LEGO Multiplication Game

At this point in the year... I start to worry about students that have still not mastered their multiplication facts...  

Besides some traditional flash cards, I was inspired by the Target dollar section to to use REALLY CHEAP lego packs - $1 (below) to help students become more familiar with some of those difficult facts.

I used the bigger legos and wrote various sums to multiplication problems.  Then, I wrote the factors on the smaller matching pieces.  I also included some "free" pieces, because why not?

To play the game, students take turn rolling dice to determine if they will pick piece, exchange pieces or give back pieces.  First player to solve 6 blocks wins!

Here is the game I created for FREE on TPT : )

Enjoy!

-Kellie

Using Assessment with Lucy Calkins Reading

This is my second year using the "3rd Grade Lucy Calkins Reading Curriculum," and I absolutely love using it!  Students are so engaged in their reading and the minilessons are truly perfect for supporting reading in reader's workshop.

Assessment Struggles...
One thing I have been struggling with is how to assess my students throughout the course of the unit without overcomplicating things...

I figured out that using the sticky notes students were already writing on was a great way to quickly and accurately assess student work!

I used the different teaching points as criteria and had students copy their work or simply stick their sticky note in the appropriate box.

Brainstorming with a coworker... led to this GEM!

Here is a portion of the BLANK copy...  scroll down to the end of the post to download the entire document for 3rd Grade Bends 1 & 2.




Student Work:



How could you use this?

1. Conferencing tool - it could help to move conversation and focus on the goals of the unit.

2. Assessment tool - use this throughout the unit by allowing students to fill it out as they travel through the book club adventure!

3. Re-teaching - keep track of students that are struggling and use this to pull small groups and focus on one specific strand from the unit.


You can get it for FREE here.

-Kellie

Using Morning Tubs in 3rd Grade

Why Morning Tubs/Bins?

So... recently I read/watched this AMAZING post by Bonnie Kathryn Teaching on using Morning Tubs instead of Morning Work...

I thought I might adapt this for my third grade kiddos!  I wanted something easy, mess-free and engaging to replace xtramath.com in the morning.  Usually, students log into xtramath.com to practice math facts (which yes, is beneficial) and then they play math games on their chrome books.  I have been noticing the need for students to interact with each other and get engaged in an activity vs. grab their chrome book and zone out the entire world.

This was SO successful!  Check it out....

Tangoes 

Purchased from: Target

Puzzles that use geometric pieces 

Boggle

*Created by me... but easily duplicated!

Students draw letters and build as many words as they can!

IQ Twist and IQ Fit

Purchased from: Target 

Puzzles using 3D pieces that range in difficulty level

How I use them:

Each morning, students do the "Morning Routine" and then grab a bin with a morning activity.  Students that come in can grab a new bin or join a classmate.

Students work for about 20 minutes in the morning... this has been a SANITY-saver - is that a word?

Watch me go through a few bins (after shouting out to Bonnie Kathryn - because her idea for this was so great!) right here:

Try it out yourself!  I can't tell you how great it is working out!

-Kellie

Using a Toolkit in Writer's Workshop

One of my favorite PD experiences this summer was a three-day workshop on using and building a toolkit for Writer's Workshop.  I think (or maybe it's just me) that most teachers find that the most challenging thing about Writer's Workshop (besides keeping your mini-lesson to 10 mins - ha!) is not having the right resource to help a student in the moment.  For example, you notice that after totally SLAYING your mini-lesson on the "Heart of the Story" that this one student is trying to develop their story, but they aren't using any punctuation and they keep saying "and then... and then..." (My inner middle school English teacher cringes...)  What next?

UGH... totally frustrating - Dude, WHAT IS THIS?????   But wait, you have a teacher toolkit and you know a perfect conferencing teaching point to intervene and help this writer!  Here it is...

The Demonstration Notebook - Total Game Changer

In the workshop that I attended they showed us a few videos from DIY Literacy about creating this kind of notebook.  Kate and Maggie (the hosts) are so smart.  If you are using Writer's Workshop, you must check this out.  This is GOLD.  Their video series is phenomenal and completely applicable.

The essential take away was that YOU - yes, not "Teachers Pay Teachers," can create your own notebook as part of your toolkit and make it as the year goes along - you can add to it and it does NOT need to be created before each Writing Workshop session.

Here is the process:

1. Get a blank sketchbook and decide how to divide it up - by unit, skill, etc.
2. Get AWESOME pens to write with.
3. Take notice of what students need.
4. Use a teaching point that you have already developed OR create one on the spot for a student.
5. Write out (DEMONSTRATION) what you NOTICE - the "error"
6. Show STRATEGIES to improve the writing
7. PRACTICE with the student improving the writing
8. Have the student try it on their own
9. Marvel at amazing writing in your classroom : )

Here are some of the pages I have created (in all my spare time) for our first narrative writing unit - based on some likely student needs...

Demonstration #1 - Writers can use sketches to brainstorm new ideas about a topic they have already started. 

Demonstration #2 - Writers tell stories that are clear in their memory.

 

Demonstration #3 - When writers feel "stuck" or "done," they sometimes review other stories to get going again.

I can't wait to keep filling this up!  I am thinking I might add in student examples throughout the year (too ambitious?)... I'll fill you in as this progresses!


Kellie

Alliteration with the Letter "T"

Totally, Terribly Ready?

My second year as a third grade classroom teacher starts in just over a month and I have LITERALLY a TRILLION things to do...

1. Plan
2. Start my master's
3. Drink 17 Starbucks Lattes
4. Cry
5. Drink other beverages... 
6. Pin random things about classroom management that I will never do
7. Plan
8. Pin helpful tips about the beginning of the year that I will never look at
9. Contemplate writing in Frank Underwood for POTUS in November
10. Put up a birthday bulletin board
11. Take the birthday bulletin board down because I found a better spot for it
12. Buy my 62nd set of Crayola markers 'cause duh- they're on sale
13. Make a list
14. Don't use the list
15. Panic
16. Unpack, organize and set up last minute.

O.K. ready, set, GO!

As a former middle school English teacher, I have found that I greatly miss teaching only English.  I could focus on just ONE subject (well more like 4 subjects if you break it down...).  The grading was intense  insane, but the crafting of a literary essay... still gives me goosebumps.  Character analysis, themes weaved within a text, the list goes on and on.  Enough of middle school nostalgia - I made the switch to elementary school last year, and I'm not looking back, just looking forward with glazed eyes and three cups of coffee.

This summer I have been immersed in reading and writing with our new Lucy Calkins curriculum (new to school, not to me), and it is giving me a new sense of panic purpose.  The excitement of starting students in all grades with such a great, supportive curriculum is starting to get to me!  Within my feelings of excitement, I can't help but remember what it was like to teach this curriculum to middle schoolers who had only just begun the program (meaning they were doing something else prior to Lucy Calkins and then just jumped in, feet first, writing anecdotal stories at the beginning of their high school application essays - holy mother...).  It was scary, frightening and overwhelming.  The worst part was deciding what was essential to teach in such complex, fruitful units.  I am hoping that this will NOT be the case for my third graders this year.  They have had one year of Lucy Calkins Writing - that's a plus... but the reading will be a switch.  I'm freaking out prepping the best way I can... by pinning, obviously.

This brings me to some serious T's... as this year starts, I am starting from scratch in more ways than one:

- "Twice as Nice" - this is my second year in third grade - I'm still getting the hang of a large teaching transition from middle school - no fear - I'm feeling terrified terrific!

- "Three Credits" - I am starting my master's degree this year... That's terrific?  I am hoping that I don't feel the creep of overwhelming, debilitating anxiety.  I can do this. With caffeine.

- "Two Doors Down" - I moved classrooms and am currently purging old, leftover materials... what a pain, yet cleansing - like shaving your legs?  My new room is growing on me.  I think a few more inspirational posters about kindness and (patience) for the walls will help.

-Kellie