Thanks to everyone for participating in our winter celebration, for the generous gifts, for joining us at the sing along--for everything! It was a great half day today.
No matter how you spend your break, enjoy your family and friends. I am looking forward to some rest and fun and family myself. I will look forward to seeing twenty bright, eager and rejuvenated faces on January 3rd.
To everyone, be well!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Happy winter!
Ha. From this Minnesota girl, you have no idea how funny this is to me.
Thanks to your generosity, we had such a successful gift drive. It is always so wonderful to take that walk with so many gifts in hand to the gym on the final day of the drive. Today, Mr. Murphy forwarded an email to the faculty from a woman who has participated in the Guardian ad Litem program for a number of years. She is so grateful for Shorecrest's participation in the gift drive, commenting about how these gifts for the kids with whom she works are often the only gifts they receive. She described young people who are so appreciative. It was nice to read.
As you may recall, for my birthday, the students (with Esther H.'s organization and your help!) wrote letters to my very favorite author, Kate DiCamillo, asking her to visit Shorecrest on my behalf. My fourth-grade teammates, Dr. Bianco, Mrs. Weinman and Mr. Murphy all contributed lovely and thoughtful letters to the collection as well. The book of letters itself is a gift for sure. Esther then sent various relevant people copies of the book, hoping to get Ms. DiCamillo's attention. Eventually, we did; through her publisher, the author responded that while she is too busy to be making any school visits these days, she was so moved by the students' letters that she agreed to answer some questions via email. We, of course, were thrilled.
The students' and my goal became to ask Ms. DiCamillo's questions that she had never been asked before--we wanted to honor her with that. We also wanted to take advantage of our luck and find out as much as we could--all that we couldn't discover from any other source. So, we spent a number of days listening to the author's speeches, watching interviews and reading blog posts. After this work, each student (and two eager teachers) composed the most unique and interesting question s/he could. We emailed the questions to the author's publisher on Thursday. Esther and I were thrilled to get a response less than 36 hours after the questions were sent.
As you know from Esther's email late last week, I shared with the students Ms. DiCamillo's responses on Friday. They were as excited as I was! It was thrilling to hear that some of our questions had never been asked before. Yay! For me, this has been a truly memorable experience, from start to finish. I hope that students shared with you the questions and answers this weekend. I really am so proud of these kids who are such eager learners and thoughtful readers and writers.
As I mentioned last week, we are embarking on our study of fiction writing in writing workshop. As a way to begin that study, students will be learning about writing to prompts. On Thursday and Friday last week, students completed their first prompt. Today, we used a rubric to look over their writing, determining what they thought they did well and how they might improve. Already today we have determined on what we need to work through this study. I expect to spend time working with them on how to incorporate what they have learned in the workshop setting into a more artificial, fast-paced situation. Certainly, attempting to translate what they learn about a more authentic process of writing in the workshop can be difficult to transfer to a timed setting. After a few weeks of teaching, students will write to another prompt in January. This will help us see growth as well as areas for further improvement--both from them and from me.
Last week we also began reading Sarah Weeks' So B. It as a read aloud. In this novel, Heidi--the daughter of a developmentally disabled mother who is unable to communicate--struggles to learn about her past. Our focus in reading workshop has been attempting to connect to characters who seem so different from ourselves. Students have worked to make connections to Heidi in order to delve more deeply into the book. Many students have people in their lives who have various challenges, and these relationships have helped them connect to our main character.
We are also spending time considering what the books we read are really about--reading between the lines to uncover what an author is really trying to tell us. We have begun whole-class conversations during which students are challenged and expected to talk to one another, foregoing hand raising, really listening and responding to each other. If ever you wish to participate in a lesson in class, I encourage you to join us for a discussion surrounding a book we have read together. The students are doing a phenomenal job within this format.
In math students have begun learning new algorithms to solve division problems. Partial quotients is the primary method taught, and as we learn about it, students are expected to use this method. Once time has been spent teaching various methods, students are free to use whatever method works best for them. The partial quotient algorithm asks students to break down problems into more manageable ones in order to solve them. Division is always tricky, but I have asked the students to stick with it--it will get easier and make more sense to them over the next number of days!
Congratulations to Renata who won first place in her age group in Inkwood Books' Harris Burdick Writing Competition. In honor of the recently released The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, participants were asked to write an original story based on one of the images from Van Allsburg's The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, the precursor to the The Chronicles. The Mysteries is filled with engaging illustrations and simple story starters that beg the reader to tell her/his own story. In the just-released The Chronicles, renowned authors were asked to contribute their own stories based on the images from the original text. The competition honors that process by asking student authors to do the same. We are all so proud of Renata. She is a gifted writer AND reader AND a tremendous person--Shorecrest is lucky to have in its midst!
Important upcoming events:
December 16, 10:00 a.m: winter party
December 16, 11:00: LD sing along
December 16: noon dismissal
December 19 - January 3: winter break
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| Lindsay, Sammy, Aliyah and Kyra parade with gifts to the Gym. |
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| Asher, Will R. and Michael join the march. |
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| Matthew carries a package to the Gym. |
As you know from Esther's email late last week, I shared with the students Ms. DiCamillo's responses on Friday. They were as excited as I was! It was thrilling to hear that some of our questions had never been asked before. Yay! For me, this has been a truly memorable experience, from start to finish. I hope that students shared with you the questions and answers this weekend. I really am so proud of these kids who are such eager learners and thoughtful readers and writers.
As I mentioned last week, we are embarking on our study of fiction writing in writing workshop. As a way to begin that study, students will be learning about writing to prompts. On Thursday and Friday last week, students completed their first prompt. Today, we used a rubric to look over their writing, determining what they thought they did well and how they might improve. Already today we have determined on what we need to work through this study. I expect to spend time working with them on how to incorporate what they have learned in the workshop setting into a more artificial, fast-paced situation. Certainly, attempting to translate what they learn about a more authentic process of writing in the workshop can be difficult to transfer to a timed setting. After a few weeks of teaching, students will write to another prompt in January. This will help us see growth as well as areas for further improvement--both from them and from me.
Last week we also began reading Sarah Weeks' So B. It as a read aloud. In this novel, Heidi--the daughter of a developmentally disabled mother who is unable to communicate--struggles to learn about her past. Our focus in reading workshop has been attempting to connect to characters who seem so different from ourselves. Students have worked to make connections to Heidi in order to delve more deeply into the book. Many students have people in their lives who have various challenges, and these relationships have helped them connect to our main character.We are also spending time considering what the books we read are really about--reading between the lines to uncover what an author is really trying to tell us. We have begun whole-class conversations during which students are challenged and expected to talk to one another, foregoing hand raising, really listening and responding to each other. If ever you wish to participate in a lesson in class, I encourage you to join us for a discussion surrounding a book we have read together. The students are doing a phenomenal job within this format.
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| Students work in a small group to learn about the partial quotients algorithm. |
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| Kyra and Sammy discuss their strategies in math. |
Important upcoming events:
December 16, 10:00 a.m: winter party
December 16, 11:00: LD sing along
December 16: noon dismissal
December 19 - January 3: winter break
Monday, December 5, 2011
Down the midway stretch. . .
We are in the midst of an exciting time in 4-4 right now! For one, the college photography students have completed their photographs inspired by the students' personal narratives. I created a web site that posts not only the narratives from each child, but the accompanying photographs for each narrative. There are some minor problems with the text on the site that I hope to resolve, but in the meantime, the stories and photographs are available here: Writing and Photo Project
We have also been able to venture to the Upper Division and see most of the covers that Mr. Runge's students are creating for our personal narratives.The art students received copies of the students' stories and read them all. Then, they used photography and Photoshop to design covers for each book. During our visits, the UD students showed the students two versions from which to choose. The fourth graders were also treated to quick lessons on how to use Photoshop, and were given an opportunity to use the digital drawing pads in the art room. UD students and Mr. Runge even treated the fourth graders to a tour of the art room and all of the work that fills it. It has been a tremendous experience for all involved! We should have the completed covers prior to winter break.
Students were also able this week to spend some time in the computer lab accessing and considering the comments that the sixth graders left for them on their circuit Voice Threads. Fourth graders viewed their VoiceThreads individually and took careful notes on the feedback they received from their older peers. Most comments were very positive. We have learned, however, that vague comments such as "Your project was very good!" are nice to hear, but their lack of specificity makes them less helpful to us as we consider how we might do better on a similar project in the future.
As many of you know from Esther's email, Kate DiCamillo received the letters from the students asking for her to visit Shorecrest. While the popular author is not currently making any school visits or even Skyping, she agreed to accept questions from the kids and to respond to them. So, we spent last week considering what would make a good question as well as doing our research on the author. We discovered there are many questions that get asked with frequency and know we do NOT want to ask those questions--we already have the answers! Each student generated a list of questions and then chose her/his favorite. I will be compiling those questions this week and Esther will be sending them off to Ms. DiCamillo's publisher. Then we wait. Eagerly!
In writing, after spending some solid time writing portfolio reflections, we are beginning to dip our toes into the genre of fiction. We began as we always do--revealing what elements exist within the genre of fiction that we know our pieces need to include: a plot--including problems and some resolutions, main characters--protagonists and antagonists, and a setting. We know that writers-in-training write best when they write about what they know, so we will focus on realistic fiction. Certainly, students are excited by the prospect of some elements of fantasy as well, so we will likely foster that excitement and tinge our realism with some fantasy. Our genre study of fiction will last about two months, so expect to be invited to an author celebration sometime in February. Fun!
Take-home folders will come home Wednesday or Thursday this week because I want to include this week's assessments. Sorry for the delay.
Next Friday at 10:00, the fourth graders will have their winter break party. For our low key celebration, students will enjoy a snack as well as some well-deserved choice time in the classroom. Then at 11:00, we will join the rest of the lower school in the theater at the annual Lower Division sing along. After returning to the classrooms, students will then be dismissed at noon, ready to enjoy their break.
Upcoming important events:
November 28 - December 9: Holiday Gift Drive
December 6: Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates theater performance
December 7: LD Chorus Performance
December 16: 10:00 party; LD Holiday Sing Along, 11:00 a.m.
December 19 - January 2: Winter Break
As many of you know from Esther's email, Kate DiCamillo received the letters from the students asking for her to visit Shorecrest. While the popular author is not currently making any school visits or even Skyping, she agreed to accept questions from the kids and to respond to them. So, we spent last week considering what would make a good question as well as doing our research on the author. We discovered there are many questions that get asked with frequency and know we do NOT want to ask those questions--we already have the answers! Each student generated a list of questions and then chose her/his favorite. I will be compiling those questions this week and Esther will be sending them off to Ms. DiCamillo's publisher. Then we wait. Eagerly!
In writing, after spending some solid time writing portfolio reflections, we are beginning to dip our toes into the genre of fiction. We began as we always do--revealing what elements exist within the genre of fiction that we know our pieces need to include: a plot--including problems and some resolutions, main characters--protagonists and antagonists, and a setting. We know that writers-in-training write best when they write about what they know, so we will focus on realistic fiction. Certainly, students are excited by the prospect of some elements of fantasy as well, so we will likely foster that excitement and tinge our realism with some fantasy. Our genre study of fiction will last about two months, so expect to be invited to an author celebration sometime in February. Fun!
Take-home folders will come home Wednesday or Thursday this week because I want to include this week's assessments. Sorry for the delay.
Next Friday at 10:00, the fourth graders will have their winter break party. For our low key celebration, students will enjoy a snack as well as some well-deserved choice time in the classroom. Then at 11:00, we will join the rest of the lower school in the theater at the annual Lower Division sing along. After returning to the classrooms, students will then be dismissed at noon, ready to enjoy their break.
November 28 - December 9: Holiday Gift Drive
December 6: Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates theater performance
December 7: LD Chorus Performance
December 16: 10:00 party; LD Holiday Sing Along, 11:00 a.m.
December 19 - January 2: Winter Break
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