A Big Bite

Well Gang, you got your wish! It is our first official Snow Day!! I am glad that we thought to bring home all of your Social Studies materials yesterday so that you can prepare for the test on the Northeast, which will still be on Tuesday.  The math quiz however, will be moved to Friday.  If you go outside and play in the snow, take a picture and send it to me so that I can post it to the blog.  I would love to see what you are doing, building or creating in and with the snow. :)  Remember not to track your wet clothes and shoes through the house.  :)  Everyone did well on the Precipitation/Humidity quiz.  We will begin a unit on clouds after vacation.

Fractions, fractions, fractions have been the rage in 4th grade.  We are working on equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, improper fractions and mixed numbers.  Remember to check out Mrs. Merten's blog for some fun fraction games to play on line.

Reader's workshop is rolling along.  We have had some great book talks and we just finished Snow Treasure. Studying author's craft and the use of figurative language has been our focus and now we are using these skills in writer's workshop.  We also have been working on close reading for specific types of author's craft and we have been on the lookout for adverbs.  We determined that writing which is specific and uses many different types of figurative language, in addition to a strong voice, makes the writing more exciting for the reader.  A good cliffhanger or two doesn't hurt either! :)  Next week we will celebrate Snow Treasure over a few days with some fun engineering projects.  We will make sure to take many pictures. :)

In honor of Black History Month, we will be reading books, poems, and short stories by famous African American authors, illustrators, poets, artists and musicians.  Pairs of students will be creating a slide in Google Presentations about a literary work and reflecting on the theme and author's message. More to follow next week. :)

Our Mystery Skype visits with Mrs. Merten's class continue!  During the past two weeks we have Skyped with students in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.  It is so much fun to learn about 4th graders around the country.  More Skype visits are planned so stay tuned!!!

4th and 5th grade community meetings have continued and the focus for February is the Acts of Kindness Challenge. Students are challenged to complete one act of kindness a day, jot it down on the heart papers that were sent home, and bring it into school to fill the Hearts of Kindness bucket in the lobby.  Several notes will be shared each day during morning announcements.

Students at community meeting

We really enjoy our end of the week closing circle and I am sorry that we aren't able to have one today.  Instead, fill out this fun survey and let me know about your high/low/betcha' didn't know.  Remember, I am the only one who can see your responses, other students cannot see your responses.

Finally, next Friday is "Party in a Bag/Valentine's Day."  If you need materials for making Valentine's, please see me.  I am happy to let you have some paper and markers.  

Have a great day!  I am looking forward to hearing from you.  Enjoy your weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

Mrs. Williams