One Month Down....
This month has flown by! Our class has really grown in the past few weeks. We feel more comfortable working with each other and sharing our ideas. We are learning to challenge ourselves and to not give up when things get tricky. To keep things running smoothly I have some updates and reminders for everyone!
Thursday Folder
Our Thursday folders will be sent home each Thursday afternoon full of notices and work that we have completed in class. Please make sure that you sign your child's folder on the sheet in the front cover and send it back to school on Friday. Please take the notices and school-work out unless it is in the return to school pocket.\
New Project - Character Trait Book
A new project was sent home today that we will work on in school and at home. Students will often be introduced to a new character trait in school and we will have discussions about what this trait means. At home, students will be required to complete a book page about that trait. An explanation sheet was sent home today along with the booklet. There was also a parent signature page that I am asking families to send back in. This will help me to make sure that everyone is on the same page. We may not send this project home each day depending on our schedule and ability to introduce a new word in school. I will be checking in with students frequently on how it is going to see if there is any further support that students need. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions.
MAH
Last week's MAH looked great! Many students studied their math facts for longer than required! Please help your child remember to get it signed and brought back to school on Friday. There will be weeks where students will be asked to study math vocabulary instead of multiplication facts for MAH. We are working on vocabulary flash cards this week and will switch to studying math vocabulary for MAH next week.
Thank You!
I cannot thank families enough for donating supplies to our classroom during Open House. They were very much needed and appreciated! I am still in dire need of 5-subject notebooks. If anyone has any we could really use them!
Upcoming Events
10/1 Elementary Math Night at Forest Ave - 6 PM
10/7 International Walk To School Day
10/12 No School - Columbus Day
10/13 No School - Teacher Professional Day
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Monday, September 21, 2015
Growing Brain
I cannot thank everyone enough for joining me for Open House last week. It was so nice to meet so many of you and to begin our journey working together to help your child succeed in fourth grade.
Growth Mindset
In my last blog I mentioned Growth Mindset. If your child shuts down or frustrates easily after making a mistake or chooses the easier option then this could be the gentle push your child needs. In a nutshell, research shows that there are two types of learners. The first has a growth mindset and believes that with practice and determination, they can get better at anything. The second learner believes that they are only born with certain talents or smarts and there is nothing they can do to change it. Research also shows that learners with a growth mindset are more successful than those who aren't. Here are two videos that can help you understand it further. The first was shown at Open House and the second is a little longer but worth the time if you have it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0OS4MrN3E&feature=share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc
Other News
Growth Mindset
In my last blog I mentioned Growth Mindset. If your child shuts down or frustrates easily after making a mistake or chooses the easier option then this could be the gentle push your child needs. In a nutshell, research shows that there are two types of learners. The first has a growth mindset and believes that with practice and determination, they can get better at anything. The second learner believes that they are only born with certain talents or smarts and there is nothing they can do to change it. Research also shows that learners with a growth mindset are more successful than those who aren't. Here are two videos that can help you understand it further. The first was shown at Open House and the second is a little longer but worth the time if you have it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wh0OS4MrN3E&feature=share
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN34FNbOKXc
Other News
- Please send a water bottle in with your child. It will keep them in the classroom learning and not at the water fountain!
- Students did great on their RAH last week and most read more than the required amount. Thank you so much for helping them remember to get their RAH signed and for pushing them that extra mile!
- MAH (Math at Home) was assigned for the first time this week and is due on Friday. This week we are focusing on studying our multiplication facts. We discussed different ways to study in school today, but let me know if you need some other ideas!
Upcoming Events
9/23 - Ice Cream Social 6-8 PM
9/25 - School Pictures
Monday, September 14, 2015
Welcome Back!
Welcome Back!
A new year is underway and its shaping up to be a great one! I am hoping to use this blog to communicate to everyone what we are up to and what you can do at home to support your child.
For the past two weeks we have been busy getting to know each other and learning the routines and expectations of fourth grade. We have also been setting the tone by learning about Growth Mindset and how our brains work. Students have been learning that it will be okay to make mistakes this year because our brains learn and grow better when we learn from our mistakes. We have also chosen mottos that we would like to live by and are currently creating posters to be hung around the school showcasing our mottos.
I hope that you are all able to join me at Open House on Wednesday night from 6:30 - 8:00. I look forward to meeting you all!
If you haven't sent in a letter telling me about your child, please feel free to do so. I'd still love to read it!
Important Dates
Open House - September 16th 6:30 - 8:30
Book Orders Due - September 17th
School Pictures - September 25th
1/2 Day - September 30th
A new year is underway and its shaping up to be a great one! I am hoping to use this blog to communicate to everyone what we are up to and what you can do at home to support your child.
For the past two weeks we have been busy getting to know each other and learning the routines and expectations of fourth grade. We have also been setting the tone by learning about Growth Mindset and how our brains work. Students have been learning that it will be okay to make mistakes this year because our brains learn and grow better when we learn from our mistakes. We have also chosen mottos that we would like to live by and are currently creating posters to be hung around the school showcasing our mottos.
I hope that you are all able to join me at Open House on Wednesday night from 6:30 - 8:00. I look forward to meeting you all!
If you haven't sent in a letter telling me about your child, please feel free to do so. I'd still love to read it!
Important Dates
Open House - September 16th 6:30 - 8:30
Book Orders Due - September 17th
School Pictures - September 25th
1/2 Day - September 30th
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
More Journeys
More Journeys...
I've been writing about the journeys I have taken this summer through the books I have been reading. I can't wait to tell you all about the journey I took the other day to a magical land.....
Twelve-year-old Rump is used to being made fun by everyone in his kingdom. His name is supposed to be his destiny but he doesn't even know his entire name. In addition, what he does know of his name is pretty embarrassing! Even so, his luck seems to change when he discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. Many warn him that this is not a gift but a curse but Rump doesn't listen and as he weaves, trouble begins to brew. Is this a gift or is it a curse? Will Rump ever find out his entire name?
I could not put this book down and really had fun journeying to this fantasy world. I really liked how I already had background knowledge about the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin and how this book made me think about the characters and the story in an entirely new way. It went much deeper into why Rumpelstiltskin behaved the way he did and why it was so important for him to learn his name. I also really liked this book because it was full of quests, captures, escapes, mysterious creatures and magic. What more could you want?
I also got to meet a really great girl, superhero in fact, in another journey I took a couple of weeks ago in a book called El Deafo. Don't worry boys, she's is in no way a girly girl. She could definitely hang with the guys...
Cece is a normal kid until one day she gets a mysterious illness that ultimately causes her to go deaf. She now has to wear a large hearing aid strapped to her chest each day as she tries to fit in at school. At first she is horrified and does everything she can to hide it from her classmates, but then she realizes that she can hear things that other kids can't! It is like having super powers! Even with super powers Cece still feels alone. Can she use her super powers to find the one thing she truly wants...a friend?
CALLING ALL LOVERS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS!!! If you loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid you will be sure to love this book. The entire book is one long comic strip. This made it very entertaining and easy to understand. While I was tempted to fly through this book because of the comic strip set-up, there is really a lot to think about so it is useful to take some time and think like a good reader does. That is actually what I liked about this book, it made me think sometimes. Sometimes it had me giggling, other times I was cheering, and still others I was full of sympathy for lonely Cece. I can't wait to share this book with you this year!
I've been writing about the journeys I have taken this summer through the books I have been reading. I can't wait to tell you all about the journey I took the other day to a magical land.....
Twelve-year-old Rump is used to being made fun by everyone in his kingdom. His name is supposed to be his destiny but he doesn't even know his entire name. In addition, what he does know of his name is pretty embarrassing! Even so, his luck seems to change when he discovers he has a gift for spinning straw into gold. Many warn him that this is not a gift but a curse but Rump doesn't listen and as he weaves, trouble begins to brew. Is this a gift or is it a curse? Will Rump ever find out his entire name?
I could not put this book down and really had fun journeying to this fantasy world. I really liked how I already had background knowledge about the fairy tale Rumpelstiltskin and how this book made me think about the characters and the story in an entirely new way. It went much deeper into why Rumpelstiltskin behaved the way he did and why it was so important for him to learn his name. I also really liked this book because it was full of quests, captures, escapes, mysterious creatures and magic. What more could you want?
I also got to meet a really great girl, superhero in fact, in another journey I took a couple of weeks ago in a book called El Deafo. Don't worry boys, she's is in no way a girly girl. She could definitely hang with the guys...
Cece is a normal kid until one day she gets a mysterious illness that ultimately causes her to go deaf. She now has to wear a large hearing aid strapped to her chest each day as she tries to fit in at school. At first she is horrified and does everything she can to hide it from her classmates, but then she realizes that she can hear things that other kids can't! It is like having super powers! Even with super powers Cece still feels alone. Can she use her super powers to find the one thing she truly wants...a friend?
CALLING ALL LOVERS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS!!! If you loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid you will be sure to love this book. The entire book is one long comic strip. This made it very entertaining and easy to understand. While I was tempted to fly through this book because of the comic strip set-up, there is really a lot to think about so it is useful to take some time and think like a good reader does. That is actually what I liked about this book, it made me think sometimes. Sometimes it had me giggling, other times I was cheering, and still others I was full of sympathy for lonely Cece. I can't wait to share this book with you this year!
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Summer Journeys
Where Have You Gone This Summer?
Summer vacation can be full of excitement and traveling and I have done my fair share of it this summer. Some of the best journeys I have taken this summer however, have been through the books I have been reading. Before the end of the school year, our class thought back over the many books we have read this year and came up with some that we truly loved. We then wrote book recommendations to help each other choose books to read over the summer. I loaded up on books that I had not yet read and have been reading non-stop ever since! I thought you might like to see what I read this summer.
Please note: All of these books will be available to you in my classroom at some point during the school year. There is no need to run out and grab one of these books unless you JUST CAN'T WAIT! (Which I totally understand!)
Rhino is a young baseball player who gets a new bat that is perfect for him and really helps him increase his hitting. One day the bat goes missing though and someone is leaving him clues! There is a big game coming up and Rhino really needs to find his bat. Can he figure out the clues and find his bat in time?
This was an awesome read especially since my favorite team (The Red Sox) hasn't always been living up to their potential this summer. I especially liked it because it was written by All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard who was able to give a very realistic edge to the story. I love sports and follow many different teams so this was very interesting and fun. If you like sports then I'm pretty sure you will feel the same way. The mystery of the missing bat also kept me guessing and turning pages until I was finished!
Leo is a newsboy in San Francisco in 1906 and nothing is going right in his life right now. Leo's problems suddenly don't seem very important however when he is faced with having to survive a devastating earthquake. If this isn't enough, the city he loves is now burning to the ground! Can he get out alive and solve his problems?
If you like edge of your seat, then this is the book for you! I loved how the author made Leo seem so realistic and included details that came straight from history. It amazed me that this earthquake really took place and that kids just like Leo had to survive it. This is a great series and I can't wait to read more myself!
That's just a taste of what I have been reading this summer. I will post more soon. I would love to hear about what you have been reading. Feel free to email me at jleger@hudson.k12.ma.us and tell me about it! I'm nearly finished my own list and need some more ideas!
Summer vacation can be full of excitement and traveling and I have done my fair share of it this summer. Some of the best journeys I have taken this summer however, have been through the books I have been reading. Before the end of the school year, our class thought back over the many books we have read this year and came up with some that we truly loved. We then wrote book recommendations to help each other choose books to read over the summer. I loaded up on books that I had not yet read and have been reading non-stop ever since! I thought you might like to see what I read this summer.
Please note: All of these books will be available to you in my classroom at some point during the school year. There is no need to run out and grab one of these books unless you JUST CAN'T WAIT! (Which I totally understand!)
Rhino is a young baseball player who gets a new bat that is perfect for him and really helps him increase his hitting. One day the bat goes missing though and someone is leaving him clues! There is a big game coming up and Rhino really needs to find his bat. Can he figure out the clues and find his bat in time?
This was an awesome read especially since my favorite team (The Red Sox) hasn't always been living up to their potential this summer. I especially liked it because it was written by All-Star first baseman Ryan Howard who was able to give a very realistic edge to the story. I love sports and follow many different teams so this was very interesting and fun. If you like sports then I'm pretty sure you will feel the same way. The mystery of the missing bat also kept me guessing and turning pages until I was finished!
Leo is a newsboy in San Francisco in 1906 and nothing is going right in his life right now. Leo's problems suddenly don't seem very important however when he is faced with having to survive a devastating earthquake. If this isn't enough, the city he loves is now burning to the ground! Can he get out alive and solve his problems?
If you like edge of your seat, then this is the book for you! I loved how the author made Leo seem so realistic and included details that came straight from history. It amazed me that this earthquake really took place and that kids just like Leo had to survive it. This is a great series and I can't wait to read more myself!
That's just a taste of what I have been reading this summer. I will post more soon. I would love to hear about what you have been reading. Feel free to email me at jleger@hudson.k12.ma.us and tell me about it! I'm nearly finished my own list and need some more ideas!
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Home Stretch!
Preparing!
Preparations are underway for the end of fourth grade! Projects are being wrapped up, plans are being made for celebrations, and memories are being gathered for our time capsules. There is some really important information below for the end of fourth grade so please keep reading!
Summer Reading
We have begun talking about summer reading this week. A flyer will be going home explaining the expectations but I also thought I would take a moment and explain them here as well....
Quinn Middle School will be sending a large selection of books over to our classroom for students to look at along with a movie trailer of each book for students to view. Once we have looked at all of the books and trailers, students will each choose a book that they would like to read over the summer. They will bring their reader's notebook home so they can read their book and keep track of their thinking. When they go to Quinn in the fall, they will take part in a book club with other students who have read the same book and use their reader's notebook to help them talk about their thinking.
The idea behind this assignment is that it is much more authentic to what students did in school each day this year. We want to mirror the work students did in school each day as closely as possible and make it more motivating. We will be spending time in school coming up with reading plans, and making lists of other books that students would like to read over the summer. Students should read more than just their book club book if they want to keep moving forward as a reader.
Library Walk
Our walking field trip to the Hudson Public Library and then on to Wood Park for a picnic is next Wednesday, June 10th. While at the library, students will be able to jump start their summer reading and get a library card if they do not already have one. Please make sure your child packs a bag lunch, wears sneakers, and dresses in layers. Sunscreen should be applied before coming to school. We are still looking for a couple of volunteers so please let me know if you are looking for a good workout next Wednesday!
Success Day
Success Day is on June 17th from 1- 2 PM and is a day where we invite families and special people in each year to see the hard work we have been doing. Our focus will be on the research projects students have been doing about the different regions in the United States. This is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other special people in your child's life to join us!
Time Capsule Closing Ceremony
This is the final culmination of your child's Farley experience. It will be the last day of school at 9:00 AM. If you have not already, please find a smaller plastic or cardboard container for your child to begin putting items into. Lists of ideas were sent home, if you need another list, please let me know. The week leading up to the Closing Ceremony, we will ask that the capsules be sent to school where we will add to the items in it. On the day of the Ceremony, we will close the capsules and students will put them someplace safe at home and will not open them until they graduate from High School. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Preparations are underway for the end of fourth grade! Projects are being wrapped up, plans are being made for celebrations, and memories are being gathered for our time capsules. There is some really important information below for the end of fourth grade so please keep reading!
Summer Reading
We have begun talking about summer reading this week. A flyer will be going home explaining the expectations but I also thought I would take a moment and explain them here as well....
Quinn Middle School will be sending a large selection of books over to our classroom for students to look at along with a movie trailer of each book for students to view. Once we have looked at all of the books and trailers, students will each choose a book that they would like to read over the summer. They will bring their reader's notebook home so they can read their book and keep track of their thinking. When they go to Quinn in the fall, they will take part in a book club with other students who have read the same book and use their reader's notebook to help them talk about their thinking.
The idea behind this assignment is that it is much more authentic to what students did in school each day this year. We want to mirror the work students did in school each day as closely as possible and make it more motivating. We will be spending time in school coming up with reading plans, and making lists of other books that students would like to read over the summer. Students should read more than just their book club book if they want to keep moving forward as a reader.
Library Walk
Our walking field trip to the Hudson Public Library and then on to Wood Park for a picnic is next Wednesday, June 10th. While at the library, students will be able to jump start their summer reading and get a library card if they do not already have one. Please make sure your child packs a bag lunch, wears sneakers, and dresses in layers. Sunscreen should be applied before coming to school. We are still looking for a couple of volunteers so please let me know if you are looking for a good workout next Wednesday!
Success Day
Success Day is on June 17th from 1- 2 PM and is a day where we invite families and special people in each year to see the hard work we have been doing. Our focus will be on the research projects students have been doing about the different regions in the United States. This is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other special people in your child's life to join us!
Time Capsule Closing Ceremony
This is the final culmination of your child's Farley experience. It will be the last day of school at 9:00 AM. If you have not already, please find a smaller plastic or cardboard container for your child to begin putting items into. Lists of ideas were sent home, if you need another list, please let me know. The week leading up to the Closing Ceremony, we will ask that the capsules be sent to school where we will add to the items in it. On the day of the Ceremony, we will close the capsules and students will put them someplace safe at home and will not open them until they graduate from High School. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Trips & Celebrations!
Time Is Running Short!
The end of the year and all of the fun that goes with it has snuck up very quickly on us! In this post you will find a lot of the information you will need to make sure your fourth grader closes out his or her Farley experience with a bang!
Math MCAS
We begin the second round of MCAS testing this Friday and finish it up next Wednesday. Please help your child by enabling them to get a good night's rest and a good breakfast. Students brought home a list of strategies that they have been working with most of the year to discuss with families tonight. With our Growth Mindset philosophy this year, students have learned that success comes when our effort is effective. This includes using strategies we have learned. Thank you for your support!
Ecotarium Field Trip
We are headed to the Ecotarium on May 22nd. Please make sure that all permission slips and money are sent in to school this week. On the day of the field trip, please have your child bring a bag lunch, dress in layers, wear sneakers, and sunscreen. Students do not need to bring money or electronics. We are still in need of chaperones, the more the merrier. Chaperones may have to drive themselves and are responsible for the $12.00 admission fee. Please let me know if you are able to join us!
Library Walk
We are planning a walking field trip to the Hudson Public Library and then on to Wood Park for a picnic on June 10th. While at the library, students will be able to jump start their summer reading and get a library card if they do not already have one. We will be looking for chaperones for this field trip as well. Stay tuned for more information!
Success Day
Success Day is on June 17th from 1- 2 PM and is a day where we invite families and special people in each year to see the hard work we have been doing. Our focus will be on the research projects students have been doing about the different regions in the United States. This is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other special people in your child's life to join us!
Time Capsule Closing Ceremony
This is the final culmination of your child's Farley experience. It will be the last day of school at 9:00 AM. If you have not already, please find a smaller plastic or cardboard container for your child to begin putting items into. Lists of ideas were sent home, if you need another list, please let me know. The week leading up to the Closing Ceremony, we will ask that the capsules be sent to school where we will add to the items in it. On the day of the Ceremony, we will close the capsules and students will put them someplace safe at home and will not open them until they graduate from High School. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Technology
We began using a cart of laptops in our class today to do some research. The pictures show some very engaged students, don't you think? We are so lucky to have so many wonderful resources at our school!
The end of the year and all of the fun that goes with it has snuck up very quickly on us! In this post you will find a lot of the information you will need to make sure your fourth grader closes out his or her Farley experience with a bang!
Math MCAS
We begin the second round of MCAS testing this Friday and finish it up next Wednesday. Please help your child by enabling them to get a good night's rest and a good breakfast. Students brought home a list of strategies that they have been working with most of the year to discuss with families tonight. With our Growth Mindset philosophy this year, students have learned that success comes when our effort is effective. This includes using strategies we have learned. Thank you for your support!
Ecotarium Field Trip
We are headed to the Ecotarium on May 22nd. Please make sure that all permission slips and money are sent in to school this week. On the day of the field trip, please have your child bring a bag lunch, dress in layers, wear sneakers, and sunscreen. Students do not need to bring money or electronics. We are still in need of chaperones, the more the merrier. Chaperones may have to drive themselves and are responsible for the $12.00 admission fee. Please let me know if you are able to join us!
Library Walk
We are planning a walking field trip to the Hudson Public Library and then on to Wood Park for a picnic on June 10th. While at the library, students will be able to jump start their summer reading and get a library card if they do not already have one. We will be looking for chaperones for this field trip as well. Stay tuned for more information!
Success Day
Success Day is on June 17th from 1- 2 PM and is a day where we invite families and special people in each year to see the hard work we have been doing. Our focus will be on the research projects students have been doing about the different regions in the United States. This is a wonderful opportunity for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other special people in your child's life to join us!
Time Capsule Closing Ceremony
This is the final culmination of your child's Farley experience. It will be the last day of school at 9:00 AM. If you have not already, please find a smaller plastic or cardboard container for your child to begin putting items into. Lists of ideas were sent home, if you need another list, please let me know. The week leading up to the Closing Ceremony, we will ask that the capsules be sent to school where we will add to the items in it. On the day of the Ceremony, we will close the capsules and students will put them someplace safe at home and will not open them until they graduate from High School. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Technology
We began using a cart of laptops in our class today to do some research. The pictures show some very engaged students, don't you think? We are so lucky to have so many wonderful resources at our school!
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