Reading Groups

We have been reading a lot of realistic fiction! The third graders have been working in small reading groups. Mrs. Gholz and I joined forces and split our two classes into groups of five readers. During small group instruction, we focus on comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency skills. Each group lesson is tailored to the specific needs of the readers. The children are making great progress and I've seen tremendous growth in our readers!

K-Nex Cars!

In science we have been learning about forces (push, pull, gravity, friction) and how these forces impact motion.  The second part of our unit has the students working with K-Nex to create different vehicles according to the lab's specifications.  They have enjoyed the many challenges!  They are using timers to time their cars, different sized washers to speed up or slow down their cars and they have used wood blocks to represent a load.  Today they had to create lunar vehicles that carry lunar rocks (wood blocks)!  I have been very impressed with their teamwork on these challenges! 

Ice Cream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! This group of third graders used their hard-earned Comet Cash to purchase an ice cream party today. They loaded up their ice cream with yummy toppings and enjoyed this delicious treat!

Snow Stories

Imagination is the heart of our writing project this week! Although we haven't had much snow this winter, we did enjoy a few flurries on the perfect day... the day that we read The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. After sharing the illustrated, wordless version of  the story with the class, we read aloud the written version. The children compared and contrasted the two stories. It was a lot of fun to hear the imaginative stories that were created through the wordless version of the book. This week, the third graders will be creating their own snow stories with words and illustrations! We will focus on using descriptive details and establishing a clear beginning, middle, and end in our stories.

All About Books

How glad I am to have a chance to update you on the writing your child has been doing! Our current nonfiction writing unit is important for many reasons, but most of all, it is important because children are being given the chance to teach each other what they know. You should see how tall these children sit when they become the teachers, instructing others on the topics of polar bears and water polo!

I truly couldn't be more proud of our writers and I tell them this every day! To read their authentic, original writing brings me so much joy. The children shared their published work with one another through a Gallery Walk today. Third graders browsed the room, read one another's books, and shared compliments for the writing!

Games! Games! Games!

In Social Studies we have been learning about communities in the past and how they have changed.  We have talked about extinct occupations, looked at interesting artifacts, and today we played games!  The kids enjoyed playing hopscotch, marbles, and Hot Buttered Beans (Hot and Cold).  It was so fun to see them entertained with toys that did not require batteries or have lights and buttons! :)

We LOVE 3rd Grade!

Today we celebrated Valentine's Day with our class party!  We decorated boxes, ate yummy cookies, and exchanged Valentines.  Thank you to all the parents that came in and helped out.  We had a GREAT time!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Reading Challenge Champions

We couldn't be more proud of our incredible readers. Our class earned an award as the "Daily Reading Champions" at Mason Heights on Monday. Our third graders read more minutes than other class!

On Tuesday, we celebrated the 100th day of school with 100 minutes of reading in the afternoon! It is so rewarding to see our readers fully engaged and enjoying books so much.

Mason Heights is very motivated to read right now for the Mason Schools Foundation Reading Challenge. If the school reads more than 200,000 minutes this week, the principals and teachers will compete in a tricycle obstacle course during a fun school assembly!!!

Comet Cash Rewards

Our third graders shine and the Comet Cash that has been earned is being used for really cool rewards, like pet show and tell! We've had two more pets come to visit our class. It has been so much fun meeting the furry friends that our third graders love so much. We also had a fun popcorn/movie party at lunch today!! Keep up the awesome work, third graders!!!

Critter Guy Visit

The Critter Guy came today and we had a blast checking out his critters!

Pet Visit

A reward that our third graders are so excited about earning with Comet Cash is the Pet Show & Tell!! Today, one of our third graders brought her very own furry friend to school. The class LOVED having Oakly visit at the end of the day and we look forward to meeting other pets that are special to our third graders!!

Comet Cash

Our amazing third graders demonstrate excellent behavior every day! The children earn Comet Cash as a reward for making good choices, treating others with kindness, being good listeners, following directions, and/or demonstrating exemplary behavior. The Comet Cash is used to purchase rewards and prizes at our classroom store bi-weekly. A few of our third graders already purchased and enjoyed a pizza party!

INDIVIDUAL REWARDS

$5- Sticker

$15- One piece of candy

$20- Small eraser

$30- Snack (chips, pretzels, doritos, etc.)
$50- Decorative pencil w/free sharpener

$50- Bring favorite treat to share with class

$75- Wear hat to school

$75- Play computer games at recess for one week

$100- Show and tell

$100- Be our Mystery Reader

$150- Free Homework Pass (good for one sheet of homework)

$200- Eat Lunch in Classroom with 3 friends

CLASS REWARDS

Must have minimun of 5 students contributing the set amount to earn each of these!

$30 per student: Pajama Day

$50 per student: Movie and Show during lunchtime

$75 per student: Extra 10 minutes of recess

$150 per student: Pizza Party

$150 per student: Ice Cream Party

Brrr, It's Cold Outside!

As the weather gets colder, we will be having a lot of indoor recess! The third graders love to draw and play board games during this free time.

January Book Project Due 1/27

Testing Schedule

January Book Order

If you are interested in placing a book order for this month, please follow the instructions below. Book orders are due by Wednesday, January 11th!