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Ms. Kathryn Bonzo » About Ms. Bonzo

About Ms. Bonzo

 Welcome to 4th Grade!   Raise the Roof!
 
     A little background: My teaching career started in St. Augustine, Florida, after graduating from the University of South Alabama. Then, my husband and I lived, taught, and traveled overseas for almost a decade in Algeria, Singapore, and the Dominican Republic before coming to Idaho.  We moved here in 1994 with our daughter and have really enjoyed being involved in the community and participating in all kinds of outdoor opportunities. 
 
    I have taught and coached kids from preschool to high school. I graduated with a Master of Arts in Teaching majoring in History from the University of in 1999 and have always continued to add to my professional and content knowledge.
 
     A little about the present at MCS: The students in 4th Grade get to integrate what they have learned from K-3. It is a special year developmentally because kids at this age want to be active and make a difference in the world. One way that I like to help grow their curiosity and interests is to take them off campus for field trips and do my best to bring in experts (which are often parents:)).
 
 

Classes

Posts

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 Elliot, Deak, and Isaac--Good Group Work!
 
Planting Native Grasses was the whole reason the 4th grade was at the Appaloosa Horse Museum. The kids planted Idaho Fescue and Prairie Junegrass to name two. They learned to get the plant from the plug, dig a 16 cm hole, and water the little starter with about 400 mL in the well they created to help soak the roots. 
This was an excellent field trip of service! Everyone worked well together and learned so much about how to take care of these plants that are so much a part of the ecosystem that makes the Palouse amazing!
 
Thank you to Lauren McCleary for teaching the students so much and the family members that came too.
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Luna and Naia collecting Trex this morning!
 
It is the last day of our 3rd year in the Trex Competition!
This year our school has collected over 3600 pounds. The first year, we collected 1200+, and the second year about 6600+!
That means our school community has kept over 11,400 pounds or  5 and 1/2 tons of plastic out of the landfill and waterways. 
All the plastic collected is used to create decking and the students are standing on the bench that we won last year that is made from 6000 plastic bags!
 
We will keep collecting at the school.
 
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The Celebrity of 4th Grade-- Clarissssa🐍
 
The second half of the class got to come in during lunch recess to hold our class pet. The kids were able to calm down and so Clarissssa was handled carefully. To say that they love her is to mispresent how they all really feel about her-- she is adored!!
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Elliot and Ezra led our Morning Meeting!
 
They were well planned and the activity was charades with the kids broken into groups of triads. They are learning a lot about nonverbal communication and enjoying the fun that makes this game great-- it is hard!  
 
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Clarissssa meets half the class today-- tomorrow the rest of 4th grade!
 
At lunch, the kids came in and get to hold Clarissssa for about a minute each. They had been prepped for what it would be like in our Morning Meeting. here Katherine really appreciates how Clarissssa moves.
The kids were so excited, and gentle. It was wonderful to watch how careful they were as they passed her,  and how much they learned from just getting a chance to hold this special ball python who is now 16 years old.
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Once a month, we unload the trailer and take our MCS plastic film that has been stored in there over to the Moscow Recycle Center.
 
We loaded a full pickup of plastic Saturday morning while Ethel, our family dog, panted in approval! 
Just think, all the 4th graders have really helped to take care of the class job of collecting the plastic. On Thursday and Friday, 71 pounds came in! They are learning that we do things-- big things-- to make good changes for ourselves and our world.
       Thank you kids!
 
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In the thick of making multiplication arrays for showing partial products.
 
      Yesterday, the kids were given graph paper to make arrays. Today, they spend time creating arrays to learn the steps for multiplication using a model. This work helps them to understand the traditional algorithm.
Understanding and applying the strategy takes practice. Four students came and put their models on the board and then explained their thinking. Jorja, Kha, Hawk, and Luke did a very good job telling and showing their work!
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Middle Schooler Sophia Helping Gather Plastic this Monday Morning!
 
It was so wonderful to have help this morning as I checked the Trex boxes by the front doors. Sophia jumped right in to help and we were able to get a few other kids as we carried all the material to the Elementary school for the 4th grade to pack up and weigh.
It is so amazing that this program is in its 3rd year!
Our school is collecting a consistent amount and right now, we have over 3400 pounds that we have sent off to be recycled! πŸ‘ 
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We are Back-- Morning Meeting Sharing!
 
The kids were so happy to play, "I know a neighbor who..." as it helps us learn each other in a more deep way and provides lots of opportunities to discuss the idea. The kids were bubbling over with enthusiasm to share with each other in the Activity part of our first Morning Meeting altogether. 
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Mette has turned in πŸ“š3 Reading Logs for the 3rd Quarter-- The first one in class to complete this requirement!πŸ™Œ
 
She is showing so much effort to be a good student doing all the important parts of learning-- reading and keeping a record.
In 4th Grade, each student needs to read for 40 minutes each night. It is proven that the skill of reading makes all subject areas stronger.  
The Reading Logs are signed by a family member and filed in the cabinet beside her for proof of what she is doing!
Way to inspire your classmates Mette!!😊
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Next Steps in Preparing for Everyone Together!
 
Yesterday, I spent the day designing the dividers and getting them secured to the tables. The State of supplied these for free so we are using them!
OY! And YAY! They are done and this is how the kids will sit when we come together. 
 
Cohort B has done a fine job today being flexible-- like standing up to see, not leaning on the plastic, and learning how to share this space.
 
I am really looking forward to seeing all the kids together on March 23 after Spring Break and know they are excited too! 
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Dragon Eye Project in Art
 
The kids had a 2-day project with Ms. Jones in Art. The folding of the paper and use of pastel crayons made a very dramatic eye. There was a lot of attention to detail as they worked on this interesting 3D art.
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Creating the table that explains the rule-- patterns are being understood!
 
These three 4th graders, Luke, Elliot, and Mila did a fine job with creating three different examples to explain a rule. Problem Solving is really taking on a new understanding for the class as they see math facts are the tools for bigger and more interesting thinking.
Another wonderful part of the class has been the way the kids are learning to discuss ideas in all content areas. From each Cohort, I have seen such growth. 
They are all learning together so well! 
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Ongoing Trex Collection!!
 
Everyday the 4th grade does their job-- as you see here, Elliot T. and Kha-- gather and weigh the material from the boxes filled up with plastic film. We have 6 total boxes in our school for collection.
 
So far this year, our school has collected over 3300 pounds of plastic film. Keep it coming in.πŸ˜ŠπŸ‘
The next city collection at the Moscow Recycle Center is on March 6 (the first Saturday of each month).
 
THANK YOU!!
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Giant Snowball!
 
Great Cooperation as they built together-- a huge snowball. The weather was really perfect for being outside this afternoon. The kids enjoyed playing together! 
Check out my blogs from previous years:
2017-2018 School Year 
2016-2017 School Yearο»Ώ
2015-2016 School Yearο»Ώ
2014-2015 School Year