Government Inquiry

Students worked in small groups to record their new learning from our trip to the Madison State Capitol.  They reviewed the photographs taken on the field trip and planned out what they will include in their books.

Buddies

This morning our second and third grade buddies joined us to play a math game.  We taught them how to play Skunk.  It involves addition and thinking about probability.  We know ways to play because it helps us learn!

Madison State Capitol

We had a great time on our field trip to Madison today.  Many of the students were in awe as they stepped into the rotunda for the first time.  We learned a lot from our tour guides and are looking forward to sharing our new learning by making eBooks.  Thank you to all of the students on bus 3 who were extra patient and cooperative during the long wait for a replacement bus after ours had mechanical difficulties on the way back to school.  And a special thank you to all of the chaperones on bus 3 for helping keep the students calm and entertained while waiting for the replacement bus.

Wisconsin State Government Scavenger Hunt

Today students worked in groups to complete a scavenger hunt about Wisconsin state government in preparation for our field trip to Madison.  We are very excited about this opportunity!

Field Trip Reminder

Tomorrow, Thursday, September 29th is our field trip to Madison.  Reminder letters are being sent home with students today, Wednesday, September 28th.

-Arrive at school by 8:25.  Bus will leave school at 8:45 sharp.

-Wear tennis shoes and dress for the weather.

-Bring a light jacket or sweatshirt.

-Pack a bag lunch.  Make sure that you bring a bag that you can throw away.  NO DRINK IS NEEDED (ONE WILL BE PROVIDED).

-No electronics are needed.

-We will be back around 1:30 PM.

Book Fair

The Book Fair is coming October 21-26.  Flyers will be sent home next week.  PTA is in need of volunteers to help with this event.

Harvest Dance

October 21st is the PTA sponsored Harvest Dance.  PTA is still in need of volunteers for this event.  Please consider helping out if you are able to.

Fundraiser

Please look for the Braided Bread fundraiser form that was sent home on Tuesday, September 27.  They are due by on October 12.  All funds raised help purchase items for classrooms and provide transportation for field trips.  Please support the PTA.

The Great State

Today we read an article about state government in preparation for our field trip to Madison on Thursday.  Students worked with partners to read and annotate their learning.

Math Workshop

Today the 4th graders learned about the following addition properties:

•Commutative (switcheroo) 2 + 3 = 3 + 2 no matter what order you add the numbers, the answer is the same

•Associative (friendship) (2 + 3) + 5 = 2 + (3 + 5) no matter how you group the numbers, the answer is the same

•Identity Property (all about me) 4 + 0 = 4  when you add o to any number the sum is the same 

The 5th graders reviewed prime and composite numbers and found the prime factorization of composite numbers by making factor trees.

Writing Workshop

Today's mini lesson was about "showing" rather than "telling" when writing a narrative.  For example, rather than writing, "I was sad" (telling) you could write, "I brushed a tear from my cheek" (showing).  After students had time to write practicing showing instead of telling, volunteers shared their work with the rest of the class.

Writing About Reading

Today we explored the qualities of strong written reading responses.  Students read responses written by other 4th and 5th graders and worked collaboratively to identify what aspects of the writing made it stand out as strong writing.  Students then listened to the first few pages of our new mentor text, Home of the Brave, and shared what they would write about the passage.

Remind App

Please download the Remind app to receive Team Believe updates and information.  You will need to enter our class name and code.  

Class name:  Believe

Class Code:  @MRSLERIC

Information Night

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Information Night last night.  It was great to see so many of you being taken on a guided tour of our classroom by your student.  I hope you found it informative and fun!  Please contact me if you have any questions about our classroom.  I look forward to working with all of you this year!  

A special thank you to all of the student for being tour guides!

Writing Workshop

Today was our first official writing workshop mini-lesson.  We discussed and took notes about 'Strategies for Generating Personal Narrative Writing.'  Our first two strategies are to think about people who matter to you and to think about first times, last times, or important times.  Students turned and talked with each other about their ideas and recorded them in their writing notebooks.  Then, each student chose one of the ideas they had jotted in their notebook and wrote the story of that small moment.  We are looking forward to a year of 'growth spurts' in our writing!

Field Trip

Thank you for returning permission slips for out trip to Madison so quickly.  I am happy to report that all permission slips have been returned.  Thank you to those of you who volunteered to chaperone.  We have limited space on the bus and for our tour so I am not able to bring everyone who volunteered.  Chaperones were selected in the order that the permission slips were returned.  If you did not receive a volunteer consent form, then you were not one of the selected chaperones for this trip.  More information regarding the field trip will be sent home soon.

I Have, Who Has

Today we played a game of 'I Have, Who Has' to reinforce the place value math skills we have been working on.  The game requires all students to actively listen so they know when it is their turn and also to use their knowledge of place value.  We know ways to play because it helps us learn!

Choosing Books Wisely

After a mini-lesson on how to choose books wisely, students went to the library to choose new books. Then students got together in small groups and explained to each other why they chose the book that they did.  Choosing books wisely includes thinking about the author, the topic, series of books, reading level, and interest.  We will be doing lots of independent reading this year and having a 'good-fit' book will be important.