Week 12: Happy Thanksgiving!

It was great meeting up to chat with you during Parent Teacher Conferences. Of course, we will continue to communicate as we move forward this year and work together to help our children have a successful year. The feedback you have provided has been helpful to me as we take our next steps!

We are starting the next semester with some new units in may subjects. We have already begun immersing ourselves in the genre of Mystery in Reading. These exciting stories give us a chance to take the skills we have learned in fiction reading and strengthen them. Like all great detective teams, our children will be matched with a partner to read mysteries and use talk and collaboration strategies to read these stories with more attention and understanding.

In Math, we are spending more time learning the Multiplication facts. We have been making connections from the 2 times table to the 4 times table; from the 5 times table to the 10 times table by using the Doubles strategy. For example, if we know the fact  2 x 8 = 16, we can double it to solve 4 x 8 since 4 is double 2. Next week, we will use number properties to help us with trickier facts like the 7 times table. Here are some links to help your child practice multiplication facts:
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/multiply-by-3
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/multiply-by-6
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/multiply-by-4
https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-3/multiplication-facts-for-2-3-4-5-and-10-true-or-false

In Social Studies, we have begun to explore the elements of Culture. Culture is defined as the way a group of people live and share a life together. This includes shelters, traditions, jobs, clothing and food. Our Cultural Luncheon will take place on November 30th and our kids are so proud as they talk about the dishes they will share. Please take this upcoming holiday as an opportunity to encourage your child to learn more about their family history.

We are continuing to examine how Balancing Forces are evident in our daily lives. Our Science unit has given our children the opportunity to explore magnetism and how it can be applied to tasks. We will next look at how the force of gravity helps to balance other forces.

Here's what else is happening next week:

• It's Crazy Sock Day at PS 154! Show your school spirit by wearing silly socks! Our kindergarten class are spearheading a school wide sock drive. They will collect socks to donate to those in need at a local shelter. What a wonderful way to start our holiday season!
• On Tuesday, we will take a nature walk in Prospect Park at 12:20- 1:10pm. 
• We will have Tiny Scientist on Wednesday.
• Schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Have a wonderful weekend!