Third Grade News

Hello, Third Grade Families!

Third graders have been working hard and trying their best on the SBAC assessments so far this week.  Thanks for helping your child to get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time. 

Students are enjoying chewing a piece of gum during SBAC testing.  If you have a pack of gum to contribute to our classroom supply, please send it in.  Thanks!

There are no homework worksheets this week.  Please remind your child to read for twenty minutes each evening and work on memorizing the x 7 multiplication facts.  We are in the home stretch.  A little more practice and we will have the multiplication facts memorized!  Keep up the great practice at home.  Practicing the facts for just 5 – 10 minutes  each day at home can make a big difference. You can do it!  You are almost there!

Mark your calendar.

The Chamberlin Fun Run will be held on May 19^th.  Third graders will be participating in the Fun Run from 10:30  AM – 11:15 AM.  Family members are welcome to attend to cheer on the runners or run together!   

The Chamberlin Family Picnic will be held on June 6^th. 

We are in need of cleaning wipes for our desks.  If you have a package, please send them in.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Keelin M. Simpson

Dear Third Grade Families,

         May has been a busy month in third grade.  I am so proud of our class for all of the hard work and effort that they are putting into memorizing the multiplication facts. The students of Room 15 rock!  We updated the multiplication table below by shading in the Half Ten Plus One More Set Facts (x 6 facts).  When we looked at the updated multiplication table below, we could see that there are only nine facts left to learn!

          So what's our next step?  It's time to learn  the x 7 facts! It's interesting that the x 7 facts are the only set of facts that are not given a special name based on a certain strategy.   Perhaps this is because there are several ways to solve the different x 7 facts.  Here are two strategies that your child might use to solve the x 7 facts. Both strategies are based on using a known fact to solve an unknown fact.  

Strategy 1:  Use a x 5 fact and a x 2 fact.

What is the product of 7 groups of 8  or 7 x 8?

Step one - I know that 5 groups of 8 (5 x 8) equals 40.                            5 x 8 = 40

Step two - I know that 2 more groups of 8 (2 x 8) equals 16.                   2 x 8 = 16

Step three - Add the products to find the product of 7 groups of 8.         40 + 16 = 56

                                                                                                           So... 7 x 8 = 56

Strategy 2:  Start with a x 6 fact and add one more set.

What is the product of 7 groups of 8  or 7 x 8?

Step one - I know that 6 groups of 8 (6 x 8) equals 48.                                   6 x 8 = 48

Step two - I need one more group of 8 to have seven groups of 8.                 48 + 8 = 56 

                                                                                                                So...  7 x 8 = 56

         Keep up the great work of practicing the multiplication facts at home!  We are in the home stretch with only nine new facts to learn!  Way to go, third graders!  Thanks to all family members for helping your students to practice at home.  Please let me know if you need your child's username and password for www.IXL.com. It's a great site to go to for multiplication fact practice.  

        We had a great final week with Miss Schweikert!  We have enjoyed learning with her this semester, and we had fun watching Because of Winn -Dixie with her today.  Miss S. enjoyed all of her gifts, cards, her teacher's bag, and her special snack.  We wish her the best of luck in her future teaching endeavors.

         Students took SBAC practice tests this week to learn how to use the computer tools and practice with the types of directions and tasks that will be on the actual tests.  The best way to help your child prepare for the testing sessions next week is to make sure he/she gets to bed on time and eats a healthy breakfast in the morning.  

        Remember that your child's homework this month is to practice multiplication facts and read each at home each day. After working hard on testing at school, our hope is that children will play outside, enjoy the fresh air, and relax when they arrive home instead of working on worksheets of homework.  

        We are in need of cleaning wipes and soft tissues.  If you have a spare package, please send them in.  

Sincerely,

Keelin M. Simpson