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Mr. Joseph Breckenridge » About Me

About Me

Welcome!
 
My name is Mr. Breckenridge, and I'm thrilled and honored to be teaching 3rd grade at Athlos for the 2023-2024 school year.  
 
Being a teacher and educator is my calling.  Having worked in the school setting for 9 years, I completed my master's degree in education (teaching) at the University of Minnesota in 2021, and am excited to apply my experience, education, and training to the service of each of my student's growth and learning this year. This is my 3rd year teaching 3rd grade!
 
I grew up in both Minneapolis and Apple Valley, MN where I played tennis, sang in the school choir, and worked throughout high school as a downhill ski instructor at Buck Hill.  After high school, I moved on to Madison, WI, where I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, receiving my my bachelor's degree in English literature in 2004.  After graduating, I accepted a teaching position in Paris, France where I taught English at two public elementary schools.  Following this, I began working as a paraprofessional at New Visions school in Minneapolis, MN for three years.  I have been with Athlos since 2017 in a number of different roles, including assistant music teacher, health teacher, and full-time building substitute. 
 
Outside of school, I enjoy singing, playing guitar, bass, banjo, ukulele, and a bit of piano.  I also love downhill skiing in the winter and kayaking in the summer.  I live in South Minneapolis with my wife and our lazy little kitty cat, Louise.
 
I look forward to meeting and working with you towards a successful year of learning!
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Breckenridge
 
[email protected]
Ext. 8847
 
 
 
 
 

Classes

Posts

MCA Tests: Cell Phone and Technology

Hello Families,
 
I'm writing to make you aware of the policy with respect to cell phones and other technology during MCA testing next week:
 

Per state requirements, students are unable to have access to their cell phones or wearable technology at any time during MCA testing or during breaks from MCA testing. In the event that a student has access to a cell phone or wearable technology during testing, the student’s test is required to be invalidated, even if the student did not use the device. Wearable technology includes, but is not limited to smart watches and fitness trackers.

 

On dates when your student is scheduled to take MCA assessments, your student will check in their phone and/or device with me on the morning of testing. I will collect the phone/device, put it in a labeled zip locked bag and keep it in a locked cupboard until the end of testing for the day, at which time I will return the phone/device to your student.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks as always!

Sincerely,

Mr. Breckenridge

Grade 3 E-Learning Packet

Hello 3rd Grade Families!
 
Attached is an eLearning packet. This packet was printed off and sent home with your student last week. Please keep this packet in a safe place. It will be used if your student needs to learn from home for any reason. If your student did not bring the packet home, let me know and I will provide another copy.  Thank you and let me know if you have any questions!
 
Sincerely,
Mr. Breckenridge

Directions for Parents to use Pick A Time Online Scheduler - Winter 21-22

Hello!
 
Please see the attached document with directions for parents/guardians of students in Mr. Breckenridge's 3rd grade class (our class!) to use Pick-A-Time to schedule conferences with me.  Virtual conferences will be taking place on Monday, January 31st via Zoom.
 
Feel free to call or email me directly if you have any trouble or questions about using Pick-A-Time to schedule a conference with me to discuss your child's progress.
 
I look forward to seeing you!
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr. Breckenridge

Distance Learning and Class Update, 9.20.21

Greetings 3rd Grade!
 
Last week, we continued working on establishing our positive and productive classroom learning environment.  It really went well!  With our social studies work being focused on learning about communities, we really had a chance to take a look at our own classroom community and discuss how we can help and support one another in 3rd grade this year.   We are off to a very positive start!
 
For our livestream lessons this week, we'll be focusing on adjectives and story sequencing in Language Arts.  For math, we'll be learning some basics that we'll continue to build on throughout the school year: elapsed time, bar graphs, and multiplication.
 
Thank you as always, and I'm excited for week number three!
 
Sincerely,
 
Mr. Breckenridge

Distance Learning Update, 9.13.21

Distance Learning Update:

The times for our livestream lessons are being changed this week:

Math: 8:30 - 9:00 AM

Reader’s Workshop: 9:15 - 9:45 AM.

Spartan Meeting (extra academic help in language arts and math): 11:20 AM.

The links and passwords will remain the same, only the times are being changed.

Please click on the attachment above for distance learning plan for the week of Sept. 13, 2021.  The attachment includes the updated times for livestream lessons.

Thank you!

-Mr. Breckenridge

Week 2, 9.13.21

Hello 3rd Grade Families,

We had a great first week of school together!  We spent time practicing the procedures of our classroom, as well as building a sense of community with one another.  As we move into week two, we will begin to refocus towards our year of 3rd grade academics.  This will include homework, and the students' use of a ‘home’ folder for bringing their classwork home at the end of the school day.  In terms of academics, here is what the week will look like:

Language Arts:

  • Week 1 of spelling
  • Abstract and concrete nouns
  • Continue reading and note taking on the book The Stories Julian Tells
  • Continued vocabulary instruction using the story The Spooky Tail of Prewitt Peacock.

Math:

  • Lesson 1.1: Number grids and finding differences
  • Lesson 1.2: Exploring the Student Reference Book
  • Lesson 1.3: Reviewing Length Measurement
  • Lesson 1.4: Using Number Lines to Round
  • Lesson 1.5: Telling Time to the Nearest Minute

Social Studies:

  • Finish Lesson 1.1: What Makes a Community?
  • Lesson 1.2: Where Are Communities Located?

Please feel free to reach out at any time.  I look forward to a successful week of learning!

Sincerely,

Mr. Breckenridge