Reading Response

Reading responses are a great way for students to share their thoughts, voice their opinions, respond to text in meaningful ways, take time to examine literature from various points of view, and learn to provide reasoning.

Today our Because of Winn-Dixie crew discussed characters at length.  Instead of just doing so in their reading notebooks, we incorporated tech into our daily learning and responding and wrote a character kidblog post.  We invite you to check them out.  Just click on the link below. :)

Character Kidblog Post

Parts of the Brain

In our IPC unit Brainwave we are starting to look at the specific parts of the brain and the roles they play in regards to our bodies.  We also look to incorporate technology in many ways in the classroom thus was the case during today's lessons.

First students listened to an article read to them online (kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/brain.html).  They had the same article in front of them in paper form as well.

Second, in partners they gleaned information read by noting the parts of the brain and a role that specific part played.  We then discussed our answers in a whole class setting as we found out that each part of the brain had multiple roles in our body functioning.

Library

Thursdays we have library with Ms. Ilaria.  Each week she does an interesting lesson with us.  Today she talked about Expo in Milan, which she had attended with some of our secondary students.  It was great to learn about Expo and many of the different sites and pavilions there, as well as the reason behind the exhibition.

Chocolate Cookie Descriptive Writing

Today we began our chocolate cookie descriptive writing project.  The first step: brainstorming.  This was the FUN step in our process for this piece as the students each got to eat part of a cookie to help in their sense assessment.  In pairs students got a cookie and completed a chart describing the cookie using their 5 senses.  As a whole class we collaborated our ideas to help us gather as much information as possible so that when we begin to draft we have lots of material to work with.

FYI - Pizza Focaccia

Just an FYI that ISG student council will be selling pizza focaccia during elementary snack time on Thursdays.  Your child is welcome to bring 0.50 euros (50 cents) to purchase a piece.  I do suggest though that they have an alternative snack just in case.  Thank you. :)

Gummy Bear Paragraph Writing

As we continue with descriptive paragraph writing, I like to model good writing and have students participate in a shared writing task.  This helps students to better understand what I expect from their writing and how to write a good paragraph.

Today the students helped me write a paragraph describing my favourite snack: gummy bears.  Yum!

First we brainstormed using our 5 senses.

Next we wrote a topic sentence to set up our writing (green sentence).  This was followed by good, descriptive detail sentences using our senses and the information we brainstormed prior to starting (yellow sentences).  Finally, we ended our work with a closing sentence that is similar to the topic sentence and finishes off our piece nicely (red sentence).

Tomorrow students will go through the same process - writing a descriptive paragraph - using another food item. ;)

6 Traits Assessment

In order for students to get a better understanding of the 6 traits and what they look like in context, we spend time assessing different pieces of literature using our rubric.  The more we practice assess the better we get at the process and being to self-analyze our own work.  Today we worked with a partner to assess a paper, then discussed as a whole class our assessments and accompanying reasoning.  It's great to see the students build a stronger understanding of the traits.

Connecting

Utilizing our reading strategy of "connecting" (how the story is similar to either something in your life, something in the world or to another book) students noted their connections to Because of Winn-Dixie via Kidblog today.

Connections

Literary Charades

As we read and enjoy Because of Winn-Dixie, we look for fun ways to help us interpret and show meaning of the text.  This morning we used charades to represent any event from chapters 1-7.  In groups, students chose their own event, decided how to act it out for the class, did so and we took turns guessing the event enacted.  What a fun way to express literature!

Addition Problems

Writing word problems for an operation can be quite the task.  4th Grade Purple took on this task this morning and wrote word problems via Kidblog using addition, and sometimes subtraction.  Can you solve them?

Addition Word Problems

Procedural Writing in Math

We utilized our procedural writing skills from years past to create a how to add poster.  In partners, students came up with a 5 digit addition equation, then proceeded to write down, explicitly, how to add these numbers.  Tomorrow we plan to take this information and see if Ms. S can follow our instructions.

Addition War

As we head into our addition unit in math, it's important for students to have fact fluency.  By that I mean that they know their addition facts really well!  In order for us to practice this every day, students learn a variety of games where they can apply their skills in a fun manner.  Today that was through the card game, addition war.  Want to know how to play?  Just ask any one of us.  We are experts now. :)

Math Riddles

Some of the students in 4th grade purple wrote math riddles for 5 digit numbers.  We invite all guests to check these out on our Kidblogs (see link below) and see if you can guess our numbers.  Good luck!!

Math Puzzlers

Entry Point

Yesterday students in both grade 4 classes participated in an activity as their entry point for IPC.  Our first unit in IPC is called Brainwave, and in this fun activity students collaborated in teams to get from one island to another without being eaten by sharks. Yikes!  It was great to see the students work and figure things out together.  We used many of our IPC personal goals in this activity including: collaboration, communication, adaptability and resilience.

Brain Breaks

Sometimes when we've been working really hard, or just to get our day started, our brains need a break or a warm-up.  In moments like these 4th grade purple may just do some.......dancing!

Math Pods

With our upcoming math assessment on Friday, the students are busy reviewing place value concepts.  Today we did this in pods with one group using websites on the MACs, another group doing the review from our new Singapore Math program and another group working with the teacher to create clues for a 5-digit number.

RAZ Kids

In our class, students will be utilizing technology in a variety of ways.  One way we incorporate it into reading is by doing online reading activities.  RAZ Kids is one such activity.  RAZ Kids is an online reading program geared at students own levels.  Each student has their own login and password, and reads and responds to books (via quizzes) to check comprehension.  Today students tried it out for the first time and I encourage them to check it out at home as well.

To access RAZ Kids:

1) On the blog, click on the ELA tab.
2) Find the RAZ Kids link (under the Reading section) and click on it.
3) Type in the teacher username: rrsimonsen
4) Click on student's name
5) Enter password (they should know their password)
6) Click on RAZ Kids
7) Click on Reading Assignment
8) Begin reading and responding :)

Because of Winn-Dixie

4th Grade Purple started their first novel of the year today: Because of Winn-Dixie.  To start our unit, students worked collaboratively in pairs to answer questions that will help prepare our minds for the theme and topics that we'll encounter in the book.  After working together in partners, we shared our answers as a whole class.  It's great to see the wealth of knowledge and ideas that everyone brings to our classroom.

Spelling Pods

This morning students got their first practice with the spelling pods that will be part of our weekly routine this year.  Students in both 4th grade classes will be put into groups based on Words Their Way and 3 groups will rotate stations in Ms. S's class and 3 groups will work in Ms. Boettcher's class.  The great thing about this is that student needs for word work will be greatly met since they will be in groups where instruction meets their level.  We had a lot of fun this morning switching up the classes and practicing some of the pods we'll do (ie Boggle, Scrabble Spelling, Coconut Vowels, computer programs, journals) and learning to clean up our areas and how to switch.

Kidblogs

Today was the first time that 4th Grade Purple experienced Kidblogs.  Each student has their own blog where they will write, upload and share information throughout the year.  For our first post, students wrote about their first week of school.  It's great to see how quickly they are picking up on our technology and building their tech skills.  To check these out, please click on the Kidblog tab and then proceed to Kidblogs.

MACs

Today we introduced ourselves to the new MACs that that school has purchased for elementary student use.  First we learned how to scroll (two fingers now!), then how to open programs.  The students were able to use Google to find the class blog and practiced going to and opening ELA and math sites.  We LOVE the new computers and can't wait to use them in many different ways this year. :)