3rd Grade One Word Project

Happy Wednesday!  I'm so excited about this post!  We've been working so hard on this 'One Word' project and it's finally complete and ready to share.  To give you some background, my co-worker Jennifer from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings shared this idea and project with our staff recently.  The One Word Project is based off of the book One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon.  Jennifer shared this idea with us along with how she was using it in her classroom.  Check out what she did here.  She also suggested that we do this as a school.  I was so excited when I heard about this and have been busy working in my classroom to do it with my kids.  I'm also pleased to say that several other teachers have done this too!

We stared our project with our MLK discussion on Monday.  Among other things, we read Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. By Doreen Rappaport.  We had a great discussion about using words and how they can make or break someone's day.  We discussed how Martin felt and made a list of the words that were hurtful to him and also a list of the words that he stood for.

I then shared the video that Jennifer made for her students so we could discuss our own words.  To start, I had a conversation with students on how I would pick my word.  See this previous post on my word. I figured that since students haven't done something like this before we should take steps and move slow to fully understand the process. After I shared I asked students what they thought their word could be.  We made a brainstorm on their desks as words and explanations came up.  They carefully picked the words that were placed on their desks and as I walked around you could see the excitement for them to share their own words.

After they had their words written out, they had to decide on just one to be their 'One Word' goal for the rest of the school year.  When they did, I wrote their words on their hands and we got together as a class to take a picture with our word.

Here's me with my word!  

They got to make their words into a colorful badge for our classroom door which is proudly displayed for everyone to see as they walk by. 

I did add their individual pictures to go along with the words that we put on the door.  The only thing that they have left to do is, write up their explanation so they can type them up to put in their 3rd grade memory books.  I was nervous at first to do this project, as I've never done something like this with 3rd graders.  I was so impressed with their seriousness behind the words, and it was really great to see how proud they were when they shared their words and explanations with our principal.  

Hope this inspires you to do a project like this with your class.  Please be sure to share how you plan to make it your own!  Thanks for stopping by!

One Word Project

Happy Monday!  Today went by fast, I almost can't believe how fast.,. but we had a wonderful and productive day working together.  In honor of MLK we did a lot of reading and talking about the history behind what this day is all about.  My students were very expressive when it came to their discussions and it made me feel proud to have created an environment in which they were able to do so.  One of the big things that we did along with our reading and sharing was a One Word Project.

This idea came about from our most recent staff meeting.  My co-worker Jennifer, from Mrs. Laffin's Laughings shared this project with our entire staff with the hope that we can do it together.  After talking with her and reading how she did this with her 4th graders (check it out here) I decided that I would do something similar with my 3rd graders. We aren't all of the way finished with it just yet, so I will wait to share student words and work, but wanted to share my word.

Yes I know this is not just one word..... this was just part of the thought process that I went through with my students today to show them how to go about picking a word for their own.  Many of them were unsure of how to choose just one word, so I thought that starting with many and then picking the one that fits the best would be a good idea.  Sure enough it worked, and by the end their desks were full of words that we have written down! My word for the new year is BALANCE.  It was hard for me to pick a word so I did a think aloud with my students about things going on in my life.  One big 'thing' is that my husband and I are due with our first baby in about 3 months.  I then discussed words with students that are current in my life, and then started to talk about the baby. Balance came to mind because I know that with the new addition coming soon, I will have to shift my focus and begin to balance a whole new set of responsibilities. I'm scared as can be, but also excited for the many changes to come.  





Tomorrow as my students finish up their words and their projects I will share our final products with you all. I'm beyond excited to do so.... they certainly worked hard today, so I'm sure that the final products will be great!




Anyone out there thinking of doing this on their own, with their families or with their students? I would love to hear how you will take this idea and make it your own!  It truly is a great way to establish an attitude for starting a new year.  I'm excited to print out my set of words from above and display it so I can think back and remember how excited and empowered I feel right now as the year goes on!