Wonderful Wednesday

We began our day with our weekly class meeting.  During our group share the children had the chance to brag about themselves.  I wanted them to identify something in which they have improved this school year.  Some  tried to pass but I felt the need to interject and celebrate a success I had noticed.  Next we exchanged thank yous and compliments.  Finally, we shared challenges which were few in number.  Basically students were frustrated with the coat closet during stack and pack at the end of the day.

After our meeting we began math rotations.  Today, the teacher led small group practiced identifying the perimeter of rectangles with missing sides.  During guided practice the children worked with partners to construct rectangles with given perimeters.  Finally, during the technology rotation, the children continued watching Learn Zillion lessons focusing on the perimeter of rectilinear figures.

For HOMEWORK the students have two half sheets papers.  One is a basic fact practice (2 minutes timed, correct the problems and then complete all others) and the other instructs students to determine the measurements of a rectangle with a perimeter of 96 feet and one side measuring 28 feet.

After math, we reviewed the independent work for this week and students had the opportunity to ask questions.

Here are this week's assignments:
Reading/Writing - Students will write 2-3 journal entries reflecting on a person or event that inspired them during third grade.

1. They will watch a video showing EB Lewis recall how his favorite uncle inspired him.
2. They will complete an organizer brainstorming 3-4 people or events which inspired them this year and then share it with a friend.
3. They will watch an Educreations lesson, done by me, explaining how to use a note taking graphic organizer and use it to write journal entries.
4. They will choose a person or event, from their first graphic organizer, and complete the note taking organizer showing how the person or event inspired them.
5. They will use the note taking graphic organizer to draft 2-3 journal entries relating how they were inspired.

Science

1. They will identify what they know about materials thrown into the trash.
2. They identify 3 questions they have about what happens to materials thrown into the trash.
3. They will watch a video and read an article to find the answers to their questions.

While the students worked independently, I met with reading groups.

Sharks:  We reviewed what we had read on pages 61 and 62 and then continued reading the middle position of chapter 11.  We also used a map of the world to locate Amelia's flight plan, as described in the book.  For HOMEWORK the students need to reread pages 63-65, working on fluency.

Following lunch and outdoor recess the children continued working independently while I met with more groups.

Dolphins:  We began by reviewing the vowel/consonant/e pattern and using it to decode words from our new book.  Then I quickly reviewed my book introduction from yesterday.  Next the students whisper read, The Costume Party, as I listened in, to find out what Moosling's costume was and who won the costume contest.  For HOMEWORK the children need to reread their book and practice their word bag cards.

Cheetahs:  We practiced writing words with the short vowel sounds and /th/, /ch/, and /sh/.  Then we shared the challenges that Walt faced including his employees striking and the military taking over his studio.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read pages 65-71 and write down something that surprises them.

Pandas:  We shared the students questions and answers from chapter 7.  For HOMEWORK the students need to read chapter 8 and answer the question, "How would you describe Tiger's college days?"

We ended the day by connecting our decomposition experiment (discovering that inorganic materials do not quickly decompose) to this week's lessons where students are find out what happens to trash that is not recycled and won't decompose.  We accomplished this through a discussion followed by viewing a portion of a video clip from Discovery Education.