Monday, 26 September 2016

Mr. Ho's blog

A note from the Social Studies teacher:

Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is my pleasure to teach Social Studies to your child this year.
I would like to invite you to follow our class blog at www.ho-rdps.blogspot.ca. This blog will provide information on upcoming due dates and homework, as well as ways you can support your child’s learning in Social Studies. You can also find the link to the blog on our school website under “Classrooms”.

This year, your children will be learning about Living and Working in Ontario (September-January) and Communities in Canada from 1780 to 1850 (February-June).

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to email me at terence.ho@yrdsb.ca or call me at (905) 585-0001 ext. 121.

As always, thank you for your continued support of your child's education.
Regards, 
Mr. Ho

Monday, 12 September 2016

September - Number Sense and Numeration

                                            
Ce qu'on fait en mathématiques...
                                                                    September 2016
Bonjour!
Our current focus in math has been on numbers (as part of our number sense unit). We have been concentrating on representing, ordering and counting numbers using different tools and manipulatives. Your child will build on their knowledge from previous years and he/she will be working with numbers from 0 to 1000. Your child will be counting forwards to 1000 by 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 100 and backwards from 100 by 1, 2, 5 and 10.  They will also be estimating, rounding, representing and decomposing numbers according to their place value (i.e., 423 = 4 hundreds 2 tens and 3 ones).  They will have many opportunities to use their knowledge in a variety of ways, and we will use appropriate math vocabulary to describe what we discover.   

During this unit we will be learning the following overall expectation:
·         read, represent, compare, and order whole numbers to 1000
·         demonstrate an understanding of magnitude by counting forward and backwards by various numbers and from various starting points


Le vocabulaire!

Here is a list of important words that we will be using during our unit on number sense.  Please encourage your child to use these words when communicating his/her knowledge of numbers with you.



droite numérique – number line                   quantité – quantity (amount)
le plus -  the most                                      le moins -  the least
plus grand que -  bigger than                      plus petit que – smaller than
grille de cent – 100’s chart           colonnes, - columns
rangées - rows                             les nombres – numbers        les chiffres - digits
les suites - patterns                   arrondir - round                  efficace – efficient
compter par bonds/compter par intervalles – skip counting forwards
compter à rebours – skip counting backwards
les nombres ordinaux – ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd etc.)



What activities could you do at home to support your child?

ü  Go on a search for numbers wherever you are.  You can look at houses, signs, cars, windows, etc.  Have your child represent various forms of these numbers (number, words, pictures, place value)

ü  Practice counting forwards and backwards by 1, 2, 5 and 10 on the 100s chart.  Discuss with your child patterns they notice on the chart (i.e., each row increases by 10 and each column increases by 1).

ü  Have your child fill in the blank number lines provided and then practice counting forwards and backwards by 2, 5 and 10.  Keep in mind that number lines do not always have to start at 1.  They could start from various points (ex. 20, 21, 22 …)

ü  While you’re making dinner ask your child to count the number of beans or how many forks are in the drawer.  They can practice by counting by jumps of 2, 5 of 10.  Ask them if there is a more efficient way of counting and why.

ü  Have your child order numbers or tell you which is bigger and which is smaller.


Have fun with math!

The Grade 3 Teachers




Friday, 9 September 2016

September Math Newsletter


                                              
Qu'est-ce qu'on peut faire à la maison
en mathématiques?
September 2016
Bonjour!
Our current focus in math has been on numbers (as part of our number sense unit). We have been concentrating on representing, ordering and counting numbers using different tools and manipulatives. Your child will build on their knowledge from previous years and he/she will be working with numbers from 0 to 1000. Your child will be counting forwards to 1000 by 1, 2, 5, 10, 25 and 100 and backwards from 100 by 1, 2, 5 and 10.  They will also be estimating, rounding, representing and decomposing numbers according to their place value (i.e., 423 = 4 hundreds 2 tens and 3 ones).  They will have many opportunities to use their knowledge in a variety of ways, and we will use appropriate math vocabulary to describe what we discover.   
During this unit we will be learning the following overall expectation:
·         read, represent, compare, and order whole numbers to 1000
·         demonstrate an understanding of magnitude by counting forward and backwards by various numbers and from various starting points
Le vocabulaire!
Here is a list of important words that we will be using during our unit on number sense.  Please encourage your child to use these words when communicating his/her knowledge of numbers with you.


grille de cent – 100’s chart
colonnes, - columns
rangées - rows
les nombres – numbers
les chiffres - digits
compter par bonds/compter par intervalles – skip counting forwards
compter à rebours – skip counting backwards
les nombres ordinaux – ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd etc.)
droite numérique – number line
quantité – quantity (amount)
le plus -  the most
le moins -  the least
plus grand que -  bigger than
plus petit que – smaller than
les suites - patterns
arrondir - round
efficace – efficient




What activities could you do at home to support your child?


  • Go on a search for numbers wherever you are.  You can look at houses, signs, cars, windows, etc.  Have your child represent various forms of these numbers (number, words, pictures, place value)
  • Practice counting forwards and backwards by 1, 2, 5 and 10 on the 100s chart.  Discuss with your child patterns they notice on the chart (i.e., each row increases by 10 and each column increases by 1).
  • Have your child fill in the blank number lines provided and then practice counting forwards and backwards by 2, 5 and 10.  Keep in mind that number lines do not always have to start at 1.  They could start from various points (ex. 20, 21, 22 …)


  • While you’re making dinner ask your child to count the number of beans or how many forks are in the drawer.  They can practice by counting by jumps of 2, 5 of 10.  Ask them if there is a more efficient way of counting and why.
  • Have your child order numbers or tell you which is bigger and which is smaller.

Have fun with math!


The Grade 3 Teachers


September Newsletter


Friday, September 9th, 2016

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

The first week of school was a great success! Thank you for your support in returning all the forms promptly. If you haven’t already, please return your package with completed forms. Also please send the “getting to know you survey” A.S.A.P.  I would like to take this opportunity to explain a few of the routines that will be taking place in our classroom. I would also like to introduce to you the units we have or will be starting shortly.

 Things your child needs to bring to school:

  • REMIND APP/AGENDA - I will be using the remind app as a primary method of communication. I will be sending announcements, reminders and homework through this app. Please remember to sign up using the instructions sent home in the communication binder. The agenda will be used for students to write their homework and their daily goals. Once every parent has signed up for remind we will be using the agenda solely for learning goals.
  • BLOG - We also have a Grade 3 blog website so please check it frequently at www.3firdps.blogspot.ca
  • Indoor/Outdoor shoes - Each child should have one pair of shoes with non-marking soles to be worn in the classroom and during Gym periods to keep the classroom environment clean. The indoor shoes should be labelled and will remain in the classroom throughout the year. Please send a pair of indoor shoes and a spare set of labelled clothing as soon as possible if you have not already done so!
  • School supplies will be provided by the school.  If you wish to send your child with any school supplies (pencils, glue, crayons, etc), your child will be responsible for these supplies
  • If you could please send a Kleenex box to school that would be appreciated. Also, a reminder regarding binders. If you can please purchase 2 different coloured 1.5’ binder for literacy and math (any colour except red).
  • Absences/Appointments- Please call 1-855-203-2994 or go to www.yorkrdsb.schoolconnects.com if your child is ill, going to be absent or has upcoming appointments even if you have written me a note. Please do not call the school office.
  • NOTE that we have medical NUT ALLERGIES in our class. Please be extra vigilant about reading snack and food labels when preparing snacks and lunches for school
Mark your calendars for these important dates:
Friday, September 16, 2016-Terry Fox walk
Monday, September 26, 2016- P.D. day -- No School
Thursday September 29, 2016 – Open House
 Curriculum UpdatesCurriculum Corner: 
  • Math
    Our first unit in math is the Number Sense and Numeration unit where we will be learning about place value, hundreds chart, counting by 2s, 5s, 10s, etc. We will also be reviewing the different math manipulatives and the different uses for them. Please review the upcoming math newsletter for more information.
  • Science
    Our first Science Unit will be Structures and Mechanisms (Strong and Stable Structures). Throughout the unit, we will be learning to identify, describe and compare various structures. We will learn about their importance and function and what might affect their strength and stability in our environment.
  • Language
    In Writing and Listening/Speaking, we are reviewing sentences (parts of a sentence, parts of   speech, enriched sentences, etc.), through the use of poems. In reading, we are reviewing oral reading skills (reading with expression, fluency, using appropriate intonation, etc.), as well as the different reading strategies. We will also be focusing on the four classroom agreements; Mutual Respect, Attentive Listening, Appreciation/No put-downs and Participation.
  • Health
    Our first Health Unit will be about healthy relationships.
  • Drama
    The elements of drama will be integrated throughout various subjects
What you can do to help your child: 
    • Discuss/review with your child what they have learned at school every day
    • Review work that is sent home in the binder
    • Read, read, read all books that are sent home
    • Make use of the public library to sign out books, videos, DVDs and CD’s
    • Encourage your child to watch French television
    • Skype or call a classmate to talk in French
    • Explore the online French websites and games on the internet on our class website: www.3firdps.blogspot.ca
       
During this first month of school we as a school are focussing on building a sense of community and getting to know each other. A monthly newsletter will be posted on our blog which will keep you up to date about what your child is learning in class.
 
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call me at school or by sending me a REMIND app message.
HOMEWORK EXPECTATIONS:
1-Remind app: Please initial the reading log every night so that we know you are aware of your child’s homework. If your child is struggling with a task and takes more than 15 minutes of focussed time to complete please message through Remind so that we may be able to help them with the concepts during class, recess or lunch time.
 
2-Homework: Homework will begin on Monday, September 12th.
The students will be expected to do homework Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings (with a break on Friday nights and the weekend unless there is a specific assignment to prepare for). Every afternoon, the students will write down what their homework is for the night in their agendas and I will send a Remind message.
 
The expectation is that each student will read daily for 15 minutes (10mins a pleasure read, 5 guided reading once we begin the program), attempt to complete unfinished work that they didn’t complete at school and/or work on reviewing concepts taught/work they did at school.

Reading Log folder
In your child’s communication binder, you will find a reading log. Your child should be reading in French every night for 15 minutes and having an adult sign the recording sheet. French books are available through your local library, our school library or individual classroom libraries, as well as Scholastic Books.
The children who read daily will receive a certificate for their accomplishments at the end of each month.
Please make sure the homework/reading log is sent back to school the following morning initialed by parent.