Oct.31, 2017

Parents,

Students continued multiplication with regrouping today but with larger numbers. This strategy is the normal algorithm you learned and practiced when you were their age so you should be able to assist them, if needed. The homework was pg. 129 - 130. Thank you and have a good night.

Oct. 30, 2017

Parents,

The students need to complete pg.123 - 124 on multiplication with regrouping. The strategy for today's multiplication is using regrouping which is the normal algorithm you most likely used when you learned multiplication. For example, if you are multiplying 45 X 5 you multiply 5 X 5 first which is 25. The 5 goes in the ones column while the 2 tens will be regrouped above the 4 in the tens place. Then multiply 5 X 4 which is 20 plus 2 to get 225. 

The following is what was sent home today in the G Force Gazette.

Neighborhood News

Dear Parent(s),

• Mrs. Hamill now has email so you may email her when needed. It is listed below with the fourth grade team.
• Students should know all of their multiplication tables 1- 12 upon leaving 3rd grade.  Please work with your child as much as possible as we still have a very high number of students who do not know them with speed or accuracy and confidence. A suggestion would be practicing flash cards with your child.
• Please encourage students to take reading counts tests as they complete their books throughout the year. Reading counts points are being calculated for neighborhood recognition.
• The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) is a test that students will take each quarter to measure your child’s reading level. SRI growth is usually related to continual reading.  The more a student reads, the better reader they will become.  
• If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is probably through email. Our emails are as follows: charles.utter@am.dodea.edu; kali.hamill@am.dodea.edu and judith.ward@am.dodea.edu.
• If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
• New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.

Weekly Homework:

Monday:

• Math homework on pg.123 - 124 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Tuesday:

• Math homework on pg.129 - 130 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Wednesday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Thursday:

• Math homework on pg.103-104 to be completed on concepts learned in class.

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Friday:

No School For Students

Educational Targets:

Math:

Students are continuing unit 2, chapter 2 on the multiplication of one-digit numbers. We are specifically working on multiplication using 2-digit, 3-digit, and 4-digit  numbers with regrouping, solving multistep problems using equations and applying problem solving skills with multiplication.

Science/ Social Studies:

Students are continuing a PBL project on the regions.

Students are learning about different types of maps and gathering information about the significant landforms in each region. They will complete a map of the U.S. using play-doh.

Language Arts:

Students are learning about main idea and supporting details. We are reading a story called, Letters Home From Yosemite, which is nonfiction text that reinforces main idea and supporting details along with other valuable comprehension skills. Our grammar skill that we are working on is clauses and complex sentences. We will soon be writing a persuasive narrative. This week they will use a graphic organizer with specific criteria to back up their evidence.

Important Dates

Oct.30th - Nov.2nd

SRI Will Be Taken

Nov.2nd

End of 1st Quarter

Nov.3rd

No School For Students/Teacher Workday

Oct. 26, 2017

Parents,

The students have to complete pg. 103 - 104. The math concept today had students using place value and partial products to multiply by a 1-digit number. It is similar to the expanded form strategy with the exception of placing the numbers underneath the multiplication problem instead of putting them in boxes. Click on the link below to watch a video on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq8vs0sp4hM

Have a good night.

Oct.24, 2017

Parents,

The students need to complete pg.97 - 98 for homework tonight. Today's lesson had them multiplying a two-digit number by a one-digit number using expanded form. For a quick review of the lesson, click on the link below to see a video on how it is done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGsnQ8gis28

If you misplaced the G Force Gazette for this week's news, please check out yesterday's blog.

Have a good night.

Oct. 23, 2017

Parents,

Tonight's homework is on pg.91 - 92 in their math book. Students learned about multiplication using the distributive property. For example, lets say the problem is 5 X 14. They will need to break apart 14 into more manageable numbers to multiply. I tell students the easiest number pair is always 10 and the rest of the factor. Since the factor is 14, you break it into 10 and 4. I will multiply 5 X 10 to get 50. Then I multiply 5 X 4 to get 20. Finally, 50 + 20 = 70. So 5 X 14 = 70. I didn't have to break 14 up into 10 and 4. I could have split it into 9 and 5, 8 and 6, etc. 

The following is what was sent home today in the G Force Gazette.

Neighborhood News

• Mrs. Hamill now has email so you may email her when needed. It is listed below with the fourth grade team.
• Think Central is working but some students are having trouble logging in. We are working to fix the problem with resetting the passwords.
• Students should know all of their multiplication tables 1- 12 upon leaving 3rd grade.  Please work with your child as much as possible as we still have a very high number of students who do not know them with speed or accuracy and confidence. A suggestion would be practicing flash cards with your child.
• Please encourage students to take reading counts tests as they complete their books throughout the year. Reading counts points are being calculated for neighborhood recognition.
• The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) is a test that students will take each quarter to measure your child’s reading level. SRI growth is usually related to continual reading.  The more a student reads, the better reader they will become.  
• If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is probably through email. Our emails are as follows: charles.utter@am.dodea.edu; kali.hamill@am.dodea.edu and judith.ward@am.dodea.edu.
• If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
• New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.

Educational Targets:

Math:

Students are continuing unit 2, chapter 2 on the multiplication of one-digit numbers. We are specifically working on multiplication using the distributive property, expanded form, partial products, and mental math.

Science/ Social Studies:

Students are beginning a PBL project on the regions.

Students are being introduced to the five regions of the United States, learning about different types of maps, and gathering information about the significant landforms in each region.

Language Arts:

Students are learning about author’s purpose. We are reading a story called, The Horned Toad Prince, which reinforces author’s purpose along with other valuable comprehension skills. Our grammar skill that we are working on is simple and compound sentences. We will soon be writing a persuasive narrative. This week they will become familiar with what persuasive writing is and what it encompasses.

Important Dates

Oct.23 - Oct.27

Red Ribbon Week

Monday - Wear a jersey

Tuesday - Patriotic Day - wear red, white, and blue

Wednesday - Wear orange for Unity Day

Thursday - Crazy Hair Day

Friday - Wear your favorite super hero outfit (no masks or face paint)

Oct.24th

Reptile Assembly

Weekly Homework:

Monday:

• Math homework on pg.91-92 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Tuesday:

• Math homework on pg.97-98 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Wednesday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Thursday:

• Math homework on pg.103-104 to be completed on concepts learned in class.

• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Friday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Oct. 17, 2017

Parents,

The students have to complete pg. 73 in their math book on multiplicative comparisons where they have to solve for the variable. If you need assistance on this lesson concept, please look back in their book on lesson 2.2 or your child can log into Think Central.

If you missed receiving the G Force Gazette, please check out yesterday's blog post for it.

Have a good night.

Oct.17, 2017

Parents, 

We started a new unit and chapter on multiplying by 1-digit numbers. Yesterday's lesson dealt with multiplicative comparisons where their homework was on pg. 67. The following below is what was sent home in the G Force Gazette yesterday.

• I am happy to announce that Mrs. Hamill has started today in place of Mrs. Cerny for the rest of the year. Her email is not set up yet, so please send her correspondence to Mr. Utter or Mrs. Ward.
• Think Central is working but it may take some time before Mrs. Hamill has access to it.
• Students should know all of their multiplication tables 1- 12 upon leaving 3rd grade.  Please work with your child as much as possible as we still have a very high number of students who do not know them with speed or accuracy and confidence. A suggestion would be practicing flash cards with your child.
• Please encourage students to take reading counts tests as they complete their books throughout the year. Reading counts points are being calculated for neighborhood recognition.
• The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) is a test that students will take each quarter to measure your child’s reading level. SRI growth is usually related to continual reading.  The more a student reads, the better reader they will become.  
• If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is probably through email. Our emails are as follows: charles.utter@am.dodea.edu;  and judith.ward@am.dodea.edu.
• If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
• New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.

Weekly Homework:

Monday:

• Math homework on pg.67 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Tuesday:

• Math homework on pg.73 to be completed on concepts learned in class.
• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Wednesday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Thursday:

• Math homework on pg.79 to be completed on concepts learned in class.

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Friday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Educational Targets:

Math:

Students are beginning unit 2, chapter 2 on the multiplication of one-digit numbers. The first few lessons are on modeling multiplicative comparisons. Later in the week the students will be multiplying tens, hundreds, and thousands, and estimating products.

Science/ Social Studies:

Students are being introduced to the five regions of the United States, learning about different types of maps, and gathering information about the significant landforms in each region.

Language Arts:

Students are reviewing  cause and effect and subject and predicates by completing a comic strip. They are still practicing text based evidence with reading passages and are writing familiar narratives. They will be learning about author’s purpose later in the week.

Oct.16th - Oct.20th

Book Fair

Oct.19th

Book Fair Family Night

Oct.20th

Smoke House/Fire Truck Visit

Reminder

Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:40

Oct. 12, 2017

Parents,

The students have a test on chapter 5 tomorrow. We completed and went over the even numbers on pg. 317 - 322 on the review in preparation for the test. They are to complete the odd numbers on those pages. Thank you for assisting them with their homework, if needed.

If you missed the G Force Gazette that was passed out yesterday, please feel free to check out yesterday's blog where the information is also listed.

Have a good night.

Oct. 11, 2017

Parents,

The following information is what students received on the G Force Gazette today. Please let me know if you have any questions.

• Unfortunately there are still problems with Think Central. Mr. Utter’s homeroom has access to it but the other teachers do not. Hopefully, the problem will be soon resolved.
• Students should know all of their multiplication tables 1- 12 upon leaving 3rd grade.  Please work with your child as much as possible as we still have a very high number of students who do not know them with speed or accuracy and confidence. A suggestion would be practicing flash cards with your child.
• Please encourage students to take reading counts tests as they complete their books throughout the year. Reading counts points are being calculated for neighborhood recognition.
• The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) is a test that students will take each quarter to measure your child’s reading level. SRI growth is usually related to continual reading.  The more a student reads, the better reader they will become.  
• If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is probably through email. Our emails are as follows: charles.utter@am.dodea.edu;  and judith.ward@am.dodea.edu.
• If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
• New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.

Weekly Homework:

Wednesday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Thursday:

• Math homework on pg.317 - 322 (odd numbers only) to be completed for practice of chapter 5 lesson concepts.

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Friday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Important Dates

Oct. 13th

Test on Chapter 5

Oct.16th - Oct.20th

Book Fair

Oct.19th

Book Fair Family Night

Reminder

Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:40

Educational Targets:

Math:

Students will be working on chapter 5 review on  factor concepts  which is distinguishing if one number is a factor of another number, the relationship between factors and multiples, prime and composite, and patterns. The test on chapter 5 is this Friday.

Science/ Social Studies:

Students are learning about the scientific method, the steps involved, and how to implement it by practicing specific experiments. They gathered qualitative data on a gummy worm and tested different liquids to see which one would clean a penny the best. Last week they tested different types of paper towels to see which type would absorb water the best. They will also test different catapults.

Language Arts:

Students are learning about cause and effect along with the “signal words” to let the reader know of a cause and effect relationship. They will be learning about subject and predicates. They are still practicing text based evidence with reading passages and are writing familiar narratives.

Oct.5, 2017

Parents,

Students have to complete pg. 309 on prime and composite numbers. If you need to review this, you can check out the previous pages before the homework page.

Reminder that there is no school next Monday or Tuesday for students.

Have a good night.

Oct.3, 2017

Parents,

Tonight's homework is on factors and multiples of a number on pg. 303. Please make sure students don't mix them up. You can explain to them that factors are numbers that are multiplied to get a product such as 3 X 4 = 12. A multiple is the number multiplied by itself over and over again such as 12, 24, 36, 48, etc.

If you didn't see the G Force Gazette yesterday, please check out the blog that was posted before this one.

Thank you and have a good night.

Oct.3, 2017

Parents,

Your child was to complete pg.289 for homework last night. The students did receive a G Force Gazette yesterday before they left school. 

Neighborhood News

• Unfortunately there are still problems with Think Central. Mr. Utter’s homeroom has access to it but the other teachers do not. Hopefully, the problem will be soon resolved.
• Students should know all of their multiplication tables 1- 12 upon leaving 3rd grade.  Please work with your child as much as possible as we still have a very high number of students who do not know them with speed or accuracy and confidence. A suggestion would be practicing flash cards with your child.
• We will soon have accounts for Reading Counts. Please encourage students to take reading counts tests as they complete their books throughout the year. Reading counts points are being calculated for neighborhood recognition.
• The Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) is a test that students will take each quarter to measure your child’s reading level. SRI growth is usually related to continual reading.  The more a student reads, the better reader they will become.  
• If you need to contact any of us, the quickest way is probably through email. Our emails are as follows: charles.utter@am.dodea.edu;  and judith.ward@am.dodea.edu.
• If your child will be absent from school, please let the office know with a call, email, or note. You can email the school at CESattendance@am.dodea.edu
• New DODEA rules prohibit food for birthdays so please do not send in cupcakes or other food for your child.

Weekly Homework:

Monday:

• Math homework on pg.289 to be completed for practice of 5.2 lesson concepts.

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Tuesday:

• Math homework on pg.303 to be completed for practice of 5.4 (skipping 5.3) lesson concepts

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Wednesday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Thursday:

• Math homework on pg.309 to be completed for practice of 5.5 lesson concepts.

• Read for at least 20 minutes.
• Practice your multiplication facts

Friday:

• Read for at least 20 minutes
• Practice your multiplication facts

Educational Targets:

Math:

Students will be working on chapter 5 factor concepts  which is distinguishing if one number is a factor of another number, the relationship between factors and multiples, prime and composite, and patterns.

Science/ Social Studies:

Students are learning about the scientific method, the steps involved, and how to implement it.

Language Arts:

Students are learning about cause and effect along with the “signal words” to let the reader know of a cause and effect relationship. They are continuing to review the four types of sentences. They are still practicing text based evidence with reading passages and are writing familiar narratives.

Important Dates

Oct. 4th

Spirit Night

Chick-fil-A 5:00 - 8:00

Oct. 9th

Columbus Day - No School

Oct. 10th

Teacher Workday - No School

Reminder

Early Dismissal Every Wednesday at 1:40