A Big Bite

Happy Halloween!

What an exciting few weeks in Room 23.  We have been learning so much and having so much fun!  We took a field trip to the library and everyone was able to learn all about the history of the library, the architecture make a craft and take out books!  It was wonderful to learn all about the opportunities that we have at the town library which is also the first library public in the United States!  

In math we finished a unit on basic multiplication and division facts and are almost finished with a unit on patterning.  We are done with the water cycle, scientific method and the microscope in science and will be starting the heredity unit this week.  Map skills are all done in Social Studies and we are moving on to Mexico!  We learned how to say "Hello, How are you, I am well, my name is and good-bye," in Spanish.  We will be celebrating the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on Monday.  Our narratives are almost done in writer's workshop and we have finished the list poems.  Many poets are also done with their Haiku poems.  

We celebrated the book, Mr. Popper's Penguins, with Black and White Day!  We had black and white snacks, made Arctic Art with black construction paper and chalk, did penguin math and played Pictionary with vocabulary words.  It was so much fun!!! We didn't have time to finish the movie, March of the Penguins, but we will on Monday.  

Arctic Art

plush friends

A line plot of the black and white snacks

Speeches for Student Council will take place on Monday!  Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Mrs. Williams

T-shirt of the day

We have had some interesting shirts lately, don't you agree?

Bookworm Buzz

This past weekend, my son and one of his friends were working on a project for their Pre AP US History class. They had to either write a poem, or a song, from the point of view of a colonist during the American Revolution.They desperately wanted to find an “old school rap tune,” that they could rewrite, as they had already chosen their name; The Liberty Boyz, Colonists With Attitude (CWA), which had been approved by their teacher.  As they were searching for just the right tune, The Beastie Boys, (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party) came to mind and I suggested that they listen to the song. Within minutes, they were rewriting the lyrics, fighting for their right “to be free,” rapping about taxation without representation and other key points that led to the American Revolution.  As they were gleefully typing away their new number one hit, I recalled one of my favorite graphic novel series from Graphic Library, called Graphic History, published by Capstone.  There are so many great titles in this series that have a high interest level, are based on historical events and people, and are written for 3rd and 4th graders.  The Boston Tea Party, by Matt Doeden is one book that students love to read.  The page layout is easy for students to follow and the art adds to the overall appeal of the novel. Each book contains fact pages, a glossary, and other resources for students to explore in order to enhance their understanding of the topic, or if they are interested in learning more about a topic.  These graphic novels are frequently borrowed from the library and are popular with students.  They are a great way to get students reading the history genre in a format that is friendly and interesting.  Make sure you check out these books. Are you humming the Beastie Boys in your head?  I thought so. :)

Juicy Nibble

Multiplication and Division Facts Games

These games may help your child  with math fact practice.

• Math Fact Shoot Out (multiplication and division facts)
• Math Man (choose multiplication or division only)
• Math Bingo (choose multiplication or division only)
• Math Match
• Number Ninja (Work with multiples)

Author alert!

A great day getting to meet Kazu Kibuishi and hear his presentation about being a graphic novelist, artist and author. So inspirational!!!!

A Big Bite

Fall is upon us, the leaves are magnificent and it was another busy week in room 23. :)  We continue to make progress in Reader's Workshop both in independent reading and with our interactive read aloud, Mr. Popper's Penguins.  Students are embracing the concept of "just right books," and are making good progress with independent reading.  We are writing across the curriculum, not just in poetry and writer's workshop but in math, reading and science as well.  Multiplication and division are all the rage in math.  Students are working hard to apply these skills to word problems and to explaining thinking in writing.  We spent time learning how to find exact locations on a map with coordinate grids and degrees for latitude and longitude.  It was fun and everyone did a great job!  Next week looks like a big assessment week with tests in social studies and math and a quiz in word study.  We will review for each of these assessments BEFORE the day of the test, but students should study at home as well.  All maps and globes folders were to be taken home on Friday along with the weekly reading log and the math study guide.  

Thanks to Ms. Henrichon for making me aware of the Every Kind in a Park program sponsored by the White House and the National Park Service.  According to the website: Beginning September 1st all kids in the fourth grade have access to their own Every Kid in a Park pass at www.everykidinapark.gov. This pass provides free access to national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and more!

The Every Kid in a Park pass is good for the 2015-2016 school year, until August 31, 2016. Information on obtaining the pass is available by visiting www.everykidinapark.gov.

National Parks are some of my favorite places to visit and really are some of the most beautiful landscapes our great nation has to offer.  Go to a park, have some fun!

I am looking forward to seeing students and families at An Unlikely Story Bookstore in Plainville today to meet Kazu Kibuishi!  Mrs. Merten and I will be there and are hoping to get a photo with the author that we can post to the blog.  Check back later in the weekend for photos! 

Good luck to all runners who will be participating in the Ladybug 5k tomorrow!  Stay warm and strong, kick the finish! 

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Williams

T-shirt of the day

Forward thinking! I like it. :)

Bookworm Buzz

Grilled cheese, Sloppy Joe, tacos!  In honor of National School Lunch week, I am celebrating the Lunch Lady Series by Jared Krosoczska!  When the Babymouse series made its debut in my classroom, students were curious if there were any other graphic novels “out there” that were similar in format and style but not pink. Lo and behold, along came the Lunch Lady Series.  It was a hit right away and continues to thrill readers today.  Students connect to main characters Dee, Terrence, and Hector, and they love Lunch Lady and her sidekick Betty, not to mention all of the kitchen gadgets they use to fight crime in the school and the community.  All of the books in the series are connected, but readers can read one book as a stand alone novel.  Like the Amulet series, many of the Lunch Lady books have been borrowed permanently from my classroom library.  When the last book in the series was released, there was genuine disappointment that the tales of the Lunch Lady were over and students were loathe to say goodbye to some of their favorite characters.  It is very rewarding to know that characters have made such a lasting impression on readers.  Now, when I introduce the Lunch Lady to readers, they are as excited to get to know the characters and their tales as the first students who were instantly hooked on this series years ago.  

So, for week three of the #GNCelebration, I salute Jared Krosoczska and the Lunch Lady series, and all of the Lunch Ladies across the nation who by their hard work and dedication make sure our students are fed each and every day!  They are the true super heroes, whether they fight crime like the Lunch Lady and Betty, or serve hot meals to hundreds of students daily, a school day would not be complete without them or without lunch! I just can’t get Adam Sandler out of my head; maybe it’s time for a meatloaf sandwich!

A Big Bite

Our week in pictures!  Puffmobile races!

Reviewing progress from the first six weeks of school and setting goals for the next six weeks.  Also, beginning our first interactive read aloud, Mr. Popper's Penguins!

Continuing to write in the non fiction genre by writing science experiments about variables.  in addition, continuing to work on roles in cooperative groups and improving teamwork.

Enjoying the first of four visits from the Haffenreffer Museum.  This one was called, "Dig it!" and we were able to excavate a site just like real archaeologists.  Thanks, PCC!

We worked on many other topics this week including sentences in word study, continued writing personal narratives in writer's workshop, began presentations in Google Drive in technology, wrote list poems in poetry workshop and began a unit on multiplication and division in math. 4th grade is such a fun place to learn and grow every day!  What a week!

Students, please click here to complete a brief survey.  Thanks!

Have a great long weekend, Columbus Day!

Mrs. Williams