl.com.  Thanks for supporting your student with practice at home.  Five to ten minutes of practice each day makes a big difference. Keep up the great effort, Room 15 families!  You are doing a great job!

Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, April 7, and Friday, April 8. These are half days of school for students.  Your child will be bringing home your PickATime pin number on Monday.  It will be stapled to the front of his/her homework packet.  You can schedule your conference at www.pickatime.com. If you need help with the website, please call Rose, 652-7400. She will be happy to help you.  If you cannot attend a conference at any of the listed times, please call or email me, and we can find a different time to meet.  Thanks!   

Reminders

• The Invention Convention is on Monday, March 14, from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM and 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM.  
• Wednesday, March 16, is a half day of school for students.  There will be early dismissal  at 11:30 AM for staff in-service.  
• The Chamberlin Spring Concert is on Tuesday, March 22nd.  Third graders should arrive at 6:15 PM and go to the music room.   Please do not go to the music room early because there will not be adult supervision before 6:15 PM.  

Have a great weekend!

Keelin M. Simpson

kmcgrath@sbschools.net