November 2019
Things We Did This Week - November 4-7
1. We started another experiment, called "Sugar Shake," to help us answer the question, "Can a Mountain Last Forever?" We aren't quite finished with it yet, but the kids loved it and have some awesome ideas!
2. We started a new topic in Math, multiplying 2 digit numbers by 2 digit numbers. This week had us using arrays and area models! The kids have really caught on with their previous knowledge of distributive property and partial products! It is one of my favorite concepts to teach!
3. We finished our Reading Workshop read aloud, The Tiger Rising - wow! What a story! We have some more comprehension work to do to wrap up all that we've learned about character development, and then we will be moving into writing our own fictional narratives PLUS reading a new book together!
4. We finished our fun read aloud, Ramona the Pest. We laughed so much through this early Ramona book, and my reading it got so many students interested in reading other Ramona books! I think ALL of my Ramona books are being read by various students at the moment!
5. We started a new read-aloud, Stories from the Wayside School. This is an older book, published in 1978 - and although a bit strange, it is FUNNY!
6. We participated in a beautiful Veteran's Day Ceremony with our HUES community on Thursday!
Enjoy this wonderful long weekend - celebrating all the vets you know or don't know! See you next week!
3 Things We Did Today - Tuesday, November 12
1. We celebrated Sophia's 10th birthday which was November 10! This was her "10 on the 10th" birthday! We were all so excited to hear about her wonderful weekend birthday party!
2. Today was my birthday and our 4th graders were so sweet and kind and EXCITED! So many surprised me with handmade cards and personal notes - all so heartwarming!! I received a lovely flower arrangement as well as a delicious fruit tart and a gift certificate to one of my favorite places, Buckley's!!
3. We completed our "Sugar Shake" Mystery Science experiment which generated some great conversations! Check out our eroded "rocks!"
Something extra: Now that we have finished reading The Tiger Rising, we are working on really analyzing the two main characters, Rob and Sistine, from the beginning to the ending. Today, we worked on character traits we noticed throughout the story, with evidence from the book.
One more thing: Check our witchy paintings! Are they keepers or what?! OH! And a letter came home today about an awesome family project you're invited to participate in, due December 6th!
Have a terrific Tuesday night! Stay warm!
3 Things We Did Today - Wednesday, November 13
1. We continue working on character analysis. Today, students were asked to complete the lesson from the day before, character traits with evidence.
2. We are learning about area models with double digit multiplication.
3. We began a final Mystery for our study of volcanoes and rocks, "Could you Survive a Landslide?" The kids absolutely love brainstorming how to protect their house in Slide City!
Enjoy the evening!
3 Things We Did Today - Thursday, November 14
1. We continued with our work on character analysis, today focusing on how Rob's problem, how he faced it, and how he changed.
2. We made more progress in our understanding of area models with double digit multiplication. We made an awesome resource that the kids can access whenever they need a reminder of how to break down the multiplication problem.
3. Students had CHOICE today!
Something extra: A letter about our class' Giving Basket went home today!
3 Things We Did Today - Monday, November 18
1. We learned about conflict in a story - and agreed there was a lot of conflict in The Tiger Rising! We worked together to complete a worksheet that had us reflecting on conflicts that occurred in the story and what conflict types they were.
2. We finished our 4th mystery in Science, How do You Survive a Landslide? The kids came up with some awesome brainstorming ideas for both how to protect your house AND how to prevent a landslide from even happening! We will share our final reports tomorrow with our classmates.
3. We connected the area model to distributive property in math. A bit tricky but nothing these mathemagicians can't handle! We will continue tomorrow to really get the concept solid.
One more thing: We have our Harvest Party tomorrow! All are welcome!
Enjoy your Monday night!
3 Things We Did Today - Tuesday, November 19
1. The kids shared their plans for how they would protect their house or prevent a landslide. It was so cool to hear all the different ideas!
2. We started a new Social Studies Unit .... The Abenakis of New Hampshire! We watched a presentation of Google slides that I'd made last year and then put together our Abenaki booklets. We will use these through the unit to keep track of all that we're learning!
3. We had an AWESOME Harvest Party today! Thank you SO MUCH for donating everything we needed and for joining us!
Have a terrific Tuesday night!
Awesome Things We Did Yesterday and Today - November 25 and 26
1. We read some books about being thankful!
2. We shared what we are thankful for!
3. We came up with FIVE basic things we are thankful for and then wrote what specifically we were thankful for within those basic words. The beautiful sentences were written on the backs of place mats that were then laminated for the kids to use at their Thanksgiving table on Thursday if they choose to.
4. We completed a fun Thanksgiving art project, "I am Thankful," using the five basic words. It was a lot of work but the class LOVED the process!
5. We completed Part 1 of our Topic 4 math test.
6. WING awards were received - congratulations to Katie, Kevin, and Tony for growing your wings!
It is my deep privilege to be your child's teacher - for you I am thankful! Happy Thanksgiving!
(above) - decorating our Giving Basket!
(below) - beautifully written place mats!
The front of one place mat
4th Graders LOVE to paint their hands!
GORGEOUS Thanksgiving art -
"I am Thankful."
Our Wing Award recipients for November!