Wow!

We started the day with M4T and ORGANIZING our star boxes and binders. It felt very good for all to purge some things that are not needed! In our meeting, we read, It's Tough to Lose Your Balloon, and talked about finding the positive in things. Then, we made sure our goals were written positively instead of in a negative way. Kudos to them because they already were! After a few gross rounds of "Would You Rather?" (Would you rather...vomit raspberry sherbet or have sparkly boogers?!), we continued writing our "One day...The End." stories. They did so well that we earned a potato head piece! In The Tiger Rising, Rob met the tiger and is now in charge of feeding him. However, Sistine would rather let the tiger go and seems to feel like a tiger in a cage herself! There are a lot of feelings that are coming out lately with Rob, Sistine and even his father and Willie May. In Reader's Workshop, we continued our work with, The Cow's Horn, by working with plot today. We also read and visited the library. Some kiddos visited Mrs. Shively's room to work collaboratively with her kiddos during this time as well. After gym, lunch and a beautiful outdoor recess, we practiced for our decimal assessment tomorrow with online games. They really enjoyed Math Man-which is like Pac-Man but the ghosts have decimals on them and they need to eat the ghosts by the dot on the number line below. All of the games are on my Canvas page so they can access them at home. I also "assigned" some problems for them to work on in their yellow workbook.

After math, we worked on Wellness and focused on our emotional health by reading a Time For Kids about feeling safe and healthy at home and then completed a few activities to go along with it. Our day concluded with wonder/i-time.

Productive chaos?

Our day began with completing our M4T and then morning meeting. In meeting, we greeted our friends and shared one thing we've learned about ourselves and our learning so far this year. One thing we discussed was that distractions are possible no matter what the seating or anything looks like. The only thing we can control is our reaction to these distractions and how to keep the distractions from interfering with our learning. In Word Study, we found that our words are similar and that we can use what we know about one word to help us spell the related word (ex. televise, television) and then in Writer's Workshop, we continued our "One day, The End" stories. We discussed that adding more detail doesn't mean to add more sentences or events but to add more information about the sentences that are already written. Oh my goodness, they hated me for stopping where I did in The Tiger Rising! Beauchamp, the owner of the hotel and presumably the tiger, asked Rob if he would want a job taking care of a wild animal...could he really be talking about the tiger Rob found??! Then, in Reader's Workshop, we worked more with the vocabulary and figurative language in, The Cow's Horn from StoryWorks, read, visited the library and some met with me for Guided Reading. We had Music, lunch and outdoor recess today and during quiet time, while writing in our planners, we completed 2 of our homework questions because the format for the problems are the way they'll need to answer the problems on their math AIR test in a couple weeks. It is a very confusing format so a little practice will help them to feel more secure and be tested on the math content instead of a testing format. In Math Workshop today, we wrote decimals on an index card and then found a partner. We compared our decimals using <, > or =. Next, we ordered ourselves into a number line. They did awesome and I think understand these skills a little better! We ended our Math Workshop with some application of our decimal skills with some real world problems. In Social Studies today, we finished the branches of government reading and then worked on two Ohio Studies Weekly magazines. Finally, our day concluded with Wonder/I-time.

Welcome back!

Wow-it was a nice week off but now, we have 49 days to get everything complete! Our day began with completing our M4T and talking to each other about what we did over Spring Break. Then, in meeting, we shared what someone else did over break. In Word Study, we took our pre-test to get this week's words. The students know they are connected-just not exactly how. Then, I read, One Day, The End, to jump start our writing. This book showed that the middle of our writing is super important and details are necessary! After taking some time to begin on our writing, we read more from The Tiger Rising. Rob's "suitcase" is beginning to open a little with Sistine. Will this tiger allow him to completely open his feelings and finally heal from his mother's death? In Reader's Workshop, we read, The Cow's Horn, in StoryWorks, read, visited the library and some met with me to work on guided reading. Today, we had Art, lunch and indoor recess. In Math Workshop, we continued to practice decimals and some are actually planning a party for our class to show their understanding of decimals. In Social Studies, we worked with Branches of Government by playing some online games.    Our day was concluded with wonder/i-time

Woohoo! It's Spring Break!

We made it! Today felt like a race trying to get things finished but we did it! We started our day brainstorming places we'd like to go over Spring Break...Floriday, Get Air and England! were just a few. Then, in Writer's Workshop, we wrote persuasive pieces hoping to influence you into taking us somewhere special. Some of them were really convincing... In The Tiger Rising, Rob began to open up to Sistine. It was truly magical to see it happen as sometimes you just feel comfortable around certain people. I think this will be a beautiful friendship--I hope! In Reader's Workshop, we read, visited the library, worked with me and some continued writing. We had gym, lunch and a very windy and chilly outdoor recess. Right after quiet time, Dr. Donna came so we could test out our boats! We tried to all go outside but it was too cold! So we brought the tub in and each group went out and tested their boat in the hallway. How did your child's group do? In Math Workshop, we practiced putting decimals on a number line and then completed a decimals check-in. I think some did really well and will be moving on after break! We then practiced applying our understanding by figuring out golf swing statistics, metric measurement conversions, marbles in a bag or how much money was made babysitting. Finally, our day ended with completing and testing our leprechaun traps!

We are almost there!

What a beautiful day! It seemed like a Monday...however, we did a good job of jumping right into our learning. Instead of M4T, we wrote 3 SMART goals for ourselves to achieve over spring break. **Quite a few kiddos said they were going to clean their rooms! Then, we rolled story starter dice to get ideas and then wrote a story with this idea. In Read Aloud, we began a new book, The Tiger Rising by Kate DiCamillo. We are still getting introduced to the characters but what we've learned so far is that Rob's whole life was turned upside down when his mother died and he and his dad moved to Florida. Now, he's locked up his feelings so he doesn't need to feel and is having a terrible time. Until, he finds a tiger?! Hmmm...where is this story going? In Reader's Workshop, we read, visited the library, worked with me, completed the Explain Everything summary and used context clues to complete the meanings of words in our BFG Glossary. In Music, we watched some of our Spring Concert, ate lunch and enjoyed the fresh air at recess. Once inside, we wrote in our planners and created a sense of calm with quiet time. In Math Workshop, we began by going over the work we began on Monday. This application of decimals is getting them! (If you are able to work with them over break by comparing or ordering--at a restaurant, which is cheaper? Or at the grocery, which is the better deal?-please do.) Then, we wrote about our progress with decimals and created a goal for the remainder of the unit. Then, we kept practicing with ordering and comparing decimals. For Science, and with St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, we made traps for Leprechauns! Our day ended with a government word search for Wonder time and then worked independently on our own wonder time activities.

Happy Pi Day!

3-14. Pi Day. 3.14159... Unfortunately, we don't work with pi too much in 4th grade so they don't understand today as much as I wish! However, it is also Adison's birthday so they celebrated that with me. :)

Instead of M4T this week, today, we found pictures in magazines and wrote captions to go with them. I thought they would take this idea and make it hilarious, but they were just normal! Maybe if we do this again, they'll do something silly with the pictures. In meeting, we shared a little bit about our weekend and lack of an hour that was messing us up and played a few rounds of Would you rather? In Writer's Workshop, we partnered up and created conversations with each other. Then, we finished The BFG! It is always so bittersweet finishing books. I wonder what we should read next...any suggestions? This "week" in Reader's Workshop, we are completing our summaries on Explain Everything and PhotoSpeak or Chatterpix as well as completing our BFG glossary. We are working with reading for a purpose in guided reading groups this week. After Art, lunch and outdoor recess, we had a multiplication number talk and then dove right in with decimals. We warmed up with a game of pick it, shade it, practiced identifying tenths and hundredths and then applied this understanding. Some kiddos did not use their time as wisely as they could have so a lot of them have homework due Wednesday to finish this work. After Math Workshop, in Social Studies, we worked with identifying the "jobs" or responsibilities of each branch of government. First, we brainstormed the roles and responsibilities of the adults at ADE and then applied this understanding to our government. Our day concluded with Wonder/I-time. I am really enjoying spending time with my group and just brushing up on basic skills. Today, we worked with elapsed time. What did your kiddo work on?

Almost finished

Today was the last day of this crazy week and we made it! We only had one little out-of-the-ordinary so it was a mostly typical day.

We finally reached our M4T goal!!! (I did lower it to 9/13 and they only needed 7, 8, 9 or 10/10 but still!) Shhhh...don't tell them but they will be treated with some donuts on Monday! Then, we played, "I have, who has?" with prefixes. It went really well-they completely understand the meaning that un-, pre-, re- and im- do to root words. We had a pretty silly lesson in Writer's Workshop about commas...ask your kiddo how lives can be saved by using commas in our writing! In The BFG, the plan has been activated to capture the giants and they have just reached Giant Country. We'll finish the book on Monday. I hate to finish~I love this book! Instead of Reader's Workshop today, we went to the Media Center to learn how to access FREE eBooks through our school library! Have your kiddo show you all the possibilities! We had gym, lunch and outdoor recess. After quiet time, we worked on applying our understanding of decimals. This was a lot harder than I thought it would be for them but they weren't very confident in themselves. After Math Workshop, we learned about the branches of government by first watching some School House Rocks and then creating a government tree. We ended our day with wonder time.

STEM afternoon

We had a normal morning with M4T, Prove-it in Word Study (much better this week!) Read Aloud and Reader's Workshop. We are almost finished with The BFG and today, the BFG and Sophie acted on their plan and it worked perfectly! The Queen even invited them to stay for breakfast! Now, they have called in the Army and Air Force to plan on capturing the Giants and ridding them from eating poor little chiddlers forever! In Reader's Workshop, students worked on their book summaries using Photo Speak and Explain Everything, blogged and read independently. We, begrudgingly, had Music today although they are kind of music'd out right now... lunch and indoor recess. Our afternoon was spent partly at ADE working with either Mrs. Bolyard of myself on a STEM activity-either with Piggy's house of cards in my room or hoop gliders in Mrs. Bolyard's room. The other part of the afternoon was making our designs using Darby Creek's Maker Space. They loved it! We had a little extra time before Wonder Time so they asked me to read more from The BFG.

Field trip?

Well, our morning was spent at Bradley High School practicing for the Spring Concert tonight. When we returned, I overheard a kiddo say that they had a fun field trip! :) Hope I see you tonight! (Don't forget your tickets!!!)

After we returned from Bradley, around 11:45, we had a few minutes to blog, read and visit the library. Then, we had lunch and a glorious recess. Next, we met with our design team to work on our designs that we will be making tomorrow at Darby Creek's Maker Space. Then, in Math, we ordered our names on a number line and then demonstrated we can identify decimals as fractions, in expanded notation, on a number line and with base-10 blocks. Our day ended with Wonder/I-time.

Today's crazy...3323[o]ipwi\

The crazy we had today was all this morning with Music Rehearsal from 9:30-11:30 and then met with our small groups in order to design our boats to make in the Maker Space with Dr. Donna on Thursday. However, before we left, we sorted our words for Word Study and found our generalization to be that our words have prefixes and/or suffixes.

After lunch and recess, we wrote in our planners (don't forget quarters for Mrs. Root!) and calmed ourselves with quiet time. In Math Workshop, we used base-10 squares to find the value of our name in fractions and decimals. We also played decimal top-it and worked with ordering decimals on a number line and putting numerals in place value puzzles. Since we lost all of our morning, we spent part of the afternoon reading silently or visiting the library. Our day ended with Wonder/I-time.

Beginning of our crazy week...

So, we have at least one out-of-the-ordinary EACH day this week. Today, we have a technology lesson with Mrs. Bargar. We learned how to use Photospeak and Chatterpix to make characters "talk" and using Explain Everything, created a summary about a book we've read. It was a lot to learn but we are going to continue to work on this summary all week.
After our technology lesson, we took our pre-test to get new words in Word Study. Then, in The BFG, Sophie and the BFG, traveled to London to begin working their plan. We also read, visited the library and Columbus State bloggers began their final blog. We had Music, lunch and a beautiful outdoor recess. After some quiet time and writing in our planners (by the way, we have a busy week with the Spring Concert so we are taking a week off of homework-meaning that I won't be posting anything new on Canvas. They can still read, write and work with math, however.), we began with a fraction number talk where we compared decimals. Next, we each got a card with a fraction or decimal and then ordered ourselves into a human number line. We, then created base-ten block pictures and represented the total value of our pictures in fractions and decimals. We also played Decimal Top-it with partners. In Science, in thinking like a scientist, we took the information that we gained by looking at the actual items in the mystery bags 1-3 and took a second look at the rest of the mystery bags so that we could make better inferences based on more scientific observations. Our day ended with Wonder/I-time.

Fabulous Friday!

The kiddos were bummed at realizing they had to sit where I placed them the other day but understood that they were more successful in those spots. We made a few tweaks here and there but overall, they are in "assigned" seats. Hopefully, we'll finally get 10/13 of the class with 7, 8, 9 or 10/10 on their M4T test so that they get a nice treat Monday morning. Fingers crossed! After completing the M4T test and watching the news, we continued writing our fictional narratives. I'm hoping to get them able to bust out multiple paragraph stories with a beginning, middle and end by April when they'll need to write two for the AIR test! The more they write, the better they'll write! Sophie's plan was revealed in The BFG and the dream has been mixed for the Queen. Now, they are off to London to try to rid the world of giants eating the little chiddlers for good! :) In Reader's Workshop, we had our final day of working on the debate and poem in StoryWorks. We also read and visited the library. Today was Art, lunch and indoor recess. We wrote in our planners and had some quiet time to meditate and create calm. Then, we re-took the Unit 5 Math Test or if we felt we did our best on the test, worked on creating and writing decimals and fractions using base-ten blocks. We all ended up working with creating, writing decimals and writing the decimals as fractions. In Science, we practiced making and DOCUMENTING observations using Mystery Bags. Students were more interested in trying to guess the items than with making observations so we are going to come back to this next week and try to come up with some better and more scientific observations. In thinking like scientists, we make inferences based on our observations and then as we collect more and more data, we change our ideas and inferences. So, after they've seen what the objects in the first 3 bags were, they can have a more scientific second look at the rest of the bags.

Goodness!

Is it another full moon?? I'm starting to think that the crazy weeks are just normal now... :/ We started the day like we typically do...M4T and morning meeting. However, the previous two days-which were successful-I picked their seating and today, they chose. Guess where they'll be sitting tomorrow?! In meeting, we discussed the responsibilities they have as a student and how they should be keeping you informed of what is going on in the classroom as this is one of their responsibilities. Then, we shared words we dislike. At my house, "moist" is an icky word and I can't stand when kiddos say "liberry" instead of "library." Most students didn't necessarily have any icky words but hate when things are grammatically incorrect. Hmmmm...maybe I should remind them of this more often! :) In Word Study, we worked on prove-it again since yesterday was a debacle. They did somewhat better today but still struggled. We continued writing our fictional narratives in Writer's Workshop, well, those that completed their prove-it's in time. In The BFG, we learned about some of the dreams that the BFG has caught and bottled up. Meanwhile, the other giants galloped off to eat some English chiddlers! Sophie thought this was awful...the next chapter is titled, "The Plan." We'll see what happens! In Reader's Workshop, we continued our work with understanding the debate (informational/opinion text) and the poem (understanding enough to answer interview questions AS the speaker), read independently (we need to work on picking books that will sustain our attention longer-like chapter books-too many comics being read!) and blogged and/or visited the library. We had gym today, lunch and outdoor recess. In lunch, we are working on using restaurant voices and manners! After writing our assignments down in our planners and some quiet time, we worked more with decimals. They are doing AWESOME with understanding tenths and hundredths! They struggled a little with changing representing decimals and fractions from a base-ten model though so we'll continue making this decimal-fraction connection. After Math Workshop, we finished creating our ABC Ohio books that we began on Statehood Day. As always, we ended our day with wonder/i-time. Ahhhh...now it's time to relax a little and begin it all again tomorrow!

Easy afternoon

I am out this afternoon for an appointment for my Ella. However, the substitute had it pretty easy with Spring concert rehearsal from 1:00-2:30! Here's how our morning and hopefully our afternoon went.

This morning, we completed our M4T and finished our "Fractions of my Brain" projects. In our meeting, we shared what we will do to help the substitute. Prove-it was tough today! They had a terrible time finding words that fit this week's generalization. They were looking for double consonants, after short vowels, before adding a suffix. For example, sit - sitting and stop - stopping... Instead of reading The BFG, we worked on our fictional narratives. Then, continued our work with the poem and debate in StoryWorks, blogged for Columbus State and read independently. Instead of special, we had Math Workshop. We practiced reading and writing decimals and fractions. We split number lines up and wrote the fractions and decimal equivalents. After lunch, indoor recess and music rehearsal, we practiced Thinking Like a Scientist with observations using Mystery Bags. Our day ended with Wonder Time.

Happy Statehood Day!

We celebrated Ohio's Statehood today by completing ABC Ohio books on Google Apps!
      
                       

After M4T, we shared how we keep safe and aware to follow up our conversation yesterday. Examples we discussed were not texting or talking on the phone while walking, being aware of our surroundings, knowing our address and a parent's phone number, walkie-talkies, etc. However, the point was reiterated that we need to be present and aware to be safe. After a few rounds of "Laughing Bandana," we moved on to sort our words for Word Study. Our generalization this week is double consonants after a short vowel, before adding a suffix. We continued writing our fictional narratives in Writer's Workshop. A couple of kiddos feel they are already finished...this is why we need to work on our writing!! In The BFG, the Fleshlumpeater Giant encountered a nightmare (thanks to the BFG!) and it was very fun to read! In Reader's Workshop, we blogged, read and completed comprehension activities. We planned for Art, lunch and outdoor recess, however, while at Art, the sky unloaded so it was indoor recess. We finished our "Fraction of my brain" projects and then began our introduction to decimals. Once I explained the monetary connection (1/10 = 0.1 = dime...) they understood. I was a little concerned with all of the ?'s on the pre-test but I think they'll end up doing fine with this unit, especially with fractions being their strongest area thus far. In Social Studies, we celebrated Statehood Day and then ended our day with Wonder/i-time...is your kid working with "Do the Math" with Mrs. Andrews, multiplication with Mrs. Bolyard or comprehension and understanding with me? If not, what are they doing to better themselves?!