Third Grade Teachers Chatboard

Tbear3 7/8/12 Tbear3 wrote:

Look at Beth Newingham 's site. She has lots of mini lessons for each subject. Her site has alot to offer you to help with third grade. [link removed]

On 6/15/12, curiositycat wrote: > Here's my background: I've taught eight years of secondary > (ninth and tenth-grade) English, four years of > seventh...See More

Jul 8, 2012

Which books have had the most influence on how you teach?

by curiositycat

Jun 16, 2012

Looking for fantastic books on teaching strategies/classroom management/organization/etc. Which would you recommend?

(2)

maureen On 6/16/12, curiositycat wrote: > Looking for fantastic books on teaching > strategies/classroom management/organization/etc. Which > would you recommend?

Greg Nelson's "Teacher's Bag of Tricks". I have that book so internalized that I when I came across situations with classroom management issues I just knew what to do.

...See More

Jun 17, 2012

Jamie I know many teachers who like The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong. Even if you have some teaching experience, it offers very structured ideas about how to set everything up, so you can find strategies that address any loose areas you might have.

I am a huge fan of the Pieces of Learning publishing company, which has amazin...See MoreI know many teachers who like The First Days of School by Harry and Rosemary Wong. Even if you have some teaching experience, it offers very structured ideas about how to set everything up, so you can find strategies that address any loose areas you might have.

I am a huge fan of the Pieces of Learning publishing company, which has amazing resources for differentiation and early finisher activity ideas. Carolyn Coil has some great books about differentiated instruction. Barbara Vandercreek has a great set of problem-solving books called Math Rules that work well with any existing math program.

Primarily Creativity/Primarily Thinking/Primarily Logic is an older series that works well for about grades 2-4, but can be stretched to first and fifth. These books include many activities for enrichment and explicit instruction in thinking skills.

I thought Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer was an interesting approach to literacy instruction: she advocates a program where students read. They talk about what they're reading, they write about what they're reading, and then they read some more. She describes how she manages this program, and it can be incorporated into the independent reading component of elementary literacy instruction.

I have a bunch of book recommendations--some with online quizzes, vocabulary lists, and discussion topics on my website. I also have a math problem of the week, vocabulary quizzes, and independent study project ideas. My latest addition is a set of daily writing activities. The site targets gifted students in grades 2-8. I'll post the link below and hope you will find some of the activities worthwhile.

The book Work Hard, Be Nice describes the KIPP school philosophy, which is especially useful if you are in a high-poverty school environment. The book is more of a biography than a strategy guide. The Rafe Esquith books are similarly interesting, but he offers a take-no-prisoners approach that isn't for everyone. He would probably be rough to work with, but he does have some great ideas--I modified his classroom economy system and it worked really well. His first book, There are no Shortcuts, is more biographical, but it's very passionate and honest, even if parts of it make you cringe a little. His second book, Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire is a more toned-down (for him) version of his philosophy, and it offers a chapter-by-chapter set of strategies. It's more practical than the first, but it lacks a little of the fire and inspiration, too. The third book (Lighting Their Fires) didn't really tell me much I hadn't gotten out of the first two.

Good luck!

Jun 18, 2012

Leveled-Readers Collection

by curiositycat

Jun 17, 2012

How does a new elementary teacher go about assembling a leveled-readers collection of books? This task seems daunting to me (also very expensive!), so I need some tips and tricks on how to go about this. Thanks!

Kny I sure do hope that your school gives you at least the minimum that you need. But other ways I use is "Dollar Store", I found the most wonderful nonfiction animal books last year, I am sorry I didn't purchase more. Sign up for Scholastic book clubs and you will receive points for discounted and free books; look on ebay there are always retiring tea...See More

Jun 18, 2012

Pen Pals Needed

by Deb Rowntree

Jun 17, 2012

My third grade class will start on back on August 7. Anyone interested, please contact. I have already received my roster and will have 20 (give or take a couple of late enrollers).

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Carol Frego On 7/05/12, Gail Frey wrote: > On 7/04/12, Carol wrote: >> I am a third grade teacher in upstate NY in the foothills of the >> Adirondacks. I would love share with another class via snail mail >> and email. > > > Would love to be pen pals with your class and have previously posted for > pen pals with no success. Wou...See More

Jul 9, 2012

Debra Rowntree On 6/28/12, Jeannene Smith wrote: > I teach third grade in National City, CA (part of San Diego > County). I don't know which part of the country you are from, > but I would be interested in being Pen Pals. > Let me know. We start back at the end of July, so we could > start the letters first. > Jeannene Smith

GREAT! Let'...See More

Jul 9, 2012

BoardMath

by curiositycat

Jun 21, 2012

Anyone out there using BoardMath? If so, how did you get trained in it? Did your district provide the training, or did you pursue it on your own? Thanks so much!

Intrigued I saw your post and became intrigued - began "googling" and found these links:

[link removed])

[link removed])

[link removed])

I'm really curious about this program - I'd be interested in training and any other info you can share.

Jul 12, 2012

Centers?

by Laura

Jun 21, 2012

What centers do you do and how do you manage them? (time, small group, individual rotations, etc?)

(2)

Jamie I've done these differently, but here's one way during literacy block:

Sometimes on Monday I would do a whole-group mini-lesson, and there would be a follow-up activity where students could practice the skill. During the second half of the block, I might run a shortened version of centers Monday.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursda...See MoreI've done these differently, but here's one way during literacy block:

Sometimes on Monday I would do a whole-group mini-lesson, and there would be a follow-up activity where students could practice the skill. During the second half of the block, I might run a shortened version of centers Monday.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I would start with centers. I might have four or five groups, depending on where the students were with the skill. Sometimes two of five groups had the same tasks, but I preferred two separate smaller groups to one larger group for personality/productivity. Other times, one larger group worked. So let's say there are groups A, B, C, D, and E. (Each week I would just call them Josh's group, because they changed--I didn't do any permanent Red/Blue groups or anything.)

First 15-20 minutes Group A might meet with me in a small group to re-visit points about the mini lesson we did Monday. We might read a short piece together, or we might discuss their Monday practice assignments and evaluate them together. I would explain their new practice assignment and take any questions about it.

Next 15-20 minutes Group A goes back to their desks and works on the new assignment I gave them in small groups, while I meet with Group B.

Next 15-20 minutes Group A has Independent Reading time--they can read independently or take an AR quiz or write in their interactive journals about what they're reading. We had additional silent reading time after lunch.

Next 15-20 minutes Group A does an activity with Time for Kids magazine or works on vocabulary activities or something to practice written conventions (like DOL).

We would usually do writing separately, but sometimes students had the option to work on their writing projects during literacy block.

On Friday, there would be a short quiz about that week's target skill. Students might also have produced small projects as part of their weekly assignments, or choose an assignment they did especially well to share with peers and give and receive feedback about it.

I sometimes had a parent volunteer or teacher assistant who could be in the room to sit with student groups at a designated table while they worked on Time for Kids or DOL, just to rotate a little more adult supervision while I met with small groups. Sometimes the small group meeting would be a short check-in, and I didn't always meet with every group every day. Sometimes we had ongoing projects, like Book Character Day or Parent Share nights, so center time would be devoted to preparing for those activities.

I had to teach expectations for each area explicitly and separately before the system was running. For example, quiet talking is okay at some centers but not during others. Also, the schedule had to be posted so every student could see where to go and exactly what to do. It took some time for students to build independence, but it was really worthwhile and it carried over into other classes.

Good luck!

On 6/21/12, Laura wrote: > What centers do you do and how do you manage them? (time, > small group, individual rotations, etc?)

Jun 23, 2012

Jamie Hi Laura,

I'm sure you're interested in getting different responses from other people, but I added a more detailed description about running literacy centers to my website. It's long, but it offers lots of ideas and possibilities. Hope you find it helpful :-)

[link removed]

On 6/21/12, Laura wrote: > What centers do yo...See More

Jun 26, 2012

pen pals

by Gail Frey

Jun 23, 2012

Looking for 3rd grade pen pals. We start mid-August and I would love to tell my class that we will be having pen pals not to mention what a great opportunity to work on writing skills!

Robin On 6/23/12, Gail Frey wrote: > Looking for 3rd grade pen pals. We start mid-August and I > would love to tell my class that we will be having pen pals > not to mention what a great opportunity to work on writing > skills!

Gail My name is Robin Thomas & this is my first year teaching 3rd grade & I would be interested in ...See More

Jun 25, 2012

pen pals

by Gail Frey

Jul 2, 2012

Trying to get in touch with Robin from previous pen pals post. Wondering if you are still interested in having our classes be pen pals this year?

My classroom comes with a courtyard--HELP!

by curiositycat

Jul 7, 2012

Just got my new classroom yesterday, and I was surprised to find that it comes with a private courtyard, about 24' X 24'. It has a picnic table and a couple of outdoor resin chairs, a tile counter with a sink and cabinets underneath, some dirt around the edges that has some scraggly plants (I hear the dirt is not well suited to growing things), asp...See More

tbear3 Have the kids do a at home recycle project. Have them make objects that represent an art project. Ex. Use jars with wire attached to hang from the ceiling. They decorate the jar in bright paints. You can put up a clothes line and hang a plastic folder for each student on the rope. Then their projects are placed in the folder for all to see. Garage ...See More

Jul 8, 2012

What key/important novels do you read each year?

by no more basals

Jul 12, 2012

Looking for suggestions for novels to read with 3rd grade class this year - no more basals as we prepare for a new type of testing in March. Thanks in advance.

(3)

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Thanks! Thanks for the suggestions!

Jul 23, 2012

Hurley On 7/12/12, no more basals wrote: > Looking for suggestions for novels to read with 3rd grade > class this year - no more basals as we prepare for a new > type of testing in March. Thanks in advance.

Because of Winn Dixie is a fantastic novel. We always watch the movie at the end of the year and the kids always comment on how the ...See More

Jul 25, 2012