Stu Huggins - sthuggins@seattleschools.org
Mamie Roberson - mvroberson@seattleschools.org
Gary Taylor - gltaylor@seattleschools.org
My name is Gary Taylor and I teach third grade.
Our classroom provides a stimulating and challenging learning environment. Numerous opportunities exist for students to utilize their skills in reading, writing, math, science, and art in independent project-based activities.
Animal reports are a popular expository writing assignment, and are made more relevant with the availability of live animals in the classroom. Students are able to make close observations of reptiles, amphibians, and insects. For their research, the students learn to use resources such as public and school libraries, the Internet, and classroom science materials.
Narrative writing is taught using 'thinking maps' and 'story plot maps'. These writing tools help the students organize and understand their story elements, including character, goals and motivation of the character, setting, obstacle (problem), action (solution), outcome and reaction of the character to the outcome.
Each student has at his or her desk a full-size middle school dictionary. As part of my philosophy of enabling these students to become independent learners, I encourage daily use of these dictionaries for a variety of projects. The students become quite proficient in the use of these reference books. This skill becomes more valuable as they begin the research for their animal reports, and any other independent projects they may choose.
Reader's Theater is also a student favorite. This activity improves reading confidence, pronunciation, comprehension, and voice.
The Accelerated Reader program is a highly motivating reading and assessment tool; it is an important part of my reading plan. Students read standard library books, appropriate to their skill level, and are then tested by computer for their understanding of that book. I also discuss many of these books with the students to verify they are ready to take the computer test. This is in addition to teacher-led reading groups.
Furthermore, students have the opportunity to learn and play chess, and to compete in our end-of-the-year 'Wizards Chess Tournament'.
My goal is to encourage the students to become independent learners. I enable them to accomplish this by emphasizing mastery of the basics in reading, writing, and math in order to create a solid foundation for their academic endeavors.
I encourage their natural curiosity and energy, and give them the support, confidence, and opportunities to experience independent exploration in areas or subjects they may choose.
Parent support is an absolutely vital part of our students' education. Parents and teachers are partners in this very important task. A parent is expected to read and discuss stories and books on a nightly basis with their child. This activity must be carried through the summer months as well.
Daily parental support and supervision is critical for the development of study skills, and the constant improvement in reading, writing, and math. A parent's high expectations for their child are a necessary part of the student's academic environment and should be expressed often.