This week we worked in the computer lab to publish our essays. I love how proud the kids look when they get their completed essay from the printer, all warm and official looking. Many students are getting comfortable using hometown with their typing, and now students know where keys are for quotation marks, apostrophes, and question marks.
2 Comments
Such a super smile on our super hero last week. Evelyn seems to always have a smile on her face, and she put smiles on our faces when she presented her colorful and creative poster. Thanks, Evelyn!
Emily was a super duper super hero. She could be seen wearing the "BAM" cape and she presented a beautiful poster. Thanks, Emily, for being super!
We had a wonderful morning reading and being comfy while enjoying treats. P.E. In pajamas was interesting! We spent the first part of our morning with students reading by themselves. They got settled quickly and were absolutely silent for 30 minutes. Then they were off to recess. After recess, we got out the popcorn that they earned by getting 10 classroom wildcat hero tickets and snakes that they brought from home. Students buddy read while they enjoyed their treats.
In our nonfiction unit, students learned to do three things before even beginning to read a nonfiction book. Students need to do the three P's- Preview, Predict, and tap into Prior knowledge. This gets their minds ready for understanding all the information they are about to receive from the book. If you get a chance, sit down with your child, and have him/her show you what previewing, predicting, and tapping into prior knowledge looks like. We still use sticky notes when we read nonfiction!
Last week Jacob was our super hero. Even though he was a little nervous to present his poster, he did it and did a great job! Way to go Jacob!
We have been talking about the three reasons why authors write books- to Persuade, to Inform, or to Entertain. After our discussion, students sorted book titles written on sticky notes into the correct column. We also talked about how as authors ourselves, we have to decide why we are writing a particular piece. When we wrote our realistic fiction stories, we were providing entertainment, where as our essays are trying to persuade.
Students then went through a book order and searched for examples of books for each purpose and glued them down on a pie. They seem to have author's purpose! There are a few misconceptions that need clearing up. For example, students thought that if a story has a message or a lesson to learn, like to be yourself, then it was persuading them or informing them. Most books that entertain have a message or a lesson for us to learn as well.
Earlier this week, students got with a partner to revise their essays. This was the first time that they read their essays in their entirety. We worked on the essays a section at a time, so when students met with a partner, they read it all together. With their partners, students were checking to see if their essays made sense to the listener. Many students found words that they left out of their writing. Now, students will edit for capitals, periods, and spelling at home so that their essays will be ready to type in the computer lab next week.
In the spring, third graders will be taking the M-Step test on the computer. Students are encouraged to take a look at some practice items and become familiar with the tools. Students will be looking at some sample questions and getting used to the tools in both of our classrooms. If you would like to take a peek as well, open this link in Google Chrome web browser. https://wbte.drcedirect.com/MI/portals/mi/ott1
After opening the link, go to Sample Item Sets, Grade 3. Last week's super hero always has a big smile on his face. Diego proudly wore the cape and made a wonderful poster to share with us. Thanks Diego!
|
Mrs. Ellis's Class
Learning & laughing our way through third grade. Archives
June 2020
Categories |