Math Workshop model

During Math Workshop in 3rd grade, every student gets what they need when they need it and where they need it! Some students receive supported interventions and some students receive extended services. During this time, all students work through our Math in Focus curriculum via the concrete, pictorial, and abstract modes of mathematical representation. Here are some of the core components of our math workshop time:

 Each student receives small group, need specific instruction, followed by independent work time
 Allows for students to be rotated/moved to different groups by lesson or unit
 Students are engaged at all times in mathematics practice, and concepts are reinforced daily in stations
 Students are motivated by the rotation and manage themselves with little need for teacher interruption
 Allows extended students to return to class and extend their thinking.

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The Marshmallow Challenge

Friday we worked on a STEM project that helps develop the 4C's: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. It was The Marshmellow Challenge. Students were given 4 items: spaghetti, string, tape, and a marshmellow. The challenge was to build the tallest freestanding tower in 18 minutes and the marshmellow had to be on the top of the tower! It was fun to see all the different ideas! Ask your child how they felt about this challenge.

Flexible Seating

Thank you for coming in today! Many of you were excited to see the seating that we will be using this year. Students will be taught how about the many options for seating, as well as, how to pick the best spot for them based on many factors. Flexible seating is a concept rooted in educational research that encourages students to choose their type of seating based on their learning preferences. For example, some students prefer to stand while learning, some students prefer to sit on the floor or on their knees, some students prefer a traditional table, and some students prefer to sit and have their work elevated in front of them, facilitated by a drafting table. I am especially aware of students who might need to move while working. These students can enjoy doing their work seated on a movable chair or yoga balls. All together we have about 40 different seating options available for our 20 students. Whether your child prefers to sit in a traditional seat or explore...

What a hot week! In and out of the classroom....take a look!

Monday Buddy Reading: Students read a Time for Kids magazine with their reading partner looking for strong vocabulary words. This was a way to practice working on reading comprehension, collaborating with a peer, and practiced our reading strategy of finding good words in reading to increase our vocabulary. Tuesday Real World Math: Students continued working with their math partner to discuss the Real World Math problem from Friday. They used the app, Explain Everything, to set up slides to show their thinking in all areas: Notices, Wonders, Main Question, Low-High Estimate, and Math Work. This app allows students to show their thinking in many ways: drawing, typing, pictures, and audio recording. Students had time to work with their partner and then voice recorded their thinking at home on how they solved the main question. This is an activity in math we will do each Friday using the voice recording as a way for students to explain their thinking and develop th...

Mrs. Katchen's Class 2017-18

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