Reader's Theater

How many good things can I say about Reader's Theater???  Our first production this year was called Why I Wear It, and it's all about animal adaptations.  This turned out to be a great way to bring what we're learning in Science to life.

The story was an animal fashion show.  The hosts introduced each animal and asked about his or her special characteristic.

Each animal then came out and told about his or her special characteristic, and how it helps him/her survive.

Separate pictures of each one to follow, except Freda the flying squirrel (in silver).  She stretches out her extra skin to glide from tree to tree escaping predators.

Reader's Theater is an excellent way for students to work on reading fluency.  They read the whole play several times.  Then they focus in on their own lines, practicing reading them smoothly and with expression.

Leo Lion has a thick mane that makes it hard for other animals to grab his neck.

What most people may not realize is that Reader's Theater also boosts a child's confidence in HUGE ways.  They feel like confident readers because they have practiced and practiced.  They also gain confidence in getting up in front of others for public speaking.

Stella Sloth's coat turns green in the rainy season because of the algae growing in it.

This helps her blend into the trees she lives in.

Students have a GREAT time dressing up, and even the most nervous children will admit that they enjoyed the experience.  Making public speaking fun gives these kids something to draw on when it becomes more serious later on.

Serena Sea Otter has a pouch under her front fins where she keeps clams, crabs, and other things.

(That's a crab puppet on her hand.)

Part of gaining confidence is learning to stand with confidence, using the script as a tool, not as something to hide behind.  This is a skill that will serve them throughout their lives.  In our first performance, it's still something we're working on. :)

Calvin Chameleon changes skin color when hot or cold, and when she's angry.  

If she turns red or yellow, "Watch out!" 

(She flashes the bright orange inside the hunting vest when saying this.)

I believe in connecting learning to all the "intellegences," or areas of the brain.  When students connect reading skills and science facts to the creative part of their brain, it STICKS!

Trevor Toucan's beak may be bigger than his head, but it scares other animals and birds away.  

It also helps him reach berries off of trees.

Experiencing all the emotions that come with performing together with classmates brings us closer as a "family" unit.  It is an unmatched community-building activity.

Olivia Octopus squirts ink and then turns her body black to confuse predators.

I am so proud of every one of my students.  They all tried very hard, and the work paid off!  Great show everyone!!!

Marco Polar Bear has two layers of fur to keep him warm and dry.

Studies Weekly Online

 This year TES has a new Social Studies curriculum called Studies Weekly.  Your student will be bringing home these newpaper lessons every couple of weeks.  In between issues coming home, you and your child can do some studying online with extremely helpful reading tools, and even a fun rewards game.  Here's how it works:

 

 

1. Go to www.studiesweekly.com and click the KIDS button at the top. 

2. The login page should come up next.
(click image to see larger & read hint bubbles)

3. Students login using their school username & password (library number).  Students use this login & password for AR and CCC at school, so they should be familiar with it.

 

 

4.  After logging in, this annoying pop-up seems to always come up.  Simply close it.
(click image to see larger & read hint bubbles)



 

5. Now you are at the homepage.  This is where you can find all the issues of Studies Weekly, Tests over the different issues, and the My RevRat game. 

Third Grade is doing the OKLAHOMA STUDIES WEEKLY set.

(click image to see larger & read hint bubbles)

The Studies Weekly reader is an excellent tool for struggling readers to practice.  The online reader will read-aloud the text, with words highlighting as they are being read.  The student can also click on a single word multiple times to hear it read in isolation.  Any re-reading a child does helps improve reading fluency, which is the basis for all other reading skills.  This extra practice could go a long way toward helping your child meet reading improvement goals.

 

 

(click image to see larger & read hint bubbles) 

The My RevRat rewards game is there to encourage kids to take the comprehension tests, available for every issue of Studies Weekly.  These are kind of like AR tests, in that they test to see if the student understands and remembers what they read.  They DO NOT COUNT TOWARDS AR GOALS, however.  Instead, students earn points to buy furniture and things to deck out their RevRat virtual pet.  I showed the introduction video in class, and students seemed pretty excited about this part.

 

 

 

I hope this is a useful tool for you to use at home.  Please let me know what you and your kids think about it!  I'd love to have something more to tell students and parents next year!

Friday Fun

Every Friday, after working hard all week, we have some FUN as a class!  This fun time includes computer games, free art, board games, and the ever popular dress-up.

 

We have this time built in our schedule for several reasons.  First of all, I believe in positive reinforcement.  Children only participate in Friday Fun if ALL their work from the week is turned in.  If someone has to miss it, they work that much harder to be a part of Friday Fun the next week.  It teaches the balance of working hard FIRST, then playing hard as a reward.

This time also fosters creativity in BIG ways.  Students step into roles and make up back-stories to go along with it.  This skill transfers over to creativity in writing, and being able to understand and get into books a little deeper.

I believe dreams are fostered, too.  I put Kidz Bop music on and Hollywood lights around our mirror, and the divas come out.  This girl does a sassy walk around the classroom singing in the prop mic with such attitude.  It's marvelous to watch.  I've also had kids playing teacher, parents, camera man, and any number of other roles.

Humor bonds people together, and heals us in ways that nothing else can.  There's always at least one kid that just makes us all roll with laughter!  This boy is a riot!  He kept changing his costume and doing the funniest things to make it even more hilarious.  We really come together as a classroom community in these moments.

Even my quiet students come out of their shells and join in the fun.  The less outgoing and social a person is, the more valuable this time to be silly together with friends is.  In third grade, cliques aren't really an issue, but that all changes the summer before fourth grade.  As a teacher, I don't keep close tabs on who is getting together outside of school.  I do know that some of these kids would not get together just to be silly if it weren't for our Friday Fun time.

So there it is.  All of my reasons to let loose and just have FUN every Friday with my kids.  It leaves us all smiling, motivated to come back Monday focused and prepared to work hard, and bonded together more than ever.  It's worth every minute!

[Teacher Note:  Every bit of my costume collection was gained through freebies and garage sales.  Look for day cares doing spring cleaning, & estate sales of the elderly who have passed away.  When word spreads that you're building your collection, people will come out of the woodwork to help you!]

Sweet Shoppe Classroom

Welcome Back!

We're in for a yummy year in Peart's Pops 3rd Grade Sweet Shoppe!

Students have opened the door to learning as we've gone over Rules & Procedures for the classroom and the school, and have started in on Math, Science, Reading, and English content.

Along with Rules & Procedures, students have been learning about how our classroom runs.  They are getting very excited about Reading Centers, and our classroom Jobs.  The Sweetie of the Week will get to put up their All About Me book on the Sweetie board, and can also bring in pictures from home to share.  Parents can even bring our Sweetie's favorite pet to school that special Wednesday (12:45-1:10 pm).

Mark your calendars for Back to School Night, August 29th.  I'd love to see every student represented!

We've gotten off to such a good start, I just know this year will be a Sweet Success!

SWEET Way to Help Your Substitute!

How would it be to be a substitute teacher, and turn on the computer to see this:

When I have a sub, I set them up with work packets and Scholastic News for the morning, and "Reward videos" for the afternoon.  If kids work hard in the morning, the reward for kids and teacher is to watch videos in the afternoon (of course, it goes along with what we've been learning, too).  The problem was, I had a bit of a hard time helping the sub get to the websites easily!

Enter: STROKE OF GENIUS!!!!

Put direct links on the desktop, and label them as plane as day!  What could be easier?  Of course, I had to add the happy, feel good stuff, too. ;)

Here's how to do it:

1. Go to the desired web page (making sure any passwords are saved).

2. Shrink the window (use the double box button between the "Minimize" and "Close" buttons).

3. Click and drag the icon next to the web address out of the internet window onto the desktop.

4. Right click on the desktop icon to Rename it something obvious (ex. Video 1).

Good so far???  Ok...

5. Create your background picture in your favorite drawing program.  Include a word of praise and encouragement (every sub needs to hear how great they are!), and a place that points to your web links.

6.  Save the picture where you can find it easily.

7. Make that picture your wallpaper (Google this if you don't know how.  I promise, it's easy!)

8. Click and drag your freshly created icons to the labeled spot.

That's all folks!  Not so bad, right?  And you know you're sub will LOVE it!

Best of luck!

Running to the Finish!

Check out some new dates on our calendar!  The AR party is set, and is going to be a blast!  Make sure to send $5 with the permission slip.  We also have a definite date for the Wheel-a-thon, a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and have been working hard to spread the word!  3rd-5th graders have from now until the day of the event to collect pledges & donations, and must return all money by Thursday, 5/23.  

My students and I will be taking the cowboy song on the road, teaching the song to the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes over the next two weeks.  It should be fun to hear their little voices.  Our focus in the classroom will be on Social Studies quite a bit this week as we make Oklahoma relief maps, state info. posters, and finish our picture timelines.  Next week is Science, and it will be out of this world!

Get This Party Started!

This will be an experiment.  I've never done a blog before, but I would love an easy way to communicate with students, parents, and fellow teachers.  This seems to be the way to do it, so I'll give it a try!

We're in the final countdown to summer!  In the few weeks we have left, we'll be working on reaching our 100% AR goals, growing marigold flowers from seeds, making relief maps of Oklahoma, and organizing a fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy.  Since we're studying Tall Tales, our morning song is going to be done "Cowboy Style," complete with a guitar-playing teacher!  It should all be lots of fun!

That's about it for now.  Short & Sweet, or I'll never keep up with this thing! Lol!