What's Going on in Room 102 in Grade 3?

Well... back to school usually makes me think "fall".  But, boy are we in "summer" mode.  

We are doing our best to beat the heat.  Our class is off to a great start.  We have been spending a lot of time on structure and routines.  Where do things get handed in?  How do we walk in line? Where do I put my math workbook?  When is lunch?

We have read many great books to start the year.  Some of them are my favs.   Officer Buckle and Gloria

The  Old Woman Who Named Things

We also started a class read aloud called Muggie Maggie.   Maggie Schultz is a third grader who DOESN'T want to learn cursive writing!  But will she?

During our independent reading time we are trying to build our reading stamina or reading "muscles". We are discussing and working on strategies like choosing "Just Right" books, checking for understanding, and backing up and rereading when things don't make sense.  

We are completing some spelling assessments.  We started some grammar review today and discussed common and proper nouns. We are taking breaks to get water and sharpening pencils repeatedly to stand in front of the fan!  

We started with our NEW math program today.  It includes some technology pieces as well. The students were excited to jump right into learning multiplication on Day 4! We discussed multiplication as an operation that gives the total number when you join EQUAL groups.  We practiced writing addition and multiplication equations to solve real world problems. 

 Hey!  Check me out! 

 I am one smart symbol.  

3 X 8.... "I say 3 times eight OR 3 groups of 8"

I can be written as an addition equation 8 + 8 + 8 = 24 or 
a multiplication equation 3 X 8 = 24.  


Homework also has started. We are doing lessons on filling in planners and a lot of review of morning routines.  

We also started learning about history as we read the first lesson in Massachusetts, Our Home.  We found that you can learn about history in many ways. You can look at artifacts, read a book, research or "Google it!" as the third graders shared, and we can visit a museum or ask an expert. 

Students were asked today to prepare in their own artifact bags so we can learn more about them and their personal history.  


Keep checking back on the classroom blog to find out what else we are doing and learning. You can also follow me on Twitter @ewatsonroom102

I hope to see you next week at our PIN Night!