Using Mentor Texts to Create Powerful Introductions

Today we researched mentor texts and specifically looked at the introductions these authors wrote. We read the introductions with an extra powerful lens to notice how they were written. We then discussed what kinds of things the authors did to create their powerful introductions. We learned many new ways to write engaging introductions for our informational books and chapters as well!

Lucky Charms Fractions and Graphing

In honor of St.Patrick's Day, we used Lucky Charms to sort out the marshmallows and make fractions and a bar graph out of them. The denominator was the total amount of marshmallows each student had and the numerator was the number of each different marshmallows they had. We then compared our graphs.

Teaching like an Expert

Today we began our writing on information books. We learned that information writers are teachers. When you write an information book, you are teaching about your topic. Today, students got to teach their peers about their topic that they are an expert on. We learned some really interesting and neat things about each others' topics!

Attitude Spray

Have you heard about our Attitude Spray?? It is a special secret "potion" that only students who believe will receive! We use this "potion" to help us have a good attitude before we take our tests. We learned that attitude is everything and if you have a good attitude before your test, you will work harder and try your best on the test!! Ask your child if they chose to receive this "potion" before their reading test today. :)

Fraction Frenzy!

In math, we have started a new unit all about fractions.  Students are sharpening their skills every day about this new and exciting concept.  Here are some of the charts that we have made so far based on the work we have done. 

Notice that "drawing" fractions is NOT a strategy that we are using in class. Being able to accurately represent fractions (equal sized wholes and equal parts), is very difficult for students.  Therefore, we use other strategies to more accurately compare fractions. For example, when compare 3/8 and 5/6 students might compare them to 1/2.  Students might say "I know that 3/8 is 1/8 less than a half and 5/6 is 1/6 MORE than a half; therefore, 3/8 < 5/6." This method of comparing fractions is MUCH more accurate than attempting to draw a representation.

Using an inequality sign (<,>, or =) compare the following fractions: 5/8 and 2/4. Leave a comment with your answer! 

Readers to Leaders: BINGO

Today, we celebrated together as a 3rd grade for those students who met the 2nd quarter reading goal.  We played Wild Bingo!!! 

Happy 100th Day of School!!