Thank you for all of the kindness you showed me during Teacher Appreciation Week. Unfortunately, I was sick and missed most of the week (I think it was the kryptonite). Upon my return to school I was so touched by the flowers, notes, and other tokens of gratitude from my wonderful Fourth Brainers and their families. I am happy to tell you I am feeling much better and it was great to be back in Room 215 today. I have to give special thanks to Mrs. Rosenberg for maintaining the learning momentum in our classroom while I was absent. Now that we are all back and feeling healthy it is time to wrap up the month of April in style. Please keep reading to find out all about what we are learning this week.
WRITING
It has been a joy celebrating National Poetry Month at TES. I am in awe of the talented Trinity poets. We can't wait for events like the poetry slam during the Spring Arts Festival and Poet-in-Residence, Calef Brown's upcoming visit. Students are enjoying writing and sharing their own poems in class. We are using "poet powers" like using intentional white space and metaphor. Students are finding inspiration from Shel Silverstein, Eloise Greenfield, Sarah Kay, Ralph Fletcher, and more. Check out some poetry resources and mentor poems below that can inspire some poetry conversations or poetry slams in your home.
It has been a joy celebrating National Poetry Month at TES. I am in awe of the talented Trinity poets. We can't wait for events like the poetry slam during the Spring Arts Festival and Poet-in-Residence, Calef Brown's upcoming visit. Students are enjoying writing and sharing their own poems in class. We are using "poet powers" like using intentional white space and metaphor. Students are finding inspiration from Shel Silverstein, Eloise Greenfield, Sarah Kay, Ralph Fletcher, and more. Check out some poetry resources and mentor poems below that can inspire some poetry conversations or poetry slams in your home.
Owl Pellets By Ralph Fletcher A month ago in biology lab you sat close to me knee touching mine your sweet smell almost drowning out the formaldehyde stink which crinkled up your nose while i dissected a fetal pig. Now I take apart this owl pellet small bag that holds skin and hair and bones little skeletons what the owl ate but couldn’t digest and coughed back up You sit with Jon Fox ignore me completely laugh at his dumb jokes let your head fall onto his bony shoulder while i attempt to piece together with trembling hands the tiny bones of a baby snake Certain things are just about impossible to swallow. From I Am Wings: Poems about Love (pp. 34-35) | Things By Eloise Greenfield Went to the corner Walked in the store Bought me some candy Ain’t got it no more Ain’t got it no more Went to the beach Played on the shore Built me a sandhouse Ain’t got it no more Ain’t got it no more Went to the kitchen Lay down on the floor Made me a poem Still got it Still got it By Myself By Eloise Greenfield When I’m by myself And I close my eyes I’m a twin I’m a dimple in a chin I’m a room full of toys I’m a squeaky noise I’m a gospel song I’m a gong I’m a leaf turning red I’m a loaf of brown bread I’m a whatever I want to be An anything I care to be And when I open my eyes What I care to be Is me |
MATH
In Math Workshop we continue to investigate multiplication and division in Unit 8, How Many Packages? How Many Groups? Students are honing their "go to" strategies. The majority of students in our class feel most comfortable with the array model strategy as demonstrated by a fourth grader in the Youtube video below:
In Math Workshop we continue to investigate multiplication and division in Unit 8, How Many Packages? How Many Groups? Students are honing their "go to" strategies. The majority of students in our class feel most comfortable with the array model strategy as demonstrated by a fourth grader in the Youtube video below:
Our class is beginning work on strategies to solve large number division problems like 168 ÷ 14 = 12. Division strategies taught in this unit include:
1) Using multiplication to create groups of the divisor
ex. 168 ÷ 14 =
Start with a multiplication equation like 14 X 10 = 140
Subtract 140 from 168 to get a difference of 28.
14 X 2 = 28
Now add 10 (the factor from the first equation) and 2 to get 12.
2) Breaking up the dividend into easier to use numbers
Start by breaking 168 apart into easer to divide numbers.
168 ÷ 14 = (140 ÷ 14) + (28 ÷ 14)
10 + 2 = 12
1) Using multiplication to create groups of the divisor
ex. 168 ÷ 14 =
Start with a multiplication equation like 14 X 10 = 140
Subtract 140 from 168 to get a difference of 28.
14 X 2 = 28
Now add 10 (the factor from the first equation) and 2 to get 12.
2) Breaking up the dividend into easier to use numbers
Start by breaking 168 apart into easer to divide numbers.
168 ÷ 14 = (140 ÷ 14) + (28 ÷ 14)
10 + 2 = 12
READING
The Fourth Brainers were beyond excited to receive their social issue club books today. There are seven groups in our classroom, with each group reading a different novel that explores social issues such as loss, divorce, and prejudice. These clubs are very much like "book clubs" that you may have taken part in. One major difference is that students read small pieces of the book before meeting twice a week with their club. It is vital that readers prepare for their clubs as one of the most compelling parts of their in class meetings is the discussion, and students cannot contribute to the discussion or support their club if they have not done the reading. In addition, each club wrote and signed a contract to help keep one another accountable for their assignments. Unless we have schedule changes, clubs will meet mostly on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can help your child by keeping in mind these meeting days when scheduling things like their doctor's appointments. Also keep in mind that most readers are maintaining their independent reading books alongside the book in their club. This may be a good time to discourage your child from reading much more than that. If you take the book club text, the independent reading book and add on the read aloud book, that means that students are carrying three different plots, three different journeys, three different sets of accountability. Please let us know if you have questions about this.
The Fourth Brainers were beyond excited to receive their social issue club books today. There are seven groups in our classroom, with each group reading a different novel that explores social issues such as loss, divorce, and prejudice. These clubs are very much like "book clubs" that you may have taken part in. One major difference is that students read small pieces of the book before meeting twice a week with their club. It is vital that readers prepare for their clubs as one of the most compelling parts of their in class meetings is the discussion, and students cannot contribute to the discussion or support their club if they have not done the reading. In addition, each club wrote and signed a contract to help keep one another accountable for their assignments. Unless we have schedule changes, clubs will meet mostly on Mondays and Wednesdays. You can help your child by keeping in mind these meeting days when scheduling things like their doctor's appointments. Also keep in mind that most readers are maintaining their independent reading books alongside the book in their club. This may be a good time to discourage your child from reading much more than that. If you take the book club text, the independent reading book and add on the read aloud book, that means that students are carrying three different plots, three different journeys, three different sets of accountability. Please let us know if you have questions about this.
Enrichment Updates from the Enrichment Teachers - Read On!
Art:
Things have been super exciting in the art studio for our 4th grade friends! While they are learning new things every class, the fourth grade artists are starting to hone their artistic voices. Although there is exploration in a variety of studios, the 4th grade artists first love continues to be the sculpture studio and each young artist is finding their way towards authentic work, work that represents pure creative joy for the artist and viewer! Don’t forget, the greatest evening of the year is very close!! The Spring Arts Festival is May 5th and all the 4th grade artists will have multiple works of art on display along with all the TES students. In case you missed it, take a look at the blog post from last month as you prepare to be amazed by the creative powerhouse that is the student body at Trinity.
Thanks for sharing your artist with us.
Jen Rankey and Mary Ann O’Sullivan
P.S. Don’t forget the subscribe the the Art Department Blog (tesartdepartment.wordpress.com) and follow us on Twitter (@tesarttab1) to keep up with all the wonderful things happening! Also, we are in the process of creating digital portfolios using the website Artsonia. For now you can simply search “Find by School” then search your child's name. We are adding new work every day so don’t worry if your child does not have work yet:).
Strings:
We are working fast and furious to prepare for the Arts Fest performance! I hope you are hearing lots of Joyful Chorale and Entry of the Tumblers at home. We are focusing, as always, on sitting with good posture and using a correct bow hold (curved pinkies for the violins and violas, pinky on the frog for the cellos and bass) and curved thumbs for all! This seems picky, but a good bow hold allows the player to do more things with the bow, which gets more important as the music gets more complex. We are continuing our work in the Method Book on slurs and string crossings. I hope this class will get a chance to play in Community Chapel before the end of the year!
Art:
Things have been super exciting in the art studio for our 4th grade friends! While they are learning new things every class, the fourth grade artists are starting to hone their artistic voices. Although there is exploration in a variety of studios, the 4th grade artists first love continues to be the sculpture studio and each young artist is finding their way towards authentic work, work that represents pure creative joy for the artist and viewer! Don’t forget, the greatest evening of the year is very close!! The Spring Arts Festival is May 5th and all the 4th grade artists will have multiple works of art on display along with all the TES students. In case you missed it, take a look at the blog post from last month as you prepare to be amazed by the creative powerhouse that is the student body at Trinity.
Thanks for sharing your artist with us.
Jen Rankey and Mary Ann O’Sullivan
P.S. Don’t forget the subscribe the the Art Department Blog (tesartdepartment.wordpress.com) and follow us on Twitter (@tesarttab1) to keep up with all the wonderful things happening! Also, we are in the process of creating digital portfolios using the website Artsonia. For now you can simply search “Find by School” then search your child's name. We are adding new work every day so don’t worry if your child does not have work yet:).
Strings:
We are working fast and furious to prepare for the Arts Fest performance! I hope you are hearing lots of Joyful Chorale and Entry of the Tumblers at home. We are focusing, as always, on sitting with good posture and using a correct bow hold (curved pinkies for the violins and violas, pinky on the frog for the cellos and bass) and curved thumbs for all! This seems picky, but a good bow hold allows the player to do more things with the bow, which gets more important as the music gets more complex. We are continuing our work in the Method Book on slurs and string crossings. I hope this class will get a chance to play in Community Chapel before the end of the year!