Saturday, November 17, 2012
Word Box
This is an idea that I found on Pinterest over the summer and decided to do with my class this year. Each time they ask me how to spell a word, they must first get that word card and check to see if it's already there. If it's not, then I write it onto the card for them to copy. They file the word card back, and then next time we already have that word! It has been a huge success.
Author's Purpose & Point of View, Physics, Multiplication, & Thanksgiving!
This week in reading we learned about author's purpose and point of view. I made these posters, which you can download for free by clicking the picture.
We used the anchor charts as we read several stories and books aloud, discussing their purpose and point of view. First, we used a slideshow that I made to introduce author's point of view. Click the first picture to download!
I also found a fun battleship game online to practice author's purpose. (I did NOT make this), but click the first picture to link to the website.
In stations we played this really cute author's purpose game, which you can download by clicking the picture. I did NOT make this game, but I'm a big fan!
For grammar we were talking about subject and predicate and I found this really fun song on youtube. Click the picture for the link! We also did some sorting activities, a couple of worksheets, and took an eInstruction quiz.
In math we continued working on multiplication. We kept singing our multiples songs and practicing all of our skip counting. We also took a few more "quizzes" toward earning our ice cream sundaes. Everyone is doing very well with this incentive! My favorite activity was yesterday when we made these multiplication monsters. One of my teammates found this activity on TPT and it was so much fun! Click here to find it yourself.
First the kids rolled double die to make multiplication sentences and found the products of each. These corresponded with the number of eyes, fangs, arms, legs, and horns that their monster would have. Then, the real fun began!
For Social Studies we discussed the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. I found this cute slideshow online (I did NOT create it myself). Click the picture to download your own copy. Then they journaled about their own traditions. We also read several books and did a cute Thanksgiving packet.
Science was so much fun this week! First, we did vocabulary to start off our unit on physics. Click the picture below to download your own copy of my slideshow!
The next couple of days we did a really fun physics lab. The first day, the kids released matchbox cars from different heights up a ramp and measured the distance that they traveled. The next day, the kids measured how far the cars traveled from their ramp when it was covered with carpet, sandpaper, and aluminum foil (to explore friction). Click here to download both lab sheets in one document.
We used the anchor charts as we read several stories and books aloud, discussing their purpose and point of view. First, we used a slideshow that I made to introduce author's point of view. Click the first picture to download!
This short presentation was for practice in small group reading stations the next day.
I also found a fun battleship game online to practice author's purpose. (I did NOT make this), but click the first picture to link to the website.
In stations we played this really cute author's purpose game, which you can download by clicking the picture. I did NOT make this game, but I'm a big fan!
For grammar we were talking about subject and predicate and I found this really fun song on youtube. Click the picture for the link! We also did some sorting activities, a couple of worksheets, and took an eInstruction quiz.
In math we continued working on multiplication. We kept singing our multiples songs and practicing all of our skip counting. We also took a few more "quizzes" toward earning our ice cream sundaes. Everyone is doing very well with this incentive! My favorite activity was yesterday when we made these multiplication monsters. One of my teammates found this activity on TPT and it was so much fun! Click here to find it yourself.
First the kids rolled double die to make multiplication sentences and found the products of each. These corresponded with the number of eyes, fangs, arms, legs, and horns that their monster would have. Then, the real fun began!
For Social Studies we discussed the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. I found this cute slideshow online (I did NOT create it myself). Click the picture to download your own copy. Then they journaled about their own traditions. We also read several books and did a cute Thanksgiving packet.
Science was so much fun this week! First, we did vocabulary to start off our unit on physics. Click the picture below to download your own copy of my slideshow!
The next couple of days we did a really fun physics lab. The first day, the kids released matchbox cars from different heights up a ramp and measured the distance that they traveled. The next day, the kids measured how far the cars traveled from their ramp when it was covered with carpet, sandpaper, and aluminum foil (to explore friction). Click here to download both lab sheets in one document.
It was a fun week, and all of us are ready to enjoy a 9 day break starting today! Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, November 9, 2012
Multiplication Facts, Context Clues, and Energy...Oh my!
In math this week we just focused on learning our multiples. We continued learning our songs and have now learned all times tables for 0-12. We also made flash cards and played a lot of games. Our favorite (by far) was Around the World with multiplication flash cards. One of my kiddos was awesome at the 7's and he finally told me it's because he "counts in touchdowns." LOL.
We've also started time quizzes...not for a grade but for an incentive. We'll be having an ice cream party once all of the kids have earned their "scoops" and "toppings." Each scoop and topping is earned by passing a times quiz.
In reading we worked on context clues. This is such a tricky concept but I have SO much to do with it, so it's actually really fun! We showed an introduction powerpoint, had an online read-aloud and corresponding chart, did several pages with nonsense words and context clues both together and independently, played Context Clues Scoot (I only wish I came up with this one myself!), did another practice slideshow, and then took a quiz (which I'm proud to say that nobody scored lower than an 80%)!
Last but not least, we were still working on energy in science. We talked about light energy by using these cool solar beads that light up when you get into the sun!
Tuesday was a student holiday and parent conference day. I stayed very organized this year and my 13 conferences went very well. I made this worksheet to do along with the parent and guide our conversation. Then I printed and highlighted current grades, tips on how to help in all subject areas at home, and copies of our multiples songs and put them all into a folder. I labeled each folder with the name and time of the conference.
This afternoon I had rehearsal for the Veterans Day assembly that I planned and coordinated. I'm just praying and crossing my fingers that my third graders do well and everything goes smoothly. We will have over 60 Veterans attending the assembly and our special luncheon for them!
We've also started time quizzes...not for a grade but for an incentive. We'll be having an ice cream party once all of the kids have earned their "scoops" and "toppings." Each scoop and topping is earned by passing a times quiz.
In reading we worked on context clues. This is such a tricky concept but I have SO much to do with it, so it's actually really fun! We showed an introduction powerpoint, had an online read-aloud and corresponding chart, did several pages with nonsense words and context clues both together and independently, played Context Clues Scoot (I only wish I came up with this one myself!), did another practice slideshow, and then took a quiz (which I'm proud to say that nobody scored lower than an 80%)!
In grammar we focused on subject and predicate. I found this cute slideshow a couple of years back, but I cannot for the life of me find it again to give credit. Then we watched Schoolhouse Rock on Youtube, which was HILARIOUS. Click the link to see the song.
Tuesday was a student holiday and parent conference day. I stayed very organized this year and my 13 conferences went very well. I made this worksheet to do along with the parent and guide our conversation. Then I printed and highlighted current grades, tips on how to help in all subject areas at home, and copies of our multiples songs and put them all into a folder. I labeled each folder with the name and time of the conference.
This afternoon I had rehearsal for the Veterans Day assembly that I planned and coordinated. I'm just praying and crossing my fingers that my third graders do well and everything goes smoothly. We will have over 60 Veterans attending the assembly and our special luncheon for them!
Depth and Complexity with Research
This year I want my gifted kiddos taking their projects to a deeper level. I want them to examine multiple perspectives, ethical issues, and how it applies to different times, cultures, and disciplines. I made this slideshow to teach them the framework for developing and keeping up with their research questions. Click the picture to link to my TPT store and download your copy.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Research at the Elementary Level
I am going to give a research presentation to the third grade GT students next week, and here's what I came up with! This is just a 4-slide sample. The fill presentation includes information about narrowing research questions, determining validity and reliability of sources, choosing primary and secondary sources, citing sources and avoiding plagiarism, and note-taking. Click the here to download your own copy from TPT.
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