A Super Simple Science Investigation: Candy Rainbow
Third Grade Thinkers
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1y ago
  It's not hard to get kids hooked on science when you incorporate experiments leaving them saying, 'WOW!"  This is one such investigation!  I like using this one while introducing the scientific process.  Students learn that scientists work through a series of steps that include: Question, Hypothesis, Procedure, Observation and Conclusion.  They begin with thinking about Skittles and what might happen if warm water touches the candy.  We use our background knowledge as we think about what happens to this candy in our mouths.  What do our tongues look like ..read more
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Using the High Five Habit with Kids: Story and Activities to Encourage Perseverance
Third Grade Thinkers
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2y ago
 Happy 2022! Are you making resolutions? Setting intentions?  My winter break has given me an opportunity to read for pleasure, and along with fiction, I love to invest time into nonfiction reading.  I am a self help junky and find myself picking books from this genre. I have recently read some books by Mel Robbins.   Her new one is called The High 5 Habit.  This book has a 4.8 rating on Amazon. More than 2,000 people gave it high marks.  Here is a snippet about the book:  Imagine if you gave that same love and encouragement to yourself. Or even ..read more
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Fall Themed Book Report: I'm Nuts About This Book!
Third Grade Thinkers
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2y ago
 Fall is my favorite time of the year and so I always look for ways to bring it into my classroom.                           We have been working on learning all about the elements of a story.  This prop and visual is my go to for reviewing these important elements before reading a fictional story.  I used one of those clapper hands to hot glue the pieces onto.  After summarizing using these elements we can clap for ourselves and the story!  Fun! My kids have been getting so good at this skill!&nbs ..read more
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A Look into My Hybrid Classroom
Third Grade Thinkers
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3y ago
Wow, a lot of time has passed since I last wrote on this blog!  Covid has definitely forced all of us to pivot and adapt to a new way of teaching and learning.   Like most, I had to figure out a way to teach kids virtually. Now we are back in the classroom in the hybrid model and it's back to the drawing board as we try to figure out the best way to instruct kids who are at home AND at school. Those who are not educators  can not fully grasp just how overwhelming this year has been.   Nonetheless, I am so grateful that I get to teach some of my students face to f ..read more
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Remote Teaching with Video Tutorials and Practice Pages: Math Problem Solving with CUBES
Third Grade Thinkers
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4y ago
Hello Friends! It's been a while since I have posted anything and what a different world we live in! How are you managing? Have you jumped enthusiastically into your role as a remote teacher or are you dragging yourself through it each day?  I will say this has been a learning experience for me!   We are closed down for the rest of the year so the challenge is how to teach and review important concepts before I send these kiddos to the next grade level.  One focus for me must be those power standards. Those real life skills that are necessary but sometimes challenging to t ..read more
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Word Study Woes? A Solution and New Resource by Jan Richardson
Third Grade Thinkers
by
4y ago
The English language is hard, tricky, complicated.  Letters can make multiple sounds and there are always exceptions to the rules.  No wonder why spelling is such a struggle for our little learners.  No wonder why teachers have often felt at a loss as to how to teach spelling effectively.  I have tried it all.  I have used whole class spelling lists during the days of the old reading basals.  I've tried all different configurations of Words Their Way.  Lists and lists of words. Whole group, small group, individual.  I still have not figured it out.   Currently, my students have word ..read more
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Our Five Writing Responsibilities: Editing Rules
Third Grade Thinkers
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4y ago
My kids absolutely love writing!  We organized a spot in the room for our writing supplies and offices.  We decorated our writing folders with photographs, pictures and words to inspire our writing.  My kids are filling up pages. Sometimes they write to a prompt that I give them. Other times they get to choose their own writing topics. Writing in their journals is always a wise choice if they are a fast finisher and complete assignments early.  So many of them WANT to write! That makes my teacher heart so happy! I loved that they were writing up a storm, but I wanted to be ..read more
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First Day Fun with Modeling Me!
Third Grade Thinkers
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5y ago
It's the first day of school. What are your goals for the day?  For me, building relationships and establishing a classroom community is key to my lesson planning.  I like to spend time getting to know my new students on a personal level.  Plus, I want kids to make connections with kids. We will be spending the next 10+ months together and will become a family of learners.  What we do these first weeks together will help form a foundation of respect and acceptance.  One way we can find out more about each others' likes and interests is through a first day activity called "Modeling Me ..read more
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First Week of School: Teaching Rules through Poetry!
Third Grade Thinkers
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5y ago
Ready or not...here they come! School opens in 2 days in my county.  I've been busy prepping my classroom and thinking through first week lessons.  It seems each new year brings with it new blessings but also new challenges.  Our classrooms are filled with students facing difficult and challenging life circumstances which in turn can greatly impact their behavior and thus their learning.  So, I've decided to spend more time in the beginning of the year focusing on creating a well managed classroom environment.  For me that means spending more time explicitly teaching my kids the w ..read more
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Math Practice Through Calendar Math and Number of the Day
Third Grade Thinkers
by
5y ago
“Repetition is the mother of learning,  the father of action,  which makes it the architect of accomplishment.”      Zig Ziglar I think all teachers understand and appreciate the thinking behind this quote.  Repetitious practice certainly can be key to developing skill in academic areas.  The problem is often that the pace in which we instruct is too fast and furious.  It is often time to move onto new learning when we know quite well that our students need more time to practice the skills they are currently working on. This is why I always look for ways to sneak in more practice.  W ..read more
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