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Kathleen - Hi everyone! Welcome to tonight Third Grade Teachers' Meeting.
Roy - Does anyone have suggestions for grade three novels for bright kids?
WY/gal - Roy-for kids to read?
WY/gal - my kids just finished "The Water Horse" - don't have the author handy but could get it tomorrow
Roy - I'll be doing novel studies in groups and I need a few titles that I could use with the brighter kids.
WY/gal - we are also using boxcar kids and marvin redpost
Roy - I've got several boxcar kids novels in my classroom. Do you find them to be challenging enough for the bright one?
WY/gal - there ok but not everything i might want for high kids
WY/gal - have you done any Judy Blume
Roy - No, I haven't used any Judy Blume books, yet. I've got one girl and six boys in the novel study group. I'm having difficulty finding novels for the boys.
WY/gal - most of my boys seem to enjoy judy blume - might try reading one to the class and get a reaction
Roy - Thanks for the suggestions!
Pearl - How long have you all be 3rd? This is my 7th year in 3rd.
TAAS Blues - My class is having a hard time with writing.
judy - 1st year in third, but 16th year teaching
Sandy - my concern is passing the test! have at least 3 that have no chance of it
TAAS Blues - This is my first year in third but 27 in teaching
Sandy - i've taught over 30 years --good grief that's scary
WY/gal - 10 yrs in 3 - 22 in all
Pearl - My class is very low in everything. I know Sandy, and I have 6 who are on IEP's for big learning problems. No way they'll pass.
judy - wow, TAAS, good for you
TAAS Blues - I have 7 Special Ed out of 17 They are exempted from many things but its tough
judy - and you, too, Sandy!
Sandy - pressure coming from top does filter down to kids unfortunately
Pearl - We have a lot of experience among us should be able to come up with something.
Sandy - my level 3 esl kids are optional----for taking the test
Pearl - Our kids need to be able to read faster to pass the test. They can read, answer the questions, etc. but not fast enough.
TAAS Blues - We are trying a lot of interventions based on the TAAS objecives
Sandy - that's scary meeha----when do they develop fine motor and so on
NIKI - Are u talking about city tests???????
Sandy - scary to have to intervene more than teach!!!
TAAS Blues - Luckily for us the TAAS is untimed
Pearl - I'm from Idaho and ours are statewide tests.
Sandy - the third grade test here is statewide
NIKI - im in NY we have to give the third grade math and Reading citywide tests
judy - California's test is statewide, too. We don't have a "pass." How does that work?
Tanja - we have a statewide test, too ...MCAS
Tanja - they're untimed, thankfully
TAAS Blues - One "expert" said the best thing we as teachers could do was to have the children read independently for 20 minutes a day. The problem is many can't read for that long a period
WY/gal - we do tera nova here - but only in 3 and 4
NIKI - we have terranova...........5th
Tanja - what is terranova?
Pearl - Even in 3rd grade we count teacher reading to them as part of their 60 min. per day. I really helps the young children to heard the words. I find mine read better after they listen to me read- they want to mimmic.
WY/gal - we do building wide D.E.A.R. for 15 minutes each day - seems to be helping
Tanja - any great MLK activities to share?
NIKI - everyday ive been giving my kids a state and a capital......i think its such a great thing for them to learn
TAAS Blues - Does any one know of a site with writing formats. To help children write good paragraphs
Pearl - Good idea Niki. We do Daily Oral Lang. Daily Oral Math and Daily Oral Geography. They love the DOG. Try to find everything on a map.
red - hi...from nj...teach third...any good mlk activities to share?
Tanja - how about the paragraph a week website?
Pearl - TAAS try the hamburger method.
meeha/ece/tx - NIKI ... last year there was a song here on t.net (floating about) about states and caps! maybe if you ask on your grade level chatboard or mailring someone can post it again!
NIKI - whats MLK?
TAAS Blues - Good paragraphs man can you tell I'm on vacation I meant better paragraphs
WY/gal - we also do DOL and analogies
Tanja - Martin Luther King
Tanja - MLK is Martin Luther King
Pearl - The 3rd grade mail ring has some great writing prompts.
TAAS Blues - Thanks Pearl I got that one off to try.
Tanja - TAAS....what about the paragraph a week website?
red - what is the hamburger method?
Pearl - I love analogies and they are very necessary for later when they take the SAT etc.
NIKI - does anyone do daily journal writing?
Pearl - They have to have an opening sentence (the bun to), then 3 different fillings (3 sentences to build), then the closing which is a repeat of the bun top to sum it up.
Tanja - hamburger model is what you call a method for writing a well developed paragraph
red - yes,every morning...mostly with a prompt
TAAS Blues - The top bun is the intro and the bottom is the closing the meat goes between
Tanja - yes, niki!
Pearl - I do journal writing along with DOL. My kids have a hard time with the closing sentences though. They try to make them to hard.
WY/gal - Daily Journals yes!! wouldn't do without it - learn lots about the kids as well as giving them writing practice
red - hey - i like that! (the hamburger method)...thanks!
Tanja - we do DOL as well
Tanja - Red....there's a website for hamburger model
red - do you have the address?
Pearl - One of the best writing prompts I ever used was a picture cut from a calendar with 3 kids in a pumpkin field.
Tanja - - red - brb...let me see if I can find it
Tanja - Pearl...what was it?
red - i like the idea of using photos for a writing prompt, have not done that before
TAAS Blues - KTeach that use to be my nom de plume
meeha/ece/tx - Pearl .. how about doing group paragraph writing ... or repair of the paragraph ... write a para. badly and let them work through the errors together, making things more clear and 'errorless'
Pearl - I think we lost a lot when we gave up English as a subject as opposed to putting it in Lang Ars.
Tanja - Here's the website for hamburger model....http://www.k12.hi.us/~ltavares/hamburger_model.htm
red - tanja - thx so much!
Tanja - Pearl....I like your idea of using photos for writing prompts...can you give me an example of what you do?
Tanja - no prob Red!
Pearl - I taught them the who, what, when, where, why and they had to write about the picture making sure to answer each question. 3rd graders are so funny, I sometimes get paragraphs with numbers down the side.
KTeach - I'm new in this type room. How do you get it to scroll without the lag?
Pearl - Forgot to add, we then erase them and talk about not putting numbers.
WY/gal - thanks for the website tanja
Tanja - here's another website for hamburger model...this one I just use the picture of the tastier hamburger http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/socialstd/WS_Guide.html#w
Tanja - No problem!
Tanja - Great idea Pearl...thx for sharing!
Tanja - KTeach....just keep refreshing your screen
Pearl - Thanks.
Pearl - I'm anxious to try your link too.
KTeach - Thanks Tanja
Pearl - Do you all still teach cursive?
TAAS Blues - Pearl I just printed that picture. With all the research I've done over the holidays my kids better have rested us
Tanja - not formally....
Pearl - I know what you mean Taas.
Tanja - What kind of research TAAS?
WY/gal - we still teach cursive
TAAS Blues - I'm teaching it because no one ever has at our school
KTeach - Thanks Meeha. I have no idea how to thank you privately.
Tanja - cursive is taught in 2nd grade at my school, so I just have to review
Pearl - We teach cursive. I've gone through the small letters. My granddaughter who's in a neighboring town but 3rd grade too starts in January.
TAAS Blues - Writing process, lessons on probability and TAAS objectives using projects
WY/gal - we will begin cursive when we get back
Tanja - TAAS...where have you found lessons on probability?
Pearl - KTeach, just click on the little arrow where it says send to room, and click on who you want to send to. Although your posts are good so don't worry.
Tanja - Pearl...what do you mean "your posts are good?"
TAAS Blues - At ProTeacher
Pearl - I think I probably should review print first??? Then start cursive. They didn't teach this at all in teacher college.
Tanja - Hello frosty marsha!
Pearl - Tanja I mean you can talk to whomever here and no one seems to care.
Tanja - no kidding pearl...they didn't each us many things...such as parent/teacher conferences!!!!!!!!!
Pearl - I know, Tanja, I learned that 2 years ago when I went to a class on discipline of all things.
WY/gal - tanja - how long have you been teachin
meeha/ece/tx - Pearl -- I had to write two papers in printed manuscript and two in zaner bloser cursive for one of my classes ... had to use primer tablet paper and big pencils, the whole nine yards!
Tanja - this is my 3rd year....and you?
WY/gal - this is my 22
Pearl - Wow, meeha, I think that would probably have helped. We didn't cover it - period.
TAAS Blues - The site is http://www.proteacher.com
Tanja - Wow...I hope I make it that long!
WY/gal - must be the vet
Pearl - Tanja, this is my 8th year teaching. I was in another career for 18 years before that.
Tanja - TAAS...I've been to that site before...did you just search probability?
meeha/ece/tx - Tanja ... i'm in masters' classes now, still getting theory and precious little of true value in daily practice! i'm learning a lot where theory and new ideas are concerned, but keep coming away wondering what kids they did this stuff with!???
TAAS Blues - Yes Tanja I did
red - this is my first year teaching - and loving it!
Pearl - Hi, Marsha hi Dale.
Tanja - Pearl...what were you doing before teaching?
meeha/ece/tx - Hi, Marsha!
TAAS Blues - I got a great lesson with M & M from them
Tanja - Thx Taas
Marsha - I have been teaching for 25 years
Pearl - Ain't it the truth, meeha? They don't teach the kids I have in class and if they did they'd run screaming into the night.
Tanja - LOL...I have my masters in SPED but I wish I got it in elem ed
red - meeha - i think it's great that they had you do that in college! good preparation.
WY/gal - after 22 years i still love it!!!
Pearl - I was a social worker before I became a teacher.
meeha/ece/tx - red -- i appreciated it!
Tanja - Taas....a probability lesson with M & M's?
Marsha - yea, me too,
Marsha - every day is different
Pearl - What I like about teaching is if you don't like doing something, you have the power to change things.
Tanja - I wonder if I should have a regular 9-5 job...I work WAY TOO MUCH!!!!!!
meeha/ece/tx - I pretty firmly believe that administrators should work one of every five years in the classroom ... kids are so dynamic, classrooms change so much over time!
WY/gal - but i agree that the theory and reality are different
TAAS Blues - Yes You give a package of M&M's to each child or to a pair and they count and sort and try to determine the probablity of what colors will appear in all bags.
Marsha - here in our district, all administrators are required to teach a certain number of hours in our classrooms
KTeach - Thanks for the intro, everyone. I'll be back tomorrow night for Kid Writing.
Tanja - that's a great lesson, thx Taas
Pearl - Tanja, I work all the time too, think teaching all the time, and spend way too much money, however, it's a vocation not a job and that makes all the difference.
meeha/ece/tx - nice meeting you, KTeach!
Pearl - My daughter says, "Mom, stop being a teacher!".
WY/gal - one of the teachers in our building has a friend in a district where ALL admin. have to sub once a week - no choice - take what comes sounds like a plan to me ::o
meeha/ece/tx - Pearl ... a bad habit we teachers have ... spending our salaries on our classes!
Marsha - great idea...keeps them grounded
Tanja - I don't know how teachers work with a family!!
Pearl - I am pres. of the local - maybe I could negotiate for admin. to work in the classroom - AND the superintendent.
red - pearl - that's what my husband says to me (with a reminder that HE is NOT one of my students)
WY/gal - i hear that meeha
Marsha - it isn't easy all the time
Tanja - I am about to get married, and I have no idea how I will manage a classroom with children of my own!! I must put in about 15 hours each weekend
Marsha - yep...I think all adm. should have to teach
meeha/ece/tx - Pearl ... super all the way through teachers should spend a period of time in the classroom ... it just has to happen!
red - tanja - it is definitely not easy. a huge balancing act, but it can be done.
meeha/ece/tx - Tanja -- it does get easier ... and less time consuming ... with time!
Marsha - yes, and the more you teach, the less time you have to spend preparing.
Tanja - Do any of you have any great writing activities to share?
Pearl - Got bumped. Tanja, you just have to take stuff home, let some stuff go that you did before, and put your family first.
red - how 'bout MLK activities?
Tanja - What novels do you use in your classroom?
Tanja - Thanks for the advice all!
Marsha - abcteach.com is a good website with all kinds of ideas
Tanja - i found abcteach to be primarily worksheet-oriented
red - Amber Brown series, Ramona series, R.Dahl books, etc.
Tanja - i like to get away from worksheets
Marsha - Chocolate Touch, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Sarah Plain and Tall, Taste of Blackberries
WY/gal - we use a lot of magic tree house and bailey school kids
meeha/ece/tx - some more fun books, from days gone by are ... The Boxcar Children, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Pippi Longstocking ...
Marsha - Mouse and Motorcycle
Pearl - I have to go soon, we're going to a friends. But I use Chalk Box Kid, The Mitten (for story writing), Ramona Q. age 8, The School Mouse, School Days by Wilder, Chocolate Touch, Sarah Plain and Tall, How to Eat Fried Worms, and I use American Girl series for specialized girls reading groups. I'm looking for some boys books to use the same.
Marsha - mine love Pippi Longstocking too
TAAS Blues - Tanja try this site the ideas for mini lessons is great http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/fiss/newpage3.htm
Tanja - I found abcteach to be too worksheet oriented
Pearl - Gotta go. Thanks for the great chat. If your on the 3rd grade mail ring and think of some good boys series, please post them. Thanks again.
Marsha - Tanya, it is worksheet oriented...but i has some wonderful alliterative and poetry ideas..and great graphic organizers
Marsha - you can adapt its ideas
Marsha - has some good student teacher helps too
Tanja - some of the worksheets aren't bad!
red - how would get int the 3rd grade mail ring?
Marsha - I dont' use the worksheets
Marsha - but I do love some of her ideas
Tanja - To join Mailring....http://teachers.net/mailrings/
red - i see we have someone from tx and another from wy...i'm from nj - where is everyone else teaching?
Tanja - I belong to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade mailrings
Tanja - Mass
TAAS Blues - Time to go Great talking to all of you
Levelhead - Does anyone have any good ideas about teaching multiplication facts?
Tanja - Levelhead...what about teaching arrays
meeha/ece/tx - Levelhead -- have you thought of using music? there are a LOT of different styles of music to which the times tables have been put now!
Levelhead - Tanja, What do you mean by arrays?
Tanja - it's a lot of fun, and the students can look for them in the classroom, and at home....they really get into this
Tanja - dimensions
Tanja - Meeha...can you give titles of some?
meeha/ece/tx - money (nickels, dimes, quarters ...) use lots of counters and manipulatives so the concepts mean something more than words!
Tanja - have them use graph paper to make arrays
Tanja - Does that make sense?
meeha/ece/tx - Tanja ... sorry, I can't ... but i've seen them to RAP, ROCK'N'ROLL, COUNTRY ... look at teacher supply stores ... may also want to look for the old ABC series "Multiplication Rock"
red - tanja-can you explain your array method a bit more?
Tanja - Levelhead: I use Terc/Investigations and it has a great lesson for teaching arrays..should I mail it to you?
WY/gal - kids love the rap one - beg to listen to it
meeha/ece/tx - there is a Grammar Rock ... several in that series ... does anyone else remember them when we were kids in the late 60's and 70's???
Levelhead - Thanks for the ideas. I have some tapes, in fact I have multiplication rock and others, even one that has a British accent that is really one of my favorites. Every group is so different.
Tanja - umm....it is complicated to write here...would you like me to mail you a copy?
Tanja - My kids LOVE grammar rock
red - meeha- i defintely remember them from my 70s childhood
Levelhead - Tanja, I agree. Mailing me one would be great. How do we go about doing that?
Tanja - you could email me your school address, and I could send you that lesson. No problem.
WY/gal - tanja - is Terc/investigantions a book
Tanja - yes...it is
Levelhead - I definetely remember them from my childhood, too!
Tanja - Terc is actually a Math series that was adopted in my district
WY/gal - could i get it at a teacher store
Tanja - no...it's not at a teacher store
Tanja - let me see if I can find the address
red - tanja-i sent you my email address privately - did you get it?
Tanja - i mean the website address...hold on
Levelhead - Does anyone remember doing exercises to this one song that goes, "head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes . .."?
WY/gal - We are using Saxon Math -- Sooooooo Good
Tanja - Yes, red....I got it. I will email you!
red - levelhead-absolutely
Tanja - I've heard Saxon is great!
red - thank you!
WY/gal - Level -YES!!
Tanja - Yes, levelhead...I totally remember that!
Tanja - no prob Red!
meeha/ece/tx - Levelhead -- we do that now ... as a part of the Mack Chicken Dance ... we do the Chicken dance, the head & shoulders, knees & toes, and the itsy bitsy spider ... Greg & Steve!
red - i love greg&steve. i used them all of the time when i taught prek
Levelhead - Tanja, my school email address is : Levelius @stratford.k12.wi.us
meeha/ece/tx - red -- there is a lot of their music that will work even better with older kids!
Tanja - ok...got it level....I will email you, then you'd have to give me your school address b/c I am not sure how to send it otherwise!
red - well - i think i'm going to head off for the evening. time for me to check out some of the websites you guys recommended. thanks for a great chat!
Tanja - Night red...will email you !
Tanja - Terc website http://www.terc.edu/investigations/index.html
red - meeha - hmmm...interesting about the greg & steve stuff being good for older kids. i put them away thinking i didn't have much use for them anymore. will have to pull them out again and check them out.
basilrabbit - I'm a little late...anybody have any ideas for introducing decimals?
meeha/ece/tx - basil -- look at using money ...
Tanja - Thanks all for a great chat.
WY/gal - hope this will be a regular chat
WY/gal - bye all
