T-shirt of the day

And they didn't even plan it!

A Big Bite

What a way to end 2016!!! We did so much this week.👀  We finished the division unit in math and took the online test.  The grades and comments have been posted, just log into your child's math account to see the results.  We will continue to practice division all year, so keep working on those facts!  We finished the Canada unit and took the unit test.  The test was differentiated for students so that they could demonstrate mastery of the concepts in their own way.  A scoring guide explaining the differentiation was sent home with the test today.  Everyone did a great job!  We also finished reading Little Dog, Lost by Marion Dane Bauer and will continue studying dogs through non fiction texts and other multi media when we return to school in January.  The written fiction stories are almost complete and some students have been able to move on to free writing in fiction by creating fantasy stories and/or wordless picture books.  The winter themed rhyming poems are a hoot and we can't wait to share them with you. 😃  There was great improvement demonstrated by ALL students this week as they delivered their winter speeches.  Everyone had developed a personal goal for the second speech and really worked hard to improve.  I love it when students take ownership in their learning, woohoo!

We participated in many fun activities this week as a school community, a grade level and within our own classroom.  We participated in the first JFK school wide community meeting, led by Mrs. McNeil,  and we discussed ways that students at JFK feel included.  It was a very successful and productive meeting!  As a grade level we completed two separate craft activities.  We love spending time together as an entire grade, it is always so much fun.  The week would not be complete without Dance Party Friday, which took place on Freaky Friday (a school wide event).  Mr. Banks even got in on the fun as he danced around the gym as a snowman.  ⛄  Thank you to everyone who sent in pennies and loose change for the Student Council penny drive.  The drive was a huge success. 

We finished our week with a celebration of the end of 2016 with a "Party in a Bag," and board games. Check out the Twitter feed to see students opening small gifts from Mr. Williams and me.  🎁  Thank you for all of the donations made in my name to the Franklin Food Pantry, the Santa Foundation, Breast Cancer Research and Answerthecall.org.  I am truly humbled by your kindness and generosity. Have a restful break and a wonderful holiday season.  I will see everyone in 2017, raring to go!

T-shirt of the day

Homemade and store bought, these shirts are very festive! #creativityrocks

You're It

This week's you're it! #celebratealllearners

Juicy Nibble

Are you missing anything?

T-shirt of the day

Getting in the spirit!

A Big Bite

On Tuesday we had a visit from the Haffenreffer museum.  We learned all about the Inuit people in Canada.  It was so much fun and we learned a great deal! We discovered that some of us are very skilled at playing some traditional Inuit games.  Woohoo!

We prepared for the science test by playing Kahoot!  It was a fun way to prepare.  Everyone did a great job on the test.  🙌

We participated in our first Mystery Skype this week.  We took a virtual field trip to the Grant Alternative School in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  The 4th graders in Canada shared that they do not have homework, ever.  This will make a great debate topic for us in the new year.  There are so many opinions about this topic that it will make for a lively debate.

We continue to wok on long division, prime and composite numbers and divisibility rules in math.  One highlight was when we used a Venn diagram to sort and classify multiples of 3 and 5 to 40 AND to find the factors of 40 and 48.  By working in pairs and as a class we were able to complete these tasks easily.  There will be a test on division next week and the study guide has been sent home.

Members of the Franklin Fire Department visited us to discuss fire safety in our homes.  They encouraged us to make an escape plan for our homes complete with a meeting place.  Have you discussed your escape plan as a family?  If you draw a plan, bring it in to school and I will make sure that the firefighters review your plan.

We have been talking all year about how heroes come in all shapes and sizes.  Friday was a cold day in Massachusetts and a cold one in our classroom.  This gentleman was our hero today as he fixed the heat and got us nice and warm.  THANKS!!

While writing poetry, I posted a picture of a fireplace to the board to help us get in the mood for writing winter poems.  Some students commented that the picture actually made the classroom feel warmer.  I love the power of positive thinking!

Talk to your child about all of the other activities that we participated in this week.  Take a look at our Tweets, they help to tell our story from this past week!

Enjoy the weekend,

Mrs. Williams