You've Got a Friend in Me

Off to a magical start in third grade!  What a great group of students, I am so lucky to be their teacher.  We are going to be a great classroom family.  We started the year with a Toy Story theme.  Just like the toys in Andy's room come alive, I hope to make learning come alive for the students.  Another great theme is "You've Got a Friend in Me."  Back to school is the perfect time for meeting new friends.

We spent some time this week getting to know each other.  We played "Giant Jenga to learn more about each other.  To play a student would come to the front and hand sanatize.  Then they would choose a discussion card.  Everyone would discuss the card's prompt with a partner.  The student that chose the card shared with the whole class and then pulled a block on the Jenga game.  We had a great time!

We also read a few great books about friendship including: Stick and Stone, Peanut Butter and Cupcake, and How to Lose All Your Friends.  Check out your students' SeeSaw page to see what they wrote about being a good friend.

Building a classroom community has been different this year with remaining physically distant.  The children have been troopers with masking, washing hands, and trying to keep distance.  I'm really proud of them.  I'm super impressed with the children's flexibility and positivity.  They've got the morning choice routine down to include making a lunch choice, hand washing, and taking care of their backpack.  Also, noodle distance tag has become a favorite at recess.  I'm proud of them! 

Back to School 2020

Ready to make a little magic in third grade?! Welcome to our classroom blog! I use this blog to give you a view into our classroom. I try to post weekly with pictures and videos of classroom happenings. I include learning objectives with helpful links for review and extension activities. My goal is to keep us all connected in the learning! 

Things will certainly be different this year with Covid 19.  We have many new procedures in place to keep the children safe. Further, I am working very hard to not only keep the students healthy but engage them in learning.  And....I hope to see smiles so big that I can see them behind those masks!

                                

If you are interested in learning more about me, click on the "Meet the Teacher" tab above. The link includes information about my family and experience, as well as, links to articles I have written and a short video documentary on my work with educational technology. Further, I have posted my contact information. Below is the back to school letter I sent home Monday or click here for the pdf. I am looking forward to magical year in third grade!

Back to School Forms

So many forms come home the first weeks of school.  Thank you in advance for filling out all the permissions and updates.  We appreciate your time.  For the forms I keep in my classroom, I am trying something more eco-friendly this year.  All the forms are digital.  You can access them using the QR codes sent home on the first day letter or you may click on the links below.  If anything is not working, please let me know and I will try and correct the problem.  Again, thank you so much for your time.

1. Sign up for Remind.  Text the message @69g67g to the number 81010.

2. About Your Child

3. Photograph Permission

Memories....2019-2020 Slideshow

My Smilebox Creation

Going the Distance

Distance learning was tough on all of us....but as always, the magic of threes brought their own magic to this challenge.  The students worked extremely hard and made the best of this difficult situation.  I love these students so much!  I can't wait until it is safe to give them a HUGE hug.  These third graders were a part of history.  Here are some pictures of how we worked hard, lifted each other up, and stayed positive.  Even though we had to be apart...we were all in this together!

One of the highlights was visiting each house for a May the 4th surprise.  It did my heart good to see so many sweet smiles!

It didn't matter if the children were completing their learning menu, attending a zoom meeting, completing a paper packet, or making a encouraging video for their classmates....this class was a model for how to SOAR during a world wide pandemic.  They can truly do ANYTHING.  Here is another staff dance video to celebrate our Eagles.  Click here.

Leap Over Read Over

 

One of the best parts of the read-a-thon was our Leap Over Read Over.  On Saturday, February 29th all the third graders were invited to my house.  We had great snacks, great books, and great company.  During our time together the kids read 100 minutes!  Wow!  Of course we didn't read for the 100 minutes straight.  On leap day, a game of leap frog is a must!  

Blast of With Reading

One of my favorite times of year....the Read-A-Thon!  This year was bigger than ever.  All Eagle Cliffs students participated, kindergarten to 5th grade.  Our readers are out of this world!

As defending champions, we were NOT going to let that trophy slip away.  The Magic of Threes worked so hard.  What an amazing team of incredible readers! The students were so motivated. We were encouraged to read with mini trophies, space junk treats, dress up days, and more!

At the end of the read-a-thon, our third grade class read over 20,000  minutes in ten days! Five students read over a thousand minutes!  And.....EVERY.SINGLE.STUDENT...read the goal of 300 minutes or more.  Hard to beat 100% participation!  Best of all, I see true improvement in the students' reading.  The extra work has propelled them even further with meeting academic goals. I was so proud!  The school had great participation and our students were shining stars! And.... drum roll, please.... the trophy returns!  Not only did our third grade have 100% of the students read 300 minutes, the ENTIRE third grade class made the goal of 300 minutes in 10 days.  We will have a pizza party soon to celebrate our read-a-thon victory!  Thanks again for your focus, commitment, and support of our reading!