“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
– Dr. Seuss
– Dr. Seuss
Walk-a-thon
Triton Gives Back
Merry Lea Study Trip
After learning about rocks, minerals and earth features, our class enjoyed a great day at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. We had a great guide to lead us through our day named Mike. He took us to see land features that had been left behind by the Wisconsin Glacier. We walked over an esker, made an esker, visited a pit, and sorted rocks in a gravel quarry. Kennedy and Taylor found two great examples of fossils in rocks too! We sorted rocks into catagories such as luster, hardness, features, and color. Mike also took us to a bog where we could feel the ground shake like jello when we jumped. We kept busy with so many different things and even got to find a rock and look at metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks under a microscope! We had wonderful weather and fantastic parent chaperones that helped us stay safe and have fun! THANK YOU for being such great helpers on our trip!
After learning about rocks, minerals and earth features, our class enjoyed a great day at Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. We had a great guide to lead us through our day named Mike. He took us to see land features that had been left behind by the Wisconsin Glacier. We walked over an esker, made an esker, visited a pit, and sorted rocks in a gravel quarry. Kennedy and Taylor found two great examples of fossils in rocks too! We sorted rocks into catagories such as luster, hardness, features, and color. Mike also took us to a bog where we could feel the ground shake like jello when we jumped. We kept busy with so many different things and even got to find a rock and look at metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks under a microscope! We had wonderful weather and fantastic parent chaperones that helped us stay safe and have fun! THANK YOU for being such great helpers on our trip!
Flashlight Friday
Celebrating the completion of an amazing first unit of reading brought us a very special event! We were able to spend time relaxing with a great book and a friend, on a comfortable blanket or pillow after successfully completing the first 5 stories in reading! Add in a snack with a special story just made it an extra fun Friday!
Celebrating the completion of an amazing first unit of reading brought us a very special event! We were able to spend time relaxing with a great book and a friend, on a comfortable blanket or pillow after successfully completing the first 5 stories in reading! Add in a snack with a special story just made it an extra fun Friday!
Minerals
We are starting a new unit of study as we prepare for our first study trip to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. Our class discovered that minerals make rocks. Those minerals are found in many, many of our everday items like Halite is salt or quartz is in clocks. Students were amazed at all the places minerals can be. They also learned about luster (glassy, metallic, or earthy), Mohs Hardness Scale, Clevage or the shape a rock breaks in, and streaks that a mineral will leave behind. We also are learning about rock types (metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary) and the rock cycle that can change rocks from one type to another. Everyone enjoyed making their own crysal and then testing it
We are starting a new unit of study as we prepare for our first study trip to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. Our class discovered that minerals make rocks. Those minerals are found in many, many of our everday items like Halite is salt or quartz is in clocks. Students were amazed at all the places minerals can be. They also learned about luster (glassy, metallic, or earthy), Mohs Hardness Scale, Clevage or the shape a rock breaks in, and streaks that a mineral will leave behind. We also are learning about rock types (metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary) and the rock cycle that can change rocks from one type to another. Everyone enjoyed making their own crysal and then testing it
Testing out the Scientific Process through racing!
Our class did a follow up activity to practice how the scientific process works by making "Puff Mobiles." Students imagined different ways that things move. They used those ideas to plan how to create their own versions and then build them. We then took our creations to the gym to race. Mr. Long helped as the race official! Some students had a great idea, but found that asking more questions and researching for more knowledge helps them build a better racer. We had time to make some changes from what we learned to give another round of races. Everyone decided to make big changes and were able to greatly improve their outcomes! Way to figure it out!
Our class did a follow up activity to practice how the scientific process works by making "Puff Mobiles." Students imagined different ways that things move. They used those ideas to plan how to create their own versions and then build them. We then took our creations to the gym to race. Mr. Long helped as the race official! Some students had a great idea, but found that asking more questions and researching for more knowledge helps them build a better racer. We had time to make some changes from what we learned to give another round of races. Everyone decided to make big changes and were able to greatly improve their outcomes! Way to figure it out!
The scientific process
Learning about the scientific process
Welcome to 3rd Grade!
It is hard to imagine how fast summer break seems to have gone, but here we are, ready for a new school year! I am sure this will be a fantastic year in every way. I am super excited to meet everyone and dive into many new and interesting activities. Some activities we will be trying will include testing out a new social studies series, learning multiplication and division, plus creating several engineering design projects, just to mention a few! Sure, I know everyone might not feel as thrilled about school as I do, but I will try my best to make it all as fun and painless as possible.
You have likely heard it can be a tough transition from second grade to third grade and about the dreaded testing that third graders have to be involved in. Parents and students get pretty nervous with all the new things that will happen in this grade. I promise to make every effort to help us all be successful. Here is how we can make this year great: I count on parents to encourage their children often to be great listeners, to always try (even when it is hard), ask questions, and use time wisely in class. You can count on me to be there for your child and for you! I love trying to find ways to make learning as pleasant as possible and I want to keep families informed! I want you to know what is going on in our learning environment! There are many ways to know what is going on (this web page, Class Dojo, News notes, special notes, academic reports, Harmony On-line Grading, Weekly Homework logs, Weekly Mail/Progress Packets, etc.) These are ways I can make sure every family knows each week how their child is doing and what is happening in class. I also want families to feel like they can talk to me anytime as well. I do not feel bothered, so if you need me to answer questions, have concerns, or you just want to say things are going well, please do! Class Dojo is the easiest way to message me (see details below), but you can also call, visit, email, or send a note. Once I know who is in my class, I will send out invites to our class, but your old log in information should still work with your new classroom connection code. You will hear back from me that same day. I truly believe if parents and teachers connect and work together, our kids are the winners!
It is hard to imagine how fast summer break seems to have gone, but here we are, ready for a new school year! I am sure this will be a fantastic year in every way. I am super excited to meet everyone and dive into many new and interesting activities. Some activities we will be trying will include testing out a new social studies series, learning multiplication and division, plus creating several engineering design projects, just to mention a few! Sure, I know everyone might not feel as thrilled about school as I do, but I will try my best to make it all as fun and painless as possible.
You have likely heard it can be a tough transition from second grade to third grade and about the dreaded testing that third graders have to be involved in. Parents and students get pretty nervous with all the new things that will happen in this grade. I promise to make every effort to help us all be successful. Here is how we can make this year great: I count on parents to encourage their children often to be great listeners, to always try (even when it is hard), ask questions, and use time wisely in class. You can count on me to be there for your child and for you! I love trying to find ways to make learning as pleasant as possible and I want to keep families informed! I want you to know what is going on in our learning environment! There are many ways to know what is going on (this web page, Class Dojo, News notes, special notes, academic reports, Harmony On-line Grading, Weekly Homework logs, Weekly Mail/Progress Packets, etc.) These are ways I can make sure every family knows each week how their child is doing and what is happening in class. I also want families to feel like they can talk to me anytime as well. I do not feel bothered, so if you need me to answer questions, have concerns, or you just want to say things are going well, please do! Class Dojo is the easiest way to message me (see details below), but you can also call, visit, email, or send a note. Once I know who is in my class, I will send out invites to our class, but your old log in information should still work with your new classroom connection code. You will hear back from me that same day. I truly believe if parents and teachers connect and work together, our kids are the winners!

Elementary Books Read Aloud Online
Here are a few links for online books that are available to various reading levels that John Wolf from Indiana Literacy Liaisons shared.
Children's Storybooks Online Many wonderful free childrens books are available to read at Children's Storybooks Online. Stories span age ranges from preschool to young adults.
SillyBooks Animated children's books, music, puzzles and children's games that teach young children to read and write.
Storynory Storynory has published a new audio story every week since November 2005. Our lead storyteller is Natasha whose lovely voice will charm and beguile you. We draw on fairy tales by theBrothers Grimm or Han Christian Anderson. We seek out unusual stories from around the world.
Storyline Online Streaming video program featuring famous people reading children's books aloud.
Signed Stories Hi! This is your website. It’s got lots of great books to see in sign language and subtitles. Hearing family and friends can listen to the stories too. You can all watch together! We’ll add more books. So keep coming back to see what’s new. Tell your friends … click on the windows… explore…and have FUN!
Just Books Read Aloud This site was specifically compiled to be ad free, clutter free, let children follow links to unintended locations free. The site is also JAWS compatible for visually impaired parents and students.
Here are a few links for online books that are available to various reading levels that John Wolf from Indiana Literacy Liaisons shared.
Children's Storybooks Online Many wonderful free childrens books are available to read at Children's Storybooks Online. Stories span age ranges from preschool to young adults.
SillyBooks Animated children's books, music, puzzles and children's games that teach young children to read and write.
Storynory Storynory has published a new audio story every week since November 2005. Our lead storyteller is Natasha whose lovely voice will charm and beguile you. We draw on fairy tales by theBrothers Grimm or Han Christian Anderson. We seek out unusual stories from around the world.
Storyline Online Streaming video program featuring famous people reading children's books aloud.
Signed Stories Hi! This is your website. It’s got lots of great books to see in sign language and subtitles. Hearing family and friends can listen to the stories too. You can all watch together! We’ll add more books. So keep coming back to see what’s new. Tell your friends … click on the windows… explore…and have FUN!
Just Books Read Aloud This site was specifically compiled to be ad free, clutter free, let children follow links to unintended locations free. The site is also JAWS compatible for visually impaired parents and students.