Today was our first math workshop. They played Capture 5 adding and subtracting on the hundred chart. They also played Collect $2.00 adding nickels, dimes, and pennies. I am so proud of what they can do. At home continue practicing money and 2digit addition and subtraction. Pics to come.

First Day of Third Grade

Today was the first day of school. I greeted each child with a hug and felt so blessed to be their teacher again. I was so excited last night, I think I lumped way too much into one day. But we had a great time. The kids loved their new money system for behavior and they smiled so big when I explained the Math Competition. I have so many great ideas and new things to try. If the first day is any indication, I know this will be a great year!

Welcome to 2012-2013

Welcome to a new school year! I am so excited for third grade. We have a new Social Studies curriculum, new Common Core State Standards, new students, a new classroom. So much "newness". I am so excited to start the year. I have so many GREAT ideas and plans for your child. I know this school year will be one that you and your child will remember for a long time. Please try to check our blog once a week for pictures and updates about what your child is learning.

Holiday Party

Well our holiday party is Wednesday at 10:30. I am spending time creating fun activities for students to participate in while enjoying our winter party. I am excited about the ideas I have come up with. I know you will be pleased when you see them!

How Many Fingers

Students were given the problem:

If there are 19 students in our class, how many fingers is that?

They had to work on their own to use a strategy and then prove it with a picture or in words.

Math Workshop

Today student's worked in Math Workshop. Students are working on Number and Operations.

Today's Workshop activiites were:
Near Doubles - practice fluency of simple addition combinations
Close to 20 - students play a game where they try to use 3 numbers to make an
addition problem as close to 20 as possible.
Beat the Calculator - students race the calculator to solve number strings. Students
have been taught to add numbers quickly and mentally. They race a
partner who has a calculator.
Number Strings- students practice number strings. They are encouraged to use know
combinations to add.

Daily 5

The Daily 5 and CAFE is a new reading program. It is simply a much more reading-centered way to do Reading. With the old Balanced Literacy program, there was reading, but it also integrated Math, Science, and other skills. Recently, schools and Hazelwood have begun to think that Reading is so important, that students should be doing more of it. So Daily 5 has five activities that students can choose from each day. All five activities are strictly literacy based. We have spent the beginning of this school year building stamina and practing these skills. Now students are finally engaged in all aspects of Daily Five: Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listen to Reading, Work on Writing, and Word Work. Take a look at the pictures. You will notice 100% on task engagement.