MCAS Testing Schedule
- Tuesday 3/19 Long Composition
- Friday, 3/22 ELA Session 1
- Tuesday, 3/26 ELA Session 2
Friday, March 15, 2013
Classroom Wish List
We had such an amazing supply of disinfectant wipes in our classroom this year. It took until March to use them all up! :)
We would really like to keep our classroom germ free......if you can, please send in a package of disinfectant wipes.
We are also in need of some tissues!
THANK YOU!
Great Ending to a Busy Week!
This was a very busy week. The kids worked so hard in reading and writing throughout the week. At the end of the day today we went to an MCAS Pep Rally! What fun!!! The kids learned a song about "beating the test." They also got to see just how much support they have in the school and just how many people are rooting them on. At the end of the assembly we watched a video with positive messages from all of the staff at Farley.....WE CAN BEAT THE TEST! It was such a great ending to our week and the kids were pumped up afterwards! :)
During writing this week we reviewed both personal narratives and essays. We also did a lot of brainstorming this week around answers to writing prompts that we were given. We also learned about similes and idioms. The kids had a lot of fun figuring out the meanings of commonly used idioms. They drew pictures to show what they thought of when they heard "time flies," "you're barking up the wrong tree," and "it's raining cats and dogs!" After each picture they put the idiom into a sentence.
In reading we talked about finding the main idea in a story. We learned that it is important to ask "Who or what is the topic? and "What is the author explaining about that topic?" We also talked about Author's Purpose or why an author writes a book or article. It is really easy at PIE (Persuade, Inform, Entertain).
We continued to learn about the Midwest this week. We first stopped in Michigan and saw video footage of the Soo Locks in action. We also talked about Detroit being an important city for car manufacturing. The kids worked in groups to create their own car. Next week they will see what it would be like to work on an assembly line in a car factory.
It was certainly a busy week in school! I hope you have a relaxing weekend.
~Mrs. Lewis
During writing this week we reviewed both personal narratives and essays. We also did a lot of brainstorming this week around answers to writing prompts that we were given. We also learned about similes and idioms. The kids had a lot of fun figuring out the meanings of commonly used idioms. They drew pictures to show what they thought of when they heard "time flies," "you're barking up the wrong tree," and "it's raining cats and dogs!" After each picture they put the idiom into a sentence.
In reading we talked about finding the main idea in a story. We learned that it is important to ask "Who or what is the topic? and "What is the author explaining about that topic?" We also talked about Author's Purpose or why an author writes a book or article. It is really easy at PIE (Persuade, Inform, Entertain).
We continued to learn about the Midwest this week. We first stopped in Michigan and saw video footage of the Soo Locks in action. We also talked about Detroit being an important city for car manufacturing. The kids worked in groups to create their own car. Next week they will see what it would be like to work on an assembly line in a car factory.
It was certainly a busy week in school! I hope you have a relaxing weekend.
~Mrs. Lewis
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Opinionated Fourth Graders!
It was a busy week back after vacation! We worked on finishing our first essay. We focused on making sure we had a great introduction that would grab the attention of the reader and make them want to keep reading. The kids will be finishing their final copies at home. They are due on Tuesday. We also spent a lot of time brainstorming in our essay notebooks. Fourth graders sure have an opinion about a lot of things from what the perfect bedtime is to what they would change about the school. They got to discuss it all this week! :)
In reading we have started our Test Prep unit. We have talked about how we need to think about the MCAS test like a game we are trying to win. We have learned that the MCAS test is set up a particular way, has rules that we need to follow, and that there are strategies that we can use to "beat the test!" One of the important strategies that we talked about and practiced with a partner this week was to go back into the text to find the answer to a question. We will continue to practice strategies that will help us over the next few weeks.
We finished up our Magnets and Electricity unit in science. We did some experiments to determine what objects are conductors (allow electricity to flow through) or insulators (don't allow electricity to flow through). We were also able to test out objects around the classroom.
Have a great rest of the weekend!
~Mrs. Lewis
In reading we have started our Test Prep unit. We have talked about how we need to think about the MCAS test like a game we are trying to win. We have learned that the MCAS test is set up a particular way, has rules that we need to follow, and that there are strategies that we can use to "beat the test!" One of the important strategies that we talked about and practiced with a partner this week was to go back into the text to find the answer to a question. We will continue to practice strategies that will help us over the next few weeks.
We finished up our Magnets and Electricity unit in science. We did some experiments to determine what objects are conductors (allow electricity to flow through) or insulators (don't allow electricity to flow through). We were also able to test out objects around the classroom.
Have a great rest of the weekend!
~Mrs. Lewis
Saturday, February 9, 2013
State Researchers
We have started to read nonfiction during reading workshop. The kids have learned about nonfiction text features or parts of a nonfiction text that help us better understand what we are reading about. Each student has also been assigned a state in the South Central or Pacific Region of the United States. They are taking what they are learning about determining the importance of what they read and applying it to the research portion of their State Research paper.
In writing we have been working on essays. Essays are quite different from the personal narratives that we worked on for most of the school year. The kids are taking ideas that are important to them and writing their opinions about them. Boy...do fourth graders have opinions!!!!
In math we are wrapping up our learning about area and perimeter. We will be moving on to fractions shortly.
On Thursday we will celebrate Valentine's Day. Your child should have brought home a class list and information about our Valentine's Day Ice Cream Sundae Party. We will exchange cards and enjoy some ice cream on Thursday.
Enjoy the snow!
~Mrs. Lewis
In writing we have been working on essays. Essays are quite different from the personal narratives that we worked on for most of the school year. The kids are taking ideas that are important to them and writing their opinions about them. Boy...do fourth graders have opinions!!!!
In math we are wrapping up our learning about area and perimeter. We will be moving on to fractions shortly.
On Thursday we will celebrate Valentine's Day. Your child should have brought home a class list and information about our Valentine's Day Ice Cream Sundae Party. We will exchange cards and enjoy some ice cream on Thursday.
Enjoy the snow!
~Mrs. Lewis
Friday, January 11, 2013
Working Hard!
We spent a lot of time working on our personal narrative drafts this week. We talked a lot about finding places in our stories where we can expand or stretch a moment. We also learned that the words "said" and "went" are really boring in a story. We talked about replacing these words with other MIGHTY, MIGHTY VERBS! After giving this a try we found that it really did make our writing STRONGER!!!
In reading we started to talk about theme. We talked about the theme being the lesson or the big idea of the story. We read several fables and tried to come up with a lesson for each.
Today we got to mix reading and social studies together for some great learning! In social studies we talked about the southeast region of the United States. Based on clues, the students were able to figure out that an important "Georgian" was Martin Luther King Jr. We had a great discussion about MLK and all of the work he did for equal rights in our country. Learning about segregation was the theme for our reading today as well. We read the book Teammates, a book about the first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, and his teammate who was brave enough to stand up for his friend and teammate!
On a health note.....all of the kids were in school today. :) We have been disinfecting our classroom each afternoon and have talked a lot about using hand sanitizer throughout the day. Right now we have plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes thanks to so many donations from the beginning of the school year. We are however, a little short on tissues. If you would like to donate a box of tissues to our class that would be greatly appreciated!
Just a reminder we will be hosting our 2nd Read with Me workshop this Thursday the 17th. One session will be in the morning from 7:45-8:30 and the other in the evening from 6:00-6:45. We hope to see you and your child there!
Have a great weekend!
~Mrs. Lewis
In reading we started to talk about theme. We talked about the theme being the lesson or the big idea of the story. We read several fables and tried to come up with a lesson for each.
Today we got to mix reading and social studies together for some great learning! In social studies we talked about the southeast region of the United States. Based on clues, the students were able to figure out that an important "Georgian" was Martin Luther King Jr. We had a great discussion about MLK and all of the work he did for equal rights in our country. Learning about segregation was the theme for our reading today as well. We read the book Teammates, a book about the first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues, Jackie Robinson, and his teammate who was brave enough to stand up for his friend and teammate!
On a health note.....all of the kids were in school today. :) We have been disinfecting our classroom each afternoon and have talked a lot about using hand sanitizer throughout the day. Right now we have plenty of hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes thanks to so many donations from the beginning of the school year. We are however, a little short on tissues. If you would like to donate a box of tissues to our class that would be greatly appreciated!
Just a reminder we will be hosting our 2nd Read with Me workshop this Thursday the 17th. One session will be in the morning from 7:45-8:30 and the other in the evening from 6:00-6:45. We hope to see you and your child there!
Have a great weekend!
~Mrs. Lewis
Friday, January 4, 2013
COMING SOON.... Second "Read With Me" Workshop
Share some more time reading together and learn how to help your child become a better reader!
Please join the fourth grade teachers and students
for another
“Read With Me” Workshop!
When: Thursday, January 17th from 7:45-8:30 a.m OR 6:00-6:45 p.m. (You can choose the workshop time that best fits your schedule.) Please arrive on time so that you won't miss out on how Disney movies can help your child with reading!
Who: Fourth grade parents and students
What: Parents can learn how to help their child to infer what is probably true but not right there in black and white (inferring). Students will get to “teach” the strategies that they have been learning about in school.
Where: Farley School Library
We are trying to get as many families to attend this as possible because we really think that it will benefit your child as a reader.
Character Trait Book Project
Your child has brought this Character Trait Project home with him/her. Here are the directions and rubric in case you need them at any point. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Character Traits – Project
Project is due on: FRIDAY, JANUARY 25TH
Directions:
1. Read the definition of the character trait at the top of the page.
2. Think about someone you know that has that same character trait. It can be from:
· Your own life
· A book
· A television show
· A movie
3. In the center of the page, illustrate (IN COLOR) the person in a way that shows them saying, thinking, or doing the character trait.
4. At the bottom of the page, write evidence to explain why you have chosen this person to represent the character trait. Your evidence must:
· Be in complete sentences.
· Include either what the person says that shows the character trait or what the person does that shows the character trait.
5. On the last page of the book, there is one that is completely blank. You must choose another character trait and complete the page for that chosen character trait.
Helpful Hints:
· Do 1-2 pages a day as part of your homework, including the weekends, so you don’t fall behind.
· Do illustrations in pencil first in case you make a mistake and then go over with color.
· When you spend time with your family, bring the book with you to help you think of people that match the character traits.
Character Trait Book
Rubric
You have identified someone that accurately represents the character trait.
|
E M PI PS U
|
You have illustrated the person in color, in a way that shows them saying, thinking or doing the character trait.
|
E M PI PS U
|
You have written evidence that is 2 – 4 complete sentences long, that explains why you chose that person to represent the character trait.
|
E M PI PS U
|
Your project is neat and colorful.
|
E M PI PS U
|
You have turned the project in on time.
|
M U
|
Happy 2013!
It was nice to get back into the swing of things this week. The kids were very excited to share all about their vacations at Morning Meeting on Wednesday. We talked a lot about setting goals for ourselves at this time of year. We created a foldable book about some of the things we want to do to become a better student in 2013, something we want to stop doing in 2013, someone that we would like to get to know better, and some of the books/topics we want to read this year! It was a great way to start our week.
We also spent some time finishing up our Classroom Geography Bee. The kids did a great job with some VERY tough Geography Bee questions. Along the way we learned some new geography facts as well! Next week there will be a National Geography Bee for the 4th and 5th grade finalists.
In reading we continued to read The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. We have been following the main characters closely in this book. One of the characters, Maddie, struggles with doing what is right and just going along with what her friend is doing. We have had a lot of great class discussions about standing up to bullies instead of being a bystander as well as how important it is to do the right thing even if it is really difficult.
In your child's Thursday folder you should have received an invitation to our second Read With Me Workshop on Thursday, January 17th. There will be two separate sessions so that you can attend the one that fits best with your schedule. One of the sessions will be from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and the second session is from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Please send the invitation back to school next week stating which session you plan on attending with your child!
I hope everyone had a wonderful vacation. Happy 2013!
~Mrs. Lewis
We also spent some time finishing up our Classroom Geography Bee. The kids did a great job with some VERY tough Geography Bee questions. Along the way we learned some new geography facts as well! Next week there will be a National Geography Bee for the 4th and 5th grade finalists.
In reading we continued to read The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. We have been following the main characters closely in this book. One of the characters, Maddie, struggles with doing what is right and just going along with what her friend is doing. We have had a lot of great class discussions about standing up to bullies instead of being a bystander as well as how important it is to do the right thing even if it is really difficult.
In your child's Thursday folder you should have received an invitation to our second Read With Me Workshop on Thursday, January 17th. There will be two separate sessions so that you can attend the one that fits best with your schedule. One of the sessions will be from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and the second session is from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Please send the invitation back to school next week stating which session you plan on attending with your child!
I hope everyone had a wonderful vacation. Happy 2013!
~Mrs. Lewis
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