Education in Groveton

The Groveton Eaglets took some interactive writing time and practiced writing a complete paragraph (with a topic sentence, at least three supporting details, and a conclusion). Our focus was how school has changed.  We are currently in the middle of our "How Groveton Grew" history study:

       Schools were very different 200+ years ago than they are today.  For example, the one room schoolhouse probably had a stove in the middle of the classroom to heat the room. The girls would sit on one side of the classroom, and the boys would sit on the other side instead of being mixed together. Pencils were rare, they would have used charcoal, and written on birch bark or slates. Travel to school may have been long.  They would have walked or traveled by wagon.  Now, kids can take a bus to school if it is too far to walk.  All in all, schools have changed over the last 200+ years.

This is the first place children in Northumberland would have attended school.  The Meeting House held town meetings, as well as church and school gatherings.  It was built in 1799.

In 1886, the Groveton Village School was situated on Brooklyn Street and had an attendance of about 100 scholars and three teachers.

The "new high school", now the grammar school, was constructed in 1908.

This photo was taken in 1978.  The entrance sure has changed over the years.

Several years ago, there was a new playground installed.  This has since been updated.

We hope you enjoyed this tidbit of history!   :-)

Door Decorating Fun

To gear up for Read Across America week, GES had a door decorating contest. Well, it actually was a door decorating celebration as we all got to enjoy ice cream sundaes after completion. ;-)

Our door was a dedication to one of our favorite authors, Patricia McLaughlin. She writes many books, but we spent quite a bit of time reading about the Whitting family and their struggles living out west on the prairie. We read Sarah, Plain and Tall, Skylark, Caleb's Story, More Perfect Than the Moon, and Grandfather's Dance.  I couldn't possibly pick a favorite, because I love them all!

Hallway Display

I recently took down the biography research projects that the students had on display in the hallway. But, before I did, I snapped a picture of it.  As I sit here reflecting on their progress this year, I am amazed at the growth they have shown as writers. 

The three types of writing that we have been working hard practicing are expository (informational), personal narratives, and opinion writing. We are currently working on an expository piece on a topic that we are "experts" on (most of the focus is on text features and the text structure of an informational piece).  Our personal narratives are published and on their way from the publishing company. We continue to work on writing opinion essays each week.  

I am so proud of their efforts!

Spirit Week

Let's have fun the week prior to winter break! Follow the schedule below and then culminate the week with a cook out and Winter Carnival on Friday! 

Cursive Writing

There are certainly varying opinions on teaching cursive writing.  I feel that a brief instructional period is beneficial for students.  I spend 10-15 minutes a day 3-4 days a week for a few weeks in the middle of the year in grade 3.  I feel that students can easily learn the individual letters and then the connections.  We then practice writing our name as this is expected as an adult on many official documents.  Here is the cursive style that I use in the classroom.

Civil Rights Heroes

We have been reading, writing and watching videos to learn more about several heroes during the Civil Rights Movement.  Here are a few videos that we have recently enjoyed....

Math Fact Fluency

We have been busy memorizing our math facts for 2s, 3s, and 4s. Practicing these facts by singing provides a fun way to learn them.  Enjoy!