Mystery Readers

We have many dates still available for mystery readers this year! We would like to invite all of our students' families to visit our classroom as a mystery reader. The children LOVE when parents, siblings, grandparents, and other special family members visit and share stories with the class. It's something that the third graders always remember! Readers visit our classroom on Fridays at 2:30. The reader will share a book (you can bring one or I will select one for you) and then the third graders will ask you a few questions about yourself as a reader. Please see the list of available dates and let me know if you are interested:

Oct. 28

Nov. 4
Dec. 2

Dec. 9

Jan. 6

Jan. 13

Jan. 20
Jan. 27
Feb. 3
Feb. 24
Mar. 2

Thank you to the parents that have already signed up. You are welcome to be a mystery reader more than once if you'd like! :)

Cliff Hanger

This week, we will be enjoying the story Cliff Hanger together as a class. We will use this story to learn new vocabulary, practice comprehension strategies and learn about cause/effect. By clicking on the picture of the story below, you will be able to learn about the story and the author. Your child will also be able to practice this week's vocabulary by playing the E-Word Game.

Apples to Apples

We love to use board games in our classroom to boost motivation and build skills at the same time! Our ACT teacher, Mrs. Messerschmitt, recently taught our class how to play the game "Apples to Apples". This game is an awesome tool to expand vocabulary and grammar skills! The game involves comparing one adjective to several nouns. Each player chooses a noun that best matches the given adjective. One player is the "judge" and decides which noun the adjective describes best. This a fun game for the whole family!

To order this game online ($10.56 + $4.95 shipping), please follow this link.

Reading Logs

The third graders will read A LOT of books this year! Each day, the children will keep track of the books that they are reading on their Reading Log. Every student will have a reading log and will use it to record books and set individual goals. At the end of each month, we will analyze the kinds of books (mystery, realistic fiction, fantasy, etc.) that the readers are selecting. Each time I meet with a reader, we will look over his/her reading log to make sure they are choosing "just right" books from a variety of genres. Here are some of our readers in action...

Books Mobiles Due on MONDAY!

Please remind your child that our September Book Project is due on Monday. I can't wait to see the fantastic book mobiles that the students create! :)

Field Day 2011!

We had a GREAT time during our field day.  Here are some pictures from the morning!

Make your own free collage

Soil Slueths!

Our new science unit is soil.  We are learning about three kinds of soil (sand, humus, and clay).  The students will be doing many fun experiments--be sure to ask your child about our activities.  Here are some pictures from today's investigation.  We used our senses (except taste!) to learn about soil!

Picture Day is Tomorrow!

Using 10 to Add

Today we learned that adding a long list of numbers can be hard work.  But we learned a trick!  If you look for two numbers that equal 10, it makes things a lot easier!  Try finding the numbers that make ten in this fun game!-Add to Ten

WORMS!

We have been learning about worms this week in science.  Today the students bravely observed the worms with a partner.  They took measurements, made a diagram of their worms, and noted other observations they made.  Students can explain why worms are important to plants and why we see so many worms after it rains!  Take a look at our wonderful zoologists!

FIELD DAY!

Please mark your calendar for Field Day this Friday. The students will need to wear comfortable clothes and gym shoes on this fun day!!!

Writer's Workshop

Writer's workshop is a block of time each day where the students will learn writing skills, strategies, and study the writing traits of professional authors. This week, we read Author: A True Story by Helen Lester. We also established our routines and expectations. The children did an amazing job making their writer's notebooks unique and special. I can't wait to see the stories that grow inside their notebooks! We had a class discussion this week about...

Book Nooks

During independent reading, the third graders love to curl up with a good book in our "book nooks" around the classroom. We usually have soft, classical music playing while the students read. Check out a few of our students enjoying our reader's workshop...

More Math Fun!!!

We reviewed comparing numbers by playing a game.  Level 1 is great for review, but levels 2 and 3 you have to beat the clock!!!  It is a fun way to practice greater than, less than, and equal to!  Try your hand at the game: Comparing Numbers

We also worked on the different ways to write numbers-expanded notation, standard form, and written form.  For example, the number 258 can be written like this:
expanded notation: 200 + 50 + 8
standard form: 258
written form: two hundred, fifty-eight
We used our white boards and this website to practice Different Ways to Write Numbers

Ordering Numbers

Today we practiced putting numbers in order from greatest to least and least to greatest.  We also played a couple of rounds of this game!  Play at home and see if you can do it without making One False Move

Reader's Workshop

This week, the third graders learned the routines and expectations for our Reader's Workshop. We will read every day! Each workshop will begin with a whole-group reading strategy lesson on the carpet area of our classroom. The students will then go to their quiet places around the room, book nooks, for independent reading. While the children are independently reading, I will meet with readers individually and in small groups. 

Books we've read together the first two weeks of school: