Busy Week

We have had a busy week in Room 209! Prepping for the math test we wrote today, writing procedures and responding to reading passages (which I will post more about on the weekend). Indoor recess is making us go a little stir crazy too! We have done lots of dance practice during our down time to help us shake out our sillies. Let's all beg mother nature for a break in this frigid weather!

Photo of the Day!

Okay so here is a picture of Baby Ashleigh at skating this week. She is being very silly and hamming it up for the camera. I feel like the picture needs a caption of sorts. Boys and girls... any ideas? Jot down your idea in your agenda for Monday to earn extra group points!

Sorting

Part of the data management unit requires us to sort using charts and diagrams (such as a Venn diagram). Yesterday we reviewed our Grade Two skill of sorting using a two loop Venn Diagram. Today we brought our sorting to a very sophisticated level by using a three loop Venn Diagram to sort using three different attributes. We played some fun Smartboard activities to help us practice before doing our independent work. Below are two screen shots of an activity we completed today. Picture one is "before or pre-sort" and picture two is "after or post-sort."

 

Picture One

                 Picture Two

Another Great Read!

Over the last couple of days we read the story "White Socks Only" to help us work on the reading strategy of asking questions. This is another rich text full of lots of opportunities to pause and ask meaningful questions that hep us think deeper about the topic and the author's main messages in the text. I am very impressed with the level of questions many of us are asking and the discussion that arises from the questions we ask... it is like a mini book club in Room 209!

Below is a link of a reading of the story.

White Socks Only

What's The Mode?

This afternoon in math we learned all about mode. Mode is what shows up the most often in a data set.

 

The mode data in the chart above is 2 because it shows up the most in this data set.

How To Blow A Bubble!

Today during our writing block I gave each of the kiddies a piece of bubble gum and told them to practice blowing bubbles. They were quite excited to participate in such an activity! Afterwards they  were given their task: In small groups write instructions on "how to blow a bubble." Everyone was extremely thrilled to be practicing their procedural writing skills with such an authentic learning task! Tomorrow we will edit up our writing and begin sharing as a class!

Henry's Freedom Box

Today we began an excellent picture book called "Henry's Freedom Box." I only read half the book and then ask the students to record any questions that they might have. We discussed asking questions that are "thick" and would generate conversation among their peers. Here is an example of what I mean about thick versus thin questions.

How old is Henry?
This is an example of a thin question. It requires a one word answer. The answer to this question will not generate conversation and it does not help a reader make much more meaning from the text.

How might Henry be feeling knowing that his children may be sold as slaves?
This is an example of a thick question. The question generates rich conversation. Many different feelings may be brought up with different explanations for each one. The question helps the reader gain deeper meaning of the main ideas of the text as well as character feelings. 

Tomorrow we will finish up the story, ask some more questions and share our thinking as a whole group.

Interpreting Bar Graphs

We have really kicked up our math thinking a notch. Instead of just "reading the data" in a graph. We are answering higher order questions that often require us to solve multi step math problems.

Take a look at the following graph:

Try These:

1. What might the question be if the answer is nineteen?


2. Which type of leaves combined were collected more: Hickory and Maple or Poplar and Chestnut?


3. How many leaves were collected altogether?

Bar Graphs

Today's math focus was all about the bar graph!
Like when I introduced the pictograph last week, I put students into small groups and let them explore this type of graph on their own. I did no prior teaching in order to see what they could come up with in their small group. We then shared our ideas as a whole group. I must say... the kiddies were able to do most of the teaching to each other. I love the power of problem solving!
Here is one of the bar graphs from today:

The Civil Rights Movement

Over the next few weeks we will be reading a lot of children's books about the Civil Rights Movement. We will be learning about racism and segregation. We learn that during this time, people did not act the way Jesus intended for us to act. We will also learn about the very courageous people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and Ruby Bridges who stood up for what they believed in to help work towards positive changes.
Our reading strategy focus right now is "asking questions." Using this theme always provokes deep / meaningful questions from the various texts we read. Students begin asking higher level questions which elicit conversation about the texts main ideas, messages, lessons, morals, character feelings etc. It really is a rich unit with so many learning opportunities!

Procedural Writing

Today we started learning about a writing form called procedural writing. I kicked off the unit this morning with a really cute activity. I tell the kiddies that I am going to give them instructions that they need to follow carefully.
Here are my instructions:
Draw a square, next draw a triangle, then draw a rectangle and finally draw a circle.
I then ask all kids to reveal the house that they made. Nineteen kiddies look at me very confused since they all just had four shapes drawn randomly beside each other on a piece of paper.
Lesson learned... instructions (or procedures) need to be very clear and detailed!

Glogster Presentations

Just before Christmas we were working very hard at finishing up our First Nation Tribe posters using the online tool "Glogster." Today some groups felt confident enough to present their work on the Smartboard. I am amazed with our creations so far! A teacher actually popped in our room today, saw what was projected on the Smartboard and asked, "What's that you have created Mrs. Linse?" As much as I wanted to take credit for the engaging project, I fessed up and told her it was two grade three kiddies who had actually created the work! She could not believe her eyes! She now wants to try using this tool with her grade four chickadees. We will continue with presentations this week. If you would like to take a peek at how great these posters have turned out, visit http://www.glogster.com/
Have your child log in with their groups username and password.

Interpreting Data

There are three levels of graph comprehension:

Reading the Data: This requires no interpretation of the graph. You literally read what is displayed.
Example: There are 20 McIntosh Apples in the store.

Reading Between the Data: This requires interpretation of the mathematical relationships expressed in the graph. Quantities are compared and other mathematical concepts (such as addition and subtraction) are applied.
Example: There are 15 more Red Rome apples than Golden Delicious apples.

Reading Beyond the Data: This involves making inferences about the data. Our schema (background knowledge) is used to make conclusions that are not explicitly stated in the graph.
Example: McIntosh apples must be the most popular type of apple because there are the least amount of those on the shelf, meaning most people probably buy that type of apple.

In Grade Three we want to be able to move away from just reading the data and work towards reading between and beyond the data. This requires us to apply critical thinking skills and to think "outside of the box."

Pictographs

Yesterday students were put into small groups and given a pictograph to interpret. I had not yet done any teaching on pictographs yet, but thought this would be a great way for students to explore on their own, teach each other and provide me with a good picture of what they already know. And holy smokes was I impressed. All groups were making wonderful interpretations of the data in the graph. In addition, they were paying attention to the key to kelp them read the data accurately! The key is a new concept to Grade Three, so the fact that they were able to problem solve as a small group on how to use it really had me smilin'.
After sharing our findings as a class today I gave the kiddies a little challenge. It was to make a tally chart based on one of the pictographs (so now we were working backwards). Amazingly, all kiddies were able to do this challenge! Way to go chickadees!

Below is an example of one of the pictographs we used for problem solving.

Data Management

Yesterday we began a math unit called Data Management. In this unit students will collect, organize and display data into graphs and charts. They will also interpret data that is presented in graphs and charts. The main types used throughout this unit will be Venn diagrams, pictographs, bar graphs and tally charts.
This is one of my favourite math units and is usually the students too! We have a lot of fun with many different hands on problems and activities. Before going into teaching I actually was headed down the road of research (specifically health sciences), so I am kinda a "data nerd" as Mr. Linse would say!

Happy New Year!

Welcome Back!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday and are feeling rejuvenated for the new year ahead. The Linse family is very excited for the arrival of Baby Linse this year!

Today was a very productive first day back! Everyone came in eager and ready to work. We remembered all of the rules and routines of the classroom which made for a very smooth transition back.

We began the morning by sharing a highlight from our Christmas break. We then began to discuss how today is in fact a very special day called "The Epiphany." This is the day that the three kings arrive bearing gifts for Baby Jesus. This led us nicely into an activity where we brainstormed and wrote about a gift that we could give to Jesus(example: being kinder to others, helping out more at home etc.)

After recess we talked about New Years and how it is often a time where we can set new goals for ourselves. We talked about what some of these goals might be and tomorrow we will start writing about them.

In the afternoon we began a new math unit: Data Management. I will post more information about this unit throughout the week.

As I type all of this I am patting myself and my 19 kiddies on the back. For our first day we were pretty productive I'd say! I hope moms and dads also had a great first day back to regular routine and that you stayed warm and safe in this crazy weather!