Every child can learn...
Expeditionary Learning School
Glennwood Elementary is an Expeditionary Learning School. ELS is a curriculum designed to promote critical thinking, skills and habits, academic achievement, and personal development through the use of in-depth investigations that engage students in community, projects, and service. An expedition brings experts into the classroom, takes students into the field, and engages students in real world learning experiences (Practice). "At a successful Expeditionary Learning school, teachers, parents, staff, and students work together to create a school culture of collaboration, respect, and high expectations"
The comprehensive curriculum can be viewed in further detailed at the Expeditionary Learning website. Please visit our school's website for FAQs and more information.
Hey! Put that comic book down and read a chapter book! Have you ever said this before? Well, let me be the first to admit my prejudice towards what I believed were ‘just’ comics. As it turns out, graphic novels are the great equalizer among young & old readers alike. I will be introducing graphic novels to the class in February and we will delve into a special world of reading. This in no way means the students will be putting down their favorite books. To the contrary, we will simply be adding another delicious genre to our buffet of literary experiences. Together we will discover how chunked text (speech bubbles), pictures, context clues, onomatopoeia, figurative language, and many other reading skills can be absorbed from reading such incredibly satisfying, highly interesting graphic novels. There is an interesting article on graphic novels from the School Library Journal.
Also, read The Best Comics for Kids 2009.
Farm 2 School
Are you looking for ways to get connected with your community farmer?
Here at Glennwood Elementary, we are working to build relationships with our community farmers as well as educate our children on the economic, social, nutritional and environmental impact of growing our own foods or buying locally. If you would like to know more about the Farm to School Initiative, click here to check out their website.
Celebration of Professional Learning: Web 2.0 Tools
American Democracy with a focus on Ancient Greece
Onward, march! I have always had a soft spot in my teaching heart for History and general Social Studies so I am very excited about our next unit on Democracy. Here is a brief overview of what our class will be studying over the next few months:
“Third grade students will explore the origins of American democracy as well as the lives of important Americans. In addition, 3rd graders will continue to acquire basic economic concepts.”
¥ Identify ways Ancient Greece Influenced America
¥ Explain the political roots of American democracy
¥ Discuss the lives of selected Americans who expanded people’s rights
and freedoms in a democracy
¥ Locate and describe the major topographical features of America
¥ Describe the cultural and geographic systems associated with historical f
figures in American democracy and explain how these Americans display
positive character traits
¥ Explain the importance of the basic principles that provide the foundation
¥ Describe and explain economic concepts involving productive resources,
taxation for public services, and interdependence and trade
Our 3rd grade team is working on a couple of ambitious plans for a final product to represent our learning. Stay tuned for possible parent requests!
Fractions
We have completed our Geometry unit and preparing to dive right into fractions! I always tell the students not to fret because fractions are your friends. We use them in everyday life without realizing just how often! From slicing up a fresh pie to dividing ingredients in a recipe, almost everything we measure is something in-between the whole. Here are some tips and ideas retrieved from education.com
•Divide a large pile of objects (cereal, plastic animals, blocks, etc.) equally into 4 piles to illustrate one-fourth. Recombine the group to divide into other fractions.
•Get out the measuring cups and spoons! Let your child play with them in the bath to experience one-half cup or one-third teaspoon.
•Fold a piece of paper into halves, and then into halves again with your child. Open it up to show the division of fourths.
•Count the rooms in your house and make some fraction facts about them. One-half of the rooms have windows. One-third of them have pillows.
•While in the car, mark the passing of time with fractions. "We are one-third of the way there." "It will take us 20 minutes to get to the library." "In how many minutes will we be half-way there?"
Reading & Writing
“Third graders are making the transition from learning to read to reading to learn. They read much more widely on a variety of topics. The third-grade students increase their abilities to read aloud with fluency and comprehension. Third graders read more thoughtfully, discover more details, extract deeper meaning in what they read, and read more complex texts. They enjoy a variety of genres, including fiction and non-fiction texts and poetry.” (see GPS Lang Arts for more information)
Nonfiction
During reader’s and writer’s workshop, we will be taking a look at nonfiction books and how writer’s create informational pieces. Nonfiction work is all around us and it would be great for you to share what you notice with your child---recipes, stereo instructions, Audubon Society books, magazines, newspapers, etc. Our focus will be on determining importance through use of captions, subtitles, headings, summarizing, and more. For our writer’s workshop project we will be taking our 4-Square writing pieces on our nine historical figures and choosing one figure for a final piece. This will be in addition to writing about how Ancient Greece has influenced America.
TIPS FOR READING COMPREHENSION...
Types of Retelling
Simple retelling
The student can:
•identify & retell the beginning, middle, and end of a story in order.
•describe the setting.
•identify the problem and the resolution of a story.
More complete retelling
The student can:
•identify and retell events and facts in a sequence.
•make inferences to fill in missing information.
•Identify and retell causes of actions or events and their effects.
Most complete retelling
The student can:
•identify and retell a sequence of actions or events.
•make inferences to account for events or actions.
•offer an evaluation of the story.
Change of plans
If there are any changes to your child’s after school transportation please send in a note in a timely fashion.
If a call is received late in the afternoon it can be difficult for the written message to make it to the teacher before the end of the day. Please be conscientious of the busy school day by sending in a note with your child or calling early in the school day for a change of arrangements.
Shopping
Are you looking for ways to support your school system?
If you purchase your books from Amazon, go through the link below and Amazon will donate a percentage to the Decatur Education Foundation! Just Click the link below to start shopping!!
Shop Amazon.com thru this link & purchases result in a contribution to the DEF.
