I tried several times to write this message, but I keep stumbling over finding the right words. I’ll keep it simple. This week, 3G students have grown up in front of my eyes. The academic work is on-point. They learned and explained Newton’s Laws of Motion through very cute, funny comics. They researched, wrote, and recorded podcasts teaching about Pablo Picasso. They read and performed and understood Greek myths well enough to explain why they were created in the first place. They smashed their MAP tests! They have laughed together, argued with friends, made up, then laughed again. They helped each other clean up messes. They picked up the slack when a friend was unwell. I am so proud of this class. I don’t say it out loud enough, but I feel it every day. 

Thank you for allowing me to be a part of their lives this year. I can’t believe we are in the final days together as a class. I often refer to 3G collectively as a “team” or a “family.” Students used to make fun of me for saying that. They don’t anymore. 

The elementary school performed a stunning concert last week! The livestream on YouTube had some trouble at the beginning, but click the link below for a full video of the concert. 🎶

Mr. Tan led our students in several fun maker space lessons. Students learned to measure accurately, cut wood safely, and use hammers and nails. The painting, sawing, gluing, and nailing were messy, but fun. Maker space is always a highlight for 3rd graders.

This class put their skills to the test researching many countries from around the world. Students researched in nonfiction books and on safe websites. Additionally, they created original slideshows presenting their research findings. The culmination of the project was an oral presentation in front of the class (on World Book Day, hence, the book character costumes).

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Online research and slideshow creation

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Practicing the presentation

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Presentation Day

This semester, 3rd graders have been expanding their mathematical skills using practical tools for measuring. Measuring liquid volume, mass, length, area, and perimeter all require specialized instruments and the knowledge of how to use them accurately.

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Of course, we still need to keep up with our multiplication and division fact fluency, too!

As part of the elementary school’s World Book Day celebration, 3G took a trip to the library to share recommendations for great books. Students contributed to a shared display with favorite titles from among all the elementary students at Saint Maur.

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World Book Day

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Teachers created an ebook sharing our favorite books from when we were children.

Saint Maur celebrated International Day before heading off to Spring Break. Students had the opportunity to dress in a way that represented a country important to them. The school community was treated to various performances and activities throughout the day. 3G parents volunteered to lead games, crafts, and a delicious potluck lunch. The day was an outstanding celebration of our various cultural heritages and of our ability to collaborate to create memorable experiences for our children.

We are coders now! Third graders are now in their coding unit in Computer Science. We use block coding to create games, edit music, and solve problems. This is one of the most popular units of the study in the whole curriculum. There is so much focus and engagement in the room.

3G celebrated Valentine’s Day a bit early on Friday, the 13th. 💝 Students wrote sweet messages to each other to celebrate what awesome friends and classmates we have in this class.

There was plenty of energy – and sugar from chocolate! – to propel us through the afternoon.

We work hard in 3G. Students work individually, with partners, and in small groups to learn, teach others, and to make deeper connections.

Here students are helping partners revise their writing.

We went outside on a beautiful day in December for a math scavenger hunt. This helped us practice arrays, area models, and multiplication and division word problems.

…and here is a just-because picture. “Will you take a selfie with us, Mr. Geyer?”