Happy Halloween!  As you can imagine, the energy was high today.  We did a fun math / writing activity, in which we made a multiplication 'number house' and then wrote a story about it.  We had fun during our Halloween parade this morning - and certainly had fun doing some Halloween activities.  Please note that your forms for our Coloma trip are due tomorrow.  We also have a fun presentation from Tuolomne tomorrow as well. 

This week we made our salt maps.  We had fun mixing salt and flower and forming the valleys and mountains of California.  After the maps dry, we will be able to paint them and add much more detail.

We're just about finished with Unit 3 and will be taking our unit assessment on Friday.  Ms. Christensen and the 4th grade team won't be here on Monday, because they will be participating in a district wide 4th grade staff development. 

Have a fun night!

Book club anyone?

This week I've introduced a new approach to our language arts block. Traditional practices were, that students sit around the teacher and choral read in order to develop fluency. That model, at one time effective, is now viewed as passé.

What does reading, in the real world, look like? We (adults) read alone. Hardly ever to we read aloud except to our children, or to share a short interest piece with someone. Should we discuss our reading, we do so conversationally.

We go to a book store and pick up a book. Either because it was recommended, we've read the author before, or the jacket looked of interest. After reading it we may discuss it with a friend, or a book club perhaps.

Creating these authentic reading experiences is important. Practicing how to engage with each other, pose insightful questions and making relevant selections, is what helps students to develop autonomy in their reading. The idea of literature circles fosters that.

As the kids read, they assign their task / homework (how many pages they will read). They are each assigned a role and are expected to come to the discussion prepared and ready to participate.

I am slowly introducing these roles to the students. We are modeling mature and insightful book discussions. After we get comfortable with each one, I hope to allow them to work in groups to discuss and check in with one another about their reading.

I'm really excited for what's in store!

One note of classroom business: if you are willing and able to help out with our Monster Mash fundraiser please see me / read the next newsletter to find out who you can contact for more information.

Let there be food!

This week was the heritage potluck. We had fun learning the classic tune, "I'd like to teach the world to sing". We had even more fun performing it!

Many thanks to you wonderful parents for supporting us and helping put on such a wonderful event.

This week we're also creating our maps of California for our upcoming salt map creations. If you have yet to being in materials for that (salt and flour) please feel free to bring those in at anytime.

We also had fun with the Walk and Roll and filled out a survey on Schoology.

This week we've also been working on paragraph writing. Formulating a proper paragraph. Topic Sentence. ->Details->Concluding sentence.

Tomorrow we will be performing a song at the Heritage Potluck.  We were introduced to it today and will be practicing it tomorrow, please give your child a head start and practice it with them at home.

"I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace throughout the land

That's the song I hear
Let the world sing today
A song of peace
That echoes on
And never goes away"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a8F28WVXlk

To Do or Not to Do?

What is homework?

home·work/ˈhōmˌwərk/

Noun:

Schoolwork that a student is required to do at home. Work or study done in preparation for a certain event or situation

O.k, let's find out what schoowork is...

school·work/ˈsko͞olˌwərk/

Noun:

Work assigned students by their teachers in school.

“The amount of free reading done outside of school has consistently been found to relate to growth in vocabulary, reading comprehension, verbal fluency, and general information”

(Anderson, Wilson, and Fielding 1988; Greaney 1980; Guthrie and Greaney 1991; Taylor, Frye, and Maruyama)

American Association of School Librarians

 

Post this!

"Well Ms. Christensen, if you're interested in documenting the situation might I suggest taking a picture of it and posting it to your blog"? -Anonymous Student

I'm thrilled with their insights. The students never cease to surprise me. Even in their mature 9 years of age, they maintain the innocence of a 6 year old, with the confidence of a 16 year old.

I'd like to use this forum to quickly remind you that picture day is tomorrow. Also, please confirm with your child (and by that I mean, double and triple check), that he / she has competed all of their homework. We've been having discussions around the consequences of not reading their Classroom Connection thoroughly.

Thank you all for your continued support. Also, if you would like to schedule an informal time to meet with me, please feel free to send me an email.

*Coloma deposit monies are due next week.
*Turn in your scholastic book orders (or pay online). I will be submitting them next week as well. Please be sure to include the classroom code.

I'm sorry that my post is a bit overdue.  As you can imagine, things are well underway, which means, I'm well... way-under.

Today we focused primarily on our Magnetism and Electricity Unit.  We looked at a website http://goo.gl.BLhvU and wrote 3 new / interesting facts that we learned while reading the site.  Then we watched some fun BlogSpot videos as a whole class.  It was especially "fun" when I paused the videos mid-stream and quizzed no student in particular, about the facts just said.  It was pleasant to see some students, frantically adding those facts to their lists that they had generated in their science notebooks.

As a math review, we went outside with all 4th grade classes and made a "70-agon".  Each student had a straw and we constructed a polygon on the playground.  That was really fun.  Then, we labeled various attributes - concave; parallel; vertex; side; obtuse and right angle.

What a fun activity.  Next Monday we will review for our Chapter test - so please review with your child at home.

We also had our Coloma meeting (if you were unable to attend, please see me for more information).  Please note there is also a typo in the interest survey.  Please make checks out to our school (e.g. B----- ---- School) rather than the PTA.

Have a great weekend

-Ms. Christensen