Welcome Back!

I hope everyone had a nice break!  Students shared a "moment" from their break, and it sounded like everyone had a nice time.  Today students began their "villain" stories for writer's workshop (more on this later), wrote a journal entry for a Westward Movement Scenario, and read a nonfiction piece about African American Frontiersmen/women.

Homework for tonight is to:
1.  Finish nonfiction reading/response if necessary.
2.  Fourth grade math
     Fifth grade math
3.  Spelling

Have a good night!
Jed

Leaving Independence, Missouri

Student's play Riley's "Ninja" game at the end of this morning's meeting.

Click here from a couple more picture from this morning's game.

Today "families" wheeled away from Independence, Missouri.  Their first scenario was to decide whether to leave right away or to stay a little longer and top off their water.  The families (two of four) that decided to fill up lost a health point because they got cholera.  After each simulation students spend ten minutes writing in their journal about the day's activities.  Below is an example journal entry.

Sample journal entry from Independence, Missouri.  Students create stories based on their "families" and surroundings.

Reading groups went well again today.  In addition to student-assigned jobs, the entire group needs to respond to comprehension questions such as this one from chapter two and these from chapter 1.  Students feel most successful when after spending extra time reading (and re-reading) the chapter (I've been encouraging students to re-read chapters at home)--they are more able to answer comprehension questions, make textual connections and fully participate in the discussion.   Students will be responsible for reading up to chapter 4 due by  Wednesday after break.  It's always helpful to re-read earlier chapters during the break.  Also, practicing math facts (either by flashcards or via computer on multiplication.com) is a nice filler activity.

Have a wonderful President's Week break!

Almost Heading Out

Character sketch, family wagon and supplies ledger complete for simulation

Families did some last minute completions before heading off from Independence, Missouri.  During morning meeting we discussed Missouri weather--hot in the summer, cold in the winter and their "extreme weather" (tornados, hail, lightning).  Next, we compared the population size in 1860 compared to that of 1880 in some of the Western states--in particular, Utah's population quadrupled in ten years due to Mormon's quest for religious freedom.   Also, the first day of reading groups are off to a really successful start, and thank you to those of you who checked in/helped your child with the chapter 1 reading.  The chapters are filled with information, so reading twice (once in class, once at home) will help.

Homework for tonight is to:

1.  Read Chapter 2 of Bound for Oregon and complete job.

2.  fourth grade math  

3.  spelling

Bound for Oregon Reading Groups Began Today

Instead of using a reading journal like during last reading groups, students received a packet with their different assignments and a schedule.  Here's the reading schedule and groups.
Three of the reading group assignments are posted here and then two more for you to get an idea.  Many students completed their reading and assignment today, but it is important that they read the chapters thoroughly to get a successful start. It is helpful if you to check in with your child at night to either take turns reading and check for understanding.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) students should have read chapter 1; chapter 2 is due by Thursday. Their reading groups are the same as their "families", and students are really close to starting the simulation.  Students wrote about what their worries, hopes and dreams they have either for themselves or their "families" for their ten minute quickwrite.  After writing students stood around sharing instead of getting their lunch.

Homework for tonight is to:
1.  Read chapter 1 in Bound for Oregon and complete job (read for 30 minutes total)
2.  spelling (no math tonight)

Have a good night.

Breaking into "Families"

Students write about their "family role" after collaborating

Sample sheet (notice the math on the upper right corner of the first picture calculating age based on birthdate)

Happy Valentine's Day!  The day ended with a low key Valentine's celebration--each student voiced an appreciation and some handed out candy and cards. Students broke into their "families" to begin their Westward Movement simulation; these families will also be their new reading groups.  Students really got into it and created captivating roles for themselves.  Lots of groups kept with a creative spin: one family travels with a widowed husband, grandmother, one cousin and son; another family from Virginia travels with a Maine lobsterman; the hunter-husband met the lobsterman in a Virginia port.  Tomorrow "families" decide what to bring before they set out on the trail.

Homework for tonight is to:

1.  Read for 30 minutes

2.  Fourth math

     Fifth math Problem of the Week

3.  Spelling

A Few Days in One

One reading group created a dynamic gameshow, Show Your Terebithian pictured here.  Contestants answered forty questions (tiered by difficulty) about the book/movie.

It’s been a busy, emotional second half of the week due to issues that came up around Spanish class and some parent/admin meetings focused on the best way to empower students to express their concerns.  Not to overshadow the positives: successful reading group projects, big and little buddies creating beautiful Valentine’s cards for administrators and staff to name a couple; next week students will break into Westward Movement “families” to start their journey West (after "buying" food and supplies) and begin Bound for Oregon in new reading groups.  Pictures from the reading group presentations.  Next week I'll try to post some of the movie and recorded projects.

I just wanted to mention that we’re doing Valentine’s Day as a low key event this year.  If students wish to make cards, they should try to do so for the whole class.  Click here for a class list.  


Have a nice, restful weekend!

By the way...at the end of January, students created stories with their buddies and I just found four pictures you can see here.

Crafts Afternoon

Students mold clay with Amber during Crafts Afternoon.

Crafts Afternoon was quite a success.  Thanks to the parents who made it happen: Amber (clay), Dobee (sewing), Beth (painting), Cathy (sewing and accessories) and to Amy who also helped with sewing.  Thanks to parents who brought in supplies, too.  Students felt thankful to have the time (as expressed during appreciations--Amy and I were thanked a number of times) and really got into the craft activities.  Maybe we'll make this a monthly thing, but next time students will focus on one or two activities.  When they got "into" one, it was hard to transition to the next.  Here a are a few pictures.

The game during morning meeting was "Honey, I love you could you give me a smile" where students try to make each other smile.

Today students also wrote a really successful ten minute quickwrite.  After Spanish there's a 15 minute period of time before lunch when I give a topic and students write.  The topic was, "If you could bring three things to a deserted island, what would you bring." By now students should be writing non-stop for ten minutes and everyone covered half a page and some wrote upwards of a page in a half.  Lots wrote about a friend/family member or pet they'd bring and about the island itself.  Some want to take the piece through the publish process for their next finished work.

Homework for tonight is to:
1.  Read for 30 minutes
2.  Fourth math
     Fifth math
3.  Spelling

It seems like this time of year is an appropriate time to focus on editing--reading over writing, correcting mistakes and asking if it makes sense.  Students need lots of reminding before it becomes rote.  We have been reading lots of nonfiction social studies text: one focused on The West, another about Native Americans and a third had regarding U.S. women's roles in the 19th century.  Each of these readings included a list of short answer questions.  In order for students to be aware of their focus, I created this simple rubric.  

Next week students will have to complete reading group jobs for homework after reading Bound for Oregon.  Please remind your child (as I often do) to go back and read their writing to themselves  and ask: Does it makes sense? Is there grammar and punctuation (if so, is it correct)?  Could I add more  content?  If each of us (parents and teachers) remind students to look back on their writing, this editing skill will eventually sink in.

Homework for tonight is to:

1.  Read for 30 minutes.

2.  Fourth math

     Fifth math

3.  Spelling 

Chinese New Year Presentation

Warren Gee, Lily's dad, tells the Chinese Zodiac story

Besides the CerritoBerry meeting, buddies,  and art (students are learning calligraphy and making journals for their trip on the Oregon trail), Warren Gee, Lily's dad, came to class to celebrate the Chinese New Year.  He came last year, too, and apparently each year Lily's been in school.  Even having already heard the Chinese zodiac story last year, I found it equally interesting--Warren has such a composed, centered presence and speaks in a captivating way.  There's a shortened version here (but not as good as Warren's).  Warren also brought treats--candy with the edible wrappers and custard buns and also left a mandarin orange for good luck. Thanks for another great presentation, Warren, and gung hay fat choy to everyone! Click here for a few more pictures from today.

Anjanette, Pasquale and Anika perform a song for Talent Friday

Next week students are presenting their reading group presentations, and you are all invited to see them.  It will be from 12:45-1:30 on Thursday in the classroom.

Have a nice weekend!
Jed

We're busy!

Students play the $20,000 Pyramid Game (based on our read aloud book)  where someone acts out the word

Riley tries to guess while Margaux and Pasquale give clues

Students created Land Adverstisement posters --soon "families" will travel West

Working on book report projects

We've been busy reading non-fiction, creating posters, working on book report projects and having a class meeting.  Some issues that come up at class meeting was a heated discussion about whether we should change buddies or not, the possibility of a class pet and if we could paint the classroom and if so what color.  Lots of people volunteered to help out for craft afternoon; here's another related request--we'd like to have a "class decorating afternoon".  Students have also been working hard reading social studies reading on the West.  Click here for pictures.


fourth grade math parents: We are beginning a new math unit, Landmarks and Large Numbers.  The unit focuses on adding and subtracting larger numbers. After practice, students gain lots of fluency to be able to add and subtract large mentally.  To the right (or click here) is the parent letter that lists benchmarks and how it is taught so that you can help your can better help your child with homework if necessary.


Homework for tonight is to:
1.  Read for 30 minutes
2.  Spelling

Progress!

Back to School Night slide: It's always satisfying to be a witness to the peaks

It's been a few days, so here's an update:

I'm not sure if you remember this Back to School night slide, but it pretty accurately shows the highs and lows and overall growth.  Some days the class as a whole struggles--with writing fluency, being respectful to each other, overcoming challenges.....Then there are days like that last couple when the class leaps with improvement. For example, yesterday morning we had our first Strawberry student-led discussion.  Students were given three questions, one at a time, and had three minutes to discuss each of them.  The questions were: 1. What is progress? 2. Do you think progress is a good or bad thing? 3.  Lots of historians think Westward Movement was progress.  Do you agree or disagree?  A mature, interesting conversation ensued.  Students waited their turn to speak, attentively listened, and respectfully agreed or disagreed with each other.  In the end it seemed that students thought Westward Expansion was a good thing--"We just wouldn't be here without it," one student bluntly stated.  Native Americans losing land and technology were all issues also discussed.

It almost felt like a college history class--talking about what we can learn from the past.  You would have been impressed, and I should try to tape the next one.

student-led morning meetings:  This is the time of year when students take a leadership role a run morning meeting (on Tuesdays and Thursdays).  The student leader thinks of the type of handshake, invents either a discussion question or chooses a picture book to read to the class then chooses a short game to play.  So far this week Anika led a meeting.  Students sign up on the calendar if they're interested and meet with me the day before.  

book report project:  Students are especially excited about their book report projects--they keep talking about and planning them even through lunch and recess.  There will be films, skits, gameshows board games and even a pinate next week.  

progress reports:  In a few days you should be receiving your child's progress report, and I must admit that the process was arduous.  I wrote five narratives (separate paragraphs) for each child: approach to learning, social/emotional growth, reading, writing and math.  Upon reflection, here are a few themes:

vast improvement:  Based on the beginning of the year, students have really improved on their overall reading, writing and math fluency and confidence.  

parent support:  Please be sure that you read the math parent letter for a list of activities.  Fourth grade parents--remember to continue practicing rote math facts using flashcards or multiplication.com.  Also, be sure your child is reading for 30 minutes even on nights there is no reading log.  Try to monitor your child--you can always trade off reading or read the same book and talk about it.  

Homework tonight is to:

1.  Read for 30 minutes (students who did not complete their The West nonfiction reading/responding should finish).

2.  Fourth math

     Fifth math

3. Spelling

Have a good night!
Jed

Sorry about not posting, --things have been busy!
Homework for tonight is:
1.  Read for 30 minutes
2.  4th math
     5th math
3. spelling