Monday, January 24

 Hi parents,

It was a pretty typical Monday in room 4! A bit on the less-productive side, but we'll fix that tomorrow.

In the morning, the students worked on math. We're just about ready to move onto a new topic - divison! We're reviewing the Counting-On strategy first to make sure everyone has a good handle on it.

"Counting On" involves visualizing the larger number in a equation, and then counting forwards or backwards to reach the answer. For example, with the problem "68 + 4 = __", students would envision 68, and then count up 4 times, using their fingers to keep track of their counting, and understanding that the last number they say aloud is the answer.

"Counting On" is not just a strategy for beginners - it can be applied to solve some tricky Grade 3 problems too. For example, a problem like "804 - 9 = __" may make even the 'math wizards' have to stop and think. I encourage everyone to try this strategy out at home and see how it goes. 

The students wrote about their weekends in their journals, and were asked to incorporate the following into their writing:

-One Simile

-Two Commas

-One exclamation point

Students got to choose how and when to use each literary device.

We went to the Library and exchanged books.

We also practiced the new spelling words, did Daily LA, read The Secrets of Droon (chapter 5), and ended our day with Music.

Have a nice night,

Zac