Valentines and Author Skype

February proved to be a busy month, albeit a short month! What will you do with your extra day?

Valentine's Day Party and Minute to Win it Games

A good time was had by all at The Lily Pad's Valentine's Day party!  Thank you all for helping us by donating healthy and creative foods, making valentines and for the extra parent help by Stephanie, Jessie and Michelle!

World Read Aloud Day

Wednesday, February 24 was World Read Aloud day.  In honor of this day, the third grade classrooms Skyped with author Erin Soderberg.  She is a children's author who lives in Minneapolis and took time out of her day to talk with our third graders about writing and her books.

Erin is the author of the Quirks books and we are enjoying the first book as a class during our read aloud time!

Booktalks

Students have slowly been completing their book talks using Voki.  Voki is a way to create a personalized avatar. Students created their own individual avatar to deliver their book talk.  Check out the site below to see the book talks created by the students in the Lily Pad.

Third Grade Link to book talks

Technology

We continue to strive to find ways to include technology into our core curriculum.  Other than the Voki book talk, here are some other things students are using in the Lily Pad.

• Google Classroom: This is something we have just started using and the possibilities are endless!  We have a classroom account set up for the whole class (The Lily Pad Classroom) as well as for some math groups.  The intention of classroom is to make assignments and allow students to work on assignments inside and outside of school.  In our math group classrooms, I am including some teaching videos for students to use to remember and review the concepts we are studying.  It is loosely based on a "flipped" classroom model.  Your child can access their classroom accounts by signing into the district email.  You can access your student's email by using this link www.madison.k12.wi.us

• This next technology item is for you, the parents! I am taking a class to become a Google Certified teacher.  In my class, I have learned more about Google Groups.  I have created a google group that you are welcome and encouraged to join. This site is a way for me to send information (like an email blast) to you regarding important and upcoming events.  Here are the step you can take to join this group.

• Go to Google Groups located at https://groups.google.com
• Then search : 2015-16 Lily Pad Parents
• Next, you will receive emails and be allowed to post questions in this group. This is new for me so I would love feedback!

• iMovie- Ms. McDonnell will be creating newscasts using iMovie.  The newscasts are written and performed by student groups and will be used to help teach others about the 3 capitol buildings in Madison.  Our newscasts will be included on the blog in the next few weeks!

           Here is a sample of what you will see A taste of things to come

• We are open to suggestions!  Are you technologically savvy? Do you have ideas for us?  We are open to suggestions!

Opinion Writing

We have had a lot of fun with our latest writing unit.  Students are learning more about and practicing opinion writing.  We have been writing our opinion about books for the past few months.  We are expanding on this work by reading about the pros and cons about zoos and taking a stand on this issue.  Students took a stand by deciding if they were FOR zoos or AGAINST zoos.  We read many article to build our background knowledge around this issue.  Student groups then participated in a shared planning and writing about zoos. Here is a sample of their work.

Our next step in our writing process is for students to pick their own topic, research the pros and cons and then write their opinion with reasons and examples.  

Upcoming Events

• March 8 - Early Release for Parent Teacher Conferences
• March 17 - Code Red Drill
• March 21 - 28 - Spring Break
• April 7 - End of 4th Quarter