Math Student Reference Book

A study in focus,  Carson and Oliver quickly but accurately demonstrated their ability to work together and navigate successfully around our math resource book.  They were the first to finish the activity and later took turns discussing the results.

Thumbs Up for Abby's Challah Bread

Abby and her Mom bake this braided bread on Fridays.  It takes many steps and about six hours start to finish.   It's fluffy sweet inside and salty crunchy on top.  Thanks, Abby.

Managers of This and That: Our Jobs

Everyone has a permanent job.  Most students got one of their top three choices.  They had to apply and try out. 

Sebastian is the lunch and snack manager.  He is also the line conductor.

Sarah is the class messenger.   

Here she's off to deliver our thank you's to SPA for our new playground.

Channing sharpens our pencils.

Oliver is one of our two inspectors, and also keeps track of our reading/writing bins.

Shaherzad is the other inspector.  The job involves making sure the seat pockets and desk shelves don't get too stuffed and disorganized.

Carson is in charge of doors, furniture, shades, and lights.  Anything that opens or closes, or goes on and off. 

Brenna's our distributor.  All things handed out or collected, that's her job.

Kyle and Ronan are our recess managers.  They keep track of our equipment and round up the class when it's time to come in. 

Julia is the Science and Math gear manager.  Here she is with some of our electrical circuits items.

Abby handles the daily schedule and reminds us to be on time for special classes.  

Ryker is the "happy class" problem solver.  He is also the substitute who does the job of anyone absent.

Mario, on the left, takes care of our bookshelves on both sides of the room. 

Shannon and Caitlyn are the technology managers.  Here they are checking out our new 4th grade rolling lab. 

Mac is the Geography manager.  He helps me provide websites, books and projects for our global studies.

Line Leader Louise (try saying that three times fast) helps us go where we need to go.

Rachel is the front board, shelf and daily calendar manager.  She also creates an original drawing each day.

Leah is our recycler. 

Easy Chairs, No Desks: Spanish

Familiar teacher, new location and seating concept: 4th grade Spanish. Check it out. 

Let There Be Lights

Ronan (top) and Shannon got their lights to stay on, too. 

Sebastian Lights Up First

Sebastian and his partner Abby test their batteries before beginning our first Science Unit investigation about Electrical Circuits.  

Everyone was given a wire, a bulb and one battery, and asked to create a circuit, and light the bulb.  After quite a few minutes in the dark, Sebastian, seen here with Channing, was the first to figure it out.  Way to go, Sebastian. 

Confident Caitlyn

Caitlyn felt so confident that she did well on the 3rd grade math review, she volunteered to share her answers with the class, using our projection system.  She led the discussion, which proved she learned her 3rd grade math well.   Thanks, Caitlyn.

Times Tables Timed

Our math year started with a series of timed multiplication facts to underscore the importance of memorizing these 1-9 combos.   Fifty facts in three minutes....try it!  This class has the strongest grasp of these vital building blocks I've ever seen in entering fourth graders.  Shaherzad (on the right) finished all 50 in under 2 minutes on her first try.  That's never happened before.  Students also keep a chart of their scores and progress. 

Getting Acquainted

 Yesterday we encircled the tables and practiced greeting one another.  We bowed as we said "good morning" to each person on either side.  We tried to maintain eye contact as we greeted each other by name.  Then we went around the room stating one place and thing we did this summer while doing an action that was appropriate.  We then all repeated each action.  Finally we went around the room and did all the actions we could remember.   It may be one of those things you had to be there for.

In any case, this is what's called "morning meeting" and we will try and do some variation every day.  Today for instance we tossed a soft globe to a classmate after greeting him or her by name.  The recipient returned the greeting and then identified the place on the globe where his or her right thumb landed.  Finally the globe was tossed to another and the ritual continued.  I am open to suggestions from students as to other ways to have fun and build our classroom community at morning meeting.