THIRD GRADERS ARE GEMS

I am really loving third grade.  My team is great.  I really get along with them well.  There is even a chance that if we stay in Utah, and if I got pregnant, I might try to share a class with one of the teachers.  That's a lot of ifs, but it is an exciting possibility.

Anyway, third graders are so cute.  I am really enjoying them.  They really are so innocent. 

Today, I was reminding them that I'd be gone tomorrow, and they asked about my race.  I explained some of it to them, and then this girl came up and gave me a huge hug.  She said, "I am so happy for you!" I asked her why, and she said, "because of your race! I hope you win!"  I told her I wouldn't be winning, and she was a little confused.

They also promised me that they'd watch for me on TV. :)

THIS KID COULD MAKE ANYTHING FUNNY...

Best line:

It's like Walt Whitman said, "Yolo." Except he didn't say that. But you would know that if you would read a book!

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

Back to school is here! I've got two weeks of school under my belt so far!

Third graders are sweet! They are at an adorable age.  They are so helpful, not sassy, and they have great imaginations.  I have to write down the funny things they do and say.  

My team has been so helpful.  They are always sharing ideas with me, which makes it so much easier to feel like I am doing a good job.  I feel like we are friends, too, which is so nice. 

Third grade takes a lot more material prep and idea generation.  In sixth grade, I tried to be fun and creative, but I didn't need to be.  In third grade, the kids need creative explanations on their level in order to understand concepts.

I am totally swamped, spending 11-12 hour days at work most days, but I am hoping that this will decrease over the weeks.

More updates later!

MONSTER CLASS TOUR

Here is the view from the front looking at the back.  My table/desk area is in the back left and the library is the back right.  VOICES board -- writing, CAFE board -- reading, DAILY 5 -- reading.

This is the view from the front looking left.  It is pretty simple. 

Here's the view from the front looking right.  It looks a little messier than I'd like (on the counters) but whatever. :)

From the back viewing the front. My monster word wall under my board (each of those is a monster!) My math boards (red) and my rule board (blue).  My monster birthday months (on top on both sides) and my cursive and monster calendar.

Don't mind the hanging strings from the ceiling. I hate them, but haven't gotten to taking them down and fixing them (so they're the same length and not so messy looking!)

A better look.

 

I envisioned taking pictures of them obeying these rules to put around the rules...

Poetry and monster behavior chart. 

Class library with my orange rugs!  You can almost see the jobs wall behind the door -- there pictures will be there soon.

Et, voila! Decorating took a lot of work, but after today, I think that was the easy part!  I've got my work cut out for me, but the kids are sweet, so it is worth it!