Focus Fued

All for 1!!

Ms. Warner has put together a program for our 3rd graders called "Focus Feud".

The concept is for each third grade class to participate in a large group activity where students will exercise many 21st century skills.  Students are asked to listen and collaborate, inspire one another,  and use brain critical thinking to focus on the task at hand. Once a month, our third grade classes meet collectively to compete against one another for the privilege of wearing the "Focus Feud" necklace. 

For the month of December, listening was the focus technique.  Each member of the class was given a different object to pass around a circle, having to listen to directions as to which way they needed to move.  This month Ms Meredith's class took home the "Focus Feud" necklace.  As students learn how to win and loose gracefully, we will continue to work together in an attempt to claim possession of the prize.

The Hour of Code

Exploring Patterns within Numbers

Veterans Day

November 11th

Major Cliff Flowers stopped by GRE!!

Major Flowers presented to our 3rd graders what the armed force were comprised of and what each of the division was responsible for in defending our freedom.

As a member of the U.S. Air Force Major Flowers spent time in the middle east.  He shared stories with the students about his desert living in Qatar and the sacrifices that our military make for us each day.  Our students walked away with a greater understanding of the role of the U.S. military through out the world and are grateful for all who have served.

Analyze Characteristics of Effective Citizenship

"Reverse Trick or Treating" at the Parker Task Force

Third graders are learning about civic responsibility and what it looks like to be an effective citizen.  Spending a day giving back to our community of Parker. 

We were amazed at all the different organizations through out Parker that contribute and help to feed over 5,000 families a year.

Questioning & Responding to our Reading

As we begin to use the reading strategy, questioning, students are exposed to the mystery of the Mary Celeste, a ghost ship.  Students collect evidence from the text and are able to support their theory as to the disappearance of the crew of the ship.

Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability

Ghosts and Goblins

Coats for a Cause

Help support GRE's student council by donating gently used coats in an effort to

 Keep Colorado Warm!

Digger Dash Winners

Castro's Coconut's take the Golden Shoe

What an enjoyable day having fun and fund raising.

Visit from the Parker Historical Society

This week we were given the opportunity to hear one of Parker's historians share her research and knowledge concerning the establishment and development of the town of Parker.  The kids enjoyed being able to relate and understand, given they have extensive background knowledge about this time period and how Parker began.  Sandra Whelchel is both a historian and a author on the origination and growth of Parker, Colorado.

Sandra Whelchel

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Images of America Parker

Gold Rush's 3rd Grader's visit the Plains Conservation Center

Our third graders visited the Plains Conservation Center this week to help strengthen their understanding and develop an appreciation of how things change.  By studying history we can analyze how people in the past have influenced the development and interaction of communities in the present.
https://plainscenter.wordpress.com

As we entered the Plains Conservation Center we were thrown back in time to the year 1887.  Students learned the different roles of the Colorado Homesteaders.   We analyzed the equipment that farmers used to work the land.

Discovered how the pioneers constructed their sod homes from the resources that they had available to them.  Students also learned the role of the home maker and how the house was run.

 We learned regiment of the one room school house and the role of a teacher in a small rural community.  Students noticed how the expectations and discipline in school has changed through out the years.


We discovered that back in 1887 Colorado did not exist yet and that the territories of the United States were different then today.

 

Students compared the roles that they have within their family to the roles of children back then.  We began to understand how laborious and challenging it was to be a homesteader in the year 1887. 

A visit from the Harlem Ambassadors

Gold Rush had a few amazing visitors come and share their individual,

inspirational stories about how they dealt with bullying in their

lives and what they did to overcome the situation.

Mental Toughness

Patrick

Alex

Ashley

 As the three walked us through their stories and explained how they were able to move past bullying using resiliency and mental toughness, they also entertained us with their amazing basketball skills.

Digger Dash

Our 3rd grade class is officially named

"The Castro Coconuts"

Ms. Brown and Ms. Bergner get our students pumped up for the annual
 Digger Dash fund raiser.

Evaluating Classroom Rules

3rd graders collaborate the importance of rules and what makes a responsible community member. 

Student Government Election

Class Representative Candidates

 Students analyze and practice the rights, roles and responsibilities of citizens, as they prepare for their "classroom representative" election.

The voting process

St

Welcome to 3rd grade!  I am so excited to meet each and every one of you.  I would love to introduce myself and let you know a little bit about myself.  I am married with three children.  There is my husband Greg, daughters, Emma (15) and, Kaitlyn (13), and my son Aidan (12).  We spend most of our free time watching/playing hockey, tennis and volleyball.  The five of us moved to Colorado 10 years ago from the Phoenix area where I was born and raised.  I earned my BS in Biology from Arizona State University (Go Devils!!!) and my Master’s in Education through the University of Phoenix.  I am also an avid reader, play tennis, and love to spend time with my family.  

I am looking forward to getting to know each of your children.  Teaching is my passion and I believe that each year brings new adventures and challenges.  This year will be a special year for your child and I am blessed to be a part of it.  Please know that I have an open door policy and want to hear what your thoughts and feelings are concerning your child and their learning experience.  I am convinced that it takes a village to raise a child and that the cooperation between teacher and parent is imperative for a successful education.  I’m looking forward to a fabulous year

Sincerely,

Lara Castro

3rd grade teacher