Students in third grade are taking the MEAP test today, Wednesday and next week on Tuesday. I keep telling them that it is over stuff they learned last year, but I could tell there were some kids nervous this morning as they sat down to take it. We did do a fun march/dance outside before we got going and they were greeted in the morning with this treat shown above.
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During our reading workshop time, we discussed how books have parts that flow together to make a whole. Each part is important, which is why it is so important to read a book at your level- you don't want to miss any of it! Most fiction books begin by introducing somebody, the main character. Then a want or goal of that character is expressed, but something or someone gets in the way. So, the character then has to do something to try to solve the problem. Then the book normally has some sort of conclusion. After showing the students this easy way of summarizing by using the book Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, they worked on their own or with a partner to practice this summarizing strategy using a book at their level. And, they got it! Hip Hip Hooray! In Reader's Workshop, students are gong to need bookmarks. We discussed how when we are watching a good movie at home, we can press the pause button if we need to go and do something else. Bookmarks are kind of like the pause button to our reading. Only, with a bookmark, you need to reread a little bit before you just pick up the book and start reading new stuff where your bookmark is. You need to skim quickly with your eyes, until you remember what was happening in your book before you stopped. Bookmarks are marvelous tools that help us save time so we can get more precious reading in! Today, for five minutes while we listened to fun music, students made some bookmarks. We were trying to set a world record for the most people eating an apple at once. So at 2:12, our whole district, Whitehall schools and other schools in the area all chomped down on an apple at the same time. Yum! Then it was recess time! Since I had my camera from the apple eating, I thought I would snap a few pictures of the kids enjoying themselves. During Reader's Workshop time, students listen and engage in a short mini-lesson (normally about 7-10 minutes) then it is time for them to practice the skills or strategies in their books that are at their "Just-Right" levels. Research has shown that students will make tremendous gains in their reading if they read at their "Just-Right" level. We compared it Cinderella and her glass slipper. Every one wears different shoes that work well for them. We don't worry about where other people are going in their shoes. Instead, we think about where we are going. We have discussed that no one should worry about what level everyone else is at. We made goals for ourselves. We talked about how some of us are awesome at drawing, or running, or math, or reading, or writing, or taking care of animals. We are all different and our classroom is a safe place to be yourself. It won't help students become better readers if they are reading texts that are way too hard. You will notice in many of the pictures below that the students have book bins. One day a week, students go "book shopping" and they get enough books to keep in their bin for the whole week. That way, students spend their precious reading time during the week reading, not wandering around looking for books. Students also keep their binder in their book bins. We are also keeping track of every book we read on our reading log. While students are reading, I am sitting down with as many students as I can and having a reading conference with them. I am listening to them read, asking questions and checking in on their progress. It is exciting to see how much students are reading! Next week, a reading log for home will be coming home every day. There is a note that will explain the reading log for home. Until then, happy reading! For writing, we read Roxaboxen, a wonderful story that starts with a little girl finding a small treasure chest filled with tiny black pebbles buried in the desert. Because of that small treasure chest and the children's imagination, a town of Roxaboxen was created where children had houses and stores, cemeteries and jails. It was a magical place that started with a simple treasure and one that the kids carried with them their whole lives. Your child had to dig for treasures in their writer's notebooks. We have been busily writing every day in them, sometimes twice or three times a day and now it is time for your child to choose one treasure that they would like to work with for awhile. This treasure is going to grow, and grow, and grow until it is a complete published story with a strong beginning, details, and a powerful ending. I can hardly wait! Below are pictures of some students sharing some of their treasures from their notebooks. I love how they listen to each other. Enjoy! |
Mrs. Ellis's Class
Learning & laughing our way through third grade. Archives
June 2020
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