 | | Ms. Ngyuen teaches Writer's Workshop |
In third grade, we use the Responsive Classroom approach to create a safe and respectful community. Each day the students follow the structure of this approach through a morning meeting, which includes a greeting, a sharing activity, and news and announcements. In addition, we use rules and logical consequences to manage student behavior. We role play, model appropriate behavior, and participate in guided discoveries to help us establish and maintain a positive community atmosphere. We use the Reader's and Writer's Workshop model to guide our reading and writing instruction. We work to integrate Social Studies, Science, Art and Music curriculum within these workshops. Each workshop contains a mini-lesson, independent work time (which can have independent centers and reading activities), and a reflection. We study various forms of writing including: an Open Cycle, Poetry, Memoir, Response to Literature, Procedural, and Non Fiction. We use the Every Day math curriculum. A key component of this curriculum focuses on student thoughts and abilities to solve problems using multiple strategies. We also complete weekly math fact quizzes to help students strengthen their "fact power". The 3rd grade is paired with the Art Department at Hamline University. The Hamline students assist in reinforcing art concepts as we study color, shape, texture and line,while creating panels in the style of Georgia O'Keefe. We continue to explore new ways of working jointly with Hamline. The 3rd grade is fortunate to be able to visit the Valley Branch Nature Center and the Minnesota Zoo every year. These trips are made possible through funding from special grants. We are also lucky to participate in a special Children's Theatre grant which allows students to see three performances during the school year. Other field trips have include: The Como Planetarium, Gibbs Historical Farm, as well as monthly walking field trips to the Hamline Midway Branch Public Library. We traditionally end our year with bowling at Midway Bowl and a picnic at Como Zoo.
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