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. 

Portfolios: Down (an Electronic) Memory Lane

 

Gathering one last time in the Lower Division Tuesday morning to learn all about our projects and to view the electronic portfolios students created for all their years at Shorecrest. 

It's been a great year and a memorable class.  Thanks for all your support and good wishes.

 

It was Mrs. Baralt's  (looking on) creativity and dedication that made possible so many memorable technology investigations and the whole portfolio project.