We are now beginning a mathematics unit on Numbers to 1000.  In this unit, your child will: ·         Show a 3-digit number in different ways, using concrete materials, pictures, words, and numbers. ·         Compare and order 2-digit and 3-digit numbers. ·         Skip count by 5s, 10s, and 100s forward and backward to 1000. ·         Skip count by 3s, 4s, and 25s forward and backward to 1000. ·         Estimate how many items are in a large collection by comparing it to a known  quantity.   Example: Show ten buttons - If this is 10 buttons, how many are in this big pile of   buttons?   Here are some activities you can do at home to support this learning:               -  Use play money to model numbers and to develop understanding of trading or                  grouping. For example, show that $34 can be modeled as $300 + $40 + $2. Using                   play bills for $1, $10, and $100 helps to reinforce place value.                - Play a number comparison game: Remove the tens and face cards from a deck of                  regular playing cards.  Deal 3 cards to each player.  Each player uses the cards                  to make the greatest possible 3-digit number. The person with the greater number                  gets a point. Repeat. The first player to get 10 points is the winner. Play the                   game again, this time making the least number possible.      Students will also work on basic facts. They will be using various mental math   strategies to help them recall the facts quickly. They will learn to apply mental math      strategies such as :            -  Doubles (Ex: If I know that 6+6=12, then 7+6 is one more, so it would be 13).            -  Commutative Property (For 3+9, think 9+3. They give the same answer).            -  Making 10 (Ex: 8+6 – Think 8 + 2 + 4; 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 4 = 14).  

Our math test that I planned on giving tomorrow will be postponed until next Tuesday as we had students abssent  from class yesterday and today.  I would like to continue to review concepts with ALL students before giving the "Patterns" test.  There will be no homework tomorrow as it is Halloween! I will send a final "Patterns" practice sheet for homework on Monday.  Joyeuses Halloween! Stay tuned for Halloween pictures.....

This week in French, we will continue to talk about our families.  For example: How many people are in our family, who are our family members, what do they look like, what kind of personality do they have, what they like to do, etc.  Students can bring in photots of their family to present to their classmates. (Some students have already done so). Students will also create a Halloween monster and write about their monster in their writing journals.  This activity is a great way for students to practice all of the French structures they have been learning since September.   In Math, we will work on numbers 0-100 and also complete our unit on Patterns.  Students will have a test on Patterns on Thursday.  I will send home a practice sheet on Patterns this week.  Students should be able to: • Identify, extend, create, and compare increasing patterns.• Identify, extend, create, and compare decreasing patterns.• Find pattern rules.• Display number patterns on hundred charts.