The 4th graders get the chance to practice their read aloud skills each week! This week I was so impressed with how willing our class was to read books that the 1st graders selected (Bernstein bears is popular right now)! Our class read with expression, stopped to ask questions and listened with focus! So impressive!
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Looks like kids can get worked up on birthdays even without sweet treats! Here's how birthdays work at QAE...we write special notes to the birthday student and then the student chooses which style they would like us to sing (underwater,rock n roll,whisper, barking dog, meowing cat, baby cry, clap, regular, insane).The particular style you see in the video is "insane", which is a combo of all options! Note: I apologize for the regular singing voice you hear in the video, that's mine!
Our reader's and writer's workshops are in full affect! Students have established their notebooks and the lessons have begun. Most students are very familiar with the routines and processes so we can jump right into the curriculum! I am impressed with their focus and cant wait to dive deeper!
We did not begin the year with "rules" in our class! Instead I asked the students what they needed in order to have an amazing and successful year. They drew pictures and wrote down words of what matters to them! Then, we took all students ideas and created categories that the ideas fit within. Students created headlines that were suitable and figured out what that would look like and sound like. Finally, we all signed the agreement as a commitment to following through!
Students created flags of hope! The flags represent our goals for the year. They will hang outside and shred away in the wind throughout the year. The breakdown of the flags will symbolize that students are getting closer to achieving their goals!
Students have completed time capsules to be opened at the end of the year. The capsules hold valuable information (top secret according to some) about the students, which include an interest survey, a handwriting sample, height, tracing of hand, and self portrait. I would love to be able to add letters from parents that describe your persepective of how they are beginning this year. A few examples of things you can include are their strengths, challenges, hopes and any experience you want them to reflect on later. If you want to seal an envelope and send it with them to school then I will add it to the capsules ( I won't be reading them). I think they would love to read your thoughts at the end of 4th grade! Thanks for your participation in advance!
Advanced placement applications are due October 4th. You can pick up applications in the main office. If you would like more information please visit http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html. Reading homework wiill begin this Wednesday, September 12th! The expectation is that students will read for 30 minutes a night. Ideally they should be choosing a "just right book" and will share a tid bit about what they reaoutdo you. You can help them keep track of time and figure out minutes but they should fill out the form! Math homework will begin soon!
The first week went extremely well! The class is responding quickly to routines and structures which is allowing more time for mingling! In this photo students are participating in an activity called "Find someone who..." The task is to move freely around the room, introduce themselves and ask questions that fit a specific description. If they find a match then they have to ask a follow up question. For example, if a student finds someone who plays an instrument then they have to ask which one. The students loved it and it proved to be a great way for to learn names and interests!
I wanted a special place for our "talk it out" table so Mark, my husband, got creative with his carpentry skills! Mark keeps referring to it as the "shed" so I may have to call it that too!
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