Ms.

O’Connor’s Newsletter Fall 2018

Ms. O’Connor’s Newsletter

A Look Inside Our 3rd Grade Classroom

Technology and Learning Mathematics

As we head into a new math unit, learn how we are
using technology in our class and how you can
incorporate these tools at home!

Dear Parents,
We have been in the classroom for one whole month
now! Settling in, we are very excited to start a new math
Upcoming
unit, focusing on rational numbers, including fractions, Events
ratios, proportions and decimals. This month, I am writing to
10/9 Back to School Night
you to tell you about some of the technology that will be
beneficial to your student’s learning both in and outside of
the classroom. Available online or on the iPads that can be 10/30 Halloween Parade

checked out of our school library, these resources can give

your child extra practice while they have fun using 11/5 Parent-Teacher
technology. The resources I am reviewing are suitable and Conferences
appropriate for your third grader. During this unit, we will be
specifically using The National Library of Virtual 11/20 Science Fair
Manipulatives website and the app Motion Math: Fractions!
to supplement our learning. I encourage you to read on so
that you can explore these resources at home with your
child! Please do not hesitate to contact me with any
questions!

Best,

Ms. O’Connor

What are Rational Numbers?

Rational numbers are numbers that can be directly represented as a
ratio, where one integer divides another integer. This includes
proportions, fractions and decimals.
 Ms. O’Connor’s Newsletter

National Library of Virtual

Manipulatives
The NLVM is a free website that provides online resources and
tools for mathematics for all levels. The site features online
versions of the manipulatives we use in our classroom. One
area I want our class to explore is under grades 3-5 Number &
Operations. Here you will find multiple activities to choose
from. We are going to utilize Fractions-Visualizing at the
beginning of this unit. As depicted, students are prompted
with a fraction. They then must find the correct number of Connections to Math
pieces to pictorially represent the denominator. Once this is Content
accomplished the student clicks on the individual parts to
shade the amount that correlates to the numerator. This grade level appropriate web
activity will help students’ knowledge
and understanding of fractions,.
Specifically, this applet helps students to
visualize the concept that the number
of groups a whole is “broken” into is
shown in the denominator, while the
numerator is the number of parts
highlighted. Additionally, fraction
naming is introduced in this activity, with
fraction being named two ways for the
students.

Why use this website?

This website offers interactive media through which students
can continue to develop their understanding. When dealing
with abstract concepts such as fractions, websites like this one
help students understand the concept at a more concrete
level. Additionally, technology can help students stay
engaged in the learning material. What I love about this site in
particular is that all of the activities have a “Parent/Teacher”
button so that you can feel comfortable engaging with your
child in growing their mathematical reasoning through the
activity. This website by no means replaces teaching, but
rather is a companion to encourage students to explore the
mathematical concept at hand through interaction with
technology.

2
1
2

Ms. O’Connor’s Newsletter

Motion Math: Fractions! “This game is so fun! I

love being able to
learn while playing a
game.” – Matthew C.
On the iPads in our library, we have been using an app
called “Fractions!” It is available for download in the
Apple App Store, Amazon App Store and Google Play.
Additionally, you can check out an iPad from our
library or contact me to play this app with your
student at home! Why Use This App?
This app is great for students to review their
This game helps students to recognize fraction knowledge at home and in a new,
fractions as parts of a whole, located along a exciting and interactive way. This game does
number line. The game playing design of this not teach or explain for students, but rather can
application appeals to your third grader and be used as a tool for extra practice.
directly correlates with the mathematical
Placing or “bouncing” the fraction upon a
understandings the students are working on.
number line, students are creating a pictorial
How Does This Game Work? representation of the value of fractions and
decimals. This connection ensures that students
Starting at the beginner level so that students not only understand the relationship between
can get comfortable with working the app, numerator and denominator, but also
this game involves estimating where fractions understand that a fraction has value itself.
would be placed on a number line. Students
In addition to strengthening a student’s
are given a number line from 0 to 1 and
understanding of fractions on a number line, this
fraction (ex: 3/4) in a bouncing ball. They must
app can help students feel more confident in
physically tilt the device to bounce the
their math abilities as every correct answer is
fraction ball where they think it would be
followed by the sound of cheers from the
represented on the number line. As we
crowd.
advance in our unit, the students will also be
able to play the game with decimals (ex: 0.30)
in the ball and bounce this on a given number
line. Students master fraction skills as the game
gets more advanced. If at any times a student
needs help, there are hints given after two
tries. After this, the number line is broken into
equal parts so that the student can more
easily identify where the fraction would be
placed. This scaffolding is a great part of this
app.

3
Ms. O’Connor’s Newsletter Fall 2018

A Final Note from Ms.

O’Connor
There is often debate about including
technology in the classroom. I believe that when
used correctly, technology can be an interactive
tool that has value in the classroom. Ensuring
that technology is not replacing instruction, it can
be used to engage students interactively with
learned material, as well as continue to expand
understanding of mathematical concepts at
home. Living in a technological world, exposure
and skill navigating applications and the Internet
are skills students will need. Additionally, using
websites such as NLVM, or the app described,
students and parents can be involved together in
the learning of mathematics. I am excited to see
our students master rational numbers in this unit,
thanks to your help!

Thank you so much for your continued

support of your student’s learning! As
always, do not hesitate to reach out to
me with any questions, concerns or
suggestions. Remember to check our
class homepage regularly for more
updates and information about our
class!