Our Second Day

We have been working on getting to know one another, and trying out some team building activities. Teamwork is an essential part of our classroom.Your child can share a lot about our "Cup Stacking" challenge.  We did a great job!  

T- Shirts of the Day

Our First Day!

It was a successful first day!  We spent time today getting to know our classroom and one another.  The children shared about themselves and learned about others.  We had a chance to check out the new "Buddy Bench" on our playground as well.

Everyone left with a smile!

Tomorrow is the Day!

I am so excited to FINALLY meet you all tomorrow!  I know you may be nervous, but I hope you are also excited.  I know I am.  Our room is ready, and I have chosen some really fun books to read with you tomorrow.  

We will have P.E. tomorrow, so you can either wear or bring your sneakers.  We will definitely have time to change.  Our lunch is pretty late (1:05), so you probably want to have a good breakfast, and to bring a snack to school. We will snack around 10:15.

I know our 4th grade experience will be wonderful, and I can't wait to get started!  What are you looking forward to? 

See you tomorrow!

~ Mrs. Merten

Science Fun!

This fall we will be learning about the weather.  Part of our study will involve clouds.  Each type of cloud brings a different type of weather.

A few weeks ago, while in Maine, I saw some beautiful clouds.  Scientists, can you tell (1) what type of cloud each is? and (2) What type of weather is expected?   Share your thoughts in the comments.

See you soon!!

Summer fun!

Some of our new classmates also went to see Mo Willems!  What a small world!  Too bad we didn't know that we would soon be friends!  Check out their picture with Mo!  Thank you for sharing your fun! Old and new friends,  what are you doing this summer? Comment below or send Mrs. Merten an email. See you soon!

Welcome New Friends!

Class placement letters have been mailed and should be arriving in your mailbox soon!  If you've already received yours, you know that I (Mrs. Merten) will be your 4th grade teacher.  I am so excited to meet you!  (That's me in the blue shirt, with my cousin and MO WILLEMS!)

I have posted a letter for you, and one for your family in the Important Documents gadget on the right.  Just click on those documents to learn more about 4th grade and what the year will be like. If you have time,  scroll through our class blog to see what has been going on this summer.  Feel free to leave a comment on the blog, using the directions on the right.  Be sure to ask your parents before commenting.

The name of our blog is "Ladybugs on Learning". I hope you will find this page helpful for both parents and students.  If you are new to our blog, welcome!  If you are a returning guest, welcome back!  I'd like to share a few things with you, to guide you through using our blog.

• Comments are welcome on our blog ~  from families as well as from our students.  You can find some instructions on how to best comment in the sidebar to the right.  Please follow the instructions and comment away!  
• I have posted some links to important information to the right as well.  You will find summer letters to both parents and students, as well as the suggested supply list for incoming Fourth Graders.  You will also see our class handbook, which is currently being updated.
• I try to post updates to our blog on Fridays, and very often include pictures or videos of our week.  I also try to include links(games, study guides, videos, etc.)  which could help students with homework or studying.  If you would like to follow our blog by email, there are two options.  You can enter your email in the "Follow by Email" gadget, or you can become a "Follower". Both of these options are in the section on the right.  
• If you or other members of your family speak a different language, I've included a translator gadget to the right.  This will help  families from around the world to keep updated with your child's school activities.
• I know some of you are anxious about starting a new class with a new teacher. If you don't know me, my name is Mrs. Merten!  I have a link at the top entitled "Meet Mrs. Merten".  If you visit that link, you will learn a little about me and my family.
• Below are a few pictures of our classroom.  I hope you enjoy seeing where you will be learning this year!

Our Class Library

Our Job Chart ~ You will have a job at least every other week.

My favorite saying ~ A gift from my class last year.

The table on the right is where we'll have reading and math conferences.

Author Alert! Mo Willems!

Yesterday I had the AWESOME opportunity to meet author and illustrator Mo Willems at An Unlikely Story bookstore in Plainville.  You probably have read many of his books!  It was an awesome experience.  Mo read his newest (and final) Elephant and Piggie book, The Thank You Book and also read a brand new book that hasn't been published yet!   It is called Nanette's Baguette and it was really funny! You can check out Mo's website here.

Mo brought his wife and his daughter, Trixie to the book signing!  If you have read any of the Knuffle  Bunny books, you know that Trixie is the main character. 

It was an awesome experience!

That's Jeff Kinney (author of The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series) introducing Mo.

Trixie

Have you ever met an author or illustrator?  Leave a comment and let us know!