New for Christmas!

I'm so excited to try out this new Power Point game with my class this week!  I'll let you know how it goes.  I'm posting it on TpT, just in time for their BIG sale.  Check it out!
                                                   

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decorate-a-Christmas-Tree-Story-Problems-1-1001835

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm thankful for my third graders, my teaching partner, my team, my colleagues, my principal and my school! (I must admit, I'm also thankful for the Thanksgiving Break!)

I'm thankful for the many blessings God provides!

Cranberry Thanksgiving

I'm looking forward to using one of my favorite books with my class this week!  We have a "short" week, as it is the end of the trimester.  During our Daily 5, we will be using Cranberry Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving at the Tappletons to teach story elements.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cranberry-Thanksgiving-Book-Study-974058

Coming to the End of a BUSY Week!

Conference week is always a looonng week! But this time, conference week included some pretty cool blessings!
1) My first ever Donors Choose project was fully funded in just 7 days!
2) Parent volunteers and mentors came to help our students!
3) Lunch/dinner was provided both days of conferences!
4) Coffee delivered on a busy day!
Thankful for these "extras" and that conferences were well attended.  We only have 3 "make-ups" out of 54 students.  Mostly, I'm thankful tomorrow is Friday!

Student Led Conferences

For the second year in a row, my teaching partner and I are having our students lead our parent teacher conferences.  It is very rewarding to have the students sharing goals with their parents and giving parents specific ways that they can help.  The kids are very excited to finally get to the actual conferences, after practicing with each other and preparing for the last couple of weeks.  They wrote a goal for writing, reading, math and behavior.

Thankful for Guest Teachers!

My co-teacher was absent yesterday and I'm so thankful that a very competent guest teacher was able to join me! I've known Mrs. D since she aided with me while attending college.  She always goes above and beyond what is expected of substitute teachers and I never feel like it was a lost day that needs to be re-done!  Thanks, Mrs. D for all you do for our students and teachers.

I love TECHNOLOGY!

We had fun using our iPads and Netbooks today! We were on Evernote recording our use of manipulatives during our math BUILD workshop. We had to do some troubleshooting, but I think each group was able to make at least 3-4 notes! Yeah!

We also had every student log in, INDEPENDENTLY,  and take at least one AR quiz! Quite an accomplishment for one day!

'Twas the week before conferences and all through the school....

Wow! It's hard to believe it is already Parent Teacher Conference Time! We are busy preparing our 54 students for their meetings. Nearly all of them will be leading the conferences with their parents. They have set their goals for reading, writing, math and behaviors. Peer conferencing practice will be taking place over the next few days.  Bring on the parents!