~~No Homework~~

My students love to hear the words "NO HOMEWORK"!  Recently, I had some issues with students not completing homework on a regular basis.  I would say about 80% of my students complete every assignment.  The other 20% do not complete homework or turn in homework half done.  I have tried several things to encourage my students to complete every assignment~I only give reading, English, math, & spelling homework.  Most of the time, students may have only one thing to complete.  Homework is graded in 3rd grade so if they do not complete homework, a 0 is given for the assignment.  I must say that several students received "Not-so-great" grades on their report card because of not completing homework.  I decided that I am going to try something new.  After completing 2 weeks of homework, students will be treated to a "Homework Breakfast".  I will have the breakfast in the morning before school starts.  We start school at 7:35am so the breakfast will be from 7:05-7:30.  When I mentioned this to my class, they were so excited and couldn't wait to begin the 2 weeks!  We officially start Tuesday (day after MLK day) with our 2 weeks.  I made some coupons as well to give as an "Extra" treat at the breakfast.  They do not know about this yet.  It will be my little surprise to them for doing such a great job with homework.  I also have our vice-principal involved.  She came and spoke to the students last week.  Hopefully, this will eliminate 0's in homework.  I will let you know how my plan works!!

I am linking up with Classroom Freebies: Manic Monday to share my homework coupons!  Please check out other freebies while you're there!!!!

 

 

Click (HERE) & (HERE) for 2 different versions of the NO HOMEWORK coupon.

 

 

~~Freebie Friday~~

As promised, I am posting some pictures of our Multiplication Monsters.  Read all about it (HERE). You can pick up a few freebies while you're there too!  We also created brace maps to show multiplication.  My students are having so much fun learning their multiplication facts.  I am so happy to see them learning and having a good time!!  Multiplication timed test scores have increased so much over the past few weeks. 

Once again, I am linking up with TBA's Freebie Friday for another week of wonderful freebies!  Please stop by TBA's Blog and grab yourself tons of freebies!!!

Multiplication Brace Map

Click (HERE) for your Free copy.

 



 

Multiplication Monsters



~~Multiplication~~

We have been busy working on multiplication facts.  Last week, my students learned about arrays, repeated addition, multiplication stories, and tables.  Students made arrays in their math journals by using stickers and a pair of dice.  Check out their arrays below.  The students had a GREAT time.  I originally wanted them to make only 1 array, but they begged me to let them create as many as they wanted.  I had tons of stickers so I told them to have fun and use as many stickers as they could.  To conclude our first section in chapter 5, I made a review worksheet for our quiz this week. It allowed students to see firsthand how multiplication relates to addition & pictures.  Feel free to grab it (HERE).  This week I plan on using Yay Third Grade!'s Multiplication Monster to create silly multiplication monsters.  I made these monsters last year with my class and they LOVED it!!  I can't wait to see how creative my class is this year in making monsters!!! I will post pictures as soon as they are completed!  In the meantime, enjoy my multiplication freebie.  I also have a Mardi Gras Multiplication: I have...Who has... Freebie.  Grab your copy (HERE). 

 Don't forget to check out other freebies and link up your own at Classroom Freebies: Manic Monday. 

 

 

 

Multiplication Review

 

 

 

Mardi Gras Multiplication: I have... Who has...

 

 

 

Multiplication Sticker Arrays

 

 

 

~~Busy Week~~

Since returning from the holidays, I have been super busy at work.  My week was filled with meetings, grading papers, report cards, mom's surgery, and flying bats!  You heard me right~~a flying bat in the hallway at school!  My students were so excited to watch the bat flying up and down the hallway as our PE coach tried to catch it with a garbage can and towel.  NO, he did not succeed in catching the bat.  But, I must admit that I was laughing so hard  I could barely breathe.  Several teachers filmed the entire episode!!  We had to promise NOT to show the video~~~ever!  It (will probably show up at the next faculty meeting) will never be seen by anyone! 

Please check out what my class has been up to this week.  We began reading Charlotte's Web on Monday.  The students started by learning about E. B. White and writing a mini report on him.  Then, they compared/contrasted farm life with city life by making Venn Diagrams.  After reading chapter 1, students created birth announcements for Wilbur.  They all came out precious!!! Please check them out below.  Click (HERE) to download my free Charlotte's Web unit~~35 pages filled with activities, spelling lists, vocabulary lists, and more!

But first, my absolute favorite thing of the week~~a Disney gift from one of my students!  I LOVE Monsters, Inc.~~really, really LOVE the movie.  My precious Maddy went to Disney for Christmas and gave me the most wonderful gift!!!  I love my Monsters, Inc. characters!!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

~~Mardi Gras Time~~

Today,  January 6, the Twelfth Night after Christmas, is the day our Mardi Gras season begins.  Mardi Gras Day is always 47 days prior to Easter Sunday.  Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day) is always the day before Ash Wednesday.  In Louisiana, especially New Orleans, we begin our Mardi Gras season by celebrating and eating King Cake.  Baked inside every King Cake is a tiny, plastic (sometimes gold) baby.  The person who receives the piece of cake with the baby must host the next King Cake party!  This has been a tradition handed down through many, many generations.  In school, we host King Cake parties each Friday, and students take turns bringing the next King Cake to school if he/she receives the baby.  The King Cake is a braided, circular cake with purple, green, and gold icing on top.  The original flavor is cinnamon~~delicious!!.  Today, you can find almost any flavor: lemon, cream cheese, strawberry, chocolate, Boston Cream, blueberry, apple!  Just recently, I came across the Elvis King Cake~~peanut butter, banana, & bacon!  I am definitely going to try this one.  If you have never tried one before, almost any New Orleans bakery will ship King Cakes anywhere in the world.  During Mardi Gras parades, businesses are shut down and streets are closed.  People line both sides of the street and wait for the floats to pass through.  Riders on the floats throw beads, stuffed animals, doubloons, and other trinket toys.  I love Mardi Gras time and the fun it brings to New Orleans!!! 

Please check out TBA's Freebie Friday for more holiday activities!!!!!!  I love linking up with TBA because I can find so many wonderful ideas to use in the classroom!!!!

 



All-time Best King Cake

 Riding on a float

Now, it's time for my Mardi Gras Multiplication: I have, Who Has Freebie!  Click (HERE) to download your free copy!  Enjoy!!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!!  Let the good times roll!!!

~~Charlotte's Web~~

Happy New Year 2013!!!  I am both psyched and nervous about this new year.  I anticipate many changes to happen in my life.  I have a feeling that this is going to be an awesome year!!!!  I made a list of things that I plan on changing this year. I only hope that I can accomplish each one.

During my Christmas/New Year break, I decided to stay busy by working on my lesson plans for January.  The new year also begins the 3rd 9 weeks at my school.  I really hope my 3rd graders are well rested because I plan on working them for the next 18 weeks!!!!   One of my favorite novels is Charlotte's Web.  I love reading and teaching my students about this book.  E. B. White delivered such a wonderful message about friendship and love.  I can't wait for my students to begin reading the book.  I am sooo excited that I created a 35 page unit on Charlotte's Web.  Yes, you read that right~~~35 pages!!  It is my FIRST unit of this size!!!  Not only is it 35 pages, it is also FREE!!! I do not sell any of my products on TpT.  This is on my list to change for the new year.  I want to begin selling some products to help with finances~~who can't use the help!!

Please don't forget to leave me a comment letting me know how much you enjoy my unit!!!!!  Thank you!!!!!

Included in the unit: 6 spelling lists divided into chapters, 6 vocabulary lists divided into chapters, several bubble maps, story summary, diary for students to complete, several reports (pigs & spiders), adjectives, venn diagram; & many, many more!

Please check out the pictures below for a quick preview of some of the pages you will receive!!!

 

Grab your FREE copy (HERE)

 

 

A while back, I posted the following spelling lists for Charlotte's Web.  This is one of my first creations.  It does not include list 6.  Please download your FREE copy (HERE).

 

 

I am linking up again with TBA's Freebie Friday and Classroom Freebies, Manic Monday. Please hop over to these blogs and pick up some Freebies!!