Jody Branting
Welcome! Please read on to find out what the third graders are learning and doing at Four Georgians. I can be reached by phone (324-1308) or email at jbranting@helenaschools.org.
Homework
Reading * Math * SpellingÂ
Your child should read at least 15 minutes at home every day.
- Reading should be on your child’s level most of the time. Not too easy and not too hard.
- Remember to read for fun!
- Try the 5-finger test. When your child is reading to you, put up a finger for every word missed. Students should miss 2-3 words. 0 or 1 mistakes means a book is too easy. 4 or more mistakes will impact comprehension and your child may get too frustrated.
- Have your child read a variety of materials: restaurant menus, instruction books, etc.
Your child should practice math facts for 15 minutes at home every day.
- Students are “fluent” when they can answer a problem correctly in three seconds or less.
- Students in third grade should already be able to fluently add and subtract within 20.
- By the end of third grade students should know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers.
Some ideas for practicing math facts:
Goal: By the end of third grade students should know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers. (multiplication)
- Reflexmath.com – See Mrs. Branting for student login information
- Flashcards – sort cards into two piles: known and unknown.
- Apps: Math Splat, Quick Math, There are many other great apps.
- Dice or cards – Toss the dice and multiply the two numbers, Draw cards and multiply the two numbers
- Flashlight math: Use the flashcards and flip two cards at a time. Kids shine a flashlight on the one they know and answer that one.
Spelling – Practice as needed
- New list each week. Spelling Lists
- Practice as needed for the test on Friday
- Students take a pretest each week and will bring home a list with incorrect words marked.
Fun ways to practice spelling words
- spellingtraining.com
- Playdough, pipe cleaner, stamps, etc.
- Rainbow writing – Write each word 3-5 times. Each time write in a new color.
- Write with gel pens, markers, on an iPad, type the words
- Cover up the word, spell it aloud, and check to see if you were correct
- Change the words of a familiar song to spell the word. (Think r-e-s-p-e-c-t)
- Spelling apps like MySpellTest, SpellingTest, SpellDown Spelling Bee, etc. (I have not used any of these apps and cannot recommend any one over the others.)
Recommended Apps
Here are a few of my favorite educational iPad apps:
Reading:
- Endless ABC by Originator – vocabulary words
- Toontastic – create your own stories by narrating and animating
- Any Dr. Seuss or OM ebook apps (interactive stories)
Math:
- QuickMath+ – math facts practice, suite of apps offers other skills
- Math Splat – math facts
- Invaders – math facts practice more like a video game
- Telling Time by Giggle Up – clocks
- FlowPlus by Dactyl – math facts practice
Other:
- Writing Wizard by L’Escapadou – printing and cursive app for learning to form letters correctly, includes play time, can customize words lists and practice spelling too.
Apps for younger kids:
- Endless Reader by Originator – sight words
- Alpha Tots – learn alphabet letters and sounds
- ABC Alphabet Photo Touch – learn letter names and sounds, simple, like flash card