Super Science and Art last week included three stations  that small groups rotated through. The first station was an exploration of chromatography with ink on different fabrics led by Julianne. The second was a leaf observational drawing and labeling session. And the third was a video explaining why leaves change color in the fall. After rotating through these stations we gathered on the rug as a whole class to watch a demonstration on chromatography with leaves. Ask your child about what they have observed and learned so far.

In math we continue to strengthen our number sense by comparing numbers using the “greather than,” “less than,” and “equal to” signs using an alligator analogy. The hungry alligator always wants to eat the greater number! This was demonstrated creating three-digit numbers on two white boards with a students in the middle being the alligator. We also continued to add numbers with and without regrouping and learning through games.

We put the Peace Table center stage and talked about how it can be a place to take a break to, or a place to go with a friend to solve a problem. We went through the different choices available at the Peace Table and how to use them, and then we role played how to solve problems or spend some solitary time there. Kate Klaire came in and led us in a mindfulness activity to find our “peaceful place inside” and then we spent some time drawing and writing about it. This is a place we can go to anytime to regulate our emotions and go to the “green zone” when needed.

Susan came and talked with us about the Technology Responsible Use Policy (RUP) at TBS. Third graders will not be using the Chromebooks and iPads regularly in the classroom until after the new year when we do some guided research and typing. However, we started the conversation about making smart choices with screens now to plant those seeds. Please hand in your RUP forms signed by you and your child as soon as possible if you haven’t yet. In reading workshop, one-on-one assessments continue while third graders work on building reading stamina. In writing workshop we continued our small moment narrative and focused on ways to hook in the reader and weave in wh- questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how. We have also been working hard on cursive handwriting.

Three birthdays in one week was a rare treat! That hardly ever happens. It has been fun to celebrate so early in the year and learn even more about these Temescalians.