Wednesday, April 30

Our day began in the Computer Lab working on a Webquest on Fossils. Students take on a role-archaeologist, geologist, paleontologist or reporter-and do their part to find information about fossils. After Art, we visited Mrs. Dornburgh's class to listen to their research presentation on animals. Our kiddos did a good job listening and asking questions and they did an amazing job on their research and presentation! For Math, we finished our practice around the room and then went over our answers. How did your child do? Unfortunately, we aren't ducks so we had recess inside today. Then, we listened to Bud, Not Buddy. After listening, we wrote some characteristics about Herman E. Calloway and Bud--how they've changed throughout the story. In Reader's Workshop, we got caught up on some of the work we have been working on this week, read silently (ish) and broadened our vocabulary. Then, we continued our work with writing an invitation poem, from yesterday, or worked with parts of speech in Mad Libs.

Tuesday, April 29

Students work so much harder on their Math 4 Today when it is Technology Tuesday... Anyway, we worked on our M4T and then used our technology to get our brains going. Emma was very involved in homeroom this morning and may kiddos read with her! (The compassion and care that some of these students have is amazing!)                                  

             

      

After getting our brains worked up, we finished watching the Bill Nye video about fossils and then went to gym. After gym, we switched things up a little for Math. I took a practice OAA and they had to grade and score my assessment. They had to decide if my answer was correct and if not, had to correct it. Then, they scored my assessment--I failed. :( They caught most of my mistakes and were able to fix them AND also explain what I did wrong. Good job analyzing! We then walked around the room answering practice questions.
The rain stopped just in time for recess and we were able to play outside--it was glorious! After recess, we listened to Bud, Not Buddy and wrote down an inference that we made along with evidence as to why/how we felt this way. In Reader's Workshop, we worked with a Time For Kids about video games and learned some new vocabulary--does your child know what equine means?? We also read silently and independently. We worked with poetry in Writer's Workshop today. We were a little competitive with Funglish yesterday so we're going to take a day off. :)

Monday, April 28

After today, only 3 more Monday's left in 4th grade! Wow! We began with Math 4 Today but this group doesn't work too well with intrinsic motivation so if they didn't get 3 out of 4 on today's problems, they would be working at recess to correct their mistakes. Guess what? Then, we made Government "trees" to show the branches of government at local, state and federal levels. In Math, we played BINGO and some did quite a bit better than others...if they know the vocabulary of Math, they will be more prepared for the upcoming OAA's. After multiple rounds and very few winners, (Blaine, Blaine, Blaine and Brock) we decided to end Math playing Yahtzee. After indoor recess, we listened to Bud, Not Buddy and Bud found Herman E. Calloway--whom he suspects to be his father! In Reader's Workshop, we got a new StoryWorks magazine and read, "The Girl Who Discovered the Dinosaurs," practiced parts of speech using MadLibs and tried to read silently--some (all boys) are still struggling with this and refusing to read... We played Funglish in Writer's Workshop-ask your kiddo about this fun game!

TGIFriday, April 25

Well...we began our day with an epic Pinterest fail on my part... I tried to kick-off our Life Science Unit on Fossils with fossil cookies... and they were so cool/cute before I cooked them...

Then, when they puffed up in the oven, they lost their impressions. :( So, we ended up having fossil cookie crumbles. :) It's the thought that counts, right?!

After an amazing Art (we earned a potato head piece! One more to go...), we worked with 2-dimensional shapes and their properties. We made ADE's twitter feed during our Quadrilateral Roundup 

and then worked with lines of symmetry in a very artistic manner. Unfortunately, it was indoor recess but then we listened to more of Bud, Not Buddy through iTunes. In Reader's Workshop, we found letters with symmetry using the capital alphabet, enjoyed some of the activities within our StoryWorks magazine and read silently and independently. To finish out the day, we wrote a narrative about how we'd spend a week if we were a dollar bill. I can't wait to read these!

Thursday, April 24

Late Start--happy 1/2 day for kiddos! We had a weird schedule today...

We started our day with Yahtzee! This was a good way to practice math in a fun way, since we only had about 30 minutes. After Math, we had a shortened special, lunch, recess and Guidance. When I finally got my kiddos back, we read silently--building our stamina and pleasure for reading--and then worked with a practice OAA passage. We finished our work with Dictionary skills and played Dictionary/Thesaurus Roll-a-Word to finish out the day.

Wednesday, April 23

Do you remember School House Rocks?? We started learning about Government and Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities so I showed a couple videos this morning. We watched "Three-Ring Government" and my absolute favorite, "I'm Just a Bill" along with a second viewing of "Preamble." LOVE those videos! Then, students worked more with the Ohio Studies Weekly on Rights and Responsibilities. After gym, we took Math outside and did some multiple choice test prep by moving to our answer choice. They really enjoyed this. After that, we worked in the room on writing expressions and equations and using Venn Diagrams with math and numbers. After a brisk but beautiful recess, we listened to more of Bud, Not Buddy. Afterwards, we played a matching game with synonyms and antonyms before settling into Reader's Workshop, where we read independently, worked on main idea and inference using a non-fiction passage and played a synonym/antonym superhero game. For Writer's Workshop today, we continued our work with Dictionary skills and played Dictionary/Thesaurus Roll-a-Word.

Monday, April 21-Tuesday, April 22

Sorry...my husband is in China for another 3 weeks and I'm a little behind...

We began our day (Monday) with the Checkpoint Writing Assessment. It was an opinion piece given to all 4th graders in HCSD. I've only looked at a few at this point and it looks like most students--according to this rubric--are falling in the 2nd-3rd grade level. I will continue to grade and let you know of the trends I notice but mostly, students are not giving ENOUGH! After Art, we went over our practice Math OAA from last week (hopefully, they shared these with you as they were to bring them home yesterday). Then, we spent some time working with vocabulary. Today, we'll continue with vocabulary and OAA practice/review. After recess, we worked in the computer lab with Mrs. Dorr to go over the TRAILS assessment that students took in October. This assessment looked at topics like bibliographies, primary sources, reading a graph, identifying a publisher, when to use a specific resource, etc. Then, we went over a practice Reading OAA passage we had completed last week. Finally, we reviewed using a Dictionary and ALL of the parts included in an entry and played a game using a Dictionary and/or Thesaurus.

Today, after a grueling Math 4 Today, students participated in Technology Tuesday (one of their favorite things to do!) In Social Studies, we talked about citizenship rights and responsibilities and related these things to their lives as students. Just as they have rights and responsibilities as a student, citizens have rights along with responsibilities--like voting and jury duty. We read and completed an Ohio Studies Weekly to help with this understanding. The students started their guitar unit in music today and loved it! In Math, we played a little Pictionary/Cherades/Win, Lose or Draw with the vocabulary of Math. Does your kiddo know what a prime number is? What about an expression? After recess, we caught back up with Bud, Not Buddy. Reader's Workshop was noisy but they did some learning. We worked with main idea and inference with Story Works, played a game of Synonym-Antonym Superhero Scuffle and read/visited the library or worked with me. For Writer's Workshop today, we continued our dictionary work and played another round of Dictionary or Thesaurus Roll-a-Word! 

TGIThursday, April 17

(Sorry that there isn't a blog from yesterday. My mom was rushed to the hospital and I had to leave early.)

We began our day with test preparation. Some of the things we discussed was the vocabulary of testing, common mistakes made by students and that both the math and reading tests really test reading ability too. We watched some testing parodies yesterday which were clever, cute and funny. Some students have decided to create their own parodies too! Here are the links to some of the ones we watched: Thrift Shop Testing Parody
Test Me Maybe
What Does the Test Say?
All the Harman Students

After gym (Mr. Burkhart said that our class is too competitive for school gym...this leads to poor sportsmanship.), we took the 1/2 length Math Practice OAA...ugh! Their stamina was icky and they seemed way too stressed out to give their best effort. This was only a practice test! We will be working to build stamina, work in a silent work environment and persevere and problem solve over the next couple of weeks. Recess was beautiful! (I hope it stays around this time.) Bud had his first kiss today which was a big LOL moment for the class. Our brain break was a fire drill but at least we got outside for a few more moments. Then, we read, silently and independently for 20 minutes solid. This was EXTREMELY hard for some students! Please help to build the stamina. It should be nothing for a 4th grader to read for 20 minutes at one sitting. After reading, they wrote a summary of what they read. Their summaries are getting better. Finally, we ended our day in the computer lab writing our personal narratives.

Tuesday, April 15

Do you wanna build a snowman... (I know that April showers bring May flowers but what does April SNOW bring?!)

After Technology Tuesday fun, we looked at the OAA test blueprints for Reading and Math. We learned that just like we learn how to read non-fiction and fiction, reading tests and test-taking is a genre. One thing we figured out was how long it SHOULD take to read the assessment only--at least 45 minutes. This proved that no one should turn in their tests too quickly. I explained that they give us 2 and 1/2 hours for a reason... After Art, we looked at angles as part of a circle and then learned how to use a protractor. We completed a game, Guess my angle, and practiced naming and measuring angles. After lunch and indoor recess (Brrr!), we listened to more of Bud, Not Buddy. Does your kiddo enjoy listening to this audiobook or do they prefer when I read it? In Reader's Workshop, we read silently and then wrote a 3-5 sentence summary of what was read. We also played Vocabulary Rock-n-Roll and completed a reading passage and questions or worked on challenges on MangaHigh. For Writer's Workshop, we went to the computer lab to work on our personal narratives.

Monday, April 14

In Social Studies, we continued our look at African Americans in Ohio during segregation and slavery and completed an OSW about this and the Underground Railroad. In Math, we kept going with geometry and reviewed all of the vocabulary needed to move forward. We started a new read aloud book today, Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. We are listening to the audiobook on iTunes--James Avery (uncle Phil from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) is the narrator and does an amazing job! In Reader's Workshop, we worked with vocabulary and summaries. Some students still really need to build their stamina with reading so we're going to work on this skill too. We focused on writing personal narratives today in Writer's Workshop. Which event is your child writing about?

Thursday, April 10

Our day was a little different today but here's what we did:

Do you know the difference between brown eggs and white eggs? How many eggs does a hen lay in a day? A year? We found the answer to these questions this morning and much more! We learned about having a nutritional breakfast and the 6g of protein we get from just one egg. Then, we designed ideal breakfasts using the template through choosemyplate.gov. In Music, we participated in a webcast with the quartet "Carpe Diem" and the children loved it. After that, we learned some basic geometry terms and played, "Mrs. Lambright says." Ask your kiddo about this game. After recess, we took a virtual field trip to a farm where we saw the process of eggs--from farm to table! We submitted three questions but they didn't pick ours to read during the webcast. Oh well. Finally, we continued our work on our opinion/persuasive essays. 

Wednesday, April 9

What a gorgeous day! I'm actually looking forward to recess duty today...

We began our day getting caught up with Science, Math, Writing, Social Studies... After a very, sweaty gym, we used spring scales and balances to weigh the objects that we listed yesterday. How close were their estimates? After recess, we finished 26 Fairmount Avenue. I think some kiddos have another series-ish of books to read now. We worked on close-reading questions that correspond with the fiction story from Story Works, worked with me on writing summaries from non-fiction text and some students completed measurement challenges from mangahigh. In Writer's Workshop, we continued our work with our persuasive/opinion papers.

Tuesday, April 8

Unfortunately, I spent the morning at the doctor with my daughter and getting x-rays of her foot...hopefully it isn't broken but we're waiting to hear back...at least it isn't severe! Anyway, Mrs. Park was here this morning and helped the kiddos with the following: In Science, they completed their Physical Science post-tests on electricity and circuits. They were able to use any resources needed to complete this work. In Math, they worked with weight and estimating a gram, kilogram, ounce and pound. Tomorrow we'll check their estimates. After a glorious outdoor recess, I began a new read aloud with them. We are reading a memoir by Tomie dePaola called 26 Fairmount Avenue. Ask your child about a memoir and hopefully they will tell you that it is like a long personal narrative. Finally, our day ended with working on our persuasive writing/opinion piece on if they should have assigned seats at lunch.

Monday, April 7

Our day began with the final installation of "Econ and Me." Then, we completed our packet of work on economics pertaining to Ohio. Unfortunately, some students needed to work at recess to complete this work. In Math, we worked with word problems finding length, width, area and perimeter, played a game, Rugs and Fences, where we had to find area and perimeter of polygons and completed an exit slip. After indoor recess, we finished Granny Torrelli Makes Soup. This was a great book--Tutto va bene! Each day this week, one reading group will be performing their reader's theater for our first grade buddies. Today, the red group performed, "Where the Wild Things Are." In Reader's Workshop, we struggled to read silently and independently..., practiced our scripts and read the fiction story in StoryWorks. By this point in the year, students should be pretty independent with their writing so today I introduced them to their next opinion/persuasive essay: Should we continue to have assigned seats in the cafeteria? Some of them are struggling!! This should be a 5 paragraph essay giving their 'argument' and backing their reasoning up with support. Ask your child their opinion on this question--I think some of you would be surprised at their response.

TGIFriday, April 4

We started our day making poetry with our buddies! We went to their room and wrote Poetry for Two Voices and then made pictures of each other. After gym, we worked more with area and perimeter and it was very clear that this group of kiddos wants a quick answer or someone to give them the answer. This group is lacking perseverance and problem-solving. Please help your kiddos to solve problems and figure things out on their own, at home. Or, next time you want to plant a garden, paint a room, double a recipe, pay the bills, etc., ask them to help you. This way, they can see how to work through a problem and will help with their solving of math problems here at school. After another indoor recess, we read Granny Torelli Makes Soup and enjoyed Rosie's sassy attitude! (We think she's jealous!) In Reader's Workshop, we practiced our Reader's Theaters, worked on summaries of non-fiction text and answered comprehension questions about poetry. Finally, we wrote some poetry--no tears today, though!

Wednesday and Thursday, April 2-3

Yesterday, there was a substitute in the afternoon as I had to go to a funeral for a dear friend. Here's what been going on over the last two days:

Wednesday
We worked with economics by watching the first two installments of "Econ and Me." Then, we continued our work with the vocabulary and understanding of how economy relates to Ohio. In Math, we continued our work with area and perimeter by playing Cover the Area and then completing an activity about cookie cutters. After indoor recess, with the substitute, they read some poetry for Read Aloud, worked independently on homophones and comprehension of non-fiction text in Reader's Workshop and wrote and illustrated poetry for Writer's Workshop. (Check out our poe-TREE)

Thursday
Today, we watched the third installment of "Econ and Me" and then continued our work with Ohio's economy. In Math, we made area and perimeter "selfies" and then completed an exit slip with a real-world problem. As always, they can find perimeter and area but can't APPLY this thinking to solve realistic problems. We'll spend one more day on this and then we'll be moving on--we still have geometry to get in! After indoor recess, we read Granny Torelli Makes Soup and saw a sassier side of Rosie. She's a little jealous of the new girl, Janine! In Reader's Workshop, we read a poem, These Trees, and answered some questions about it. Ask your kiddo what the word, apt, means. We also practiced our reader's theaters and read silently. Finally, we tried to develop our poetry more. We are still writing very surface level poetry with little feeling and emotion. Today, we focused on digging deeper to get more feeling into our work. (We even had a few tears... )

Tuesday, April 1

Technology Tuesday started our day off great! In Social Studies, we continued our work with economics and students were more productive with working through the assignment. They need to SEARCH for the answers and they don't quite realize that...if they knew everything, they wouldn't need school! After gym, we worked with area and perimeter. Students had done a good job with finding area and perimeter until they had to find/solve a real world problem with area and perimeter. Our exit slips weren't that great so we'll be completing more of the real world problem solving this week as it pertains to area and perimeter. After a wonderfully, glorious outdoor recess, we read more about "that Bailey!" in Granny Torelli Makes Soup. Tutto va Bene! In Reader's Workshop, we worked with our Reader's Theater scripts and the themes of these dramas as well as completed some graphing work with the Time For Kids and map skills and comprehension with an Ohio Studies Weekly. In Writer's Workshop, we made a cinquain poem and illustrated our poetry with a fortune teller. (Some kiddos struggled big time with folding the paper! They got too stuck in their heads and gave up.) We discussed how to be more positive with their thinking instead of giving up. Ask them for a more positive way to say, "I'm not good at Math."