Please take a minute or two to look at the blogs that the kids are creating. I put the kids into groups of three or four. They are going to be working as a team and individually to create posts about things that are going on around Salem Hills. I know that the kids like to publish their writing this way but it only works when you read it. If you get the chance sign up to be a follower or the blogs. Thank you and Enjoy!!!
www.kidssalem.blogspot.com
www.krsj4.blogspot.com
www.tcdc4.blogspot.com
www.ksaa4.blogspot.com
www.szjb4.blogspot.com
www.qjma4.blogspot.com
www.mjdj4.blogspot.com
www.mmg3kids.blogspot.com
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
New Math Game
Two-Dice Sums (Grades 1–8)
Math concepts: Students of all ages can play this game, as long as they're able to add the numbers that come up on two dice. While younger children benefit from the practice of adding, older students have the opportunity to think about the probability of the sums from rolling two dice.
The object: to remove all the counters in the fewest rolls possible.
How to play: Two or more players can play. Each player needs 11 counters, a game strip that lists the numbers from 2 to 12 spaced far enough apart so the counters can fit on top of each number, and a recording sheet. Here are the rules for playing:
1. Each player arranges 11 counters on the game strip and records the arrangement.
2. Once the counters are arranged, players take turns rolling the dice.
3. For each roll, all players can remove one counter if it is on the sum rolled. Players keep track of the number of rolls of the dice it takes to clear their game board.
After students have had the chance to play the game for several days or so, have a class discussion about the different ways they arranged the counters and the number of rolls it took. Have them write about the arrangements that are best for removing the counters in the fewest number of rolls. For an extension, try Which Number Wins?
Math concepts: Students of all ages can play this game, as long as they're able to add the numbers that come up on two dice. While younger children benefit from the practice of adding, older students have the opportunity to think about the probability of the sums from rolling two dice.
The object: to remove all the counters in the fewest rolls possible.
How to play: Two or more players can play. Each player needs 11 counters, a game strip that lists the numbers from 2 to 12 spaced far enough apart so the counters can fit on top of each number, and a recording sheet. Here are the rules for playing:
1. Each player arranges 11 counters on the game strip and records the arrangement.
2. Once the counters are arranged, players take turns rolling the dice.
3. For each roll, all players can remove one counter if it is on the sum rolled. Players keep track of the number of rolls of the dice it takes to clear their game board.
After students have had the chance to play the game for several days or so, have a class discussion about the different ways they arranged the counters and the number of rolls it took. Have them write about the arrangements that are best for removing the counters in the fewest number of rolls. For an extension, try Which Number Wins?
Friday, March 18, 2011
Video Conference with the Calvert Marine Museum
Today we took advantage of a free video conference. The Minnesota Zoo is looking to get in to virtual field trips. They want to see how they work and see what others have already put out there for schools to use so they are paying for classes to do a video conference and then they come and observe. It was a great opportunity for us. We visited the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland. We learned a lot about fossils and the ocean.
The picture above is our teacher holding Fossiized Crocodile Coprolites. You can ask your child what that means and much more about fossils.
Thank you to the Calvert Marine Museum and the Minnesota Zoo!
Thank you to the Calvert Marine Museum and the Minnesota Zoo!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Math Goal
It is hard to believe that we are entering the final trimester of the school year. It has been very good so far and we hope that the final few months are the best yet. We have decided that instead of doing another AR goal this trimester we are going to try to a Math Goal. We have never done this before and will be working out kinks as we go. The focus of the goal will be on learning and improving math facts in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This goal will have two parts. First, we will be tracking students’ progress here at school. We have an app on our student iPods that will allow us to track student learning in math facts. This app will give the kids 20 problems to solve. When they are done it will tell them how quickly the solved them, the average time they spent on each problem, and the ones they got right and wrong. This information will be graphed each week and tracked.
The second part of the goal is practicing at home. We would like your help in tracking the number of minutes your child spends practicing math facts at home. In your student’s planner please write down the following things: Number of minutes spent each night working on math facts, a short description of the activity and your signature. Each week we will add up the minutes we have earned together and track them in the hall. We will send home ideas for kids to use for this time but feel free to use your creativity too.
Three websites we use a lot are:
www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro
www.aaamath.com
www.aplusmath.com
www.compasslearningodyssey.com
Here are some math games that need very few supplies:
The Game of Pig (Grades 3–8)
Math concepts: This game for two or more players gives students practice with mental addition and experience with thinking strategically.
The object: to be the first to score 100 points or more.
How to play: Players take turns rolling two dice and following these rules:
1. On a turn, a player may roll the dice as many times as he or she wants, mentally keeping a running total of the sums that come up. When the player stops rolling, he or she records the total and adds it to the scores from previous rounds.
2. But, if a 1 comes up on one of the dice before the player decides to stop rolling, the player scores 0 for that round and it's the next player's turn.
3. Even worse, if a 1 comes up on both dice, not only does the turn end, but the player's entire accumulated total returns to 0.
After students have had the chance to play the game for several days, have a class discussion about the strategies they used. You may want to list their ideas and have them test different strategies against each other to try and determine the best way to play.
The second part of the goal is practicing at home. We would like your help in tracking the number of minutes your child spends practicing math facts at home. In your student’s planner please write down the following things: Number of minutes spent each night working on math facts, a short description of the activity and your signature. Each week we will add up the minutes we have earned together and track them in the hall. We will send home ideas for kids to use for this time but feel free to use your creativity too.
Three websites we use a lot are:
www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro
www.aaamath.com
www.aplusmath.com
www.compasslearningodyssey.com
Here are some math games that need very few supplies:
The Game of Pig (Grades 3–8)
Math concepts: This game for two or more players gives students practice with mental addition and experience with thinking strategically.
The object: to be the first to score 100 points or more.
How to play: Players take turns rolling two dice and following these rules:
1. On a turn, a player may roll the dice as many times as he or she wants, mentally keeping a running total of the sums that come up. When the player stops rolling, he or she records the total and adds it to the scores from previous rounds.
2. But, if a 1 comes up on one of the dice before the player decides to stop rolling, the player scores 0 for that round and it's the next player's turn.
3. Even worse, if a 1 comes up on both dice, not only does the turn end, but the player's entire accumulated total returns to 0.
After students have had the chance to play the game for several days, have a class discussion about the strategies they used. You may want to list their ideas and have them test different strategies against each other to try and determine the best way to play.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Third Grade Updates
1. Happy end of trimester two and beginning of trimester three. Report cards will be sent home this Friday.
2. It is hard to believe that we have started the final trimester of third grade! This trimester we will not be doing an Accelerated Reader goal. Instead, we will be doing a math goal. Details will be sent home next week.
3. Students are still encouraged to read for fun. The best way to improve in reading is to read. At home, you can help your child with comprehension by having them tell you about what they are reading. Have them retell the story, or share their favorite parts.
4. The students have been and will be doing their final MAP test of this year. The dates have been moved up in order for us to see where the students are at and what they still need to learn. Mr. Melde’s class has completed their tests. Ms. Gustafson’s class will do the reading on Friday and math on Monday.
5. The state tests: MCA-III will be April 19 and 20 for reading and May 4 and 5 for math. Please mark your calendars. Thanks for your work with you child at home on their practice tests. We have not covered all the concepts on the math test yet. So, please work with your child and figure them out together.
6. On Wednesday, March 16th we will be going to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Each class will need 3 volunteers. We will leave here about 10:30 a.m. and be back around 1:00 p.m. We will have lunch when we get back to school.
7. Next Friday, we will be participating in a video conference about fossils with the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland.
Thank you for all your support and work with you child! We are having a great year!
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