We Are Important

The first week of school we focused on our names and how we are each unique and special.

Name Perimeter
One story that we  read was The Name Jar. We then put our names on grid paper and found the perimeter of our names. After we determined the perimeter we sorted ourselves into groups with people with the same perimeter. We were able to make a human graph with the data. In our class we noticed that majority of our students had names with 6 letters.

Decorated Names

One of my students' favorite activities of the beginning of the year is to decorate their names. I trace one for each student. After they decorate it with patterns and bright colors, I laminate it and display it in the room for the entire year! Some of my former 3rd graders come back to me and tell me that they still have their names displayed in their bedrooms.

Proud Wall

Instead of having a student of the week, our 3rd grade classes, are recognizing each student each month. They will be able to display their pictures on our class "Proud Wall". There will be a theme for the month. The month of August is "Fun in the Sun", my summer vacation!

All About Me Bags

On Meet the Teacher night the students were given their first homework assignment. They were to bring in 5 items to share with the class about themselves. The students were able to make connections with new friends. I had one of my young ladies share with one of my boys, "This reminds me of when I hunt with my dad." He was shocked that she liked to hunt too! :)

We Are Caring Kids

To focus on being kids of character we have done a couple of activities.

Fish Bowl of Compliments:

The Rainbow Fish is a story that teaches kids that sharing with others is a wonderful thing. We made fishbowls out of plastic bottles, coffee filters, tissue paper and Mod Podge. We have displayed the fish bowls in our classroom. The kids may write compliments/thank yous and place them in the bowls throughout the year! They love writing the notes and receiving them.

Peacebreakers & Peacemakers:

We read the story No! David. Even in 3rd grade the kids love this story. After the story we brainstormed "Peacebreakers are people who..." and "Peacemakers are people who..." Kids then wrote about things they would do to be "Peacemakers" and we made "Yes Davids".





Miss Rumphius:

We read a wonderful story, Miss Rumphius, about a lady who made the world a wonderful place by planting lupine flowers. As a class we brainstormed ways we could make Moonlight Elementary a beautiful place. The kids then made lupine bookmarks out of chalk and paint. On the back of the bookmarks is their list of ways they can help the school.

Dare to CARE

This year I am using the theme "Dare to Care". I am encouraging my students to focus on five principals of caring.

1.) Help people in need

2.) Think about people's feelings

3.) Never be mean or hurtful

4.) Think about how your actions will affect others

5.) Do caring things

Today the kids brainstormed class/school rules on a graphic organizer. They did this individually. We then took their rules and sorted them into the 5 Dare to Care categories. The students did this with a team and then we completed a class chart. I was amazed at how well they did with this activity. After we completed the Dare to Care chart my class did their first act of kindness "Mission Possible". We made welcome back cards for the staff. We then did a school tour to deliver the cards. We even talked about how to deliver the cards and use kind words such as, "Welcome back to Moonlight. Have a great year!"

This is the individual brainstorms they did on class rules.

This is the graphic organizer they used in teams to sort their rules

Our Class Chart

I created one to hang in our classroom so we can use it all year.





Meet the Teacher Night

Thursday night was meet the teacher night at our school. Students may come to their classrooms and meet their teacher and bring in their supplies. I could feel all of the excitement in the air! The classrooms were all set up and the desks were awaiting students. On each desk was a "Third Grade Survival Kit"  and an "All About Me Bag". I was able to meet 18 of my 23 students. This is my favorite time of the school year!

I am very fortunate because my kids go to the same school I teach. I was able to take Wyatt to meet his preschool teacher (Miss Kristie) and Kaylee to meet her second grade teacher (Mrs. Yokley)! I did a great job not crying as we dropped off their supplies I will not be able to make the same promise on the first day of school.