What Does it Mean to Fight?

Rachel Platten is a talented and bright songwriter,  however her music wasn't getting the recognition that she wanted. It wasn't until she created this anthemic piece from her heart that her voice was finally heard. 

We analyzed Rachel Platten's Fight Song by close reading, discussing, drawing, writing, and acting.  We thought about the GRIT that this artist used to reach her dreams. Being smart and talented are not enough to achieve great things. Everyone has moments when they want to give up. If you believe in yourself, work hard and persevere nothing can stop you! 

Below are just a few wonderful responses taken directly from my students writing. All of my students wrote thoughtful responses and I am extremely proud of their effort and maturity while studying this poetic and inspirational song.


When asked about the meaning of "Like a small boat on the ocean, sending big waves into motion." 
"A person who feels small can make a big difference. She starts to realize that she is important."
"It tells the reader that even though you feel sad or alone you can still make a big impact. And you should realize that you are very important." 
"It is the first lyric in the song because a small boat sounds like a person crying all over the ocean making all the waves come into motion. Or it may be like if you're sad or alone on your own boat on the ocean thinking that you're nothing. There probably is a difference that you can make."
How is the author feeling and how do you know? 
"She feels sad and alone. She feels like she is going to explode because no one believed in her."
"She was scared but she persevered and she feels proud because of her song." 
"I think she feels like happiness and I love it. She is smart because she listened to the good side of her brain."
"The author is feeling sad and alone because there must be a lot of hard things going on in her life. Like people are telling her she can't do it or a voice in her head telling her to stop because she will mess up."
What is the message of this song?
"The message of the song was anyone can make a difference in the world. The theme is bravery. A phrase that tells me that is I only have one match but I can make an explosion."
"The message of the story is to be strong and not give up."
 "Be kind because it says a single word can make a heart open." 
"The message of this song is if you are feeling sad or alone you can change and make a difference. I think the theme could be courage because she was confident that her song was going to be good even though some people said it wasn't going to be."

I know my team inspired me throughout these lessons and while creating our video. We hope you enjoy it.

Throughout these learning experiences students met the following standards.: Interpret words and phrases as they are used in a text, including determining technical, connotative, and figurative meanings, and analyze how specific word choices shape meaning or tone. Make strategic use of digital media and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations. What do you think about our work and the message of this song? Please leave us a comment below.

Created with Padlet

What's the Matter?

Team Jordan has enjoyed learning about matter by completing experiments, a visit from the discovery museum, and singing! We still have more to learn but here is a glimpse of what we know so far.
  The Discovery Museum's Ms. Stella reviewed the ways that matter can change. Adding or removing heat can cause physical changes in matter. 

Thank you TESPTO for funding this enrichment program. We loved it!

Commenting

We love blogging! When people comment on our blog it makes us feel good! We can keep the conversation going and have a good dialogue with our classmates and the world! Thank you Mrs.Yollis for helping us understand how to comment! Click the link below to learn more about commenting.
Mrs.Yollis's class on Commenting
Click below to see Team Jordan's blog posts and comments.
Team Jordan's Kidblog

Here is our week from your child's perspective.  Look for it in your child's folder every Friday.

It will tell you what they did at school each week. Now they can never say, "Not much." When asked, "What did you do today?"

Team Jordan's Top 5 for 2016

5. Being healthy is essential for learning!

Remember to dress for the weather, wash hands, cover coughs, and sanitize desks daily.

4. Multiplication practice is a must! 

When children understand the relationship between multiplication and division they are successful.

Third graders must be able to use multiplication and division within 100 to solve word problems in situations involving equal groups, arrays, and measurement quantities, e.g., by using drawings and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.    (T X 7= 56)  

Understand division as an unknown-factor problem. For example, find 32 ÷ 8 by finding the number that makes 32 when multiplied by 8.

In school we say, "What number X's 8= 32.

Third graders do not have to master long division. They do need to have efficient strategies for solving problems up to 100. This is why it is imperative that they memorize their multiplication facts.

Yes! There are many apps to help kids practice their facts. However, flashcards are one of the best ways I have found for students to own their learning. Sort them into know & don't know. Study only a few a night. 

3. Reading is Thinking 

Book Clubs are fun when every member has done his/her part. As you can see below, post-its help us share our thinking!

We take turns listening and speaking. We can use evidence from the text to make predictions, ask and answer questions, make connections, and discuss the character's traits.

2. The grade 3 Portal has lots for kids to do when the weather gets too cold to go out.

Click below to explore all the portal has to offer!

Grade 3 Portal

1.  Don't forget our January and February Enrichment menu!

HAVE FUN!

Click below to find menus.

January and February Enrichment

Practice Makes Perfect

Thank you Margo for sharing your music with us! You showed us that with a lot of practice beautiful music can be made.

Playing and Acting How Engaging!

Team Jordan has been working on creating fun math games that will help our classmates practice their skills. This week, students presented their games to their peers. They included instructions, question cards, and lots of creativity!

How does creating games make you a better thinker?

When you can teach others it shows mastery and true understanding!

A math game called "Field Goal" for the football fans!

The class is captivated as Bob explains the game he created with Jake and John.

Mia R., Isabelle, Margo and Julia work together to present their math game, "Shark Attack."

Team Jordan listens in as Kole describes his groups's game that is outer space-themed.

Everybody loves Jeopardy!

This week we also enjoyed working in small groups to perform a reader's theater. This reader's theater was based on an Algonquin folktale, it tells how after a terrible winter, Glooskap found summer. We are learning how folktales are stories told orally and handed down by generations.   

The students divided the roles in a story and practiced their lines.

 What a great way to become more fluent. They even made props and a setting backdrop!

As always, my players over came their fears and acting in front of their peers.

Thank you Glooskap for finding summer!  

We can recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.

Great GRIT Gar

We enjoyed hearing about the the importance of GRIT from a former Team Jordan member, Gar Rudnyai.  He is now a 6th grader who is running his own business. He told us about how writing as well as determination has helped him reach many of his goals. 

 Last summer, Gar  was feeling a little bored and decided he wanted to earn some money. Since he loves hockey it made sense for him to build an online business based on floor hockey.  He told us that if you want to create a company it's important to think of something that solves a problem. 

 His problem was being bored and missing hockey.  Other players must feel the same. So, Gar came up with a solution.  

To learn more check out his website.

 Click the link below-

Barn Burner Hockey

It was great to see one of my former players achieving success, learning from failures, and setting and reaching his goals.  I'm thankful to Gar for taking the time to come to our class to share how  much Steward School helped to prepare him for success.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for Gar and for all my players!