Monday, March 17, 2008

New Tuslaw Website

Visit the new Tuslaw Website at www.tuslawblogs.org

NEW BLOG!

I started a new blog (it's an official Tuslaw Blog!) Please click the attachment to see the new blog. I will be updating this blog now!

http://tuslawblogs.org/communities/hussar/default.aspx

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Easter Baskets

Next week, we will be making Easter Baskets in school. If you would like, you may donate a small, wrapped treat to put in each child's basket. This is only if you chooose to donate. Thank you! Please send items to school by March 18th.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

National Reading Month!

Our goal, as a class, is to read 3,200 minutes by spring break (March 20th). If we reach our goal, we will have a popcorn and movie party!

As of March 17th, we have read 4,085 minutes! We have made it to our party! Great job!


Saturday, March 01, 2008

Math and Reading Achievement Test

We will be taking the Math and Reading Achievement Test at the end of April/beginning of May. We have been continually preparing for these tests. The end of the unit assessments in Language Arts are modeled after the reading achievement test questions.

We have already taken the reading achievment test, but all students will take the test again in April. As we have discussed in school, the goal for all students is to do better on the test in April than they did in October. Students have been learning and growing for many months during third grade and its important that they show this growth during their Achievement Test.

To help us prepare for the math test, we are completing a few practice questions each week. The practice questions are questions that have been on past achievement tests. Students are using these questions to practice explaining how they got their answer and to review concepts that will be on the test. The practice questions will be sent home prior to the test and then can be reviewed at home.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Everyday Math

We will be having math quizzes on Wednesdays over the content discussed during the previous week.

Unit 9 is a longer unit - Concepts covered will be:
- Multiply and Divide with Multiples of 10,100, and 1,000
- Using mental math to multiply
- Using arrays to multiply
- Modeling Multiplication with Base 10 Blocks
- Multiplication Algorithm (Partial Sums)
28
x 4
______
(4) 20's = 80
+
(4) 8's = 32
___________
112
- Finding Factors of a Whole Number
- Sharing Money (Ex: $1.00 shared equally among 4 people, $71 shared equally among 5 people, etc.)
- Lattice Multiplication! (Look for an explaination of this to come home!!! This is a VERY fun way to learn mutliplication! I love it! It's different, but it is very interesting! Have your students teach you how to do it (have an open mind) and you'll like it too!)
- Products of 2 digit multiplication
- Positive and Negative Numbers
- Practice area and perimeter for our test



Please continue practicing multiplication facts at home. Ask your child what timed tests he/she has passed. To pass a timed test, students must correctly answer 25 out of 30 questions in one minute. Students will need to be passing these tests. Those students who have not mastered their facts will have written homework to help the students practice their facts. Practicing multiplication facts for a few minutes each night (focusing on the facts that have not been mastered) is very helpful! Students can practice ANYWHERE! As your child facts while in the car, while standing in line at a store, while you are making dinner or doing chores, before your child is able to play video games, or anywhere else that you can think of. This does not have to something that is written down or even done with flash cards - they can be asked outloud. Practicing a few facts every day will really, really help!

Counting change by "Counting up"
Ex: An item costs $1.37 and the person who buys the item gives the cashier $2.00. To find out the change start at $1.37 and count up to $2.00
Start with pennies (unless you are at 5 or 10 cents)
Use 3 pennies to get to $1.40. Then use a dime to get to $1.50. Last, use two quarters to get to $2.00.
To find the change, count 3 pennies, 1 dime, and 2 quarters. The change given is 63 cents.

- Check the links on the blog for math games online!

(This information can be found in the Math Book (Student Resource Book)). It can be taken home any night that you like to look up this information.


http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/parents/index.shtml

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Assignments

Monday, March 15th
H.L. 9.10
WS 9/10 spelling workbook page
Math test April 2nd

Tuesday, March 16th
Spelling Test Wednesday
WS 33 - "In Your Own Words" - part of speech
WS 21 - Mutliplication
Math test April 2nd

Wednesday, March 16th
Skills and Vocabulary Test Thursday
H.L. 9.11
Reading Calendar Due Thursday
Math test April 2nd

Thursday, March 17th
Happy Spring Break!
Math test April 2nd

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Review at home!

I know that there is a lot going on at school, but it is very important to continue studying with your child. Please review for all tests and quizzes that are taken. Most of the information comes from worksheets, study guides, etc. done at school. It will greatly benefit your child to review the things that are sent home in their "take home folder" for a few minutes each night.

In addition, please check pinnacle often! This will give you an idea as to what grades your child is earning and it gives your their current overall grade in each subject.
All passwords and student IDs were sent home this year in each student's first interim report. Call the office if you have further questions about passwords or IDs.

https://www.sparcc.org/piv/piv.exe?action=signin