Communicating Numbers

   We practiced our conversation routines for math.  I will ask students to think, talk about, and write about math each day.  It is important for us to be able to communicate thinking as an expert and as ongoing learners!

Writer's Notebooks

   We began sharing writer's notebook covers today!  Students decorated their notebooks with images that could hold a future story- fiction or non-fiction!  We used these images to begin listing stories we can't wait to write about!

What is a Brain Break?

   After we complete planners, I extend recent learning through a fun game that often involves movement.  Today I demonstrated a game called 'Categories.' I use this Brain Break when we are learning about new vocabulary, grouping ideas, and connecting learning.  

   The game begins with a leader in the center.  They will name a category.  When we learn about Landforms, for example, I can begin the category as "Landforms in North America."  Students stand in a circle and work together to name as many landforms as possible.  I can also extend this activity at the end of the unit to check for growth.  For example, I could call the category "Landforms All Over the World."  

   Opportunities to extend learning with movement and game-like situations increase engagement and excitement! 

Olympic Mindsets

   I already knew I had a gold medal team, but I wanted to test their mindsets before we started our big academic challenges!  

   I tested my students on resilience, persistence, empathy, flexibility, and optimism.  As they took on the challenges, I observed team work, encouragement, and determination!  We discussed how to take on any challenge using their growth mindset! 

Happy Classroom

   We shared our personal happy places today, which led us to discuss our shared happy place-our classroom.  I challenged the class to create a model of our classroom, but redesigned to be their personal happy place!  Throughout the challenge, I was able to observe how students worked as a team, how students handled struggles, and how students communicate.  I am very impressed with my observations and even more excited about the potential of our happy classroom!

Book Shares

   Students began book shares today! I asked students to bring in their favorite book to share with the class.  This activity not only helps me learn about my readers, but helps readers think about new books to try!  We will continue book shares tomorrow and Friday!

First Day of School Success!

What a wonderful 1st day of Third Grade!  We explored our learning space, played a game focused on learning about one another, and enjoyed some reading time!  We also took a class picture!  What a good looking group of Third Graders!