Holiday Break

As we near the end of our 2nd quarter, I want you to reflect on what you are most proud of during the second quarter.


Also, what are you looking forward to doing the most over our long holiday break?

As always, please use complete sentences. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

6 Traits of Writing - Word Choice

The 6 Traits of Writing: Ideas

The Gift of Giving

In the Jones Family Express, Steven spent the whole day trying to find the perfect gift for his Aunt Carolyn.

Think about a time that you gave a special gift to someone who meant a lot to you.



Write a short paragraph describing what gift you gave and who you gave the gift to.

Happy Holidays

Math Riddles

In the story, One Riddle, One Answer, Aziza creates a riddle. Whoever solves the riddle correctly, would be able to marry Aziza.

Can you think of a math riddle that you would like to share with the class?

Please compose a math riddle. Let's see if your smart classmates can solve the riddles!

For a fun money riddle, click here.

Hershey's Piggy Bank

Hershey's piggy bank has 3 quarters, 5 dimes, 4 nickels, and 6 pennies in it.

Mr. D.'s piggy bank has 1 quarter, 9 dimes, 8 nickels, and 4 pennies in it.


How much money does each of them have?
Who has more money in his piggy bank?

Please explain your answer and show your work.

The Coin Song

Thanksgiving Time

Dear 304,

During this time of Thanksgiving, I want you to reflect on what you are most thankful for in your life.

Please respond to this post:

What are you most thankful for and why?

Happy Posting!

Stone Soup Inferring

Dear 304,
I want you to use your reading skill of inferring on this question.





Why do you think the monks show the villagers how to make stone soup?

Happy Inferring!

Veterans Day Post

Today, we were reading books about the military and understanding why we honor those who served or are now currently serving in the military. On this Veterans Day, please write a post thanking veterans or those still in uniform for their important service to our country.

Super Mario Rounding

It's a me, Mario! We have been learning all about rounding numbers to the nearest 10. We were visited by a special guest teacher today. Watch Super Mario rounding if you need help with rounding.

Symmetry and Congruence

Your math mission is to visit the Pattern Block playground website found in the Geometry and Measurement resources. When there, please create a silly face or other picture using symmetry and congruent shapes. Happy creating!

Author's Purpose

While reading Author: A True Story this week, we learned that authors write to inform, to entertain, or to persuade.
For your blog assignment today, you are to visit www.storylineonline.net and listen to a story being read. After viewing the book, you need to comment on what book you watched and what the author's purpose was and why. Happy posting!

Reading is awesome!

Halloween Party Pictures

Special thanks to Lori Johnson for the pictures.

Zoo Pictures

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Special thanks to Lori Johnson for taking the photos!

A Spooky Visitor to 304

Happy Halloween 304! I hope we were able to survive our spooky visitor this morning while we were reading the Spooky Hollow Sleepover. Luckily, our Flip video caught the visitor on film...

Bat Week

How can bats catch their food? Watch Batney Ears' new music video to find out how.

Other great resources about bats.

The Story of Echo the Bat : http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imagers/intro/story.html

Learn more about the Vampire Bat : http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/creaturefeature/vampire-bat/

Learn more about Mexican Free-tailed Bats


After watching the video, please comment on something that you have learned about either the Vampire bat, Brown Bat, or the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat.

Spiderella

Spiderella from Ryan DeGraff on Vimeo.

First Quarter Wrap-up

With the first nine weeks of school coming to a close, I want you to take a moment to reflect on your first quarter progress. Please answer the following two questions in the comment section below.


What are you most proud of accomplishing during the first quarter of third grade and why?



What was the most interesting topic that you learned about this quarter and why?

I look forward to reading your posts!

Another Readers' Theater

Dorje and the Lost Treasure from Ryan DeGraff on Vimeo.

Strongest One

Dorje and the Lost Treasure

Advice for a Beginning Reader

Hello 304,

While reading Wolf! by Becky Bloom, we discover a wolf that learns to read in order to impress a group of farmyard animals he has met. Learning to read was a difficult journey for the wolf.

In the comment section of this post, please write some advice to wolf on what it takes to be a good reader.

Suggestions could include what things people do in order to learn and get really good at reading.
You could also tell wolf what you remember about when you first learned to read. How did learning how to read make you feel?

Please remember to use complete sentences. Happy posting!

Act Two - Clever John

Here is round two of 304's Readers' Theater.

Clever John starring Emma, Marcus, Jaide, Eric, Riley, and Dylan. Grab some popcorn and enjoy:)

Clever John from Ryan DeGraff on Vimeo.

Fire Safety House

Students of 304 experienced the Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Fire Safety House this morning. Students learned about the proper way to exit their house in the event of a fire. Students did an excellent job remembering their addresses when they contacted the Emergency Responder.

Students were asked to talk to their families about coming up with a fire plan, how to operate windows, and deciding on a safe meeting place. Be prepared!

Small Group Readers' Theater - How Fly Saved the River.

This is 304's first try at publishing a video for the blog. I apologize for the low quality of the video, but am proud of the students for working on their fluency and acting abilities.

Please enjoy this Readers' Theater starring Kaitlyn, Carter, Chase W., Riley, Nyaley, Dawson, Lakeia, Lane, and AJ.

Hint: Make sure to turn your volume UP! Thanks

How Fly Saved the River from Ryan DeGraff on Vimeo.

Reflections on our Field Trip to the Zoo

304,

I would like to hear what you thought was your favorite part of the zoo field trip. I would also like to hear what is your favorite group of animals. For your assignment this morning, please comment your thoughts on the field trip. I can't wait to hear your answers!

P.S. I hope the answers will be in complete sentences. :)

Grades

In third grade, your child begins to get graded with the Sioux Falls School District Grading Policy.

The Policy is as follows:
93 - 100 % A
85 - 92 % B
76 - 84 % C
65 - 75 % D
64% and Below F

Grades are updated weekly (usually over the weekend). Mondays or Tuesdays would be a good time to view the gradebook. I hope this will help you to be more informed about your child's academic progress.

You can access your child's grades any time through the Sioux Falls School District or from our blog. Here is the link
https://parentview.sf.k12.sd.us/campus/portal/siouxfalls.jsp . You can also access it from the useful resources link.

304 is heading to the Zoo!

304 Parents,
As a culminating activity for our life science unit on animals, we are going to take a field trip to the Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum. While there, the students will take part in a scavenger hunt designed to explore characteristics, structures, habitats, and needs of the various animals found at the zoo.

We will be taking a bus from Discovery at 8:45 AM on Thursday, September 23rd and will be returning around 11:00 AM that morning, in time for our lunch at 11:05. The zoo is giving us a discounted price per child of $3.75.

If you have a zoo pass, it will need to be photocopied and sent with your child to school by Monday, September 20th. Please write on the photocopy that it is a child’s pass. Your child’s teacher will keep the photocopy and turn in to the zoo the day of the field trip.

If you do not have a zoo pass, please send $3.75 (cash) to school with your child by Monday, September 20th and we will pay the zoo with a check from the school.

Please have your child dress appropriately that day depending on weather conditions. We would like to encourage tennis shoes, pants, and jacket (if needed).

Thank you,
Mr. D.

Subtraction with Regrouping

Today, we begin our subtraction with regrouping lessons. Students were visited by the Mr. Regroup. He told them about BBBB- Bigger Bottom, Better Borrow. Throughout this week, you will hopefully hear and see your child working on subtraction with regrouping. Check the Math and Subtraction section for useful websites.

Scholastic Book Orders

Once again, Scholastic will be offering books through their book orders. I sent home a blue sheet explaining the option of online ordering. If for some reason the paper did not make it home, I have placed one in the resources links. If we would like to order books the traditional way, please make out the check to Scholastic Book Clubs. The first order is due on Thursday, September 2 along with our School Cookie Dough Fundraiser. Happy Reading!

Science!

We are looking into answering the big question: "How do living things get what they need to live and grow?" Throughout the next few weeks, we will explore living things and their needs, the differences between plants and animals, and how animals are classified. Look to the Science Resources for useful information and games.

Personal Photo Homework Due by Friday

In an effort to get to know each other better, students are to bring a photo that will tell the class a little bit about themselves. It could include a family photo, activity/sport photo, pet, hobby, or anything else that will allow us to find out more about your child. We look forward to learning all about our new classmates!

Here is Mr. D's dog ready to celebrate the Fourth of July. As you can see, Hershey gets spoiled by his owners.

Addition Addicts

Mathematics is a subject where skills build on top of each other. Before we can learn the new concepts of multiplication and division, we must master our addition and subtraction facts. Here are some fun websites with addition games where your child can practice up.

First Day Homework

I know what you are thinking. Homework on the first day? I would love it if students could bring a souvenir that represents something fun that they did this summer. For example: a beach towel could respresent the time they spent at the pool. Have fun with this and I look forward to seeing all of the kids' souvenirs!

My souvenir will be the canyon trail map from Yellowstone National Park.

First Day of Third Grade!

Welcome to 304! I am excited to have the opportunity to teach your child this year. We will be using this blog to communicate with you things that we do in the classroom. I hope you will find this blog to be a useful tool.

On our first day, we read "Friends to the End." While listening, students were to think about one thing that they could do this year to be a better friend. Here are some examples from the class:

"Be nice."

"Help a friend if they need help."

"Do less talking."

"If I see someone alone at recess I could say want to play with me?"

"Play with other friends more often."

"To be a good friend, I need to listen a little more."

"Stop bossing my friends around." :)

"Don't fight."

As you can see, we already have a good start to what it means to be a true friend.