Math - Measurement and Data

       Recently, students worked to complete six different learning stations as part of our lessons on area and perimeter. Each math class began with a mini-lesson utilizing a video, followed by a brief discussion of the days teaching point.
       Then students were off to one of 6 stations that were designed with a video that focused on a specific skill. After the video, a practice page or game allowed the students at that station to apply the skill that was presented. Some videos incorporated a very structured note-taking page, which has added benefits because taking notes from a video is required for some parts of SBAC Performace Task. Other videos presented strategies that were then utilized with on-line practice. Again, a more intriguing way to incorporate what can be rather mundane practice. As students participated in the station activities, I circulated helping students practice, while observing and assessing individual's abilities with the tasks.
       This strategy worked particularly well for a unit on area and perimeter because students' video of the day reminded and retaught the skills and strategies in a slightly different way, avoiding the "talking head" in the front of the classroom.
       Incorporating technology for independent learning, working with other class members to complete tasks and applying skills to gain concepts are all jobs of a third grader in the world of the Common Core. We are working together to master these challenges!

Biographies!

As I continue to read a series of books about George Washington, we will look at the topic (s) the author covers. In other words, is this a full life biography or specific to a certain period in George Washington's life. We will look at  the text structure, author's style and tone and finally we will discuss how the artwork adds to the author's message and style! Wooo!, that is a tall order, but we will have fun doing it together!

The first book in the series is Who was George Washington. We have completed this full life biography. Our big take away from reading this biography is: Even though George Washington wanted to do other things, he let his beliefs about what he though his country should be guide his actions and his decisions about supporting a cause he believed in. We especially liked this book because we all saw George Washington as a real person with fears and insecurities, but one who persevered, learned and grew as an incredible leader. His life can be an inspiration to all our lives.

Farmer George, Plants a Nation is biography that focuses on the George Washington as an inventor, scientist, and visionary. This text has a very sophisticated style with diary excerpts and paintings on each page. We are discussing the way in which these paintings fit with the formal tone of the book. 

Our final comprehension check will be a look at George's significant accomplishments that are outlined in this book. We will  analyze the way in which they effected the new Nation.

Now for some fun! George Did It outlines the uncharted territory of creating the job of the first president of the United States. The road was filled with humorous stories and the cartoons fit with the funny style of writing! 

Our final comprehension focus for this book will be to reflect on Who was George Washington as a person and what can we learn from this portion of his life.

Finally, George Washington's Teeth is a very specific biography capturing the life long problems George Washington had with his teeth. The book is written in verse and yet another cartoon style of illustration completes the silliness with the unusual topic!

Our final comprehension focus will involve all four text. We will each determine a text that has helped us get to know George Washington the best and sight the author's style, artwork or text structure to support our feelings.

As I continue to read aloud George Washington books, students have complete their own biography group reading book. Ask your child who they read with and what subject they learned about. We had groups reading Ben Franklin, Harry Houdini, Sacajawea and Harriet Tubman books.
At this point students are choosing their own independent reading book. We have a wide variety to choose from, so each person can find a book with a just right reading level and a subject that he/she is interested in learning about.