So, I'm sure you have heard by now...I had a procedure on my Achilles last Friday. I have had an injury for quite a few months, but it wasn't healing. So I had Plasma Replacement Therapy and can't bear weight for 10 days...needless to say, teaching on crutches is not easy or fun! HOWEVER, your kids were SO fantastic about it all. I just adore them. I apologize for no blog last weekend, but other than getting to the bathroom and back, I was "couch-ridden" for the first three full days...
Let me tell you about our week(s)...
Language Arts
We are hot and heavy into writing rough drafts of our biography reports. The kids gathered information from different resources and categorized their facts into envelopes in their portfolios. The next step was to create a time line using the cards...putting them in "life order". This was a fun, hands-on experience with time lines. See our different steps below...
The next order of business was modeling how to turn those facts into a story of "their" lives...writing the biography in first person. And now...they are drafting on the laptops. We've had a brief interruption while the school is being updated to Windows 7...but I should have the COW back this week and we will continue our endeavors! As drafts become complete we will peer conference, revise, and edit, so that they have a polished piece. I am so impressed with their research and organization! I can't wait to read the drafts!!
In Language Arts we are beginning a novel unit! We discussed the different fiction genres this past week...with a fun "find this particular genre" activity...using the text features that best inform the reader about the type of book they're reading. We will be reading a novel as a class that I am very excited about...more to come...can't give it away quiet yet!
Science
We are having a lot of fun with science right now...these kids are REAL scientists trying to gather as much data as possible about five mystery powders! They are using their senses to observe and identify properties of each powder. We are discussing physical and chemical changes that occur when mixtures/solutions are formed. This week they completed the "water test". Next week they will work with water mixtures and filtering, and then they will complete the "vinegar test"...all bringing us to the solution to the mystery...."What on earth are these five powders?!?!" ;-) Some kids are starting to hypothesize about some of the powders. We will continue to gather and analyze data for the next few weeks.
Math
In my math class we are working on problem solving with division and multiplication. Now that everyone is proficient with division with remainders (YAH!!), we need to make sure that when the information is hidden in a problem, they can find it, analyze it, and solve the problem. They may use any strategy they'd like...but this week we'll be working on the most efficient strategy.
Other News
- We made Valentine's bags with our buddies...pictures below.
- Our Valentine's Day party was so much fun!! Thank you so much to our Room Parents: Mrs. Filburn and Mrs. Canaday! And to all the parents who pitched in monetarily or in person...party was a success because of all of you!! Pictures soon!
- Our Silent Auction basket theme is a boy's bicycle. We are hoping to be able to purchase the bike and some accessories...if you haven't donated to the bike, and you would like to, please send whatever amount in an envelope marked "silent auction" with your child's name on it. Thanks to everyone that has donated so far!
- MSAs...third graders will be taking the MSA tests in the next two weeks...as the test gets closer I will give some specific instructions for the kids that week, but try to keep it all on the down low...we do a lot that week to make it a fun time...our motto...work hard and it will pay off (extra recess, no homework, tic-tacs to stimulate brain function., etc.) :-)
Valentine Bags with Buddies
