Today marks the 24th year anniversary of September 11th. Like many Americans, I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I first heard the news report that day. Let's never forget the 2,977 individuals that lost their lives that day.
The students have been working on their multiplication skills, and focusing on three main learning targets.
I can use different strategies to solve multiplication problems.
I can solve word problems using multiplication.
I can use and understand multiplication properties.
One strategy that they have been learning about are multiplication arrays (rows x columns). To help visualize array concepts, the students made their own Multiplication City!
9/1/25 UPDATE: New pictures added from recent Writers Workshop lessons!
8/7/25: Students have been working hard on their Writers Workshop lessons. Throughout the school year, students will learn narratives, opinion, and informative styles of writing. We are currently learning the narrative genre, and it is so exciting to see and read the stories they are writing. Students also meet with writing partners to get advice and feedback on their writing so that they may edit and revise their work just like published authors! Thank you to the parents who donated the 4-color click pens! These are our special Writers Workshop pens that are only used during Writers Workshop!
Thanks to parent donations, our class has access to games like Adsumudi — a mental math game, Sumoku— another math game, sets of Jenga blocks, and decks of cards that can be used to figure out equations utilizing addition and subtraction, and for some students— multiplication! In class, we played Addition and Subtraction War using standard decks of cards, which is a game that students could easily play at home if families have cards as well! We also played a multiplication game called Circles and Stars using simple dice. With the Jenga blocks, the kids got to know one another by answer questions corresponding to each block!
Students worked on their third grade goal portraits. These goals were shared during parent conferences. Every child thought of a goal to work on in the school setting, home setting, our school values, and a personal goal.
Students may watch our Multiplication Properties tutoring video to help them remember and understand the differences between the Commutative, Associative, and Distributive Properties.
The students learned about using the distributive property to solve multiplication equations today. The class also helped make a tutoring video that can downloaded and viewed as many times as necessary to help with homework and to answer questions at home.
In the classroom, each child will receive a "crazy loop straw" from the teacher as a small way to celebrate the child's birthday. The class also sings Happy Birthday to the student in the song style of their choice. Quarterly, Mrs. Snyder, and Mr. Finley (and sometimes Mighty) visit each classroom to pass out birthday gifts to students as well. This year, every student gets mini fidget spinners!
Edible treats such as cupcakes and cookies cannot be brought in for class birthdays. However, some families choose to send in a special book donation or an item from our classroom wish list in honor of the birthday child. Book and classroom donations are a special way to celebrate, while also supporting your child’s classroom. Your child could even sign the inside of the book, or glue in a picture of themselves, so that classmates and future students will always know who the book came from.
Items on our classroom wish list are things we could always use in our classroom to help things run smoothly. Items from this list are completely optional, but we do use them routinely for various activities, read aloud, or treasure box items.
If you want to send an additional items to share with classmates, suggestions include stickers, bookmarks, glow sticks, temporary tattoos, bubbles, erasers, mini stamps, pencils, bouncy balls, keychains, etc. The website, Oriental Trading, offers lots of ideas that parents can find at bulk item prices. Please note, sending in items for classmates is completely optional.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How many students are in the class so I can bring in special items or goodie bags to pass out?
There are currently 28 children (as of September, 2025).
Should I put the children's names on the goodie bags?
No, it is easier to pass out items if the bags are not labeled.
Can my child pass out birthday party invitations at school?
Please refrain from passing out invitations at school unless the entire class is invited. We don’t want students feeling left out when invitations are passed out while all peers are around. If the entire class is invited, the teacher can insert the invitations into the students’ Conduits to send home.
Can the teacher give me the classmates’ addresses so I can mail birthday invitations?
No, we have to keep student information such as their address confidential.
Can we bring in cupcakes or cookies (or any food item) to share with the class?
No, we cannot share any food with the class, due to classmates’ possible allergies and/or dietary restrictions.
It has been such a pleasure meeting with each of our Room 14 families. I personally love getting to know the students' parents because it helps initiate a great home-school relationship, and allows for greater communication for the benefit of the students' learning.
Some of my favorite things that occurred at the conferences include:
hearing parents remind their children that it's okay to occasionally fail and make mistakes
witnessing the parents' love for their children and wanting only the best childhood experience for them, including both strong academics and strong socialization and friendship connections
watching the students listen and take in the advice given by the adults
observing how the child interacts with the parents and share their own perspectives on their learning
being able to support the parents and the child in common academic and home goals
sharing what home and school life is like for the child
listening to the goals and strategies that the parents have for their children
Please utilize the conference slides to review what was discussed during our meeting. Feel free to send me questions any time throughout the school year.
Vooks is “a kid-safe, ad-free streaming library of read-aloud animated storybooks.” It has all sorts of favorite children’s books that have been animated into read aloud videos for children to watch. Parents may sign up for one free month to try it out. It would be a great way to keep kids engaged with reading and exposing them to countless children’s books.