Readers' Workshop Book Groups
The kids are starting to read together and when finished collecting details about characters, setting, and understanding the plot, they will write their own radio scripts.
Each group has a different book. We have been listening to parts of classic radio shows to help them understand what they will be doing.
It is fun to imagine and tell a story that only will be heard.
Passing Out Valentines-- Action Shot!
The kids put the thoughtful and carefully prepared Valentine Cards to each other in their Home Base Bins. We had a really fun afternoon.
Cooperative Musical Chairs
The 4th grade has been working together so well. One of the best ways to show how much they have learned to cooperate it for them to play "Cooperative Musical Chairs".
In Morning Meeting, I explained the game and how it is so different from competitive musical chairs. In our game, there is a lot of laughter and they are so excited to see that they can be responsible for holding up themselves while leaning on the knees of a classmate. We finished up with only one chair!! It was a fun morning and our UI Education Student played with us too.
I can't say enough about how much modeling math equations helps the kids!
Learning Division is so interesting, but takes more drawing or creating models to show what is happening. In the picture here, the whole class was working with their Job Partner on a few problems. Each group was given a flat (worth 100 units of Skittles :)), a stick (value: 10 units of Skittles), and a set of 20 single units (representing one Skittle each).
Then, the kids were given a few problems to demonstrate with their partner. That helps them talk the ideas. It was hard and it is so useful.
If you are able to have the kids show you, division, please do. It really strengthens their understanding of how the operation works and how it is applied.
Please let me know if you would like to be able to check out some of the manipulatives for home practice. You can write in your child's Planner.
Thanks, Ms. Bonzo
Using the Document Camera to Model Math Problems
We are getting really into Division and being able to show through a drawing with tally marks or using the Base Ten Blocks is the way to know if a student understands regrouping and remainders. Lilly jumped right up to do a problem I posed. It was great to see her struggle and persevere through the math. She rechecked her work. She talked through her problem-solving. It was a Raise the Roof moment. :)
Recess--- Wow the snow was so great!
The kids built a snow person and Kylor lent his hat, Michael made the face. It was really fun for them to work together!
Clarissssa meeting the rest of the 4th Grade Angelina passing her to Ruby.
The class has been so gentle with our class pet and with each other as they learn about my 15-year-old ball python. The snake was relaxed throughout the half-hour of getting to meet each student. It is a wonderful thing to see. We talk about how Clarissssa lives, the original habitat she is from and watched a National Geographic Kids on Pythons ( 5 minutes() that has a great bit on the form and function of a snake's jaw.
Finishing up Multiplication with a Folktale of Very Smart Math Thinking
As the second quarter comes to a close, there is a fabulous tale about multiplication in our literature book. It has to do with the doubling of a product. The kids use the calculators to see into what place value period they can be used for and then they get to experience the math. They are modeling with rice grains! Oh, there was much grumbling and all gained a complete acknowledgment at how the math thinking was real problem-solving!
Using the Document Camera in a Writers' Circle to critique the Life of a Mountain Man Paragraph
The kids are getting really good at taking in thoughts and feedback from classmates about their work. Today, using the criteria list to guide the comments, compliments, or questions, the writers listened to help make their paragraph more clear or organized.
Here, Brooklyn is listening to Kylor and adding or changing her rough draft. Other students listen and work to make changes as examples are up on the SmatBoard.
Interactions with this content strengthen and reinforce the importance of cooperation and how we learn together.
Clarissssa gets to meet the 4th Graders--really!!
We made it through 11 kids getting to meet her. The kids love holding our class pet, We talked a lot about how to care for her and other questions about snakes in general.
Student Morning Meeting Leaders- Trenten and Noah--
The 4th Grade has really grown as a class and the next step is for students to lead the Morning Meeting.
In the picture, the students are doing deep focused breathing led by one of the student leaders. This is something that we have done at least once a day all year long. We have talked about the value of breathing--physiologically
it tells our brain we are safe and can think about things.
After that, the kids follow what the leaders have designed for the four parts of the meeting which are the Greeting, Sharing or a Reading, Activity, and Announcements. The whole time is planned out for a thirty-minute meeting.
Growing our Ice Skating Skills at Palouse Ice Rink
We have been looking forward to this for many weeks and it was just a wonderful time of practice and fun, support and learning.
There were 7 total parents, grandparents, or siblings that showed up too which made it more fun! Thank you all for coming!
Before we left, we did a survey and everyone has been to the ice rink so we talked about helping to raise money for a full-size rink. The kids were surprised by the amount!
The other idea we surveyed was the level of skill as an individual ice skater-- how do you rate yourself? The choices were 1,2, or 3 with 1 as low (2 kids), 2 as developing or in progress (10 kids), and 3 as " I only fall when I want to :)) (6 kids).
We left wanting more!!--everyone wanted to go again!!
