Thanksgiving!

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New Technology!

Over the past week, we have had the privilege of using two new pieces of technology!  The first, calculators, may not seem like such a big deal, but our class had a great time "playing" with them and using them for Calculator Mazes.  We are planning on using them to check over our work.

This summer, Proctor received an entire cart of 20 laptops!  We have been using them to type up our final drafts of our personal narratives.  (This ties into Common Core Standard CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.) All of our practice on Type to Learn has been paying off and we are getting really fast and accurate!

One of our essential questions for this entire year is: "How can we use technology to naturally complement our learning?" Using these laptops is truly making our writing process easier!

Skype for Global Read Aloud

Today we skyped with a 4th grade class in Delaware to talk about our global read aloud book, "The Fourteenth Goldfish."  We asked some great questions and gave thoughtful answers, and even got the chance to talk about our Halloween costumes!

Lowell Mills

On Wednesday, October 22nd, our class traveled to Lowell to visit the Boott Cotton Mills Museum.  Click here to visit their website.  There, we learned about the industrial revolution, including how it changed the area in this part of Massachusetts.  We visited a boarding house that served as the home for girls who worked in the mills, and had the opportunity to separate cotton and see a real weave-room at work.  It was a great field trip and we learned a lot!

Thank you to TESPTO for sponsoring this field trip!

Animal Adaptations

Today, our class went to CLIC for an introduction into animal adaptations. Some of our essential questions for this unit are:

-How do animals adapt to survive in their surroundings?  

-How do adaptations ensure an animal's survival?

Some things we found out about beavers:

-they have clear eyelids to see underwater

-they have split nails on their paws to comb oil through their fur to make it more waterproof

-they have webbed feet to help swim

-their teeth continuously grow to help chew wood

-they have flaps that cover their ears and nose to keep out water

To help us understand these adaptations, Mrs. LaRusa dressed up Owen (he became our birthday beaver) to show each adaptation! 

What adaptations do you know of? Comment below! 

Connects to MA Science Standard Adapations and Living Things: 6. Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color.

Our First Mystery Skype!

Today, our class had our first Mystery Skype.  With Mrs. Klipfel's help, our class made contact with another 4th grade class, but we didn't know where they were located!  By asking thoughtful questions we were able to find out what state they were in.  Our guest blogger, Kallie, wrote an excellent summary of our experience:

"Just Right" by Kallie
    We let the other class ask the first question, then we asked a question.  After a lot of questions, we found out that they are from the United States.  Then we asked what region they were in and they said the Northeast.  They are not in Massachusetts like were are.  Then we found out that they live in Delaware.  They guessed our state first.  After that, we talked about the Fourteenth Goldfish (our Global Read Aloud book).  We might see them again tomorrow.  Our class had a blast!

Here are some photos of our class in action (taken by Kallie):

Our Filters, making sure questions are specific and relevant.

Our Think Tank, who used maps and resources to come up with questions about the other class's location.

The Think Tank in action!

Our Questioners, getting the next clue ready for our visitors.

Answering questions about where we live.

Filters laughing while our Answerer looks for help from his classmates.

MA Social Studies Framework: Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations.

Wingmasters

Today, the 4th grade had a visit from Wingmasters, a cultural enrichment program about birds of prey. This ties in with our work on animal adaptations and food chains, helping to answer our essential question: what adaptations do animals have to help them survive? Children loved getting up close and personal with some amazing birds!

Connects to MA Science Standard Adapations and Living Things: 6. Give examples of how inherited characteristics may change over time as adaptations to changes in the environment that enable organisms to survive, e.g., shape of beak or feet, placement of eyes on head, length of neck, shape of teeth, color.

Connections, 5 Finger Retell and Character Traits

So far this year in Reading, we have been exploring different reading strategies that strengthen our overall comprehension and enjoyment.  One of our essential questions is: what does being an engaged reader look like?

One way to better relate to and appreciate what we read is by making connections.  Students learned about three different connections they can make: text to self (how what you are reading relates to your own life), text to text (what in this book reminds me of another book) and text to world (how does what you are reading relate to the rest of the world).  One book we read was "Fly Away Home" by Eve Bunting, about a boy and his father who are homeless and live in an airport.  Our class came up with some very impressive connections:

On a lighter note, we also made connections to "My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother" by Patricia Polacco.  It was amazing how many connections we could make to siblings that sometimes annoyed us!

Children then turned to their independent reading books to find connections.  They used their reading journals to record connections that they were making with their own books.

Another reading skill that we explored was the 5 Finger Retell/Story Map.  This is a great check-in for teachers (and parents) to make sure the child is understanding what they are reading.  Generally, they should be able to quickly tell you about:

• characters
• setting
• plot
• problem
• solution

Here is our quick story map about "The Polar Express" by Chris Van Allsburg:

We then turned to our independent reading and recorded this same information in our reading journals:

Finally, after studying setting, we began exploring character traits.  After reading a bit of a mentor text together, the students gathered internal and external character traits and made an anchor chart.  We will then build these into a list of character traits that we can apply to any book we read.

This helps us with Common Core Standard RL.4.3: Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).

¡Hablamos español! (we speak Spanish!)

Spanish words have magically appeared around our classroom! We are learning how to say useful words before moving on to sayings and greetings.

Here is a useful website for learning some simple phrases: http://www.rocketlanguages.com/spanish/learn/common-spanish-phrases/

Here's a video for learning simple greetings:

Look at our classroom! 

el calendario: the calendar

la computadora: the computer

el bano: the bathroom

Shhhhh...top secret!

In Writing, we have begun focusing on the 6+1 traits of writing: ideas/content, conventions, word choice, organization, voice, sentence fluency, and production. One of our essential questions is: how do we, as writers, improve our pieces?

Focusing on "ideas," we are currently working on a highly confidential project.  Look at us busy at work!

This is helping us focus on common core standard: W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. 

Math News and More...

A couple updates about math:

• Extra math help will begin on Thursday's at 8:15.  All children are welcome to attend!  It is held in Mrs. Steinberg's room on the third floor.
• Math Olympiad will begin on Friday, September 26th for girls and Friday, October 3rd for boys during lunch.  More information will be coming home in email form from Mrs. Steinberg, our math specialist.  This is a great opportunity for your children to stretch their math minds so please urge them to attend!

The Preamble to the Constitution:

• The 4th grade has a tradition of learning the Preamble to the Constitution ("We the People...").  Mrs. Kelleher's class started by learning it this year and then "tagged" our class!  I have sent home the words so please review them with your child.  Once we have it memorized we can "tag" another class!

Global Read Aloud

This year, we will again be participating in the Global Read Aloud.  Last year, our class really enjoyed reading "Out of My Mind," and this year's book sounds just as fantastic.



With a combination of science and realistic fiction, and written by a Newbery Honor Winner, "The Fourteenth Goldfish" looks one of those books that will appeal to everyone.  For a quick description, click here.

The Global Read Aloud is a fantastic program that brings the world together through quality literature.  With students all over the world reading the same book, we are able to Skype and share experiences with people we would not meet otherwise.  Many classes at Proctor will also be participating, allowing for many quality conversations.  Parents--a great idea would be for you to read along with us!  I know your children would love to share their ideas with you.

Check out a trailer:


For more information on the Global Read Aloud, please see their webpage here.  Happy reading! :)

First Day of 4th Grade!

We're enjoying our first day together!

Welcome Back to School!

Hello 4th Graders!

I am very excited for this school year.  We are going to learn a lot and have a wonderful time!

A couple things for back to school:

• Make sure you have a reusable water bottle that can "live" at school.
• Check around the house for a big three-ring binder (3 inches is perfect) and bring it on the first day.  This will be your portfolio for the school year.
• Make sure you have all your school supplies ready to go.
• Think about something from the summer that made you happy and be ready to share!
• Send me an email if you have any questions (klampe@topsfieldps.org).
• Enjoy your last days of summer and get excited for school!

The Carribean

Yesterday and today, the kids worked on topographical maps of their Carribean countries. We're very excited to share all our knowledge in June!