Classroom Update: September 21, 2019

For the past two weeks, we have continued to roll out our first learning units of the year.

In reading, we are working on building our "reading stamina," the amount of time we can stay engaged in a text. We started tracking our stamina as a whole class, and students were asked to track their own stamina at home this week.

A key component of building our reading stamina is selecting a "just right" book. We discussed how, in order to grow as readers, we need to find books that aren't too easy or too hard. A strategy that we practiced to find a "just right" book is called the Five Finger Rule:

This strategy is a quick and easy way to determine if any book is at a comprehensible level.

Finally, in reading this week, we also practiced writing summaries. We used the chant Someone-Wanted-But-So-Then (shown below) to help us capture and organize all of the story elements featured in a given text.


In writing, we created "Heart Maps" to use as inspiration for the pieces that we will work on this year. Students reflected upon the people, places, events, and interests that are special to them:

We used these heart maps as a launching point for our first writing unit of the year, where students will be crafting personal narratives.

In social studies, students extended the mapping practice that we have been doing to create maps of New England. We are narrowing this focus to Massachusetts, and later to our local community of Arlington.

In math, we are practicing strategies to memorize our multiplication facts. We are beginning with the easiest fact families to commit to memory, the 1, 2, 5, and 10 tables. We have also been practicing writing and solving multiplication word problems. Lastly, we have practiced creating rectangular arrays to represent multiplication expressions. Arrays are visual displays composed of rows of equal columns. To the right is an example of a 3x4 array.

Classroom Update: September 6, 2019

We have now completed our first week of third grade and I feel so excited to be working with such a wonderful group of students! In addition to many fun getting-to-know-you activities, we also spent time getting to know the routines of our classroom, and launching some of our first learning units of the year. You can check out some of the activities below!

We began the week by sharing our goals for the year in a special "Hopes and Dreams" Project:

We opened our class library and practiced routines for independent reading:

In social studies, we learned about map features and created maps of our own made-up towns:

We launched our first math unit of the year, which will be focused on multiplication. (For more information about the topics covered in this unit, please find the letter that was sent home in your child's yellow take-home folder.) 

Finally, we can't wait for the addition of some new friends to our class: Quiet Critters! These pom-pom creatures will be a tool to help us stay focused during independent work times. We're excited for them to "hatch" next week!

Our year is off to an excellent start and I'm looking forward to many more great weeks together in third grade!

Welcome Back to School! (2019-2020)

Welcome back to school! 

I can't wait to meet you in September. 

Below, please find an electronic copy of our welcome letter and supply list. 

You can also view our supply list on Amazon at this link: 

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3BI0AETF5957P?ref_=wl_share. 

(As stated in the welcome letter, this list was created for a visual reference to make shopping easier. Many of the items can be purchased cheaper elsewhere, so no need to buy from Amazon!) 

Classroom Update: June 4, 2017

Last week was a fun-filled one in third grade! On Thursday, we had a blast with our annual Colonial Day. Third graders enjoyed traveling back in time to the eighteenth century and taking part in colonial-themed activities. Big thanks to all of our volunteers who helped make the day a success!

On Friday, we participated in Katherine Wall Field Day. Students demonstrated courage, teamwork, and cooperation as they completed the day's events.

In reading and social studies, we continue to study the events leading up to the American Revolution. We have been consulting both primary and secondary sources to gather information.

In math, we continue our unit on surveying. This week, students analyzed data sets and defined the meaning of an "outlier."

Last week, we also welcomed a new addition to our classroom--crayfish! We will be studying these animals as part of our science unit on structures of life.

Classroom Update: May 26, 2017

In reading and social studies this week, we have been studying the American Revolution. We have learned about the events leading up to the Revolutionary War, including the French & Indian War, the Quartering Act, and the Stamp Act.

In math, we began a unit on data collection and analysis. We have been working on categorizing information and describing data displays, including bar graphs and line plots.

In science, we planted lima bean seeds. We are waiting for them to sprout so that we can study their life cycle. 

In writing, we're polishing up our petition drafts in preparation for a final writers' celebration of the year--date to be determined soon!

Classroom Update: May 19, 2017

Today we finished up our MCAS testing for the year with the last session of the mathematics exam. Students should be proud of the hard work they put forth in the weeks leading up to the exam!

In reading, we wrapped up a unit on poetry. Last week, Mr. Dingman came to our classroom to deliver a lesson on William Carlos Williams and how poets gain inspiration for their work. As a culminating assignment for the unit, students wrote their own poems.

In science, we continue to study structures of life. Most recently, we have been studying plant life cycles.

We've begun a new integrated social studies and reading unit on the American Revolution. This week, we defined the term "colony" and learned about the wide influence of the British Empire.

In writing, we continue our persuasive essay unit with petitions. Students are working on persuasive techniques, such as crafting strong counterarguments. 

Classroom Update: April 28, 2017

This week was our student teacher Ms. Tolan's "takeover week." This means that she led all of the lessons for the week. We had so much fun participating in the engaging activities that she designed! Sadly, Ms. Tolan's time in our classroom will be coming to a close next week as she wraps up her semester. We feel grateful to have had such a talented student teacher in our class and are excited for the new opportunities ahead of her!

This week, students began a unit on geometry. Specifically, students studied properties of quadrilaterals and triangles. We are working on categorizing and classifying these shapes.

In reading, we have continued our unit on poetry. Students learned different poetic devices, including alliteration, rhythm, rhyme, and onomatopoeia.

In science, students have been studying seeds. We began the week with a lesson in which students examined and compared the seeds of different fruits. 

On Thursday, we visited the Jason Russell House, where students learned about the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Students toured a historic house, viewed artifacts, and practiced a colonial chore. This trip will serve as a preview for the content that we will study during our upcoming unit on colonial times.

Today, we were treated to a performance by students from our Japanese Sister City, Nagaokakyo. It was wonderful to watch the singing and dancing and view students' artwork inspired by the Japanese tradition.