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This year has been an exciting year of learning and growth for the students as well as myself. I have used the classroom blog to try to keep you up to date on the units we've covered in reading, writing, math, science and social studies as well as some of the cool projects we've completed with technology.

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We have just begun our last reading unit of study and it is a big one! Folk Tales, Fairy Tales and Fables is an interesting unit because there are literary references related to these early stories that occur in modern day literature. These old stories' lessons and morals crop up in today's reading, so a student who is familiar with the original story has a deeper level of comprehension.   We will read several Cinderella stories from different cultures. Each story has been adapted to reflect and teach from the point of view of the culture that is featured. We will notice the archetypes, character traits of the main characters, similarities and differences to the classic Cinderella and finally try to determine the reason the particular culture has told their version the way they did. Ask your child what he or she is learning through these classic tales.

 

Busy**Busy**Social Issues, Fractions and Native Americans**Busy**Busy

Yes, we are! Busy that is! It seems that since April vacation, the world is spinning faster! We have many smaller units in our math, science, and social studies programs, so it seems like we are moving through many topics at this point of the year.
In reading, we are currently in our Social Issues Unit. We have read fiction stories that you may recognize: The Hundred Dresses and Thank You, Mr. Falker. Both stories while having several small social issues share the the social issue of bullying. After reading and discussing the books in depth, we decided that we needed to gather some information about the topic of bullying. In order to do this we watched a video that explained exactly what bullying is. We learned that there are three types of bullying: physical, verbal and social bullying. We also learned that the easiest way to solve the problem of bullying is to be kind to everyone. After the short video we read a non-fiction article that discussed what to do if you experience bullying as a bystander or as the victim. The students in Room 24 are armed with a 3 step plan No!, Go!, Tell! The one word cues remind the students how to handle a bullying situation and how to turned it around sooner, rather than later. We finished off with writing advice to either Patricia, the character in Thank You, Mr. Falker who was bullied or Wanda, the character in The Hundred Dresses who was bullied. Students needed to include information we gathered in the video and the non-fiction reading in the advice response.
Additionally, we have read about the condition of poverty, homelessness, and the desire for education or a home of ones own in several different book clubs. All of these books had themes and sub-themes. Students read to recognize the characters longings, and  the way in which the characters reached his/her dream. It is fair to say that we have hit home the idea of "working long and strong is the best way to make life dreams come true!" Along the way we read non-fiction articles and watched TED talk video, CBS 60 Minute excerpts and agency informational videos to learn more about how these real people worked toward their dreams with the assistance of volunteers and specific organizations that supported their in need.

In math, students are currently learning about equivalent fractions by way of a nine day center rotation. These hands on centers are focused on comparing fractions to 1/2, identifying the fractional parts on a number line and placing fractions on a number line. These concepts are far more challenging than our introduction unit on fractions last trimester, so the time invested in these ideas is well worth-the-while.

We have completed a short unit on Native Americans. We had small groups read short informational articles on the tribes of the Plateau, and the Plains. Other groups read to understand The Inuit and The Aleut or the Pueblo. Each group focused on common cultural aspects such as food, clothing and shelter of the tribe. After completing art work and writing to show what we learned, the entire class did a museum walk to share our learning. Ask you child if he/she like the museum walk and what was learned by doing the museum walk.

As I said it has been busy around room 24 and there is no sign of it letting up until June!

Technology in Room 24

     To wrap up our biography unit, each student read a just right biography and created a slide show in Googleslide.  Each slide show had the same requirements: Tell the audience, who was this person, who was in his/her life, what was the time period like, struggles and major accomplishments. Also which text features were helpful in understanding the subject's life. While this was a fast paced creation, 3 days on computer, 1 slide per day, it took some time for all of the 24 presentations to be made to the class. We have finally concluded all presentations. They were awesome and many student's slide shows generated interest for classmates to read about the biographical subject! Who could ask for more?!
      I am thrilled when students really "get into" a project and that is what happened in our classroom! It is amazing how students in third grade learn and master a new concept using technology! We experienced some very creative presentation. In some cases, I hadn't seen this kind of interest and creativity with other mediums used previously for final presentations. I think we have some budding graphic designers!!
     That brings me to the main reason for this blog post....Please go on line and have your child show you his or her slide show. Follow up fun could be allowing your child to create endless slide shows. What better typing practice and learning and growing in an area that will be so useful in future schooling and life. My daughters loved making power-point shows (there was no Google slide show back then!) about any and every topic....All About Me, Getting To Know My Dog and My Summer Vacation were just a few. They learned to insert photos and create hyperlinks to related web pages. They really enjoyed showing off their shows to the rest of the family too!
     I can't tell you how many presentations they've each done in their school career and it all began on those long, hot summer days with nothing in particular to do!! This is truly a situation of getting better at creation by doing. Typing practice can be boring, but making your own slide shows adds the creative aspect and we are back to something interesting and fun to do. Just be sure your child uses the skills they are practicing daily on typingweb. Typing with all of their fingers in the correct spots! I have had a few students create a slide show of their own already! Also I always try to show off any work classmates do during snack time.

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.

Biographies and More!

While the beginning of the week is off to a slow start with yet another surprise snow day and more bad weather pending , we have plenty to keep us busy once we arrive back at school. We have completed our study of the Mystery genre. We will begin our next genre study, Biographies this week. This is an exciting unit that has something for everyone! Whatever a student's interests are, there is a biography for him/her to read.
For our mentor text, (A text that we read, discuss, analyze then constantly refer back to throughout the unit.) I have chosen Milton Hershey's biography. I've chosen this biography for many reasons. First, I'm sure you've heard of my love of chocolate! (I said there was a biography for every interest! haha!) Seriously, Milton Hershey was born into a farm family. He wanted something different for his life. The biography tells about this man's ability to hang in and steadily move toward his goals while overcoming adversity. His steadfast approach is inspirational. Additionally, he truly believed in "paying-it-forward" which teaches a valuable lesson in and of its self.
After our initial reading, students will begin biography groups, while our whole class lessons will focus on a four book comparison over the next several weeks. The subject is George Washington. One text is his full life biography and the other three focus on an area of his life such as George Washington the farmer and scientist, George Washington's blunder ridden inauguration and finally, a book mixing poetry and cartoon artwork discussing George Washington's dental problems. (Wow! isn't that the odd combination.....poetry and bad teeth????)
Stay tuned for biography anchor charts. As we progress through the unit, I will post my classroom anchor charts discussing "What Good Biography Readers Do" as they read. Hopefully, this is one more way to promote conversation about what your child is currently reading.
In math, we are reviewing and advancing our thinking about addition and subtraction with regrouping in thousand place numbers. Students have had whole class lessons, have broken into groups to utilize video lessons on the iPad with follow up practice and have used our SMARTboard technology for practice with subtraction across zeros and checking the answer with addition. Technology is a great way to help keep what could be repetitive practice a bit more interesting!
Finally, last week all third grade students completed the first official English Language Arts practice for the SBAC testing. We still have Math Practice, a practice ELA Performance Assessment and a practice Math Performance Assessment yet to work through. Scores are not reported on the practice assessments, but the practice helps to raise the students confidence and give experience with managing the demands of a computerized assessment. Third graders will take the real SBAC assessment in May.
Just think........May!