classroom theme

 

I think I've decided on the 

Dots On Turquoise & Owl Stars 

 for my classroom theme. 

Here are some things I've found, and can't wait to use: 

creativeteachingpress.com  I thought this writing center bulletin board matched perfectly!

 Tommies Tools blog had some great ideas for dots- take a peek here..

                                                     

I've also fallen in love with SchoolGirl Style's polka dot lanterns and adorable

owl pennants. If you haven't checked out Melanie's beautiful creations

check out her blog 

and my absolute favorite find was.. this cute-cute-cute idea from 

dollar store crafts.com 

(so excited to put these owls in my classroom)

Click here & learn How To Make an Owl Lantern

Two awesome linky parties!

Today I'm linking up with two awesome bloggers.

First with Ms. Fultz's Corner...to let you peek inside my classroom:

reading/writing wall..students work on differentiated groups, literature circles, and in centers
all activities are stored in folders, baskets, or in the magnetic pockets on the board ( my fav purchase)

 I made a cute little cement can stand  to "shows off our writing& art"

                                                   

:

We have been reading Cinderella stories from around the world.
Each time we read a different version, we place a glass slipper on our map!

On our writing bulletin board- we learned about point of view and wrote the story from a different characters perspective
(hysterical)

                                       

Step-mom's story

here is the Prince's version

Then with my pal Tara from 4th Grade Frolics, she wants to know what's in my lunchbox? (how fun is that)  I have to tell you that my lunch is usually a yogurt & a zillion pretzels...some coffee and usually fruit. I use an old lululemon bag-

 healthy yogurt, almonds, fruit & a HUGE coffee!

not a very fancy lunch bag, a reused lululemon bag!



3rd grade Brochure Writing

                                    As my little friends travel around the word,
                             I let them make brochures- as a culminating activity.
Brochure writing is fun, helps them develop perfect paragraphs, detailed illustrations, bold print, clever maps , cool titles and subtitles. I am able to teach and practice all of the elements of non-fiction with ease.
                            (plus looks SO cute on the bulletin board, I can actually fit all 31 pieces neatly)
                                                   We just left China next stop Italy.

This is My BF's bulletin board:

                                                http://charmedinthirdgrade.blogspot.com/

My bulletin board last year.

My class also made and displayed these Chinese Dolls (art class).

Paper towel rolls in the middle so they could stand-  a really amazing presentation for parent teacher conferences!

My fab- friend who works down the hall teaches 5th grade..She let me share her awesome brochures. 

Her students completed a brochure about one of the 50 states,

great links
http://www.vrml.k12.la.us/3rd/homework/write/3_writ.htm

My go to spot for everything!! I love read write think....
 http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?sort_order=relevance&q=brochures&old_q=
template to get you started
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson856/planning.pdf

Have you ever seen CoLoreD Loose Leaf? 
Oh my gosh when I found it I felt like I hit the jackpot!
My 3rd graders went wild for it, and they thought it was SO great for drawing illustrations...



Here are a  few pictures of the "fables" my class just published! 
They are just
so much nicer with the colored loose leaf!
What do you think? I bought about a million the packages from Michaels.
(received a teacher discount too!)



Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

Today was SO much fun!

My 3rd graders had a blast, made a mess, & were inspired -
Great things happened today, 
thanks to a wonderful, talented, literary icon!  
Did I mention that I must have been CRAZY to do the OoBleck experiment in my classroom solo with, oh.....about  30 kiddos! I guess I conveniently forgot about what a mess a little cornstarch and water can make!  (totally worth it!)
I also discovered a Dr. Seuss book that I've never read! IDK how this one slipped by me? Have you read?
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day? If not I recommend it,
especially if you teach a testing grade!

"All schools for miles and miles around
Must take a special test,
To see who's learning such and such-
To see which school's the best
If our small school does not do well,
Then it will be torn down,
And you will have to go to school in dreary
FLOBBERTOWN."

      Then tonight the family went to see the LORAX in 3-D! It was really great!

Those fantastic LORAX mustaches are a freebie from: 

A few classroom pictures

A few weeks ago I blogged about teaching my 3rd graders "figurative language" I have to say it was the funniest time of year so far! We really had a ball..(ha ha) Here are some blurry  bulletin boards pics.

In our Everyday Math Program we are just finishing up our GEOMETRY UNIT

My class loved The Greedy Triangle story, then we made a lot of different triangles with straws and twist ties. ( rather messy, but fun)

I spent a lot of time this year on Authors Purpose!  I found WAY too many ideas on Pinterest.. My favorite was a PIE flip book.  I added it as a center, the students would browse the library, or their SS weekly newspaper and list the title of the story under the appropriate flap!