We had a fabulous Dot Day.  If you haven’t had a chance to see some of our work, please go to the blog.  We shared some of our work that day, and yesterday some of the class wrote about the gallery when we were learning about how to write blog posts.

Thursday we worked in small groups to create blog posts about some of the different routines we have in the classroom.  It was challenging to imagine an audience that doesn’t know so well from our routine, so the writing is a little rough, but all in all they are great first attempts.  We hope you have time to read them and would love to have some comments.  It is exciting to know others are connected to our classroom.

A Focus on Who We Are as Writers

            This week we focused on the qualities of a good piece of narrative writing.  We are working to understand how character description, setting, dialogue and interesting details work together to make writing “sing.”  We know that ideas are important.  We know that details are good and that the whole piece needs to be organized.  We have each worked to complete one piece of narrative writing.  We are going to use a checklist to independently assess this work, and then set goals to strive for as we begin our next personal narrative next week.  Our goal is to write at least three different short pieces over the course of the next few weeks.  From those drafts the children will choose one to revise, polish and publish.  They’ve been doing a great job with that work.

During our writing lessons explored expanding ideas and using interesting details.  We have worked to develop descriptive detail through our senses.  Our first exploration was of an apple. We described what we saw, felt, smelled, heard, smelled again and tasted.  We also explored the difference between taking time to think of all the ways we could describe an experience and describing an experience with the first reaction or quick glance.  We each have different tendencies – the children know if they are ponderers or “glancers”; each has its important place with learning and getting things done.

We read Frederick by Leo Lionni and Seed by Seed by Esme Codell.  Both of these book highlight long ponders.  I don’t know of books that honor the quick glancers, if you do please let me know.  Both are important approaches to be aware of.  Knowing you have choices can be an empowering thing.

How We Are Smart  – Social Emotional Learning

Knowing Yourself

This week we identified our top four intelligences and described what we knew about ourselves that made us think that.  This week we worked to add in our other intelligences.  We took an informal multiple intelligences survey created by another teacher, Laura Candler.  The children were given a list of 24 statements to rank – 5 if it was always true to 0 if it was never true.  There were three questions for each intelligence.  The children rated the questions.  Their ratings were totaled according to each category.  This gave them a sense of how someone else might see them as intelligent.  I think this survey allowed some of the children to consider interests, habits and traits they may not have recognized.

Using the survey data, a chart summarizing the traits and their own knowledge of themselves the children will create a pie chart to represent how they are smart.  To support this thinking we read Shel Silverstein’s, A Missing Piece.  And together we worked to define what it means to be 100%.   They are becoming more aware of themselves and proud of who they are and how they are smart.  It is interesting to consider each intelligence and how interest, experience, opportunity and effort can make them develop and grow.

Emily’s Fortune and Emily and Jackson – Hiding Out

            We completed Emily’s Fortune this week and began the sequel.  We are excited to find out what will happen to Emily and Jackson.  We have lots of questions – Are they safe?  Did mean Uncle Victor really leave?  What about the Catchum Child Catchers?  Do they have to worry about that?

We are gathering details from our read alouds and thinking about what we read with a writer’s mind for choosing words that create images and really impact our senses.

Bits and Pieces –

• 3^rd Grade Curriculum Night is September 26 at 7pm in Mrs. Oliver’s music room.
• Our first outdoor challenge is on September 26 – we’ll be outdoors as long as it isn’t raining
• Ask your child about Base 10 Riddles – what they are and how you solve them.
• Maybe they’ll even tell you about their personal narrative.

 

We are doing lots and enjoying what we do!