Field Trip
On Wednesday June 15th we will be walking to the Hudson Public Library to kick start summer reading and then to Wood Park for a picnic. Permission slips are going home today so please be on the lookout. We are looking for parent volunteers to join us, so please let me know if you are available.
We are also providing an opportunity for each child to get their own library card if they don't already have one. Please let me know if your child doesn't have a library card so we can get the paperwork done.
Time Capsule Closing Ceremony
On June 22 at 9:00 (the last day of school) we will be holding our Time Capsule Closing Ceremony. Students should be collecting items for their time capsule and looking for a small bin or box to keep their items in. The time capsules are due to school on June 16th. This will give us time to add things that we have collected here at school. Please let me know if you have any questions.
We also need donations of duct tape for the Closing Ceremony if anyone can send some in!
Thank you so much for your continued support!
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016
Book Clubs & Research!
Book Clubs
The Book Clubs have been a huge success in the classroom so far! Students are reading, talking, and tracking their thinking about books. They are growing new ideas and thinking more deeply about characters and theme. They are discussing issues that matter to them. This could not have been as successful if it hadn't been for your support. Thank you so much to all of the families who have reminded, read with, or discussed the books your children are reading. We will continue the book clubs until the end of the school year.
In the classroom we have been using a sentence starter resource to help guide our discussions. We have also learned that the same sentence starters can be used when we are reading to help us guide the notes we take in our reader's notebook and the thoughts we are having. I told our class that I would include a picture of the resource on here in case any of them wanted to refer to it while they are working from home.
Non-Fiction Research & Writing
Students have been researching their chosen region and have been learning a lot about how to take notes, research their questions, and organize their thinking. Next week we will begin drafting our non-fiction books. To do this we will use Google Docs. There may be times when students will be asked to work on this at home as well. If you are unable to access Google Docs from home for whatever reason, please feel free to have students email their work to me and we can add it to our documents here at school the next day.
Hand Sanitizer!!!
We are on our last drops of hand sanitizer! If anyone has any bottles that they are willing to donate, it would be much appreciated!
MCAS
We have our math MCAS testing next week on Tuesday and Thursday. Please make sure that your child comes to school on time. A good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast always makes a difference as well!
The Book Clubs have been a huge success in the classroom so far! Students are reading, talking, and tracking their thinking about books. They are growing new ideas and thinking more deeply about characters and theme. They are discussing issues that matter to them. This could not have been as successful if it hadn't been for your support. Thank you so much to all of the families who have reminded, read with, or discussed the books your children are reading. We will continue the book clubs until the end of the school year.
In the classroom we have been using a sentence starter resource to help guide our discussions. We have also learned that the same sentence starters can be used when we are reading to help us guide the notes we take in our reader's notebook and the thoughts we are having. I told our class that I would include a picture of the resource on here in case any of them wanted to refer to it while they are working from home.
Non-Fiction Research & Writing
Students have been researching their chosen region and have been learning a lot about how to take notes, research their questions, and organize their thinking. Next week we will begin drafting our non-fiction books. To do this we will use Google Docs. There may be times when students will be asked to work on this at home as well. If you are unable to access Google Docs from home for whatever reason, please feel free to have students email their work to me and we can add it to our documents here at school the next day.
Hand Sanitizer!!!
We are on our last drops of hand sanitizer! If anyone has any bottles that they are willing to donate, it would be much appreciated!
MCAS
We have our math MCAS testing next week on Tuesday and Thursday. Please make sure that your child comes to school on time. A good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast always makes a difference as well!
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Special Events & Dates
Important Dates
The end of the year is approaching and with it comes many special events and important dates. A blue notice was sent home earlier explaining these. If you haven't gotten a copy I am posting it below. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything!
Time Capsule
The end of the year is also an especially important time for fourth graders in Hudson because they are getting ready to move on from Farley and enter middle school. To commemorate this event, we hold a Time Capsule Closing Ceremony. Students should begin creating a time capsule at home. On June 16th, students should bring these capsules to school so that we can add more items to it from school. We will then celebrate and close the time capsules at a ceremony on the last day of school. I am posting a reminder below that includes ideas of what could go into the capsule.
My Man Blue
Students just completed a poetry comprehension unit. They learned comprehension strategies for understanding poetry and reviewed internal and external character traits which they learned earlier in the year. Our culminating project was for students to create life-sized pictures of the main character that included his internal traits. I thought you might like to see pictures of some of the final products.
Hand Sanitizer
We are just about out of hand sanitizer! If you are willing to donate any, could you please send it in? Our immune systems thank you!
The end of the year is approaching and with it comes many special events and important dates. A blue notice was sent home earlier explaining these. If you haven't gotten a copy I am posting it below. Please let me know if you have any questions about anything!
Time Capsule
The end of the year is also an especially important time for fourth graders in Hudson because they are getting ready to move on from Farley and enter middle school. To commemorate this event, we hold a Time Capsule Closing Ceremony. Students should begin creating a time capsule at home. On June 16th, students should bring these capsules to school so that we can add more items to it from school. We will then celebrate and close the time capsules at a ceremony on the last day of school. I am posting a reminder below that includes ideas of what could go into the capsule.
My Man Blue
Students just completed a poetry comprehension unit. They learned comprehension strategies for understanding poetry and reviewed internal and external character traits which they learned earlier in the year. Our culminating project was for students to create life-sized pictures of the main character that included his internal traits. I thought you might like to see pictures of some of the final products.
Hand Sanitizer
We are just about out of hand sanitizer! If you are willing to donate any, could you please send it in? Our immune systems thank you!
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Reminders!
Conferences
Conferences are this Thursday and Friday with evening conferences on Thursday. Please don't forget to sign up for one. If you are having difficulties, please email me with some times and I can add you to my schedule. I look forward to meeting with everyone!
Book Fair
Our class is going to the book fair tomorrow (Wednesday) and again on Friday. Please help them to remember to bring in their money so they can buy a book. They are excited to get their hands on some new books!
MCAS
If you could have seen how hard everyone worked on MCAS over the past three school days you would have been so proud! Students used their strategies that they have learned, double checked their work, and persevered. The ELA portion of MCAS is now over (yay!). Our math MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th and Thursday, May 19th.
Panoramic Photographs
Forms will be sent home tomorrow for panoramic group photographs. A picture will be taken of the entire fourth grade and you will be able to order a copy using the form. The picture will be taken on April 14th and forms must be in by that day.
Monday April 11th.........
Red Sox Day! - Students can wear Red Sox gear (including ball caps) or red, white, and blue clothing.
Conferences are this Thursday and Friday with evening conferences on Thursday. Please don't forget to sign up for one. If you are having difficulties, please email me with some times and I can add you to my schedule. I look forward to meeting with everyone!
Book Fair
Our class is going to the book fair tomorrow (Wednesday) and again on Friday. Please help them to remember to bring in their money so they can buy a book. They are excited to get their hands on some new books!
MCAS
If you could have seen how hard everyone worked on MCAS over the past three school days you would have been so proud! Students used their strategies that they have learned, double checked their work, and persevered. The ELA portion of MCAS is now over (yay!). Our math MCAS is scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th and Thursday, May 19th.
Panoramic Photographs
Forms will be sent home tomorrow for panoramic group photographs. A picture will be taken of the entire fourth grade and you will be able to order a copy using the form. The picture will be taken on April 14th and forms must be in by that day.
Monday April 11th.........
Red Sox Day! - Students can wear Red Sox gear (including ball caps) or red, white, and blue clothing.
Monday, March 28, 2016
MCAS Crushers!
MCAS
On Friday we will begin our English Language Arts MCAS testing. A letter was sent home on Friday explaining the different portions of the test and what students are expected to do. The dates are also included at the end of this blog. We have been preparing for the test by learning what the different parts consist of and what we will be expected to do on the day of the test. We have been building up our confidence and learning ways that we can "beat the test." In addition, we have been emphasizing that we can do our best by using the strategies we have learned and taking our time.
We have really treated this test as though it is a game that we can beat. I have acted as their coach and have tried to dispel any concerns or fears that students may have. Please encourage your child to try their best and to use their "magic" (the strategies we have learned). Let me know if you have any questions.
Conferences
Parent teacher conferences will be on Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8. Please don't forget to sign up for a conference on PTC Fast. I look forward to meeting with everyone!
Regions
Next week students will begin a new Social Studies, Reading, Writing and Technology project. We will be integrating many of the fourth grade subjects by reading, researching, and writing about a chosen region of the United States. There will be many student choices in the project and will be largely interest driven. Stay tuned for more updates!
Prezi
We have been learning about reading non-fiction and how to determine what is important out of all of the information in a non-fiction reading selection. We have also been learning how to identify the main idea and supporting details. To help us learn this we read and took notes on a chosen non-fiction topic such as National Parks, polar bears, animal survival skills etc. We then utilized Prezi which is similar to Power Point (but much more updated and motivating!) to create presentations that highlighted the main ideas and supporting details of what we had read. The pictures below show students presenting their Prezi's to the class. You can ask your child to present their Prezi to you by going online to www.prezi.com.
Upcoming Dates
4/1, 4/4, 4/5 - ELA MCAS TESTING
4/5 - 4/8 - Book Fair
4/7 & 4/8 - Parent Teacher Conferences
On Friday we will begin our English Language Arts MCAS testing. A letter was sent home on Friday explaining the different portions of the test and what students are expected to do. The dates are also included at the end of this blog. We have been preparing for the test by learning what the different parts consist of and what we will be expected to do on the day of the test. We have been building up our confidence and learning ways that we can "beat the test." In addition, we have been emphasizing that we can do our best by using the strategies we have learned and taking our time.
We have really treated this test as though it is a game that we can beat. I have acted as their coach and have tried to dispel any concerns or fears that students may have. Please encourage your child to try their best and to use their "magic" (the strategies we have learned). Let me know if you have any questions.
Conferences
Parent teacher conferences will be on Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8. Please don't forget to sign up for a conference on PTC Fast. I look forward to meeting with everyone!
Regions
Next week students will begin a new Social Studies, Reading, Writing and Technology project. We will be integrating many of the fourth grade subjects by reading, researching, and writing about a chosen region of the United States. There will be many student choices in the project and will be largely interest driven. Stay tuned for more updates!
Prezi
We have been learning about reading non-fiction and how to determine what is important out of all of the information in a non-fiction reading selection. We have also been learning how to identify the main idea and supporting details. To help us learn this we read and took notes on a chosen non-fiction topic such as National Parks, polar bears, animal survival skills etc. We then utilized Prezi which is similar to Power Point (but much more updated and motivating!) to create presentations that highlighted the main ideas and supporting details of what we had read. The pictures below show students presenting their Prezi's to the class. You can ask your child to present their Prezi to you by going online to www.prezi.com.
Upcoming Dates
4/1, 4/4, 4/5 - ELA MCAS TESTING
4/5 - 4/8 - Book Fair
4/7 & 4/8 - Parent Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Spring Fun & Learning
Hello Spring!
It's almost here! With Spring comes many exciting events, new learning opportunities, and some important dates.
Non-Fiction
We have been learning how to determine the main topics of a non-fiction text by skimming and scanning the text features. We are also learning how key details can support our understanding of the main topics in the text. We will be starting a project in the classroom that will help solidify this concept and help us practice our newly learned skills. Partnerships will read about a topic and determine the main topics and key details from the reading. They will then create a presentation using Prezi present their topic to the rest of the class. Prezi is similar to Power Point but more exciting! When they are finished we will share!
Writing a Response to Literature
We are working on understanding questions so that we know what they are asking of us. This will help us better think about and answer them. We are also learning how we can categorize our evidence which helps us come up with answers or reasons. (Ask your child about my Grandmother's purse!) Yesterday, students wrote some beautiful responses to a question about an excerpt from Because of Winn-Dixie. I thought I would share one response below so you can see what fourth graders are expected to do (and are capable of!)
Number Lines
Today we will begin looking at fractions on number lines. We have gotten very good at partitioning tape diagrams and area models into halves, thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths. We have also learned what equivalence means. Our next step is seeing this same concept on a number line. We will then move on to using number lines to help us think about the sizes of different fractions and putting them in order.
Potential and Kinetic Energy
We are nearing the end of our unit on potential and kinetic energy and it has been a blast. Yesterday, students made adjustments to an experiment we had done together to see if they could make their cars travel even further down the ramp. They determined their own variable and designed their own experiments. Some added height to the ramp, others added weight to the cars, some adjusted the tracks. Today, students will present the results of their experiments.
Important Dates
March 25th - No School
March 30th - Report Cards Go Home
April 1st, 4th, 5th - MCAS ELA
Donations
We are looking for some things to replenish our supplies! Anything you could send in would be greatly appreciated!
Pencils
Magnets for our whiteboard
Clorox Wipes
It's almost here! With Spring comes many exciting events, new learning opportunities, and some important dates.
Non-Fiction
We have been learning how to determine the main topics of a non-fiction text by skimming and scanning the text features. We are also learning how key details can support our understanding of the main topics in the text. We will be starting a project in the classroom that will help solidify this concept and help us practice our newly learned skills. Partnerships will read about a topic and determine the main topics and key details from the reading. They will then create a presentation using Prezi present their topic to the rest of the class. Prezi is similar to Power Point but more exciting! When they are finished we will share!
Writing a Response to Literature
We are working on understanding questions so that we know what they are asking of us. This will help us better think about and answer them. We are also learning how we can categorize our evidence which helps us come up with answers or reasons. (Ask your child about my Grandmother's purse!) Yesterday, students wrote some beautiful responses to a question about an excerpt from Because of Winn-Dixie. I thought I would share one response below so you can see what fourth graders are expected to do (and are capable of!)
Number Lines
Today we will begin looking at fractions on number lines. We have gotten very good at partitioning tape diagrams and area models into halves, thirds, fourths, fifths and sixths. We have also learned what equivalence means. Our next step is seeing this same concept on a number line. We will then move on to using number lines to help us think about the sizes of different fractions and putting them in order.
Potential and Kinetic Energy
We are nearing the end of our unit on potential and kinetic energy and it has been a blast. Yesterday, students made adjustments to an experiment we had done together to see if they could make their cars travel even further down the ramp. They determined their own variable and designed their own experiments. Some added height to the ramp, others added weight to the cars, some adjusted the tracks. Today, students will present the results of their experiments.
Important Dates
March 25th - No School
March 30th - Report Cards Go Home
April 1st, 4th, 5th - MCAS ELA
Donations
We are looking for some things to replenish our supplies! Anything you could send in would be greatly appreciated!
Pencils
Magnets for our whiteboard
Clorox Wipes
Monday, February 22, 2016
So Happy To Be Back!
I was so happy to come back to school today and see all of your children's smiling faces! It will take a few days to get everyone back on track and in our routine again but today was a great start! Thank you all for the support and understanding you have given me over the past couple of months. I want to take some time and give some updates and let everyone know what we will be working on over the next few weeks.
MAH - Math Vocabulary
A new list of math vocabulary words went home today to be studied during MAH. Our quiz will be on Friday, March 4th. Please let me know if you need any help with ideas for studying.
Math - Fractions
We will be starting a new unit on fractions in math this week. A parent hand-out will be going home tomorrow to explain some of the concepts being taught. The websites listed below may be helpful with any homework questions your child may have.
Science - Energy
We launched a new science unit today on different forms of energy. The first two we are focusing on are potential and kinetic energy. Over the summer I applied for some materials from Hot Wheels (the toy car company) and they came in! Students began experimenting with energy today using car tracks and Hot Wheels cars. They made many observations and came up with many ideas about energy which we will continue to explore over the coming weeks. Here are a few pictures of our exploration today. To me, this is the definition of engagement!
MAH - Math Vocabulary
A new list of math vocabulary words went home today to be studied during MAH. Our quiz will be on Friday, March 4th. Please let me know if you need any help with ideas for studying.
Math - Fractions
We will be starting a new unit on fractions in math this week. A parent hand-out will be going home tomorrow to explain some of the concepts being taught. The websites listed below may be helpful with any homework questions your child may have.
Reading - Non-fiction
During reading we will be reading non-fiction and learning how to determine which information is most important. We will be thinking about main ideas, text structures, and text features. Eventually we will use this learning to help us write our own non-fiction.
Writing - Literary Essays & Open Response
We will be circling back to review our literary essay unit and connect this to open response which is a shorter version of literary essay where students respond to a specific question about the literature they are reading. We will focus on learning how to cite evidence to support our thinking and connecting all of our ideas together to create cohesive writing.
We launched a new science unit today on different forms of energy. The first two we are focusing on are potential and kinetic energy. Over the summer I applied for some materials from Hot Wheels (the toy car company) and they came in! Students began experimenting with energy today using car tracks and Hot Wheels cars. They made many observations and came up with many ideas about energy which we will continue to explore over the coming weeks. Here are a few pictures of our exploration today. To me, this is the definition of engagement!
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