Family Tradition Event

Our Family Tradition Event will be Wed. Dec. 17th from 1:30-3:30.  Please join us as we listen to family traditions, decorate cookies and sing Christmas carols.  We ask that you RSVP as soon as possible so we can plan for the event.  Thank you! 

Past-Present-Future

Students have been working hard on their November research project.  The project had many parts that students were responsible for completing.  First, students learned about life for a child in the 1620's in the New World, they used this information to compare and contrast their life in 2014 with that of a Pilgrim and Wampanoag child. They then made a big switch and had to think about what life will be like in 200 years.  Students wrote about changes in education, transportation, fashion, music, toys, and homes.  They also created an illustration of their ideas.  Students shared their futuristic ideas with classmates, their illustrations are now in the hall.  If you have a chance to walk by our classroom take a look, maybe one day one of our third graders will create one of these ideas that will make life easier!  

Halloween Around the World

Students spent much of October researching with a partner or small group if Halloween is celebrated in other countries.  They learned that while many countries do not celebrate Halloween they do have fall festivities that honor their ancestors.  Students presented projects to the class.  This project was a real learning experience for our students, they had to work with someone else, which involved a lot of problem solving and compromise.  As a culminating activity on October 31st we recognized El Dia De Los Muertos.  We had an altar to honor or deceased loved ones, Pan de Muerto (Dead Bread), and Atole (a warm red fruit juice made by Mrs. R).  It was a wonderful day and experience!  

Did you know that Mrs. Barkett was a Rainbow Girl throughout Junior High and High School?  And that she was Valedictorian?   Such interesting things we learned about her today!!

Students enjoyed sharing their "Me Bags" with their classmates.  Mrs. Barkett and I shared too!  It's wonderful to get to know a little more about each of our students.  We found that a love of animals and Minecraft are very popular in 3rd grade!  

Many of you are aware that we have started a new anti-bullying program at Kyle, "Rachel's Challenge".  The focus on this program is to be intentionally kind, which will cause a chain reaction of kindness.  It's a very positive program, and connects perfectly into our Shells of Kindness that we started at the beginning of the school year.  Children are looking for opportunities to be kind and recognizing when others are kind to them.  Ask your 3rd grader about a chain reaction and trying it at home! 

Our focus in reading has been to be active readers...people who really think about and connect with what they are reading.  We have been using sticky notes to mark pages that we have connections to or we feel is important.  We will use this information as we meet with our "Book Club" to discuss what we have read.  

In Language Arts we have been learning about what a writer does.  I would like students to understand that there are many purposes of writing, sometimes we have to write to a prompt, but often times we can explore our own experiences and imagination to create colorful stories to share with others.  I hope your child is inspired to develop as a writer! 

Students work together during Social Studies to find information about how our government functions.  Students have learned that there are three levels of government: Local-State-Federal and there are three branches: Executive-Legislative-Judicial. 

Welcome

I am excited to kick of our class blog.  It is my hope that families will visit this site to learn about the many fun things we do in 3rd grade!  

We have spent the last two weeks getting to know each other.  Together students wrote a set of class rules and a mission statement.  Through class discussion we identified attributes of a leader, as we want to have a class full of leaders.  Students have also enjoyed interviewing each other in order to learn more about their classmates.  

As part of our effort to create community (in my homeroom) students worked together to come up with a name for their table.  Each table must work together to earn stars.  As the tables fill their star charts they are rewarded with a piece of gum.  

Students can also earn privileges individually, as they track their daily behavior.  Students who stay green (or better) for the entire month will earn "Green Club" where students are invited to eat lunch in the classroom with the teacher.  During this lunch they will receive a treat.