Wednesday...Halfway there!!!

Wow...it was a MUCH calmer start to our day today!! We seem to be settling down and knowing the routine! YEY!!!!

During our writing lesson, we discussed the purpose of writing (communication) and the need for sensory images to clearly convey our ideas in our writing. Then I told the students that our writing focus this marking period is personal narratives...writing about our personal experiences in a story-telling way. After that, I began modeling a personal narrative about going kneeboarding at Deep Creek Lake.

Next, it was time for math. In math, we reviewed place value up to the hundred thousands. We discussed writing numbers in standard form (58, 314), in expanded form (50,000+8,000+300+10+4) and in word form (fifty-eight thousand, three hundred fourteen). The students were given two follow up worksheets to complete independently but this proved to be a challenge. We will work on this! I am encouraging the students to takes risks and make mistakes...I need to see their mistakes so I can identify their confusions and misconceptions and clarify/reteach as needed!!! Please support me in this effort...tell your child it is okay to let me see their wrong answers!!!

There is a math worksheet for homework!

During reading Mrs. Benson taught a lesson about making connections to our reading, using the book, The Art Lesson. Then the students wrote about their connections in their reading response journals (RRJ). I continued reading assessments at this time.

Following lunch and recess we will have our first class meeting. I began class meetings last year as a way to bring our class community together to celebrate successes and provide suggestions to improve challenges. This was a great tool to unify our class and build student confidence. So, we will continue them this year.

We will end the day by visiting the computer lab. I will introduce Microsoft word and the students will practice opening, closing and saving a document. They will also use spell check.

ELMO arrives

Nope...you don't tickle it or play with it, this ELMO is a projection, camera and video device that will enhance the teaching and learning done in our classroom. You will get to see it in action on Back to School Night! To get more immediate information simply go to this link.
This morning we began to get down to our daily routine. The students came in and began writing in their morning work journal. Today's prompt had them writing about their best summer memory. After attendance and announcements, we discussed the concept of a topic sentence and the students went back to their morning work to create/revise/add a topic sentence.

Next we switched for math. In math the students completed a warm up independently. Then we reviewed and corrected each problem. After that I introduced a place value game that the students played either independently or with a partner...their choice!!

After math, Mrs. Benson taught the students how to pick a "just right" book to suit their needs and reading abilities, while I began my reading assessments.

Following PE, lunch and recess the students will work on a "getting to know you" activity for our hallway bulletin board while I attempt to continue with assessments...unfortunately, Mrs. Benson will no longer be in the room!

We will end the day by identifying and listing rules for our classroom community...we did not get to this yesterday!

There is no homework tonight but we will have homework tomorrow! YEY!

Welcome to Third Grade!!!

Yey!!! YOU have found my blog!!!!

I do my best to update this blog daily...here you will find the answers to the question, "What did you do at school today?" Surpringly, you will find out the correct answer is NOT, "Nothing!" Additionally, I will include, in my postings, suggestions to help your child at home and the thinking behind why I do the things I do.

One caution--while I do take great pride in my blog and my writing abilities, I do not have the time to carefully edit and revise my posts...I promise there will be MANY typos. Please understand that the benefits of the blog far outweigh the mistakes found within..or at least I hope they do!!

I truly encourage and welcome comments and questions...either leave them on the blog or send them via email to dana_c_holman@mcpsmd.org.

So on to today....
When your child says that today was boring and Mrs. Holman even said so, believe it...it's true!!! The first few dyas are spent with a lot of teacher talking and student listening...BORING!!!! But it is necessary so that the students can learn the routines and expectations.

So we began today by learning the routines and expectations for arrival.

Then the students went to math. We have three third grade math classes this year. Mr. Vogel will be teaching a fourth grade math class to third graders. Mrs. Papalia and myself will each teach a section of third grade math.

In my math class today, we set up our math warm up journals, completed our first warm up and identified the difference between a digit and a number...digits are symbols used to create numbers.

After that, we returned to homerooms and discussed the importance of maintaining organization in our binders and our desks. Then we set up our binders and organized our desks.

Next, we went to music followed by lunch and recess. When the students return, we will finish oragainzing our binders and desks. After that, we will read a poem about the first day of school. Then the students will complete an interest inventory (answer questions about themselves) so that I can get to know them better. We will end the day by identifying and listing rules for our class community!

No homework this evening...I don't want to scare the children away! :-)