Juicy Nibble

Here are links to the recorder/chorus concert.  Great job everyone!  Enjoy!

Welcome

Recorder

Recorder

Recorder

Muppets

Juicy Nibble

We learned about the California Gold Rush this week and even had the opportunity to mine for gems ourselves.  What was it like to mine for gems?  Were you excited or nervous?  What were the conditions like for mining and how did they compare to the conditions the original '49ers faced?  What did it feel like when you found a gem?  Leave a comment describing your mining experience.  Follow the directions in the "How to leave a comment," gadget on the left if you need help leaving  the comment.  I can't wait to hear from you!
Mrs. Williams

A big Bite

Fun is the word to describe our week.  We are measuring and drawing angles in math in addition to creating line designs.  We tied our shirts on Friday in anticipation of Tie Dye Tuesday.  Everyone played a part in reader's theater as we read Charlotte's Web.  We laughed a lot!  Laundry, pets, and sports are just some of the topics that we are experts on and we are writing non fiction expert pieces in writer's workshop.  It has been interesting to watch Mrs. Merten and Mrs. Williams brainstorm topics for their expert piece.  We learned that they are experts on traveling together and have visited many places in the USA with each other.  The electricity unit has begun and we are all charged up about it.:)  In social studies, we had a special presentation on immigration from Mr. Titmuss, Bleddyn's dad.  It was very interesting.  As we finished our study of the west, we learned about the '49ers and Levi Strauss.  On Friday, we were able to mine for gems.  It was hard work but fun.  Next week is short, but full of activities.  There will be a math test on Wednesday on angles and a test on the west on Friday.  Have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day!
Mrs. Williams

A Big Bite

MCAS is done!! This week we were able to accomplish a great deal while completing the Math MCAS.  We are loving Charlotte's Web and examining theme and author's message.  We painted in the style of poet/artist Douglas Florian, and wrote free verse poems.  As part of our study of the west, we were able to Skype with a class of 4th graders in Bellingham, Washington.  It was so much fun.  Here is a link to their blog, Be Good Humans.  All Star Reading kicks off this week, remember to read so we can be a home run class!  The chorus concert is going to be wonderful and I can't wait to see it.  We are so close to being a Black Belt class, I know we can do it!  Keep practicing. :)
Mrs. Williams

A Big Bite

Miss Decker with her new school bag.  The ladybugs were made from everyone's individual thumbprint!

This past week was Miss Decker's last week at JFK, we will miss her and wish her well as she embarks upon her career as a teacher!  We have continued preparing for MCAS in math, which will be on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.  We finished learning about the Midwest and have started our journey to the west.  It's exciting to see how many students have been to this region and have personal stories to share with the class.  In reader's workshop, The Lightning Thief book group has finished and Charlotte's Web is really fun to read together.  We are working hard on theme and author's message.  According to our daily fact count down, there are only 32 days of school left.  We have a lot to cover so the end of the school year will be busy.  We are looking forward to all of the fun activities that are planned.

Family Field Trip

Join Mrs. Williams on Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 4;00 pm, at the Wellesley Book Store to meet Matt Tavares and David  Kelly.  Matt Tavares has written such books as Zachary's Ball and Oliver's Game. Come in your team uniform or wearing your favorite team's memorabilia and be entered into a drawing for a baseball signed by both authors.  It's sure to be a great time!  Click on the link above for directions to the bookstore.

A Big Bite

Ms. Liz

It was another busy week in room 23.  We are very  getting ready for the math MCAS.  We have been spending time practicing multiple choice and open response questions.  We will continue practicing this week.  We finished our study of weather with the wild weather test and everyone did a great job!  We finished learning about the mid west and will take a test later this week.  Charlotte's Web is the book we are reading as an interactive read aloud in reader's workshop.  We are analyzing character behavior and connecting it to theme and author's message.  Everyone loves Mrs. W's plastic pig from the Charlotte's Web Barbie set.  Ms. Liz, the JFK Poet in Residence, spent two days with us this week in poetry workshop.  check out the videos below.  We were able to write some really great poems and can't wait to share them with you.
This is Miss Decker's last week with us.  We will be sad to see her go and wish her the best for the future.
Mrs. Williams

Ms. Liz recites a poem she wrote for her daughter, Jenny
Ms. Liz teaches us The Poetry Bus

Bookworm Buzz

Bluebird by Bob Staake
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

One of the most amazing picture books I have read in a long time.  There is so much going on in this wordless book, the lessons are endless.  I know that we will be having many talk worthy discussions about this book.  Caldecott, maybe? It is a front runner for sure. :)


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Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book.  What a great way to show point of view and the many sides to a character.  A must read for all Star Wars fans, both young and not as young.  So many great pictures, I can't pick a favorite.  This will certainly be a book that I read again and again. :)


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Lunch Lady and the Video Game Villain: Lunch Lady #9 by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another installment in the Lunch lady series.  Not my favorite, but I do like the way Krosczka brings in characters from previous novels and leaves the reader hanging off a cliff at the end.  I do want to see what will happen to Lunch Lady in the next book.


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Thunderstorms by Chana Stiefel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great non fiction read to accompany our wild weather unit.  Many fun text features. I really enjoyed the connections to tornadoes.  Students will find some interesting facts about wild weather in this book.


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Lunch Money: And Other Poems About School by Carol Diggory Shields
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun book of poems about school.  I'm sure we will use it as a mentor text.


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