We continue to go broader and deeper into our extended Toolbox unit on Empathy. We have an "Empathy Box" in the classroom, and it is filling up! Here are a few items that were submitted this week:
- " I used my Empathy Tool when I helped Mr. Tianko put the new books away."
- "Once, when I was on the playground, I saw a friend was sad, so I slipped into her shoes and helped her feel better."
- "I used empathy when I helped a friend pick up her corn because it fell on the ground."
- "I used my Empathy Tool when I helped my mom take care of my baby cousin."
- "One day, a friend was feeling sad because she was left out, so I played with her. I thought about how she was feeling. Then, I asked her what she wanted to play. She had fun, and so did I!"
We have begun our new literature unit. We are reading The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. This equisite Newberry Award winner is just out for the first time in paperback, so we are fortunate to offer each Grade 3 student his or her very own copy to keep...forever! More next week on the specific learning outcomes of this unit.
In math, we recently introduced the concept of multiplication through visual arrays. Did you know multiplication began thousands of years ago as a means to expedite commerce and warfare? Your child does! Ask him or her to explain.
Thank you for the SPCA donations...keep 'em coming!
Keep an eye out for 1) progress reports and 2) parent-teacher sign-ups. We can't wait to tell you how your child is doing in school 3) notices in the orange homework folder.
Have a lovely three day weekend in honor of the memory of perhaps our greatest leader of living through peace and brotherly love. May his legacy live in our children, and pave the way to a better tomorrow.