A Big Bite

Week 2 is over and I can't believe how quickly it has gone by! We have continued to make great progress in reading and our book count for the year is 17! What an impressive number so early in the school year! If we keep reading at this pace, we will certainly read over 1,ooo books this year. In writing, we have been developing goals for this school year and have continued to work on our biopoems. Check out the post from Friday that lists some of the poems which have been completed! Geometry continues to be the theme in math and our first test will probably be early next week. Science and Social Studies will get started this week with a unit on Maps and Globes, and a unit on the Scientific Method and Life Cycles. The 12 inch jar, which can also be an empty two liter bottle, is due next week. In addition, we will celebrate Constitution day on September 17th. On Friday, we saw a presentation about the different musical instruments that students can study through the after school music program, and information was sent home with the students. This will be our first full week and I am sure that it is going to be great! Thanks to everyone who has been signing up to be a follower of The Shiny Red Apple-I am up to 15 followers, 5 short of my goal. Can you help me reach my goal?
Enjoy the rest of the weekend,
Mrs. Williams

Bookworm Buzz

Dear Readers,

Book Three of the Amulet series, The Cloud Searchers, by Kazu Kibuishi, continues the story of Emily the Stonekeeper and her quest to save her family. This is a just right book for many fourth graders, but the story will not make sense if you have not read the first two books in the series. The story opens with Prince Trellis and Luger, facing the realization that they have failed the Elf King and face the ultimate punishment, death! Emily and Navin have been reunited with their mom, who is not very trusting of Leon, Emily's teacher. The Star Wars connections are very strong and I can't help but imagine that Leon is very similar to Obi Wan Kenobi. There is even some "Jedi like" training in this book and there is a also the introduction of a character who resembles Han Solo. Overall, I enjoyed this book and am anxiously awaiting Book 4. Let me know what you think!

Read on readers,

Mrs. W

Poem of the Week

We have been working on bio poems. Here are a few examples:

Addison
Friendly, hopeful, grateful, caring.
Sister of Brooke, Allyse, Rashanna.
Who loves Drawing, swimming, playing with friends and family.
Who feels joyful, lucky, loved.
Who needs love, friends, laughs.
Who gives happiness, joy ,kindness.
Who fears spiders, snakes, bees.
Who would like to see Hawaii, Maine, and Niagara Falls.
A resident of Franklin.
H.



Johhny
Caring, nice, kind and funny.
Brother of Amanda ,Kassidy and Tyler.
Who loves cats, dogs and mice
Who feels happy, confused about what to read next, and surprised about how nice Mrs. Williams is.
Who needs friends, family and pets.
Who gives friendship, toys to charity and clothes to charity
Who fears the dark, snakes and clowns.
Who would like to see the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and Niagara Falls.
A resident of Franklin.
L.



Shaelin
Red headed, fun, silly, helpful
Sister of Nolan and Gavin. Daughter of Cindy and Jimmy.
Who loves my family, water, and going to Gavin’s hockey games to see my friends.
Who feels happy to have two brothers to play with, lucky to have Mrs.Williams for fourth grade and excited for the weekend!
Who needs my own room, a new sweatshirt, and lunch.
Who gives my parents a hard time when I have to get up in the morning, presents to my brothers on their birthdays and food to my brothers
Who fears rats, snakes and wasps.
Who would like to see Disney, Washington D.C. and Hollywood.
Resident of Franklin
M.



Nitin
Athletic, nice, smart, friendly
Brother of Ravin and Rachita, son of Priariat and Mukesh
Who loves sports, family and fruit
Who feels happy to have a great family, neighborhood and lots of friends
Who needs friends, love and good grades
Who fears rats, mice, and spiders
Who would like to see flying squirrels, the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China
A resident of Franklin
C.

A Big Bite

The first week of 4th grade is over, I can't believe how quickly it went by! I am so proud of how hard everyone has settled into the routines and the great effort demonstrated by all students. So much has happened this week in math, reading and writing, in addition to all of the fun "get to know you," activities. I am hopeful that we will be able to assemble our book bags for Reader's Workshop(RW) next week as we continue the launching unit in RW. Today was our first "Poetry Friday," in writer's workshop, and we learned about bio poems. We read a bio poem by Mrs. Mecklenburg and then wrote our own. After the rough drafts were completed we used the Alpha Smarts to begin final copies. We will post some poems as they are complete. It is going to be a great year!

Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Bower for signing up to be a follower of the blog, that makes 9! I almost half way to my goal.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend,

Mrs. W

Juicy Nibble

Day 2 was another great day! Everyone was excited to learn and we were able to accomplish a lot! We have retired the words "I Can't," and have brainstormed many different ways to ask for help instead of saying "I can't." Ask your child to tell you about this special activity. We are off and running with Reader's Workshop and the students are already adjusting to the routines of reading in 4th grade. Reading isn't a competition sport where success is determined by a winner. Everyone is a winner when they read, and all of the students in Room 23 are winners so far!

It was wonderful to see so many parents at orientation today. If you were unable to make it, all of the handouts were sent home with your child today. Thanks to Mr. Macchi for being such a good sport this morning! :)

Kudos to Mr. Chaudhury for becoming the newest follower of The Shiny Red Apple. My goal is to get 20 follwers by the end of the year. Can you help me reach my goal?

Sleep well, Earl is coming!

Mrs. W

A Big Bite

WOW!!! The first day is done-gosh that went by really fast! What a great bunch of students so far. Sadie said it best, "I like the different mix of people in here!" Me too, Sadie! There are plenty of pictures from the first day which I will post as soon as I have permission from parents. I am looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible tomorrow. Thanks to Mrs. Pipe for signing on as a "Follower," of the blog-way to go! Have a great night! Try to stay cool.
Mrs. W

A Big Bite

The August letter to students and the August Letter for parents has been posted. Enjoy your last few weeks of vacation, I know I will!