Our Week In Review

Our first week back from April Vacation was busy! We began our week with our grade level meeting.  Mrs. A. Williams always helps us to get ready for our week with a short yoga set! Our meeting was followed by a science program about sound waves. Jonah from Boston's Museum of Science came to JFK and shared information about this in a group presentation with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.  Thank you to JFK's PCC for funding this program!

We began our Geometry unit in math this week. This unit is rich in vocabulary, and though some students are worried about learning all of the terms, the children are doing great!  Many of them have reached back into their memories of third grade, and remember a lot of what we are learning!  We will continue this unit through next week.  In addition, we have been working on writing constructed responses in mathematics.  Mrs. Murray was a guest teacher this week!  As a reminder, math MCAS testing will be the first week in May (May 8 and May 9).

Can you name these geometry shapes?

We also have completed a few Geometry Puzzles this week. Try them out!  Your child can help with the answers!

We are about 1/2 way through reading The One and Only Ivan, and our class is LOVING learning about Ivan and his friends at the Big Top Mall.  Ask your child about this story by Katherine Applegate.  We continue to share our favorite books through Book Talks! Check our twitter feed for pictures of Book Talks from this week.

Students learned of our next project, Rock Poetry, this week.  Your child received a packet about this on Friday.  Please ask your child about this.  Next week we welcome our Poet In Residence, Miss Liz.  We are very excited for her to share her love of poetry with us.

We began our study of the West in Social Studies this week. We enjoyed a virtual field trip to Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii.  This was many students' "high of the week".  Your child should have a lot to share about this awesome lesson.  A line for a Quizlet about the west states and capitals was posted on our blog earlier this week.

For the remainder of the year, some of our class morning meetings will be run by student groups.  Several groups of students have signed up to do this, and our first student-led meeting was held on Thursday.  The children did a great job!

Remember to check out our twitter feed @mertenladybugs for the latest information from our class including Book Talks and T-Shirt of the Day!  

Art Opportunity

Mrs. Simino, an @jfkladybugs parent and art teacher, will be leading a parent/child paint night for students in grades 3-5  to benefit @FranklinEdOrg! This is the foundation that awarded us the Google Expeditions Grant this year. Looks like tons of fun!  Use this link for more information and tickets.

Spotlight On...

...this golfer!  He played 18 holes of golf two days a row this past weekend at the New England Invitational in Farmington, CT.  It took 5 hours each day!  What concentration, resilience and perseverance!  Way to go!

Our Week in Review

What a week!  We had 2 days of MCAS mixed in with a full week of learning.  Everyone persevered on the ELA MCAS and Mrs. Merten was very proud of the students' effort!  I am sure the same will happen during math MCAS in May. 

We have continued to read The One and Only Ivan during Reader's Workshop and the children are really enjoying this story.  Our class has used their scientific observation skills to observe various  animals in their natural habitats, as well as elephants and apes at zoos around the country. It is great to visit other parts of the world without leaving our classroom. 

In math, we have finished our unit on measurement and are starting a unit on Geometry.  We will discuss this further after vacation.

Our travels around the Midwest are complete and everyone did a great job on the quiz.  We will be traveling to the west next!  We have a Mystery Skype planned for this afternoon! Your child can share where we 'traveled'.

Enjoy the week next week!  Please check out the photos below of our learning this week.

Video Projects

Over the last few weeks, during Technology Workshop, 4th graders have been working on creating videos.  The students worked in groups to first determine a topic for their video that they felt would be helpful to other fourth graders. After deciding on a topic, students wrote scripts, practiced and finally recorded the videos.  This was the FIRST time doing this, and although there were some glitches, I think you will agree, the students did an amazing job.

Spotlight On...

These ladybugs from room 24 ~

This ladybug's soccer team finished second in his soccer tournament!  Way to Go!

And this ladybug participated in a celebration of Holi which is an Indian Festival celebrating colors and spring!

Making a Difference

This student found an article in a magazine that mentioned endangered penguins.  She created a box and information about helping these penguins!  Way to make a difference!

Way To Go

Our "WOW" note went to this deserving student this week. WAY TO GO!

Our Week In Review

We were very busy in Fourth Grade this week.  We "traveled" to the Northern Great Plains using Google Expeditions and our VR goggles.  We discussed the land as part of our Social Studies learning of the Midwest, and students discussed the plant/animal adaptations that are evident in this region.  The students did a great job connecting their science learning to this virtual trip.  Your child should have a lot to share about this!  After our trip to the plains, we traveled to Mount Rushmore and the Gateway Arch to explore these landmarks.  This is a wonderful and authentic way to learn about these places!

In math we have been learning about measurement.  Our focus has been on converting measures in the customary system, and persevering through these problems when they feel challenging.  As a teacher, the balance is allowing the children to struggle productively with a problem, and to guide them with their thought process, while encouraging them to persevere when the problems feel challenging.  We are still working on this!  Yesterday we began to look at the metric system in math as well.

This week we began our  new interactive read aloud, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and the students are very excited!  We will connect our reading to our science unit about Animal Adaptations by observing various animals through animal cameras throughout the world.  Our focus will be largely on elephants and gorillas.  Check out the book trailer for this book.  It is a wonderful story, and a quick read for adults, too!  .

Throughout the year, we have discussed point of view as it connects to stories the children read.  Who tells a story really impacts the way the story is told.  We have graduated to writing from different points of view. Over the last few weeks, we read  The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka.  This is the story of the Three Pigs as told by the wolf.  If you haven't read it, here is a video.  It is a funny version of the classic. 

After reading this story, students worked in groups to rewrite a classic story from a different point of view.  They had the choice of rewriting Little Red Riding Hood from the wolf's perspective or Goldilocks and the Three Bears from the point of view of one of the bears.  The stories were funny and well written.  Ask your child to share his/her group's version, I'm sure you will enjoy it!

You may have heard that we have been preparing to take the MCAS tests next week.  We participated in a practice test, over 3 days, so that the students would know what the test would look/feel like. We will have 2 days of ELA testing next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.

This week, the students answered "What does it mean to be a good student?"  They are really embracing our class motto- Be Kinder Than Necessary!