Accountable Talk is Live and in ACTION!

My class and I have been working really hard for the past two weeks on using Accountable Talk.  We started small with Turn and Talk.  I assigned each kid a partner for the week, a student that was right next to them.  During our instruction, I ask the kids to "Turn and Talk about....  ".  At first it was a slow, slow start up a giant hill, but now they are getting so much better at it.  Then we added Accountable Talk, or AT, to the mix.  It is so fun to hear the kids say, "I disagree with her because I think that....." or "I'm wondering if.....".  We use it for all of the subjects and they really enjoy it.  Here is a picture of the chart we made as a class to help us remember some of the starters when we get stuck. 

If you aren't using Accountable Talk or Turn and Talk in your classroom, give it a try!  Once you start doing it you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner!

Have a great week!
Tracy

Context Clues Anchor Charts!

We have been working hard all week on context clues.  I found two great anchor charts that we used and it really helped the kids get the hang of it.  We started off with this one and practiced using the strategies on it. 

  

Then we used this anchor chart when we came across unknown words when we read some chapters from Flat Stanly's African Safari Adventures!  The kids worked in groups and decided what to write on their sticky note.  After they all put their ideas on the chart we discussed them.  They LOVE LOVE LOVE writing on sticky notes!

Hope everyone is having a great week!
Tracy

The Cutest Little Craftivity!

Teaching writing is always so much fun!  Who doesn't love a little craft along with it?  Out comes the THE PERFECT CUPCAKE!  My first real try at a craftivity and I think it came out adorable!  It comes with graphic organizers and all of the pieces to make a cute craft while teaching writing with time order words. Click on any of the pictures to go to TPT and take a look at this activity!

Another amazing idea on Pinterest!

I'm always searching for some fun things to do with my kids.  This week we are working on prefixes and suffixes.  I came across this picture on Pinterest and just had to make it for me kids this week. 

Here is my version of this great idea for my third grade friends!

Click on the picture to go download it.  Can't wait to use it this week!

Happy Teaching!
Tracy