Bar Modeling ~ Bringing Word problems to life!

Students have worked hard over the past month to learn how to use bar modeling as a tool to solve word problems pictorially. By analyzing word problems sentence by sentence and using our reading strategies to understand the problem, students can then draw models to represent what they know from the word problem and from that determine what they need to solve. Although this can be a difficult strategy to learn initially, students will benefit from this strategy for years to come. Especially as they encounter longer more difficult word problems, it is the stepping stone to algebraic equations. Here is some more information about bar modeling and practice problems.  We will continue to use this strategy all year and will introduce the multiplication and division bar models over the next few months.  Watch the videos below to see and hear some amazing explanations of problem solving using bar modeling. Everyone is growing so much using their ipads to explain and show their thinking!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had such a fun time celebrating with the kindergarteners yesterday. Our thanksgiving feast was a success and each student shared something that they are thankful for with each other. The fruit salad was a big hit! Thank you to all who donated the fresh fruit to share!

Reading our writing to Kindergarten

One of the goals of 3rd grade writing is to expand the audience for our writing. Yesterday we had Mr. George's room come and listen to our stories. The students worked hard to read with expression and bring their story to life. It was so great to hear all the sounds and excitement in the room.

Narrative Writing Celebration!

Students worked hard this year on learning how to use the writing process to write small moment stories. They worked on leads, Ideas, Show not Tell, Figurative Language, revising with purpose using the 4 parts of the story color coding (dialogue, action, thoughts&feelings, description), and building stamina. Each student wrote a new story being there own job captain and working through the writing process independently using their resources. Their stories are phenomenal! I cannot wait for them to share them with you. Here are some pictures from our classroom celebration. Students read each others stories and wrote thoughtful compliments to each other. They loved this! Next week we are sharing our stories with Mr. George's Kindergarteners.

Book Clubs in 3rd grade a huge success

This week we began book clubs as part of our historical fiction unit. Students are in groups of 3 or 4 and are independently reading the same book as their group members, and are taking notes to bring to their book club discussion. I am so impressed with how well they are working together to discuss, grow their thinking/ideas, and agree and disagree using text evidence to support their thinking. After each discussion, students reflect on how well they did with the book talk on a reflection form and set a goal for the next meeting. Students also record their post its notes on a sheet and do a reading response from their reading and discussion. They are all learning the importance of using evidence from the text to support their thinking. They are also realizing how much they can learn and grow their thinking from hearing other group members thinking. I have seen incredible growth in the first 3 sessions. Here are some photos and videos from our book talk time. Here is an article about having your own Book Club at home.