Juicy Nibble

Thanks to Mrs. K for making a quizlet for the midwest states and capitals.
Click here for the quizlet.

A Big Bite

It was a short week for students in Room 23.  We have started a unit on measurement in math, had a mystery Skype visit with 4th graders in Georgia and began a new interactive read loud, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.  We will be using our skills as scientists to observe apes and other safari animals in the upcoming weeks.  All of our book clubs wrapped up this week and a notice went home about a fun after school event on April 10th.  Writer's workshop has been busy with students focusing on writing stories from different points of view.  We are also finishing rap poems and starting mythology poems.  We have started our travels to the mid west and  are looking forward to another VR lesson with Mrs. Merten next week.  Good times!

In an effort to continue building community in Room 23, we have started "filling a bucket," for a classmate.  Ask your student what this means and who filled their bucket this week.  We are also working on recognizing those instances/triggers that make us feel anxious, scared, nervous and/or silly and how to handle those feelings in order to relax and focus.  We work hard to stay in the green zone.

Have a great weekend and Happy Easter to all of those families who will be celebrating.

Mrs. Williams

A Big Bite

The last two weeks have been busy!! Where is March going?  We have had time to create sleds as part of an engineering challenge for Snow Treasure Day and we raced them.  Thanks to everyone who sent in materials to complete this project. In reading, we continued to learn about modern day heroes and read more Greek myths.  We have three book clubs going that are all interest based and revolve around myths. The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan is a parent/student group and even parents have homework!! So far so good parents, everything looks great! ;)  We are learning Greek adages as part of word study; what is your Achilles Heel? For many students in room 23, it is some type of food, particularly chocolate. Leave a comment and let us know. In writer’s workshop we have completed two, “You be the author,” writing pieces.  We have written chapter 31 in Snow Treasure and are working in teams to write stories from a different point of view. It is very exciting work!

In math, we have finished our study of fractions and decimals and will be moving on to measurement next.  Keep practicing your facts! We also celebrated Pi Day on March 14th. The students ran 3.14 miles (80 laps of the gym) in 21 minutes. They ran the laps in a relay, no one ran 3.14 miles by themself! check out the pictures below. :)

We will finish our travels around the southeast this week and take a test on Tuesday.  The study guide and flashcards went home earlier this week. We will move on to the midwest next week.

As we begin the third term and the last push before fifth grade, students are working toward increasing independence, improving organizational skills and focusing on following oral and written directions.  All of these school survival skills will be vital in fifth grade and throughout the remaining school years.

Report cards are being sent home today so look for this in your student’s backpack.  Now is a good time to have your child set a goal for the remainder of the year. It has been a great year so far and I know that third term will be just as fantastic as the rest of the year has been.

Mrs. Williams

Juicy Nibble

Thanks to Mrs. K for making this quizlet for the Southeast States and capitals!  We appreciate it!

Juciy Nibble

Here is a link to today's myth, The story of Persephone and Demeter. Enjoy!

Juicy Nibble

A classmate is getting ready for Pi Day with this fun snow day activity!  Looks yummy.  I hope to see you all tomorrow!

A Big Bite

Students at JFK had the opportunity to attend the school store and purchase school supplies today!  All proceeds will be donated to a charity.  There was a slight mishap with one of the squishy toys, but we managed to get it cleaned up!  Thanks for being a good sport, friend!

We are continuing to learn about heroes in reader's workshop and extended our learning by reading some Greek myths.  Greek mythology will play a big role in our word study over the next several weeks.  There will be a student/parent interest group for The Lightning Thief starting some time next week.  If your child chooses to be part of this group you will get to be a part of it too!  Such fun and a great learning experience for all! 

We continue to share the books that we love by delivering book talks.  Well done, ladies!

In writer's workshop, students are working in partners to write, "the next chapter," of our interactive read aloud, Snow Treasure.  There are some FANTASTIC ideas out there and we can't wait to share our stories.

We completed several labs in the science room as we studied plant adaptations.  We finished the celery experiment and discussed the observations that we had made with our groups.

On Monday, the Haffeneffer Museum visited fourth graders to help them learn all about the Native Americans of the prairie and the plains.  We held artifacts, played drums, wore authentic regalia and even participated in a Pow Wow.  It was a great way to enhance our study of Native Americans in the United States.  Thanks to the PCC for funding this enrichment opportunity.

We are two thirds of the way through fourth grade.  I am sure that everyone will enjoy the learning experiences that we have left in the last third of the year.  Hopefully, we are all done with snow days.  Fingers crossed!

Mrs. Williams

A Big Bite

It was a great week back!  Read Across America Day on Friday (see the Twitter feed for some of the book characters who were in Room 23 on Friday) was a huge success.  We spent time in the science lab and worked with Mrs. Crowley on plants and plant adaptations.  Thanks to Mr. Simino for helping us out in the lab on Monday!  We finished Snow Treasure and wrapped up some writing projects.  We are learning how to multiply fractions and beginning to work with decimals.  Students finished most of their research on Washington D.C. and should be finishing the four door monument book this week.  We have traveled to the southeast and will be studying this region in social studies.  We even had an exciting Skype visit with Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver, authors of the Hank Zipzer series.  A highlight for everyone was gymnastics in P.E. this week.  Very engaging!! PHEW, fourth grade is BUSY!!! We wouldn't have it any other way.😁

Mrs. Williams