Students find patterns in multiplication problems

We had a wonderful day today!  We started with our next-to-the-last multiplication puzzle.  It was the 11 multiplication puzzle.  We wrote all of the facts from 1-12 on the white board.  Then we discussed the pattern(s) we saw.  They enjoy finding patterns, especially if it makes something easier!

We did some critical reading today.  The short passage we read covered comprehension, inference, and fluency skills.  There were a few questions that required some very deep thought.  We went through some strategies for finding the answers to questions that aren't answered directly in a passage/story. I enjoyed listening to them read aloud to me this week. 

Today we took our homonym poster we have been working on since the beginning of the year and transferred all of them to a larger poster, as we were running out of room.  Then we added even more.  Then they were able to choose one set, illustrate each, and write a sentence for each.  They whipped through that quickly.  By now they really understand what they are.  

We did some multiplication review with a variety of facts.

Of course, we took our spelling tests, and had our read and feed this afternoon.  I think they enjoyed this one even more, because they knew what to expect.  

Conference notes came home with your child today.  AIf you cannot make it to school, feel free to call me at your given time, and we will do a phone conference. 

Also the Friday behavior notes came home that we started a few weeks ago.  

Have a wonderful weekend.  I am excited, as I get to sit in on a writing seminar tomorrow morning.  Yes, it is virtual, but I am still excited.  There will be many authors giving it, as well as attending.  I don't know if you know, but I have one book published under my previous name, "Jacobs." But have several in the works.  Hoping to get more published!

Students have a very productive Thursday

We had a very productive Thursday. We started with some silent reading or spelling words with Play-Doh.  They had a choice this morning.  I try to give them choices when possible, as it makes them feel they have a role in their education/school day beyond just doing what is expected.

We finished another book. Again, we discussed empathy. We did some practice with our spelling words.  

We also went to Xtramath.org.  This is such a great resource.  And it doesn't take very long. 

We also took our ISIP test in reading.  Many improved, which is what we want to see. 

Don't forget our read and feed and pajama day tomorrow. We also have a spelling test. 

Class celebrates Read Aloud Day and Play Day

 

We had another awesome day! We started with another multiplication puzzle. 

We also revisited our nonfiction book about Penguins today.  We read it again and answered some questions.  Besides comprehension, we also worked on our text features.  

To celebrate National Read Aloud Day, every child was to read one book aloud to me.  Some will have to do that tomorrow, as we ran out of time.  I had a few that read to a different classroom.  I was so proud of them.  It is very difficult to get up in front of an entire class and read, at this age.  But I had some that chose to do just that.  

We also took a writing assessment.  This is something that the district has come up with.  They are given a prompt, then a minute to think about what they are going to write.  Then they are given three minutes to write.  It is not for a grade. It is something we just want to show growth, or improvement on.

We also celebrated "National Play Day."  We first played a game as a class.  Then we were given a few minutes for games in the classroom.  Playing board games is such a lost art.  Children learn so many important academic and life skills from paying them.  When my children were home, we had game night.  We would have pizza or sandwiches and play different games.  

There was a lot of information in your child's Wednesday folder today.  Please go through it carefully.

Third graders discuss the concept of empathy, using a literature model

We had a marvelous day! We started by getting to see me dressed as a pig.  But if it will get your children to read more, then I will dress up as almost anything!  

We started by making our spelling words out of Play-Doh, or reading a book with a Valentine theme.  

We also revisited the discussion about main idea vs. theme. 

We read the next couple of chapters in our book.  The children are loving this book.  It is also creating great discussions.  We are learning empathy.  We discussed how we need to put ourselves in other people's situations. If we wouldn't want to be treated a certain way or be in a certain situation, then we shouldn't treat others that way, either. 

We took our Istation math test for February.  Our goal with these tests are to see improvement.

We also practiced some multiplication using the fives.  As we practice multiplication, we are also practicing strategies.  Some are known, but others are created/explained by the students.  Not everyone learns the same, and there is more than one way to get to an answer. 

Don't forget pajama day and read and feed this Friday!

And be sure to check out the pictures below:

Third graders enjoy pizza party

 

'Pigging out' in third grade.

Today I costumed as a pig to celebrate the fact that our class had the most book commercials in the library.

 

A wonderful day of success and learning for third graders

What a marvelous Monday we had!  We started our day by hearing our class had the most AR points, and Robert had the most out of all the third graders, for the month of January!  

We didn't come in first this week in the book vending machine donations, but we were only here one day last week!  We came in second!

Then our class had the most book commercials out of the third grade so I will be dressed as a pig tomorrow morning.  I will be carrying a sign saying we had the most.  

Our work day started with a multiplication puzzle with the 9s. 

We finished our read aloud today!  (By the way, tomorrow is National Read Aloud Day. So if you usually don't read aloud to your children, you might start tomorrow night.) We are reading, as a class, The Hundred Dresses.  Before we started reading this book, I asked what they thought it might be about just by the title and cover.  They had wonderful ideas.  The fact that they were participating and thinking, made my day.  At the first of the year, when I asked an open-ended question that required some thinking, very few would even attempt.  We also worked with the theme of a book, and discussed how it is different than the main idea of a book.

I handed out this week's spelling words.  

We reviewed verbs, and included being verbs this time.  We separated the two after finding the verbs in sentences.

We also got to watch a Mystery Science video about skyscrapers.  They were very into that.  

We are still taking donations for the school vending machine.

We will be celebrating our successes Friday.  I will send home a note with more information.

We will have a pizza lunch tomorrow.  Please send a drink with your child.  This is for the library contest.  Mrs. Swisher just let me know she doesn't provide drinks.  If you don't have time, I will be running tomorrow morning during their specials to get drinks.