Perhaps it is because I am a Florida native and I didn't see my first snow fall until I was an adult, but there is still something magical about watching each unique and beautifully formed snowflake flutter down from the sky. The magic of snow falling is in many ways like the magic of twenty-five unique and beautifully formed minds, busily thinking and growing in room 215.
Children's Theater this Friday!
"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane"
From the Children's Theater site:
Edward Tulane, a toy china rabbit, is very much in love with himself. Self-absorbed and selfish, he comes to believe he is cursed when he is accidentally tossed overboard and away from the 10-year-old girl who loves him. Time after time he is discovered, loved, and lost again, continually being ripped from the arms of a loving caregiver. Will he learn to love others as much as he loves himself? Based on the award-winning children's novel by Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux),The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane teaches us all that being lost doesn't mean being forgotten.
PROGRESS REPORTS went live through the online system last Friday. If you haven't received the email from Trinity about this or have questions about your child's progress, please contact me!
VALENTINES - Yep, you read that right. Valentines. Before you know it, Friday February 12 will be here. That is a half day at TES, but it is also the day that we will exchange Valentines together in room 218. Participation is optional, but we ask that students bring something for each one of their classmates if they choose to participate. In addition, as is the tradition at Trinity, we like to deepen the meaning of this interaction by limiting the amount of store-bought / pre-made cards. This is a great opportunity to get creative and make handmade cards for classmates. One quick tour of the internet will find loads of shockingly simple ways to make a Valentine note. <-- Here's a link to Google images.
Front Row
Now for something REALLY different...
Our class is now using Front Row. This is an adaptive math and reading program that can be used on tablets or computers. One of the biggest benefits of Front Row is that it helps students practice math at their own pace, and helps teachers target individual students and small groups for lessons. Students can access the site through he Math Resources page of this site. The class code is ygawc2 and it can be found above the link. Students had an opportunity to get onto the site today and start some of the initial diagnostic work that will help the program tailor the activities to their individual needs. We are just using the math portion of Front Row for now but if students are curious about the reading component I am encouraging them to explore the site and challenge themselves. Want to see what this is all about? Sit with your child and log on together. Fourth Brainers can show you how it works. Please be mindful to allow them to complete the questions independently while you observe so that I can get a true picture of where they are performing. As always, send any questions my way.
Math
Math has been an absolute blast during our Size, Shape, and Symmetry unit. We are have been working to reach our learning objectives for this unit:
Children's Theater this Friday!
"The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane"
From the Children's Theater site:
Edward Tulane, a toy china rabbit, is very much in love with himself. Self-absorbed and selfish, he comes to believe he is cursed when he is accidentally tossed overboard and away from the 10-year-old girl who loves him. Time after time he is discovered, loved, and lost again, continually being ripped from the arms of a loving caregiver. Will he learn to love others as much as he loves himself? Based on the award-winning children's novel by Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie, The Tale of Despereaux),The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane teaches us all that being lost doesn't mean being forgotten.
PROGRESS REPORTS went live through the online system last Friday. If you haven't received the email from Trinity about this or have questions about your child's progress, please contact me!
VALENTINES - Yep, you read that right. Valentines. Before you know it, Friday February 12 will be here. That is a half day at TES, but it is also the day that we will exchange Valentines together in room 218. Participation is optional, but we ask that students bring something for each one of their classmates if they choose to participate. In addition, as is the tradition at Trinity, we like to deepen the meaning of this interaction by limiting the amount of store-bought / pre-made cards. This is a great opportunity to get creative and make handmade cards for classmates. One quick tour of the internet will find loads of shockingly simple ways to make a Valentine note. <-- Here's a link to Google images.
Front Row
Now for something REALLY different...
Our class is now using Front Row. This is an adaptive math and reading program that can be used on tablets or computers. One of the biggest benefits of Front Row is that it helps students practice math at their own pace, and helps teachers target individual students and small groups for lessons. Students can access the site through he Math Resources page of this site. The class code is ygawc2 and it can be found above the link. Students had an opportunity to get onto the site today and start some of the initial diagnostic work that will help the program tailor the activities to their individual needs. We are just using the math portion of Front Row for now but if students are curious about the reading component I am encouraging them to explore the site and challenge themselves. Want to see what this is all about? Sit with your child and log on together. Fourth Brainers can show you how it works. Please be mindful to allow them to complete the questions independently while you observe so that I can get a true picture of where they are performing. As always, send any questions my way.
Math
Math has been an absolute blast during our Size, Shape, and Symmetry unit. We are have been working to reach our learning objectives for this unit:
- Estimate and measure length in U.S. Standard and metric units, including lengths up to 100 feet.
- Investigate the attributes of polygons with particular focus on quadrilaterals.
- Identify, construct, and measure angles of varying degrees by relating them to 90 degrees, the measure of a right angle.
- Measure the area of polygons in both nonsquare and square units by decomposing shapes and using symmetry.
Reading and Writing and Social Studies Unite!
Have you asked your student who he/she will be studying for our biographical work on individuals who influenced early America? From Abigail Adams and Nat Turner to Pocahontas and George Washington, students will become quick experts on the lives of a person from early American history. The fruits of this work will be celebrated on Thursday February 25th at our American History Wax Museum.
Research: Students need to locate 1-2 additional resources for their biography work. Each student will be provided one resource to begin the work. You may want to support your child in this work soon as we are currently gathering information for writing each day this week. Please help your child identify a resource with high reliability. Also, students will need to know where the information came from. For example, if it is a website, please help your child collect the site's information to include in his/her bibliography.
Science
We continue to move through the human body systems. We are lucky to a have current parent, Lisa Brown, who will conduct the dissection of a pig's heart in front of our class on February 5. We will also get to go to Discovery Place on Friday, February 12 to experience a hands on Human Body lab. Last week we started work on our Human Body Books by recording what we have learned about the skeletal and muscular systems. This week we are beginning to explore the circulatory and respiratory systems.
Timing of our ERB Comprehensive Testing Program-4
We return from spring break on Monday, March 28. Fourth grade has 2 classroom days that week because we leave on Wednesday, March 30 for Earthshine for 3 days out of the classroom. Then, there's 1 week in the classroom from April 4 - 8 before we have our formal testing the week of April 11. As you can imagine, it will be very important to maintain as much consistency and routine as possible on these limited days that lead up to our testing window. Limiting absences, including late arrivals and early dismissals, in that window of time will be one way to support your child as we try to maintain consistent routines and build confidence as we go into the testing time.
Just a friendly reminder that Scholastic book orders are due this Friday, January 29th. The online orders use the code P8LD4. Please check out other important upcoming dates here.
Thank you for all of your support each and every day. Keep Pounding!
- Stephanie