We Haz Jazz & Other Things

Don't forget our big 4th grade musical 8:30 Friday with reception and student author share event immediately following back in our classroom. Anyone needing to make a meeting, flight etc will have his/her child go first.

The second Little Miss/Mr. Men book for each child following our process (but done at home) is expected to be ready on Wednesday.

Research continues on invasive species currently plaguing Florida. Our state has the greatest invasive species problem in the world. The results of this research will be used to launch our science unit on scientific classification. Scientists don't want to control or interfere with the wrong species. So it is important to know the proper scientific binomial name.

Students with parent supervision are expected to become authorities on one invasive species. They also need to know where the species comes from and, if possible, find out how it got to Florida. Everyone has practiced looking up two different species. One of these or a third will be assigned to each.

The students will arrive home with the name of their species and a research worksheet. In some cases, students will be assigned the same species they used in our practice research sessions. I hope that families can supervise access to online images and video of these species as well as sources other than Wikipedia (our starting point.)

Invasive species research support from home continues into next week.

Revised Conference Schedule

Here's the schedule for the next round of parent conferences. Please email me your preferences. I will also be available after school that week on Monday 2:50 & 3:20, Wednesday 2:50

Parent-Teacher Conference Times still available for Thursday February 9th

10:00
10:45
11:15

1:45

Published

Erin M. and Bella B. are surrounded by our version (and homage to) the "Little Miss and Mr. Men" books. Everyone helped, including many parent volunteers and my wife Meredith. The books were a great introduction to our Writers Workshop unit on fiction.

Photos below show some of the many steps involved. The process included: brainstorming and list making for ideas; identifying one main and one or two secondary characters; deciding on the setting, a conflict and solution; planning a beginning, middle and end to the story. All the while keeping in mind that each book was to help teach a life lesson.

After handwriting several drafts, conferencing with writing partners and me, students word processed, illustrated and assembled their books.

We're been asked to read our books to several classes. And we might even attempt a Spanish edition.

Everyone was eager to create a second book which is to be completed at home using the same process. These books will be unveiled next Wednesday.

Finally this whole experience introduces are next project which is to write a piece of realistic fiction. More about that in the weeks to come.

Celebrate Our Writers: Author Share Event

Friday February 3rd immediately after the 4th grade musical performance, we invite you back to the classroom for a combined reception and author share event. Students will read selections from their writings so far this year. These include personal narratives, poems, the Pier essay, a literary essay and our fictional stories. Parents who need to leave early will have their children read first. The combined event in our room should be over by 10:15.

Important Notes

The 4th grade musical "We Haz Jazz" is in rehearsals. Ms. Diaz-Leroy, the music teacher and director has discussed costumes with each class. So please ask your child what costume he/she needs. Contact me or Andi Mullins if you are having trouble with costuming.

This Friday Grandparents and Special Friends Day ends with a noon dismissal.

We begin a new unit in math. So please read the Family Letter for unit 7 together and pull out and retain the answers for use nightly with the Study Links homework.

The first fiction writing project (authoring a Little Miss/Mister type book) was a big success. More about that later. We will be sending home the first editions for you to enjoy. Please make sure they come back because we want to read them to first graders etc. Students are in the process of planning another book using the same process but produced at home and due when ready or in two weeks. The second in the series will be more from your child's perspective, interests and habits.

We are planning an event to share all our successful writing projects so far. Instead of inviting you to come to school twice in the next few weeks, we thought we would have the "author share" event right after the musical performance on Friday, February 3rd. The show ends at about 9:10. There's a small reception in our room and then the author share. Those who have to leave early will hear their children read first. You should all be finished by 10 or 10:15. Also more about this soon.

Potato and Carrot Harvest

We got a bucket full of potatoes...red, purple and white.



Bella enjoyed a breakthrough of sorts.....getting her gloves dirty.



We pulled a carrot or two too.

We Scouted Future Pro Footballers

We watched some of the East-West Shrine game college all-stars practice on our fields. There were plenty of pro scouts around watching too.

Research the Old-Fashioned Way

True story: Today I was going to have students work on their colonial history project by using Wikipedia to get a general overview of their topics and find links to additional information. And then I remembered Wikipedia (founded in St Pete by the way) was shutting down for 24 hours as part of a world-wide awareness campaign about legislation pending in Congress which may change the internet as we know it. I am passing along this link that tries to explain the controversy.

I don't have enough information to have a sound position on this...but I know that our students looked in actual encyclopedias today instead. And that was a worthwhile experience.

Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition

We're going to follow this unique expedition promoting a plan to stitch together a nature corridor for our state.

Here's their website: Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition.

Lots of maps here.


And check out "Forever Florida". All this goes along with our reading of "A Land Remembered."

The Pier...what's your opinion?

This is a photo of Erin M. filling in a reaction card after viewing the display of pier replacement designs presented at the St Petersburg History Museum. The public's opinion is an important part of the deliberations. The jury is still out.....more news expected on January 20th.

What's This Book Really About?

That's an important question we encourage students to ponder whatever they read...now and in the future. For example, we've been thinking about the bigger messages behind the popular and endearing "Little Miss and Mister" series. Our conclusion? They inform us how to recognize and deal with all sorts of people.

Science Meets Art

So we kicked off our next science unit called "Land and Water" about the effects of water, weather and humans on the land, by finding evidence of erosion etc. in the school grounds. We had earlier examined photos of various landforms....glaciers, waterfalls, canyons/valleys. And just by chance our latest "Picture Person" presentation (by Lucas' mom), that very day, was a famous landscape by Albert Bierstadt showing examples of all these landforms.

Coast Guard Icebreaker to the Rescue

We listened to an interview with Capt. Beverly Havlik, from the Coast Guard ice-breaker Cutter Healy in the Bering Sea, explaining the rescue mission to bring oil supplies to snowed-in Nome, Alaska.

The ship has been on a scientific research mission since May and was headed home for the holidays when called to break a path for a Russian oil tanker to resupply Nome.

Readers Talking About Their Books

Hey Henry....welcome to Shorecrest

Henry Davis joins the class as our 20th student. But it's like he's been here forever.....great guy.

Celebrating the 47th Star on the US Flag

A bunch of Floridians celebrating New Mexico's statehood anniversary. The "Land of Enchantment" became the 47th state on January 6th, 1912.

It's Not Easy

Learning to write essays is hard. We have two projects underway. The first is nearing completion....an essay about the novel Edward Tulane.

The second is about a contemporary issue facing our city....what to do with the aging pier. Students have researched and written first drafts of three paragraphs. They've collected data about this in the form of a questionnaire. They've viewed presentations from each of the design teams. We've had a Q & A with Mr. Ballestra who is managing the project for the city. So they have lots of information.

Now they need to complete a first draft guided by the detailed checklist I've prepared. The essays don't need to be word processed but they do need to be completed over the weekend if possible.

Sample theme or thesis sentences I've offered as samples are:

"I think the best pier design to represent St Petersburg is......." OR

"Of the three designs to replace the St Petersburg Pier, I prefer (or like)....."

You will see from the checklist that the first paragraph ends with the theme sentence.

Students may make up their own theme sentence but they must choose one of the three designs for the purpose of the essay.

Here's the checklist. Each student has a copy.

Pier Project Essay Checklist

Do you have four paragraphs?

Does paragraph one:

---introduce the pier and the project?

---begin with a strong lead sentence?

---include identity, perspective, conflict and resolution?

---mentions the pier design competition?

---end with your theme or thesis sentence?

Does paragraph two:

---explain in more detail the design competition?

---includes a brief history of the pier and its importance to the city?

Does paragraph three:

---explain why you think your thesis is the best way to go

---have evidence and data that supports your thesis?

Does paragraph four:

---summarize the main parts from paragraphs 1-3?

---include additional data and updates to add support for your thesis?

---end with hoping everyone is now better informed about the pier and will agree with your thesis?

HAPPY NEW MEXICO STATEHOOD DAY

January 6th 2012 is New Mexico's 100th year of statehood. We're having a party tomorrow which includes wearing something red and/or yellow. Our celebration is from 2-2:40. Come join us.

Background: my wife and I have a home in Albuquerque and have lived there off and on for 20 years.

MD Science Fair

Sixth grader and former student of mine Gunther M. explains his project about which container best keeps lemonade cold. We helped the Middle School students prepare for last night's Science Fair open house.


So how many objects out of 24 can you recall after seeing them for only 30 seconds. That's what this one science experiment was all about. Boys and girls each could remember an average of 8. Some in our class doubled the average.....Jenna W. here with her thinking hood on remembered 17 or was it 16....I don't remember.

Bold Colors for Cold Mornings

Pier Project Presentation

Just before break we enjoyed a presentation about the pier design competition process from Mr. Ballestra, Lauren's dad. He works for the city government on this project. Students took notes and asked excellent questions. Now we are working on final drafts of our essays about the pier.

By the way it's not too late to add your choice. Here's the link. If you add some comments your choice gets more consideration.