Weekly Update: September 2-5

We had a great second week of school and I feel like we are finally settling into our routines and schedule.

This week in science, we studied tools that scientists use, different science careers and some famous scientists. When you come in for Parent Information Night on Monday at 6:45, you will be able to view the career trading cards each student designed around a scientific career of their choice.

Practicing our note-taking skills in a small group as we read about famous scientists.

We have moved smoothly into reading and writing workshops with several mini-lessons about reading independently and how to generate writing ideas. We also went for our library orientation and now they are able to check out three items at a time. We will visit the library weekly on Wednesdays, beginning the week of the 15th. This group of kids for the most part really seems to enjoy reading and writing. See the two photos below that I snapped during independent writing time...everyone is focused!

They love to share their writing too! They were thrilled when they got to use their highlighters to highlight their favorite lines of writing to share aloud. It's the little things in life....

In math, we are still working on the 10s and 5s multiplication facts. It is important for them to have quick recall of these facts, so please spend a few minutes a day going over the facts with them. It will have a huge impact! But even more importantly, I want them to understand the relationship between the 10s and 5s facts. Through some hands on work, they have discovered that 5s facts are the halves of 10s facts. For example, if they see a multiplication sentence of 8 X 5, they can think to themselves, "I know that 8 X 10 is 80, so half of that is 40." For many of them, this is quicker than skip counting by 5s eight times. These are big concepts for third graders, but knowing this helps improve their general understanding of the relationship between numbers. Below, you will see just a few of the ways we learned in math this week.

Race to Ten addition game

Practicing with 10s and 5s multiplication dot cards

Friday laptop games! Students played three games to practice their addition and doubling skills.

Problem solving is a big component of our math program. On Friday, I split the class into two groups. While half played laptop review games, I worked with the others on learning the 4-square method of problem solving. Then after 30 minutes, we switched. Splitting into two groups allows me to give more one-on-one attention to those who need some extra help. I was so proud of how well they did! The word problem was a two-step problem (they had to add and multiply) and they easily came up with at least 2 strategies to do this. I saw some great teamwork as students shared their ideas.

Next week will be our first 5 day week this year, so I hope we haven't been too spoiled by these last two 4 day weeks. I hope to see you all at Parent Information Night on Monday at 6:30. I will have a sign-up list for fall conferences there. If you are not able to attend, I will email you a list of available conference times. Have a great weekend!

First Week in Review

It was a fabulous start to what is sure to be a wonderful third grade year! Throughout the week, we played several getting to know you games such as Classroom Jenga, the name game, This or That, and sticky dot surveys.

How do you do your best work: on your own, with a partner, or in a small group?
With a partner was the most popular choice!

What is your favorite subject?

What is your favorite reading genre?

We did some team-building activities including the Marshmallow Challenge and Save Fred. It wasn't all fun and games...we also went over a lot of routines and procedures, discussing everything from how to line up and walk in the hallway, to what we do when we first come in, to the importance of our classroom jobs. I tried to break these business items up over the week so as not to overwhelm them with too much information at one time!

With just these supplies, and with only 18 minutes, which group can build the tallest structure that will support a marshmallow?

For the Save Fred challenge, Fred the gummy worm was stranded on top of his overturned boat (a plastic cup) and his life preserver was trapped under the boat.

Each group had 4 paper clips they could use to rescue Fred and get his life preserver safely on him. 

It was a great opportunity to focus on teamwork, and lots of trial and error!

The first proud group to save Fred!

It took us all week, but we finally completed our classroom social contract. Each and every student contributed to this and signed it so we can proudly display it in our room. This contract will serve as a reminder for how we want to treat each other and how we deserve and expect to be treated.

A lot of discussion and brainstorming went into creating our classroom social contract.

We talked about how we want to be treated, and how we should handle any conflicts that come up.

Our final social contract, signed by everyone in our class!

For reading this week, I just loved seeing so many students share their book boxes...each box was as unique as the student who made it. I can't wait to see the rest of them next week. Please make sure your child has his/her book box done by Tuesday! We read two picture books, First Day Jitters so we could share how we all have nervous jitters on the first day of school, and Have You Filled a Bucket Today? so we could talk about the importance of being kind. I also started reading aloud the novel The Tiger Rising and they are LOVING it...begging me to read "just one more chapter" every day when I say it's time to move on.

Most of our writing this week was done with morning work. We did spend some time on Friday decorating their Writer's Notebooks after we discussed what our future Writing Workshop will look like. That will be in full swing by next week!

In math, we spent some time in small groups exploring the different manipulatives we will be using this year. I challenged the students to think about all of the ways we might use these math tools.

We dove right into reviewing multiplication and arrays on Friday and will continue with that for the next 2 weeks, with our focus being on mastering the 10s and 5s multiplication facts. We also spend a few minutes each day building fluency in our addition and subtraction facts. Math is so much easier for students when they have quick recall of the basic facts.

Pairs of students modeled arrays to learn about turnaround facts.
And yes...they got to write on their desks! :)

Students teaching students!

I am enjoying getting to know these boys and girls so much. I feel like we are bonding as a classroom community and will only get more connected as the weeks go by! I hope you are all able to enjoy some family time over this three day weekend, and I will look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday morning!

School Supply Drop Off

I am looking forward to meeting my new third graders and their families on Thursday August 21. Feel free to drop by our classroom (2nd floor, room #217) between 4 and 7pm. If you ordered the school supply kit, it will be in the room. If you purchased your own supplies, please bring them with you.

Parents - if you are interested in volunteering in the classroom, please fill out my Volunteer Interest form online. You can do this now, or I will have laptops set up on Thursday evening for you to fill it out then.

See you soon!

Water Warrior Success Update

I have updated the Water Warrior page with some exciting updates! Be sure to check it out by clicking on the Water Warrior link on the left side of this page.

Summer Break

It's been so long since I have been on this blog, and I am really missing my sweet third graders (who are now FOURTH graders!!). I can't wait to meet my new students next month! I hope you are all having a great summer, and I just wanted to share a few pictures of what my family has been doing. I would love to hear from any of you, so send me an email and let me know how your summer is going.

This picture was taken just before Emily flew up 800 feet in the air, parasailing, in Gulf Shores, Alabama!

Emily, John, and my nephews Kanin and Kohen. Crazy cousins!!

Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin - love this beautiful, peaceful place. Well, at least it's peaceful until John gets there!

With my sweet John at the Botanical Garden

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Emily and her cousin, Joseph, ready to boogie board!

Mr. Lipe and I on the beach in Gulf Shores.

John and Zoey with their matching 4th of July shirts

My family in a canoe in Austin on Ladybird Lake

FINAL Weekly Wrap-Up

It is bittersweet to write this last blog update for my first third grade class. Our week just flew by with making memory books, creating math skills board games, finishing up our cursive workbooks, one last visit with our kindergarten buddies, and of course the end of year party. It was a fun week and hopefully left everyone with happy memories of third grade.

I am looking forward to the summer break and some relaxed time at home with my own kids, but I will sincerely miss each one of your kids! I hope you all have a safe and fun summer, and please encourage your kids to keep reading!

Weekly Wrap-Up

What a busy week! Monday was such a fabulous day as we culminated our year-long project with the Warrior Walk for Water. The weather was perfect, although a bit windy at times, and the walk was a huge success. With Mayor McGraw and Dr. Flores as guest speakers, the students were able to see the impact they have had on our local community and we had the chance to celebrate the enormous success of our fundraising efforts. We exceeded our $4,500 goal by over $4,000! That means we will be able to fund another school's project...AMAZING!!! If you have not seen the photos yet, you can click on the Water Warriors page to see the photos that Justin's mom took for us.

Also this week, students shared their small group Ecosystem Presentations this week. Here they are for you to enjoy!













Friday was field day and a super fun day! I only have this one class picture to share, but if any of the parents who were there want to send me some others, I will be happy to post them!

Remember, there is no school on Monday, so we only have 4 days left in third grade!! Enjoy your three day weekend.