Not the Norm

• RETURN TO SITE
• 20 Book Challenge Party
• 3W Becomes a Class Dojo
• 3W Celebrates Traditions
• 3W Class News
• 3W Goes Green
• 3W Students Becoming Authors
• 3W's Fall Fun Party
• A Snow Fun Filled Day
• American Legion Auxiliary Shares About Poppies with 3rd Grade
• Benefits of Reading
• Community Collaboration
• Dining with a Snake
• Dr. Halley Reads Polar Express
• Educational Web-Sites
• Electronic Devices Don't Have to be Just For Games!
• Extra Credit With Jell-O
• Fall Fun Party in 3W
• Focus on Reading
• Friday Funny!
• Getting Ready for MAP Testing
• Grandparents' Day
• Grandparents' Day 2013 in 3W
• Great Ideas to Help Your Child Become a Better Reader
• Holiday Fun
• Home Page
• How Can I Help My Child Be Successful in School?
• It's Iditarod Time!
• Jell-0 Week
• Make Reading a Priority
• MAP Kick-Off Assembly
• MAP Testing Begins April 25th
• Meet the Teacher
• Mrs. Whitworth's Class Sings a Respect Rap
• Mrs. Whitworth's Thoughts for the Day
• Not the Norm
• PTO Rewards 3W with a Pizza Party
• Reading Challenge Celebration
• Reading Homework
• Reading with Your Child
• Rotary Club Presents Third Grade With Dictionaries
• Second Quarter Mid-Term Writing Skills
• Sharing is Learning
• Stringing Popcorn. . .
• Thanks, PTO!
• The 7 Stages of a Teacher Snow Day
• The Iditarod is Over!!
• The Iditarod starts in 4 days!!!!!
• The Last Great Race on Earth
• The MAP Is Coming!!
• Third Grade Celebrates
• Third Grade Learns About Nutrition
• Valentine's Day Was a Blast
• We Love Our Grandparents!
• Why Read 20 a Day at Home?

3W has an exciting change to their seating arrangement this year!  The seating arrangement is called alternative/flexible seating with kinesthetic options.  This means that when students are working they will have the freedom to find comfortable spaces around the room to work.  They might be kneeling, standing, working on the carpet with a clipboard, sitting at a desk with a chair, exercise ball, or wobble stool, or using bouncy bands at a desk.  There are many possibilities of what this can look like in a classroom.  Research shows that students are able to focus and do their best work when they are comfortable.  Classrooms across the nation are changing the way student workspaces look, for the better!

The children have been building a strong classroom community.  This is necessary to have a positive environment.  They no longer have "their own desk", but share spaces with others.  This requires them to be patient, tolerant, helpful, kind, and to get along well with each other. We have had many discussions over what is and isn't working for them. I believe overall the children are finding out this arrangement to be working for them.

Some children still prefer to sit in a traditional desk and chair. While other's favorites are standing, sitting on the floor, or on the stability balls. Each morning, they choose where they want to sit for the day. This is done by taking turns selecting based on each child's "number". So far, so good!! :) Studying Missouri is a new part of Third Grades's curriculum this year. I have incorporated different places in Missouri as names of the different "learning spaces". For example, the children may choose to sit at The Missouri River, St. Louis, The Lowlands, The Highlands, etc. Whole group teaching takes place on the carpet called "The Lewis and Clark Expedition".

I have attached a few pictures demonstrating the seating options.  Enjoy!