February already?!

This year is flying by! It's been warm and toasty inside our little classroom...here are some pics for your viewing pleasure (but be sure to find us on Instagram for even more)!!! As the students gradually take over ownership on Instagram I will turn over photographing and captioning to them. This will allow me to shift my communication to updating you about what's coming vs what's already happened. 

Last fall the students created Mission and Vision statements for our classroom. I've been searching for the perfect way to display these, and during a recent Target run scored when I found this frame. A little black construction paper behind and a few chalk markers later, and we have ourselves a statement board that can't be missed!

Solitaire is now an "I finished my math work" mid-afternoon brain break! Did you know playing card games supports math skills, fine motor, memory and concentration, social interaction, strategic thinking, healthy competition, listening skills, following rules and taking turns, and builds confidence, patience, and independence? Cards are also portable and can be used in countless games at various skill levels. Research has shown that students who choose card games during their spare time earned higher grades than those who chose video games. And, playing cards removes generational barriers. Throw an extra deck in your purse or in your vehicle!

Addie and several other students led a review and discussion of converting fractions and decimals!

Mrs. C got to read for a few minutes at the end of Daily 5! Once! I picked "Tricky Vic!"

We started an activity called Reading Graffiti this week. What line or quote from your book resonates with you most? Mrs. C took care of building the display, but the students will fill it!!!

We gained 40 minutes together on Friday since Mr. Underwood didn't have a sub, so we learned a new Morning Meeting game called Fact or fiction! Might be the best game yet!!!

Took a quick selfie with two of my skaters after finishing tying my 47th skate (this year...). Such cuties I have in my class!

Grid paper is FANTASTIC for so many topics in math. This week we used it to practice multiple strategies for multiplication. So handy to keep the place values in each problem lined up properly!

Make my heart smile...these guys pulled out the inflatable globe to play our "around the world" greeting from Morning Meeting after finishing their snacks.

First day of fourth grade 2014!

Hello everyone! We had such a great day!!! I'm going to make you wait for the pictures I took of all the kids until I get them "put together," but here are a few other snapshots of pieces of our classroom that I thought you'd like!

Our room pre-Back to School Night. Just for the record, I'm not behind on setting up. :) I intentionally begin with blank bulletin boards and work with students to fill them with evidence of our learning. It won't be long before we run out of wall space and I start contemplating how to suspend anchor charts from the ceiling!

Our classroom rules are very simple...We take CARE of each other, and we take CARE of our learning. As we talked about what that truly means and brainstormed words that would describe the qualities we each need to have this year, I was astounded by the wisdom coming out of these kids. I quickly realized that the ones listed here are just the beginning, and we will definitely need to add an additional CARES. Once we get that completed I will post an update!

Our morning routine...

End of the day routine...

Our first Morning Message...

First addition to our bare walls...our daily schedule! 

Can't wait for day 2!

Morning Meeting

There's a wonderful new beginning to your child's school day! It's called Morning Meeting, and it's a great way to build community, set a positive tone, increase excitement about learning, and improve academic and social skills.

Morning Meeting usually takes between 15-20 minutes. First thing each morning (after normal morning routines like lunch count, turning in homework, etc.), the students and I gather in a circle. We begin by greeting each other. Every day, your child hears his or her name spoken by a classmate in a friendly and cheerful manner. How great to feel welcome!!!

Next, a few students will share some interesting news followed by a conversation with the class. This helps students listen carefully, think about what they hear, formulate good questions, and learn about each other. When children share, they have a chance to feel that their ideas are valued and that the other children care. After sharing, there will be an activity for the whole class. We might sing or recite a poem or play a math game. The activity time helps the class feel united as a group, reinforces academic skills, and helps the children learn how to cooperate and solve problems.

Finally, we read the news and announcements chart, which helps students think about the day ahead. Sometimes, I use this time to review and practice a reading, punctuation, or math skill.

Every day, Morning Meeting lets children know that school is a safe place where all children's feelings and ideas are important. We'd love to have you visit Morning Meeting. Just send me a quick email to arrange a good time. We'd love to share with you about why we're so excited about this start to our day!