Happy Thanksgiving!

Supplies Needed

We are in need of some supplies for our rocks and minerals unit. If you have any of these items at your house leftover from a home-improvement or arts-and-crafts project, we would love your leftovers. We are not asking anyone to go out and buy anything, just to share if you have any remnant materials at your house.

Tiles (approximately 4" x 4" x 1") 
Alabaster Tiles
Granite Tiles
Limestone Tiles
Marble Tiles
Pumice Tiles
Soapstone Tiles

Fabric
Terry Fabric (100% cotton, any color)
Twill Fabric (100% cotton, any color)

Writers' Workshop Update

 I couldn't be prouder of the great work our class has done with our second published narratives. We spent a great deal of time talking about the structure of stories and used a 5-part timeline to plan our writing. We are learning that most of the hard work in writing happens after you write your first draft. The magic happens in the revision process. Ask your student to tell you about the following revision strategies.

1. Look to S T R E T C H out the shorter sections
2. Fix any "plot holes"
3. Use specific dialogue that is believable for your characters
4. SHOW, don't TELL
5. Include SENSORY details
6. Use strong verbs...no "said" or "went"

We will have an in-class writing celebration on Tuesday, November 20. I hope that you will enjoy celebrating your child's writing during your student-led conference. We are sending home the timelines and drafts so that you will be able to see how your 4th grader worked to revise and edit his/her writing.

Portfolios and Student-led Conferences

I know you are looking forward to sitting down with your 4th grader and celebrating his or her academic accomplishments. The portfolios will be full of each student's evaluations and goal setting along with selected work from each subject area. Please have your 4th grader return the portfolio some time the week after Thanksgiving. The following advice comes from Chris Weiss's e-mail: 

Here are some tips that may prove helpful to you during this meeting with your child:

1. Let your child be in charge, ask clarifying questions, and focus on the work and the student’s growth—think big picture.  

1. Listen to your child’s self-report and reflections.  Ask supportive questions to gain clarity.
2. By the end of the conference help your child have a clear and realistic assessment of themselves along with a shared plan for approaching the trimester ahead.

Talking Points:

1. What I think I hear you saying is…
2. You seem to really enjoy…Why do you think that is?
3. You seem to be having a difficult time with….Why do you think that is?
4. If you know why…is happening, what would be a possible solution?
5. Tell me what is the most important thing that you learned in…
6. What is your favorite time during the school day and why?

Thank you!

I can't imagine a better way to have spent my birthday than with our wonderful class! Thank you so very much for the beautiful flowers and sweet cards. Your precious children and this wonderful school are such tremendous blessings in my life!

Scottie's Book Talk

A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass

This book is about a 13-year-old girl named Mia Winchell. Mia has an exceptional ability called synesthesia. It is where sounds, words, and letters have color for her. That is how she got her cat Mango's name. This book is a fun-filled and if you read it, I think it will change your life.

Sammy's Book Talk

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

This is the best book ever! It's about a brother, Conner, and a sister, Alex, who are twins and fall into the fairy tale world. They meet someone who tells them about a spell where you can make one wish called The Wishing Spell. They go on amazing adventures and see all the fairy tale world. The spell can only be used once more, and someone else is also looking for it, and you also figure something out about their dad that is very surprising. I really recommend this book!!