Thankful November...

November is often associated with giving thanks for the things in life that you cherish and love.  Now with social media, people are constantly posting "Daily Thanks" on their status bars, telling loved ones and friends what they are thankful for.  So I want to take this opportunity to share with you the reasons I am thankful this November 2013....

There are so many things for me to be thankful for this November.  On a personal level, I am thankful for my daughter, who gives me a reason to wake up every morning and makes me smile everyday.  I am thankful for my husband who gives me strength, support and love.  He is my rock and my strength.  I am thankful for my parents and in-laws and the rest of my family who have supported me and my family through thick and thin. 

Besides my personal reasons, there are so many "academic" and "school" reasons I am thankful this year.  First of all, I am blessed to work with a group of 4 amazing ladies in my third grade team that give me a reason to want to come to work everyday.  For most of us, this is our 3rd year in 3rd at HPS and we have grown into our own little family.  It is true when you hear "3rd grade is the most cohesive team on the HPS campus"...we truly are.

Secondly, I am thankful for my awesome teaching partner.  I know this is Ms. Parker's first year at HPS but she is so easy to work with and has made this year's transition smooth for myself and this new group of kiddos.

Next, I am thankful for our supportive HPS administration and staff.  The principals, office staff, support staff and teachers make coming to work fun.  Through thick and thin, we are there to support each other in the good times and bad.

But the one thing I am most thankful for this school year is the amazing group of students I have the pleasure of teaching this year.  I can honestly say this group is probably the hardest working group of kids I have had during my 3 years of teaching at HPS.  Each one of them is eager to learn, tries their best and works well with others.  They are sweet, honest and kind to me and the other students.  I have seen so much growth and hope this year and love the fact that they are excited to learn and grown.  I have seen those late little bloomers, who were lost and hopeless at the beginning of the school year grow and grow.  They are having their "aha" moments and are working hard and progressing.  Everyone is doing amazing and I look forward to seeing them grow beyond their and my imagination.

Finally, I cannot forget the parents.  I am thankful for the support you all have given me and your child so far this school year.  Thank you for allowing me to "adopt" your children into my classroom family and love them.  They ARE my kids and will always be.  Thank you again.

I hope you have a Thankful and Thoughtful November.  Enjoy your time with your family.  Enjoy your time with your kids.  I hope those who are traveling have a safe trip(s) and for those staying that you enjoy your kids during their break.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Until next time....

Ms. Valdez

Reflex Math: Fun while learning math facts

Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division math facts are a skill that requires lots and lots of practice in order to be fluent and memorize the facts.  I can remember being in 3rd grade and NOT wanting to memorize them.  My parents kept telling me and forcing me to learn them and I refused.  My dad even told me that if I came home with anything but an A in math, I would be grounded for the entire 9 week!  There really was NO fun way to memorize them and I quickly got bored of the times table tool my parents bought me to help me memorize them (the ones where you push the transparent button down and then you were able to see the answer).  Then report cards came out and I got an 89!  For 9 weeks, I was grounded and I quickly memorized them (because I had nothing else better to do because I was GROUNDED!)

Now with computers, there are online games and tools that make memorizing math facts fun!  We are using a program called REFLEX MATH.  The kids love the program and the games that go with it.  The link below will send you the page.

www.reflexmath.com   
user name:  mrdlav
password:  (each child gets their own password)

Your child can access Reflex Math when they are at home.  All you need is a computer and internet access.  Unfortunately it does not work on iPads or tablets.  Letters went home in the Tuesday Folders with the user name and password for your child.  If you need another copy, please email me and I will be happy to provide you with another one.  Your child has been using Reflex in the classroom and all know how to get on the page.  They should have already memorized their password.  Use this awesome tool and watch your child's math fact memory soar!!!!!

Until next time....

Ms. Valdez

Root Beer Floats = Science Fun!

This homecoming week was a crazy week with nerd day, crazy sock day and an early release this past Friday.  Amidst all the fun, this week for science, we have been discussing the 3 states of matter, SOLID, LIQUID AND GAS.  We have talked about the difference between the 3 states and how they appear all around us.  This Friday, I decided, what better way to discover the 3 states of matter than with ROOT BEER FLOATS!

Root beer floats are a perfect way to demonstrate the 3 ways of matter.  The ice cream serves as the SOLID and the root beer serves as the LIQUID.  When you pour the root beer over the ice cream, the GAS (provided by the carbonation of the root beer) can be easily seen by the foam it creates when the ice cream and root beer meet.

Try some delicious root beer (coke and Big Red work too) at home today!  Talk about the different states of matter you see.  Discuss the matter in your house!  Science is every where!  Might as well have fun discovering it together!

Until next time....

Ms. Valdez

Place Value - Working with Number Basics

Place value is an important concept that allow students to learn the value of numbers and how to say them.  In third grade, students are expected to read and write numbers from 0 - 999,999.  The bigger the numbers, the bigger the problems can be.  They can also be more confusing.  Here are some quick lessons to show you what we have learned with place value.

Place Value

• Do the place value chant with your child (ones, tens, huuuuuuuuundreds, comma thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands).  Just start with "ones" and your child should do the rest.  Knowing the correct place values is an important skill in helping your child understand and read numbers.

Finding the Value of Digits (will be important when working with expanded form)

• Finding the value of digits in numbers can be difficult.  Follow this strategy:

• There are 5 different ways to write numbers.  Work with your child on ALL the different ways to write them.  Start in word form, and change it to standard.  Start with expanded form and change it to standard, or vise versa.  Make sure your child understands all the different ways to represent numbers and how to work between them.

 

Reading Numbers

• Reading numbers is a hard concepts that can easily confuse students.  Follow these steps in "karate chopping" and "chunking" numbers that will make reading numbers as easy as 1,2,3!

 

I hope these tutorials will help you when you are working on your child's homework.  Next time I will offer tips on Comparing and Ordering numbers as well as Rounding numbers to the nearest 10 and 100.

 

Until next time!

 

Ms. Valdez

The Importance of Tuesday Folders and Classroom Binders

It is hard to believe that we are already into the end of the 3rd week of school.  If this is any indication of what this new school year holds for us, we are in for a fast paced ride.

As you have noticed, your child will bring home a "Tuesday Folder" every Tuesday of the week.  This folder contains school news, community/school event notices, graded work and other paperwork that you need to see.  Make sure to check your child's Tuesday Folder EVERY TUESDAY and have them return it on Wednesday.  Keep all paperwork and graded work at home, unless your child has a failing grade below a 70 (69 or below in classroom assignments).  If your child has any graded classroom work that is below a 70, they may do the corrections and turn it in for a higher passing grade (70-75).  I can only do this for classroom assignments/daily work.  Unfortunately, our quizzes and tests can not be redone but it is encouraged that you review them with your child at home.

You may have also seen your child's classroom binder.  This binder travels with your child between my math/science/social studies class and Ms. Parker's reading.  We keep incomplete work, work in progress and homework in this folder.  At times, graded work will go home in the binder for corrections.  Please look out for it.

Inside the binder is also the monthly behavior calendar for your child.  If your child has a wonderful day without incident, the day in the calendar will be left blank.  If there are problems in the classroom, we will mark the calendar for you to read.  Please make sure to check your child's behavior calendar daily and initial it showing you have seen it.

Thank you again for stopping by and keeping up with this blog.  I know with your involvement, you child will make great strides this year. 

Until next time.....

Ms. Valdez

Math Homework for the week of Sept. 2 -6

Some of the students have told me that you have asked if we had math homework this week.  The answer to that is no.  There is still homework for Ms. Parker's reading/language arts class but not for math.  Your child WILL have math homework next week. 

Don't forget to check your child's binder everyday for behavior, homework and graded papers.

Until next time....

Ms. Valdez

1st Week of School = SUCCESS!!!!

Hello parents and students...

We got off to a great start this brand new school year.  The kiddos are learning routines, making new friends, and are already working hard.

This blog will serve as a major form of communication between parents and I.  Please make sure to check it as much as possible.  I will post important news about homework, school work, classroom activities and more. 

Follow me on twitter.  My user name is @msvaldez3rd.  I will tweet important information.

I have also set up a REMIND101 account.  This account will allow me to text parents.  Just text @cef21 to(409) 359-5391 to sign up. 

I look forward to communicating with everyone this year.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.  My contact information is:

Michelle Valdez
mvaldez@hitchcockisd.org
@msvaldez3rd (Twitter)

Have a wonderful evening!

Ms. Valdez