Dr. Seuss

The third grade hall is being taken over by Dr. Seuss! In honor of the doctor's birthday [March 2nd] we have switched gears from Mo Willems to Dr. Seuss. I am currently working on a unit with different lessons to explore through Dr. Seuss that match our common core standards. These are the drawings I did and hung up outside our classroom. A lot of the other teachers are flooding the halls with Seuss inspired projects too so the third grade halls is very seuss-ical. 

What's in the news?

I just started this on Monday so I'm not sure yet how well it's going to work out with this class, but we shall see. I went through the stack of newspapers my fiance's grandparents had at their house on Sunday and clipped out some things that were relevant to what we had been talking about in class or some things that I thought would interest them. I posted them up on Monday and a few of the kids asked if they could check them out at their desk. I'm going to try and find interesting things each week for them to read and this would be a good source for the kids that come up to me and say they're bored to direct them to.

Cell Phone Book Reports

I searched and searched for a non-traditional book report for the kids to do. I found this online (I can't remember where but if I find the template again I will post the link!) They are front and back so I chose to hang them from the ceiling in the room so that the kids could check everybody else's out and guests to our room can see them too. They have sections for students to put the conflict, resolution, an "incoming photograph" where they draw a picture from the book, and a space to recommend the book to a friend. They're pretty large, if you look below you can see one of the kids goofing off holding it up to his head like he was talking on it. But it's a perfect example of the size of these phones. I've caught a lot of the kids who have finished their book reports cutting out and decorating the model cell phone that was on their instruction sheet. The two girls at the bottom were pretending to text each other while waiting on their bus after school yesterday. Too funny. 

Reader's Theater

On the final day of Mo Willems I wanted to do something fun and let the kids get some energy out (we've been trapped in from the snow). I decided to do a readers theater where they got to pick their own partner and then their favorite Mo Willems book to share with the class. I drew numbers out of a basket for who got to pick books first. I didn't want everyone to use the same book over and over again so everyone had to choose a different Mo Willems book. Then I gave everyone 15 minutes to practice and make any props that they wanted. My cooperating teacher recorded the videos while each group performed and I assessed the students, jotting down notes, by their pronunciation, drama, expression, etc. They love them! We have been watching a few of them each day so they can all see how they did themselves.
The two above were one of my favorite. They really got into it and made it entertaining for the whole class. They made their own props for Piggie & Elephant so that they looked like the characters they were playing. Too cute!!

Welcome March!

MARCH IS HERE!! YAY I am so excited for Spring!!! and with March finally being here we are that much closer! Next week I'm decorating and adding spring-themed pretties everywhere. Even if it doesn't look like Spring outside it's going to be blooming in our room! 

For the door display I just rolled up the paper and made rainbow beams out of them. Then I had the kids all write on the gold coins what they wanted to be when they grew up (end of their rainbow). Then the clovers at the bottom have all the student's names on them! 

By the way, here is what it currently looks like in central Illinois:

Valentines

My Valentines Day box! I love the whole owl-theme so I couldn't resist this little guy at Wal-Mart. It only lasted for a day though because the following day when I was at school my dog ripped it opened and ate all the candy =/. I think he has a stomach made of iron!

Doodles

My desk is being swarmed with art projects and doodles the kids are making me. I love them though and will never refuse them! I have started noticing a trend in their doodling lately though... check out the picture below! =)

 (Mo Willems influence?)