Writing
This week, our third graders had a special visit from a group of 6th grade students, who stepped into the role of “teacher” during ELA! Each 6th grader chose a nonfiction topic, researched it across multiple sources, and then designed a lesson specifically for our third graders, complete with an activity and a quick check-for-understanding. It was a wonderful connection to our own informational writing work right now, as students are learning what it means to become “experts” on a topic and teach others through clear, organized writing. We always love opportunities for different ages to learn together!
Asia Study Update: Culture Trees & The Magic Paintbrush
In Asia Study, we launched our Culture Trees as a way to explore identity and traditions. Students learned that the leaves can represent the parts of culture we can easily see, like our food, clothing, celebrations, and language, while the roots represent the deeper parts of culture that live inside us, like family values, beliefs, and traditions passed down over time. Students have begun reflecting on their own “roots” and what makes their families unique. We also finished reading The Magic Paintbrush and used it as inspiration for a watercolor art project. Students imagined what they would choose to “bring to life” if they had a magic paintbrush. We talked about the story’s bigger messages of using gifts responsibly, thinking about consequences, and being thoughtful about what we wish for and why. We can’t wait for you to see what they choose.
Independent Third Graders
In SEL, we’re focusing on independence! Our class has had such thoughtful conversations about all the ways they are already independent and responsible at home and at school. During our carpet discussions, we also made an important point; being independent does not mean doing everything alone. Independence means trying your own strategies first, sticking with something even when it feels hard, and also knowing when it is time to ask for help. We introduced a simple strategy chain to build that problem solving stamina. These steps can involve trying on your own, checking a classroom resource, asking a peer, and then asking an adult. Our goal is for students to feel confident starting tasks, staying on track, and self regulating, while also remembering that strong learners reach out when they need to. We all need help sometimes, and that is part of healthy independence.
Important Dates:
- February 13 – Valentine’s Day Bake Sale and Bingo (1:30pm)
- February 16-17 – February Break (No School)
