This Just In: Reading Centers Have Begun!

I have always admired those who do centers in their classroom. The past 2 years I have taught 6th grade and struggled finding time to fit in centers in my classroom. This year I have made the move to 3rd grade (my choice!) and still did not do any type of centers in my classroom. I just wasn't sure how to start or how to go about centers. I have read The Daily 5 and absolutely loved it and wanted to start it way back when I thought I would be teaching 1st/2nd grade dual class. Well my plans changed and I did not take that job, therefore I did not have the chance to start the Daily 5.

 

Well, this January I started my Masters with 2 of my co-workers, my fellow 3rd grade teacher and one of the 5th grade teachers. We carpool so we talk a lot about school and our classrooms. Our 5th grade teacher told us about how they use reading centers in their classroom. Us 3rd grade teachers thought, "Well we can do that too!". So last week was our first week using our new reading centers. We are still working out the kinks but I really, really, REALLY enjoy centers and I think my students do to! It really breaks up the monotony of our old reading routine.

 

Here's how it works in my room.

 

I have 4 centers, so I have divided my students in to groups I have 2 low groups, 1 average group, and one high level group. Here is the order of their centers for the week.

Reading Centers

Listening

Writing

Word Work (Spelling)

Teacher Time

1	2	3	4
On level	Above level	Low level	Low level
T-teacher W-listening R- spelling F- writing	T-Writing W-teacher R-Listening F-Spelling	T-Spelling W-Writing R-teacher F-listening	T- Listening W-Spelling R- Writing F-teacher

https://www.scribd.com/doc/256255350/Reading-Centers-basic-pdf

 

We go through one reading story a week. So on Monday we do a whole group less for the entire hour. We will listen to the story and do worksheets for the skill and strategy they are learning for that week. Tuesday through Friday is when they work on their centers. Listening center is just that, they will listen to the story again. Word Work center is typically their spelling center and will work on different spelling activities. Writing center is usually some writing activity out of my reading basal. Teacher time is when I can really individualize what they each need work on. We will work on fluency, comprehension, or phonics. I noticed a great improvement on their reading tests last week because we got to go deeper into the story than we ever have before! I am a huge fan of centers!

 

When my students finish with one of their centers early they are to grab a Done Early? Worksheet. While I am in Teacher Time they are not allowed to come up and talk to me. So this helps for those that finish early. You can find it on my Teachers Pay Teachers store! Find it here.

 

Do you do centers in your classroom, whether its for reading or math or another subject? I would love to hear how you have your centers set up and what you love about it!

 

Thank you and enjoy the rest of your week!

(I have been having a great week, this is day 3 snow day!)

Merry Grinch-mas from 3rd Grade

I am officially on CHRISTMAS BREAK!! Yay! 

Two whole weeks off with my beautiful son. 

Can't wait to spend the holidays with my husband and family either!

Below are pictures from our Christmas crafts! We made wreaths, drew pictures of the Grinch, and drew a picture of Olaf (we had some extra time!)

This is what I did on my first day of break (while little man was sleeping of course!)

My new Jamberry's (I'm not that great at applying them!)

Merry Christmas!
(He obviously did not like Santa this year!)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year for Thanksgiving we did the "Turkey in Disguise" activity. It was so much fun! Here are some of their turkeys.

How cute are those!? We also had our Thanksgiving feast yesterday. The kids had a great time, but boy was I exhausted!

Oh we had Book Character Day at our school last week! I can't post any of this kids but I will of the teachers!

I'm the tall Cat in the Hat in the back row! How creative is our staff!

After our Book Character Parade, I assigned the upper grades to visit the lower grades and they buddied up and read together. They enjoyed that so much!

Happy Halloween From My Class to Yours!

Pictures from our October

Pumpkin Art

Frankenstein Writing

courtesy of Third Grade Love Blog

What should Mrs. Crouse be for Halloween?

courtesy of I Want to be a Super Teacher

Happy Halloween!

From our little family,

A Wonderful Math Tool

Looking for a way to help your kids on math facts? Whether it be addition, subtraction, multiplication or division xtramath.org is a-MAZ-ing!

I found this website a couple of years ago when I was working as a RtI aide. I was working with 3rd graders who needed help remembering their multiplication facts. Lo, and behold I found this beauty! It works wonders with all kids, especially those who struggle with memorization. 

It is a FREE website (that has a not-so-free app). I entered all of my 3rd grade stu

dents and had them get on this past Thursday. I wasn't sure what they would think, but they loved it! I even had some that wanted to keep going instead of having their computer game time!

I definitely recommend this website!

Try it and you will fall in love!

Bubble Gum Writing

The past few weeks we have been learning how to sequence. We have been doing this with our reading stories and worksheets. Well of course I had to get on pinterest and check out what other teachers have been doing with sequencing. You may have already seen this, but we did the "How To Blow A Bubble" writing. 

First, I gave all my students a piece of bubble gum and they "tried" to blow a bubble, some of them were successful! After that we talked about all the steps it took to blow a bubble. I then had them write a rough draft of their "First, Next, Then, Last" papers. I checked them and then they wrote their final drafts. 

Here are some pictures.

I will have to attach the paper later (its on my school computer).

Classroom Management

I wanted to share with you what I do for my classroom management, as a whole group and individual.

 Below you see four pictures. The top two pictures and the bottom left picture are my whole group discipline management. My 3rd graders start every week with the letters "REWARD" on our bulletin board. If, as a class, they are not listening, following directions, etc. Then I take a letter away. Each letter is worth 5 minutes, adding up to 30 minutes total of what we call "Fun Friday". On nice Fridays we take them outside to play and on others we play games inside. Now, I do have a way for my students to earn minutes back. Therefore bringing you the bottom left photo, where you see "T" and "S" and tally marks. To get my students attention I use an attention grabber. I say "1-2" the kids say "Eyes on You" then I say "3-4" and the kids say "Talk no more!". After we say this they are suppose to completely silent and listening. If they are then they get a point under the student or "S" side. If I have students still talking or not paying attention after we say this then I get a point under the teacher or "T" side. Each tally mark is work 1 minute of time added on to their "REWARD". BUT my points cancel out their points. For example, below it shows that I have 4 points and they have 6 points. This means that my student got 2 extra minutes added to their "REWARD" on Friday. So if they lost one letter (5 minutes) they would get 2 more minutes added on. Hope my explaining makes sense! Please comment if you have any questions! I have found that this method works great in all grades! I used this in 6th grade the last 2 years and now in 3rd! Give it a try if you have trouble getting your students to pay attention. 

I now want to point out the bottom right photo. This is my individual behavior management system. Its my beautiful clip chart which I know a lot of you use. In my class, my students receive tickets for 100% on tests, passing AR tests, getting their homework log signed, and good behavior. At the end of the day if a student stays on "Ready to Learn" then they get 1 ticket. If they moved up for good behavior then they will get 2 tickets at the end of the day. If they move down 1, that is a warning. If they move down 2, I take out time of their PE. If they move 3, they go to office and I call home.

With their tickets, they can purchase different things in the classroom. I will post my ticket prizes below to be downloaded for FREE!

  Ticket Prize List

Ok, and now for a 3rd grade funny!

Can you guess which word doesn't belong? :)

Have a great weekend!