Global Read Aloud!

We are two weeks into our global project - The Global Read Aloud (GRA).  We are reading the early chapter book, Marty McGuire by Kate Messner.  I spend time a couple of times per week reading from the book out loud to the class.  We use various reading strategies to monitor our comprehension and extend our understanding of what's happening in the story.  The class has been asking for more reading time - but because we are staying on the same schedule as other classes around the world - I have to keep them waiting!

The GRA is a global phenomenon that now has 135 000 students participating! Students connect with classes around the world via different platforms like kidblog.org, Todaysmeet, Skype, twitter, etc.  They are able to extend their learning with students who are not in their class or city.

It's amazing for them to consider that there are other kids in distant parts of the world who are similar to them.  We have connected with one class in Kentucky.  They are also in grade three.  We were thrilled to see how alike our schools and classes are.

Click the following link to find out more about this great project!

GRA around the world!

Into October

Just a reminder that we are starting a new month!

• Students are reminded to sign into spellingcity.com at least three times during the week!  
• ixl.com is a site that students should visit regularly, but there will be times that it is assigned as homework.  
• kidblog.org is a site that students can visit daily - and the more they visit the site and write (and read others' writing) the better writers they will be!
• Permission forms for Willow View Farms will be coming out this week - I am so excited for this field study - it's  directly related to our plants unit and we get to eat apples!
• Starting tomorrow - we begin our week-long Bollywood dance unit - students will be taught by Bollywood dance teachers instead of our regularly scheduled P.E. blocks (super fun!).  We will have a small performance on Friday.
• I'm still waiting on permission forms to share student photos and work samples on our blog.  This is a great way for parents to see what we've been up to in the classroom!
• Global Read Aloud (GRA) begins tomorrow.  We are reading Marty McGuire along with hundreds of other primary classes for the next several weeks - we will be sharing our thoughts with classrooms around the globe (how fun!).
• Scholastic Book orders are a great way to contribute to the classroom library.  Every book that students order allows for their teacher to order more new books for the classroom! Bigger classroom libraries = better access  to books = better readers!!
• Every Friday is the vocabulary test and every other Friday is a spelling test 

Welcome!

Welcome to Division 12!
I'm so excited to be a part of the primary team this year.  The sudden switch from grade 1 to grade three  is going great.  Our class is settling in nicely.  We've been working hard on establishing routines and learning the expectations of students in grade three. Next week we will begin getting into the nitty gritty of our learning for term one.

Learning focus for term one:
Language Arts - grammar and sentence writing, writing with a clear "voice" on the blog, beginning reading strategies for fiction, increasing stamina of independent reading and vocabulary studies.

Math - number patterns, place value to 1000 and addition and subtraction of larger numbers

Science - Plant study - I'm very excited about this one - growing and studying plants is one of my biggest passions!

Social Studies - Mapping skills and Canada

Health and Career Education - learning about mindfulness and anti-bullying

Fine Arts - all students will be joining choir (Mr. Lee, our new music teacher is amazed at the beautiful little voices in division 12), visual arts with a particular focus on painting