MANAGEMENT
*Kids LOVE to draw! Teachers want them to make good LEARNING choices in their free time. This was my compromise. I mounted these cards on construction paper, laminated them, and gave one to each student with his/her name on the back. They are free to use the card ONE time each week to draw when their work is finished. But, they know that I don't guarantee how much time they will have to draw. It might be 1 minute or it might be 5...it just depends on when we move on to the next activity! Drawing Time Cards

*My kids keep a portfolio of work they are proud of throughout the year. They bring in a 1" 3-ring binder and a package of page protectors to keep papers in good shape. We include a graph of all spelling and math fact test scores, a project from each major unit of study, writing samples, tests, etc. At the end of each quarter the kids reflect on their progress and identify areas for improvement. Then, those reflections are placed in the portfolio. The kids share the content of their portfolios at conferences. (My co-worker, Michelle Thrower, shared this idea with me last year!)
1st Quarter Reflections
Writing Reflection
Spelling Test Graph
Math Facts Graph

*This is the form that I use to prepare for Fall Parent-Teacher conferences. I always copy it and send one copy home with parents so that we both have a record of the conference. On the bottom, I write if there is anything that I need to follow-up on so that I don't forget! (Our district LOVES abbreviating things...B.O.Y. just stands for Beginning of the Year assessment data...there's no G.I.R.L.!) :) Fall Conference Form

* We are fortunate to have a lot of parent volunteers at my school. This is the form that I give out at Back-to-School Night for interested parents to fill out. Help Wanted

*So that I can learn more about my students from an expert point-of-view, I also give this form out to parents at Back-to-School Night to fill out for me. In a million words or less...

*I purchase 2 class sets (so that I can replace them in January) of folders with brads at the beginning of the year when they're super-cheap. My kids use them as "Daily Folders" to keep track of homework, reading minutes, etc. At the end of each day we fill out a "Daily Reminder" of things to remember for the next day like homework, specials, permission slips, etc. This form stays in the front pocket along with any notes or homework. In the center brads, we keep our spelling homework tic-tac-toe menu, and a monthly calendar to keep track of reading minutes. Students carry the folder back and forth between school and home.

MATH
*Our 3rd grade team sends home a "S.U.M.S." Bag (Students Understanding Math Strategies) with each student every week. The bag usually includes a game to be played at home with a parent and a problem-solver. The game reinforces an important skill or strategy that is being taught or as a review. We play the game at school together so that students are prepared to "teach" their parent how to play. These are some of the activities that I've sent home in the bag.
Round We Go (adapted from an Olathe School District math lesson)
One Meter Designs (My co-worker, Marni Mills, came up with this idea!)
Multiplication/Division Arrays
Measurement Scavenger Hunt
Multiplication 3-in-a-Row

*These are some activities to use with a hundred's board to target number sense skills (and have fun!)
Hundred Board Activities
Print a hundreds board here (scroll down to "Interactive Number Charts")

*Our 3rd graders work hard to learn their multiplication facts this year. To celebrate, we have an ice cream sundae party at the end of the year. Students earn toppings for each group of facts that they master (3 seconds or less per fact). This is the check-list that they keep in their portfolio of which toppings they've earned (fact groups they've mastered). (This was adapted from an Olathe School District lesson)
Multiplication Sundae

*These are cards that I laminated for each student. We use them for EPR (Every Pupil Response) activities when learning how to round. I put a number on the board and, on command, students show me if the number would round up or down.
Round Down Cards
Round Up Cards

READING
*Our school district adopted the Harcourt reading anthology a few years ago. One of the components is a "Question of the Day" which is related to the story that week. I have my students respond to this question during one of their workboard centers while I'm meeting with small reading groups. This is the journal that I typed up with all the questions for each story. I ask the kids to answer in complete sentences with words from the question in their answer. (For example: Q: How could a map of San Francisco help Nate find the Golden Gate Bridge? A: "A map of San Francisco could help Nate find the Golden Gate Bridge by...".
Harcourt Question of the Day Journal

THEME STUDIES
*Third graders in Olathe study our northern neighbor, Canada. These are 2 of the projects that we do to learn more about Canada's provinces and territories. After a general study of Canada and a brief introduction to the provinces and territories, students select a province or territory "out of a hat". I provide them with books and a reference sheet about their province or territory. They research and take notes using the Note-Taking Guide. Then, they publish their report using the Province Report form. I mount these on red construction paper and put them up in the hallway after they present their reports to one another. As a follow-up home project, the kids can do the "Canadian Express" project. We display it near our Province reports during Parent-Teacher conferences or on top of bookshelves in the library.

*We also learn about Simple Machines in 3rd grade. I try to do a home project with every theme. For simple machines, I have them visit a website about simple machines, then find and locate a simple machine in their home and write about it.
Simple Machines Project

I will try to add new ideas to this page frequently!