November 7, 2010

Thank you everyone for coming in to conferences! I appreciate having the opportunity to sit down and discuss each student's progress and goals for the upcoming quarter. As always, if any questions arise, please do not hesitate to contact me either through a call, note, or before or after school.

For the last spelling unit, I gave the students two weeks to study and complete activities with the words. As the words have grown more challenging, I am going to continue to do this, so they will have a test every other week. This week, though, the words will be vocabulary words from How to Eat Fried Worms. The students will take a pre-test on Wednesday and write their own list of words down in their assignment notebook. They will then complete spelling contract activities of their choice that week, and the following week will complete sheets from the vocab packet. The test will be on Friday, November 19.



Our Day of the Dead celebration was very successful! The altars looked beautiful, and I know that the students enjoyed sharing their own ofrendas and paragraphs, and looking at the ones created by other students. Our project was featured in the parish bulletin this Sunday, too.

Our art classes, sponsored by Big Shoulders, have sadly come to an end. The students' projects look wonderful, and they will be bringing them home soon to show you (as soon as I'm done displaying them for the rest of the school to see).

Upcoming tests

As our social studies and science units draw to a close, we have several tests coming up. The science test is this Thursday, on habitats and food webs, and the social studies test is next Monday, on the economy and government of the United States.

Thank you to everyone who has sent in money for the postcard stamps! The postcards I ordered have arrived, and the students are busy addressing and mailing them. The images on front are a picture of the class, the block the school is on, the statue in Logan Square, and downtown Chicago.

We also began today to work on the paragraph honoring a loved one for Day of the Dead. The students seem to have learned a lot about their relatives already. Just a reminder that the shoeboxes need to be brought to school by October 28th, when the students will have time in class to begin decorating them. They will also have class time to work on the ofrendas that Friday, and they must be completed by November 1st.

Lots of pictures!

We took a trip to the Art Institute. We got a tour of pieces that came from Mexico and were made by the Aztecs, including murals, elaborate incense burners, and the faces of many of their gods. Afterwards, Mr. E led the third and fourth graders in continuing to create their own symbols for a codex. After lunch, we went to Millennium Park to enjoy what might be one of the last nice days this year!



Here's our class at the beginning of the year, looking at shark teeth.



Also at the beginning of the year, making slider cars and working with creating charts and manipulating variables.



Two buddy activities we've done: making flowers for Grandparents' Day and using our senses on a nature walk.

September 30, 2010

While looking at resources on-line, I found a fun, interactive website about habitats. On this website, students draw a habitat for an imaginary animal, trying to meet the needs that are listed. The link is here.

Thank you to those who have donated stamps and postcards! We have already received what will hopefully be the first of many postcards from other schools, and this one was from another city in Illinois! We will begin writing them and sending ours out at the beginning of the week.

There has been a slight change of plans with the Art Institute field trip next week. The docents and instructors requested that we come an hour earlier, so we will be leaving at 8:10 on Wednesday, October 6th. Please be sure your child is not late!

The students have several projects coming up in the next few weeks. On Monday, their habitat project is due. This should either be a diorama or a poster describing the habitat of a specific animal, with a paragraph attached explaining how the habitat meets the needs of the animal and a chart listing the living and non-living things in the environment. The following Tuesday (October 12th), their business plan is due. This integrates what we have been learning about economy in social studies with an imaginary business students are creating. The students will also have spelling tests the next two Fridays, since we do have full weeks of school.

September 14, 2010

We are very fortunate to have many guest speakers this year. For approximately the next eight weeks, Officer Medina is coming in every Monday morning to share the GREAT program with the fourth graders. GREAT stands for Gang Resistance Education and Training. He is a very engaging speaker, and teaches through many role playing scenarios. He talks about bullying and ways to say no safely. Beginning next week, we will also have a guest coming from the Art Institute. He will be teaching lessons using the Art Institute's new exhibit Ballplayers, Gods, and Rainmaker Kings: Masterpieces from Ancient Mexico. The students will take a field trip to the Art Institute to view the exhibit on October 6th. Both the classes and the field trip are being sponsored by Big Shoulders. Finally, our new parish priest Fr. Elbio will be teaching weekly religion lessons throughout the year. He will bring much new knowledge and expertise into the classroom!

In the week ahead, as our social studies and science units conclude, there will be quite a few tests. The social studies test is on Monday, and the science test is on Wednesday. I have given the students a study guide to fill out, which will be due a few days before the test. The tests follow the study guide very closely, so filling it out is not only a good way to study, but it will also provide a resource for students to study from. If the study guide is filled out by the assigned date, students can participate in a review game where we will go over the correct answers together. Because of the tests next week and the shorter week, there will be no spelling test the week of September 20th.

New School Year

Welcome to the start of a new school year! After a week of teaching with this class, I'm very excited about the upcoming year. There are many talented students in this class who are enthusiastic about lots of different subjects.

We spent the first week of school going over rules, expectations, and routines. I only have three rules for the class: respect others, respect the classroom, and always try your best. Students also became used to our morning and dismissal routines.

One of my goals for the year is to have a class of writers and readers. We're starting off the school year doing independent reading, which means students are each reading their own book while I have one-on-one conferences. They've learned how to pick out a book that's at their own level and soon they will begin writing response letters to me. In writing, everyone has made and begun to write in their writer's notebooks. We are also going through the steps of the writing process.

Science began with experiments using slider cars, where students had to manipulate variables to make their "car" go a certain length. This week is Shark Week! Students studied and classified different types of shark teeth, and will identify what shark they came from and how the size of the shark compares to the size of the tooth. In social studies, we are getting an overview of the country and its regions, starting with geography and natural resources, and in religion, we are learning about the covenant before beginning the Ten Commandments.

Spelling also begun this week, which means they have a test on Friday. They need to know how to spell the words and their definitions. Unless the week is shorter than normal or we are doing a review unit, students will have a spelling test every Friday.

Cubs Game, Art Institute, and Earth Day Buddy Activity Pictures

Science Fair Pictures

The science fair last week was a huge success! We had projects ranging from the types of food worms like to eat, creating motors and solar heaters, extracting DNA from strawberries, to testing the use of fins on submarines. Students had a chance to show off their hard work on Thursday to the judges and the rest of the school, and on Friday we went to see the middle schoolers' projects. Everyone worked extremely hard, and they did a good job of presenting their work to others. The judges also chose three winners in each grade. Ours were Isaac, Jovany, and the team of Mason and Christopher. Congratulations!

It's already halfway through the final quarter and progress reports are coming out next week! We also have a test on adverbs, prepositions, and negatives this Friday, and a test on the Midwest next Tuesday. Students are currently reading The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (and really enjoying it), and their final project on the book, a scrapbook which we discussed earlier this week, will be due on May 12.

Science Fair and Cubs Game

We looked at a wonderful web site today that has many ideas for science fair projects. The students had time to explore this after taking an interest survey. To look for more ideas, or to look at directions at an experiment they found, go here:

Science Buddies

Click on "Topic Selection Wizard" to take the interest survey for project suggestions, or click on "Science Fair Project Ideas Directory" to browse ideas by subject area. If the student remembers the name of a project he or she liked, he or she can also enter it into the search bar.

We will be going to the Cubs game this Wednesday, with grades 1-6. We will leave school at 11:30, after eating lunch, and get to the stadium in time to get settled and buy snacks before the game begins. Students should wear their gym uniform, and must wear a warm coat. They can always take the coat off if they get hot, but we will be sitting in the shade for several hours, and it is much easier to take a coat off if they are hot than to make one materialize if they get cold. They can bring money for snacks, a camera, and a cell phone (for emergencies only), but they are responsible for making sure it does not break or get lost. They may not bring any bags with them. We will stop at the classroom to pick up bookbags before we leave, and we should be back at school, ready for the kids to get picked up, at 4:20.

Museum of Science and Industry

The third and fourth grade recently went on a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. Both classes participated in a learning lab, where they became forensic scientists to discover who stole the invisibility device. They dusted for fingerprints, tested powders, and looked at the chromatography of ink to solve the crime. They also got the chance to see the museum's brand new exhibit: Science Storms. This hands-on exhibit showed students how physics elements affect the weather, natural disasters, and energy.

The rooms that students wired with their circuits were a big success! Photos can be seen above.

In the short week we have before break, students will have a social studies test Tuesday and a spelling test on Wednesday. I also sent home last Friday a letter about the science fair, which will be held April 29 and 30. Please refer to that for my expectations and to begin thinking of ideas.

March 5, 2010

Thank you for all of your support during TerraNova testing! We have one more test, math, on Monday.

We had a great visit today from a very energetic man from the Anti-Cruelty Society. He discussed how their mission was not only to help animals, but also to educate those who are ignorant about who to treat animals. He also went over a brief history of the anti-cruelty society. We're going to have more guests next week when the school participates in Junior Achievement. We will have volunteers coming to teach next Thursday about business.

Our classroom was very fortunate to have been selected by ComEd and NEED (a program designed to teach people about energy) to participate in a program about energy efficiency. This will be our science unit for the next few weeks. They have provided us with enough materials for each student to receive a kit to help them make their house more energy efficient. These materials will be sent home gradually in the next few weeks. Because the focus is at home, many of the activities will need to be completed for homework. This includes looking at the water heater and natural gas meter, testing the water flow from faucets, and using a CFL light bulb. I know that not all students will be able to complete all of the activities in their homes and apartments, but in order to make this a successful, I hope that you will all be able to help them complete as much as possible.

TerraNova Testing

Next week, students begin the TerraNova testing. They will not have any homework that week so that they can rest while at home. Please help your child to do his or her best by making sure that he or she:
1. Has at least 2 #2 sharpened pencils at school.
2. Eats a good breakfast.
3. Gets at least 8 hours of sleep.
4. Arrives at school on time. This is especially important since we will be starting some of the tests as soon as school begins in the morning in order to finish the section before lunch.
5. Relaxes and reads all the instructions.
6. Brings a healthy snack (fruit, granola bar, carrots, etc).

A note or words of encouragement are also always helpful. Do not stress the importance of this test (I believe that the projects and tests throughout the year are a better reflection of their learning than a single test anyways), but instead reassure them that you know they will do their best and that you believe in them.

In other classroom news, students brought in their finished "circuit rooms" this week. They did a wonderful job with them, and we had a good discussion comparing the different types of circuits that people made. We're also reading Shiloh right now, and will have a guest coming to our classroom next week from the Anti-Cruelty Society to share some stories about pets and abuse next Friday.

February 9, 2010

We had a very eventful Catholic Schools week last week. Monday, the students wore pajamas to school and we had extra time at the end of the day for DEAR (Drop Everything and Read). We also made pancakes as an example of a chemical change. Tuesday was a pep rally to celebrate our sports teams, we made cards with our buddies to give to Catholic Charities, and students came dressed as twins. On Monday, we had several parents visit the classroom, and fourth grade almost won the trivia contest that night! Thursday we had our annual school Olympics, and we ended the week with an all-school Mass and prayer service on Friday. Congratulations to the students who won an award: Joel won the peacemaker award, Javielys for effort, and Delanie won a poetry contest!

In computer class, students have been creating and recording weather forecasts that we wrote in December as part of our weather unit. Several of them can be seen below:
Clarissa's Weather Forecast
Bella's Weather Forecast
Arianna's Weather Forecast
Barbara's Weather Forecast
Christopher's and Wilfredo's Weather Forecasts

Since the spelling words have been getting more challenging, and I feel like students need some more time to practice and study, I am going to start giving the spelling tests every other week. The first week, we will complete the usual work from the book, and the second week, students will have assignments to complete from a spelling contract. Students will also have quizzes in social studies on the location of the states. These will be the first two weeks of any unit.

We will celebrate Valentine's Day this Friday. Students are welcome to bring treats (healthy foods are encouraged) or cards to share with the class. We have another new student, bringing our class total to 21.

January 20, 2010

With the third quarter starting this week, I've been talking with the students about how this is a great chance for them to start over. We've had some issues in the weeks after break with completing homework and doing our best work on assignments, and I'm hoping that once students get into the routine again, the problems stop.

In some very exciting news, a new student started on Tuesday! This brings our class total up to 20.

In reading, we're almost done with the novel Sarah, Plain and Tall. With the book, we have been discussing setting and theme. Next week, the students are going to write a persuasive paragraph about a topic discussed in the book and create a watercolor painting showing the setting. In science, we have made density columns and learned how to measure the volume of a solid using a graduated cylinder. Next, we're going to discuss the difference between chemical and physical changes, as well as do some investigations that show these changes. We were lucky to have Father Jose Maria speak to the class yesterday about important Old Testament figures like Abraham, Noah, Moses, and David, and as soon as we finish learning about David, we're going to continue learning about the Ten Commandments.

Since we're coming to the end of several units, there are some tests coming up. Next week, we will have a reading test and social studies test. I am not sending home a study guide for reading, since the best way to prepare for that is to have read the novel and listened to our discussions. I will give students a study guide for our social studies test on reading maps. The first week of February, we will have a test on verbs in English and on properties of matter in science. Those study guides will be sent home next week.

January 7, 2010

We've had a great start to 2010! The highlight of the week has been seeing everybody's reading projects from The Whipping Boy. We had lots of wonderful castles, plus some posters about rats and a book of similes. Students put a lot of effort into their projects, and they got to teach the third grade about castles when they came over to see the projects.

In reading, we are studying themes. We discusses the theme of The Whipping Boy, a short story from one of Laura Ingall Wilder's books, and next we'll read Sarah, Plain and Tall. The students got their own chance to write a story and find the theme when they drew examples of themes out of a box, then had to write a story that fit that theme.

We've also begun our unit on physical science. We're beginning by discussing properties of matter. Students brought in examples of liquids and solids, and we'll learn how to measure mass, find the volume of liquids and solids, and test to see which objects have the higher density.

In the photos above, you can see pictures of our reading projects and from a recent field trip to see The Nutcracker on Horseback.

The Whipping Boy Projects

Today, I assigned the students their reading projects for The Whipping Boy. They have a choice of three projects: making a castle, a poster about rats, or a simile book. If they are researching castles, below are some links that may be helpful:

Castles for Kids
National Geographic: Ghosts in the Castle

The projects will be due the Wednesday after break. I'll have resources in my classroom for the students to use next week, to help them get started.

Christmas concert

Our school's annual Christmas concert was this past Sunday. Almost the entire class came, and they looked wonderful in their Christmas outfits. In music class, the fourth grade had been learning to play the bells, and they used the bells to provide music for the songs "Deck the Halls" and "Joy to the World." Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner.

In science, we are learning about the weather. For the past week, students have been measuring the temperature, wind speed, wind direction, and air pressure using instruments they made like a barometer, anemometer, and wind vane. They'll conclude this unit by giving a weather report and becoming meteorologists. We've also been learning about what causes wind, different temperatures, and changing air pressure.

The class has been reading The Whipping Boy, a Newbery Medal book. It's an exciting book that involves kings and princes, outlaws, dancing bears, and runaways. While reading, the students have also been learning about plot maps and cause and effect.

This Friday, we will have a spelling test on words from the book. Each student has their own list of ten words. We will have tests next week in science and social studies, and next Wednesday is our field trip to see The Nutcracker on horseback.

Elixir of Love

On November 11, grades 3-8 went to see The Elixir of Love, presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago's Opera in the Neighborhood program. The students were very excited, and what follows is a review written by Clarissa.

"The Elixir of Love" was an amazing opera. I thought when the actors all sang without microphones it was surprising. It surprised me because when Adina had to sing those high pitches, it was so incredible. When the pianist played, he was so amazing, playing the piano for the orchestra. The costumes were so beautiful! The costume I liked best was Adina's. Adina walked in it and danced in it. The setting was very nice because the people who drew the picture painted it nicely. I thought the best part was when Adina kissed Nemorino because Nemorino wanted to fall in love with Adina so I think that he was waiting for his true love. The play a lot of fun because they sang well, and tried to make all the kids laugh at some of the parts, like when the doctor said, "Hit that funky music."

Last week, the class finished the unit on How to Eat Fried Worms. Above, you can see pictures of the students acting out important scenes from the book, eating gummy worms and "dirt" that I made for the class, and some of the brave students trying real fried worms. This week, we're going to begin looking at how to read non-fiction and some of the important features of non-fiction text.

We are also almost done with our unit on nouns. The test will be next Tuesday, and I will be sending home a study guide towards the end of this week. I will be spending a lot of time in class on the difference between plural and possessive nouns. This would also be a good area to make sure your student reviews as they study for the class, as in the past this has been a hard concept for students to grasp.

In art, we have been looking at the artist Georges Seurat and his style of pointillism. The students created their own pointillistic drawing on the computer, and on Thursday, we will be painting in this style. I need one or two parents to come in Thursday to help with this project, so if you are available, please let me know.

Church Bulletin Article

Our class will be featured in the church's bulletin this Sunday. Here is what the article will say:

"Day of the Dead at St. Sylvester School

People often think of skeletons as scary and death as only a mournful time, but as the fourth graders at St. Sylvester School have recently learned, the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead remembers the lives of those who have died with joy, decorating skeletons and creating ofrendas in memory of the deceased. To learn more about this holiday, the class has visited the National Museum of Mexican Art to tour their Day of the Dead exhibit, read books, and created skeleton masks with their younger buddies.

The centerpiece of the unit allowed the students to honor a relative who has died. Each student selected one person in their family that had passed away and conducted interviews to learn more about this person. While there were many grandparents who were remembered, there were also children and parents who were honored, giving students a chance to both learn more about their ancestors and remember people they loved who are no longer with us. They then took these interviews and wrote paragraphs about their relatives. The students learned about the hardships others faced: moving to a new country, taking care of their family from a young age, or not being able to get an education, but they also learned about the love their relatives showed to their families and the simple things they did that their parents, aunts, and uncles now remember. The students brought in shoe boxes to create altars in celebration of this person's life. Inside the altars, they placed mementos, photographs, candles, flowers, and sugar skulls. After they were done, they shared these altars with their classmates, parents, and other students in the school.

Throughout the project, students not only had the opportunity to learn about a holiday that others celebrate, but they also found ways to celebrate their own families and backgrounds. Completing the interviews, paragraphs, and altars allowed them to both learn more about their loved ones and to keep their memories alive."

We have a social studies test this Wednesday. Students will not have a spelling test the next two weeks since we are completing a review unit. Conference times will be sent home tomorrow, and conferences will be held on Sunday.

National Museum of Mexican Art

The third and fourth grade classes took a field trip today to the National Museum of Mexican Art. While there, we learned about the ofrendas that had been created by different artists, authors, community members, and even a third grade class. We also saw a demonstration of how sugar skulls are made, a very popular treat. The students were able to get many great ideas for the creation of their own ofrendas, which we will make in class at the end of the month. The first set of interviews the students conducted to learn more about a relative who died that they wish to honor on Day of the Dead were very successful, and many students shared facts that they had learned so far.

In the past few days, we've also gotten to spend some time with our preschool buddies, creating cards welcoming people to a celebration of St. Sylvester Parish's 125th year. We played a game in science called seed-mouse-fox, about what causes populations within a food chain to fluctuate, and students shared the books they created starring a character that could fit into the world of Beverly Cleary. The books looked great, and you can see a picture of the covers above. They will be in our classroom library for the next few weeks so all the students can read and enjoy them.

We have an English test on Wednesday and a science test on Thursday. Next week, we will have a spelling test on Friday. Also next week, you will be receiving information and a permission slip for our field trip to the opera on November 5th.