Just wanted to let everyone know that I've decided to wait to post the blog for this week until tomorrow (Friday) or Saturday. We had a fantastic week in collecting Pennies for Patients, and have an overwhelmingly generous class. I'd like to wait until the final totals for the week are in before posting. I'd also like to finish taking pictures of everyone that dressed up for spirit week and be able to post those.

I'd also like to thank each an every student in room 7 for the beautiful birthday cards they made me yesterday. Each one meant so much to me!


Check back within the next 2 days for a big post!







-Ms. Pacheco

Hello everyone!

Friday marked the end of the trimester, so Mrs. Berggren and I have been busy correcting and grading! Check back Monday night (3/16) or Tuesday night (3/17) for an update on our classroom happenings.

Just a reminder: this week is spirit week!

Monday (3/16)---------- Inside Out/Backwards Day
Tuesday (3/17)---------- Green Day
Wednesday (3/18)-------Crazy Hair Day
Thursday (3/19)---------Pajama Day
Friday (3/20)------------Sports Team Day

The class with the most spirit will win a popcorn party!

Go Room 7!!

Hello 3rd Grade Families!

Here's an update of the happenings this past week.

Math

• Ms. Pacheco began the multiplication unit on Thursday. We used paper cups stapled together and macaroni to represent multiplication problems. We also played a fun, competitive game in which students worked with a group to list things that come in groups of 2, things that come in groups of 3 and things that come in groups of 4. I then used the items on their lists to create some multiplication problems. They also did independent practice after our activities and on Friday.
• We will continue with multiplication activities and practice. I would suggest going to WalMart or the Dollar Tree and purchasing multiplication flashcards, or helping your child to make their own for the times tables of 0-10
• 3rd Graders and their families may also want to visit these interactive, fun websites in which students can practice with multiplication games Click here for the Dositey Multiplication games website Click here for CoolMath4Kids times table fun
  

Science

• We have been continuing our unit on Sound. I create worksheet packets to accompany every lesson/activity, which seems to be an effective way for the students to learn the material. The first sheet of each packet is a review of the previous lesson--usually with questions students can discuss in groups. The second sheet introduces the lesson being taught that day, and provides opportunities for students to predict the outcome of our investigations, and usually involves diagrams and pictures. They are then able to investigate with the materials from our science kit, write down their observations on a recording sheet/chart, and draw conclusions from those observations. Finally, we have a class discussion on the things they observed, if their predictions were correct, what surprised them, etc. The students are all eager to share their findings.
• I would like to thank all of you that helped your child make the wind instrument out of the straws. It was a difficult task, and because it would work best with each child being assisted by an adult, Mrs. Berggren and I decided it would be best to assign the project for homework. No one was penalized for not completing the assignment, for making an instrument that didn't work, or for losing the straws that were sent home, as I know it wasn't originally part of this week's homework assignments and it was a challenging project. Thanks to those who attempted to help!

Reading

• The 5 third grades at Richmond Elementary switch classes for reading. They then read a book in a small guided reading group, and complete Language Arts activities and assignments that relate to the book.
• On the days in which classes do not switch, we are reading Stonefox by John Reynolds Gardiner

Spelling

• Our spelling list this past week contained compound words such as: everybody, grandmother, birthday, and others

Social Studies

• Once we have completed all lessons in our science kit, I will begin the Intragrative/Thematic Unit based on the town of Richmond.

Other Happenings:

• Mrs. McCulloch, Devan's mom, came in on Tuesday morning to talk about the Chinese New Year. She spoke about Chinese traditions, passed out snacks, taught the students how to use chopsticks, and taught us how to make a felt ox pin, since 2009 is the year of the ox.
• You can see pictures from these activities by viewing the Room 7 online photo album by clicking here

As always, I encourage you to leave comments on this post by clicking the link at the bottom that says "# comments" ......the # will change depending on the amount of comments people leave (it now says "0 comments") and please e-mail me with any questions at:

Brittpach7@mail.uri.edu

or

B_Pacheco7@yahoo.com


Check back later in the week for another post!

-Ms. Pacheco

Welcome!

Welcome to Ms. Pacheco's Blog for Room 7
at Richmond Elementary School!

This blog will be used to update 3rd grade families on the happenings of each week in Mrs. Berggren's and Ms. Pacheco's third grade classroom at Richmond Elementary School.

Lessons & Concepts from the Week Before February Vacation (2/9-2/13):
Math:
Subtraction with 3-digit numbers
Addition & Subtraction Word Problems

Science: Sound Unit
Making sounds with nails
Making sounds with rulers
Exploring vibrations, pitch & frequency

Reading:
Switching classes for guided reading groups with the other 3rd grades
Reading Stonefox & focusing on comprehension, vocabulary and story elements

Writing:
Pen Pal Letters
Responding to writing prompts

Spelling:
Homophones

Social Studies:
Reviewing map skills (and preparing for Ms. Pacheco's thematic unit on the community of Richmond)

=======================================

After vacation:
We will continue with our science unit on sound. Ms. Pacheco is teaching concepts of sound through hands-on activities and exploration with the Science and Technology for Children/Smithsonian National Science Resources Center science kit!

Mrs. Berggren will finish up with the subtraction unit and Ms. Pacheco will start the multiplication unit.

We will continue with our guided reading groups and creative writing. We will also work on grammar, punctuation and parts of speech.

By mid March, Ms. Pacheco will begin her thematic unit based on the community of Richmond. There will be lots of focus on social studies concepts, but we will also be basing science, math, language arts, art, physical education and health on the theme.


Other Recent Happenings:
On Wednesday, February 11, students participated in the Matty Hatty Dance-a-thon! We all wore crazy hats and danced for the donations we received for the Matthew Siravo Memorial Foundation. Matty was a 5-year-old boy from South Kingstown who passed away in 2003 from epilepsy. All donations to the Matty Fund will provide aid for epilepsy research and education. Each grade at Richmond Elementary had their own time to dance at an assembly, and Mr. Travers then presented Matty's mother with our school's donation, which was over $1,200!

We celebrated Valentine's Day and the 100th Day of School on February 13 in our classroom!
Students exchanged Valentine cards and snacks and shared their collection of "100 Things" in celebration of the 100th day of school.

Important Reminder:
For the rest of February (not much time left!), we will be collecting items to send to our adopted troop based in Iraq. Suggested items include:
-Razors and shaving cream
-Toothpast and toothbrushes
-Chapstick
-Sunscreen
-Deoderant
-Shampoo
-Body wash
-Band-Aids, First aid kits, etc.
-Popcorn, instant oatmeal and other microwavable & non-perishable food items
-Granola Bars/Cereal bars
-Gum, mints
-Pretzels, crackers
-Puzzle books (crossword, word search, sodoku, etc)
-Frisbees
-Magazines
-Stationary & envelopes
-Plain, white, cotton t-shirts
-Bandanas



Please feel free to post comments to this blog posting by clicking the "__ comments" link at the bottom or to e-mail me at any time!

Check back soon for another update!




-Ms. Pacheco