Great First Week!

Wow! I can't believe how time flies. We've already made it through our first full week of school. We've also learned quite a few things in those first few days.

In math we've been working on place value, and writing numbers in three different formats. These formats are:

Standard form: or the regular way we write digits, such as: 451,756
Expanded form: 400,000 + 50,000 + 1,000 + 700 + 50 + 6.
Word form: four hundred fifty-one thousand, seven hundred fifty-six.

Place value to the ten or hundred thousands is pretty new to most third-graders, so hopefully your child hasn't been too frustrated. We will keep working on these topics for a few days. If you can look over the returned class work with your child that would also help. (It might even be fun to look at the real-estate ads and have your child read the asking prices to you.)

In language arts and reading we have been learning about homonyms, (words that sound the same, but have different meanings) writing complete sentences, and many new vocabulary words. We also studied the vowel/consonant/consonant/vowel spelling pattern last week. Hopefully you've been helping your child practice spelling words each night. A new spelling list went home today. These words are all plural; ending in -s, -es, or -ies. Please review them each night and sign the spelling paper on Friday.

Week 2 Spelling Words:
pennies
inches
plants
families
bodies
glasses
wishes
pockets
lists
copies
parties
bunches
crashes
supplies
pencils
Challenge Words:
accidents
libraries
mysteries
carpenters
merchants

Thanks for all of your support! I've had great letters from parents, and I can tell that my students are getting the help they need at home. Keep up the great work helping your child with their math facts, practicing spelling, reading 20 minutes, and finishing up any other homework they have each night. I really appreciate your commitment to your child's education!

P.S. I will have book orders ready to go home on Wednesday. If you would like to order, please do so by Monday, September 13. Thanks!