PIE Day

Today is PIE Day in Milaca Elementary's fourth grade classes! (What is that?! You may ask ...) It is a learning extravaganza! We are learning about Author's Purpose - or why author's write.

To start our lessons, Ms. Leom had her high school helper, Nick scoop out our pie samples. We had apple, pumpkin, and blueberry.

Our high school helper, Nick scooped our our pie

 Next, we watched Enemy Pie. Actress Camryn Manheim read the book and shared the illustrations with us in class.

Our learning strategies we are developing are SUMMARIZING INFORMATION and REALISTIC FICTION. This book allowed us to develop these skills. We were also able to tell this book was told from the first person point of view (the narrator was a character in the story, and it uses "I", "my", and more). We summarized the book. In Ms. Leom's class, we had a great learning opportunity, because it took us a long time to summarize the book. We had a tough time getting to the most important details. The extra ten minutes, helped us think-aloud and develop strategies (list ALL the parts you think are important. Combine and pare down the choices until you can retell the most important ideas in 2-3 sentences). In Mr. Greninger's class, the first student she called on, succinctly (in the fewest words possible) summarized the book. She wasn't prepared for it. Funny how sometimes the best learning comes from a struggle!

Next, Ms. Leom re-introduced us to Author's Purpose. We had a mini-lesson on it earlier in the year. We reviewed the three reasons author's write, gave meanings for each, and shared examples.

our work in process

It was time to move and be active learners. We made chef's hats, or "thinking hats" according to Ms. Leom. Once our hats were finished, we were able to taste test pie. We graphed our favorite kinds of pie.

graphing our favorite kinds of pie

Next, we took notes about author's purpose.

It is important that we review what we learn at the end of our lessons. It is also important that we know WHY we learn the strategies and skills. Being able to identify author's purpose is a strategy that successful readers use to understand a text.

Ms. Leom's class

Then - the best part of the day - Ms. Leom gets to share the "learning magic" with ANOTHER group of fourth graders!!!

para, Ms. Sherri helped scoop the pie

listening to the book, "Enemy Pie"

making hats

Mr. Greninger's class

So the next commercial, story, movie, book your child shares ... consider asking him/her the author's purpose. It is more than a learning extravaganza. It helps readers understand what they read. It matters!

the Pledge

It is our turn! It is our turn!! This week, fourth grade is being videotaped! Our video will be used to lead the ENTIRE elementary school (1000+ students) in the Pledge of Allegiance! It is SO exciting!! Ms. Vickers starts with the sixth grade classes, then each grade level gets their turn!

First, Mrs. Vickers emails and asks for times that would be best for taping. Next, the Media paraprofessional, Mrs. Mickelson arrives with her camera. Then we line up and practice.

Mrs. Mickelson comes to tape

 Finally, it is our turn to record!

Ms. Leom's class ROCKED!! We had one practice session (that we could have recorded) and our recording. We lead the Pledge with one voice, and when we were finished, we all quietly waved (which is apparently really important, because the kindergarten students are beginning to think "bye" is part of the end of the Pledge).

We are excited to see ALL of the fourth grade classes with our friends on announcements!!

BINGO!

In Ms. Leom's Social Studies class this week, we practiced our States and Capitals learning by playing a round of BINGO!

Note: Remember, if you don't see your fourth grader in the picture, it could be the picture I took captured the only 1/1000th of a second that their face was blinking, in the most awkward phase of a sneeze, or other less-than-best moment possible that no one would want to see on-line. Somehow, I am "gifted" at timing many of these moments! ;)

The Race is Won!

Mrs. Aren's class won the Great 50 States Postcard Race. Their last postcard arrived yesterday.

We still welcome postcards as they arrive. It is a learning opportunity to read about each state.

Super I

The Super Hero, Super I visited Ms. Leom's classroom today. The class is finishing the editing steps of their personal narratives, and the super villain, Puny i, was infiltrating the school security and encouraging students to write the puny i when they are writing. It was really becoming a concern.  

Super I burst on the scene with her star studded cape. She introduced her mission (to rid the world of puny i in writing), and invited the class to make their own Super I emblems.

Then students used their super hero smarts to write all about themselves. Tomorrow, we will use our super hero smarts to edit our personal narratives.

Super I's SUPER Fans - Ms. Leom's Homeroom

(Mr. Greninger's class is a day or two behind in the editing process. Super I will sure to show up for the greater good of all students - even Ms. Prose's class had a quick visit of our dashing hero.)

Super I's SUPER Fans - Mr. Greninger's Homeroom

Stay tuned to your fourth grader and their eXcItInG daily learning!

Where the Red Fern Grows

Mr. Greninger is going to read the story, "Where the Red Fern Grows" with his class for his read aloud. The story is about a young raccoon hunter and his two dogs, Big Dan and Little Ann.

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day. In the High School, they have a school assembly, with a guest speaker, and local veteran's invited to recognize this national holiday. In the Elementary School, we are developing our background knowledge.

Our learning goals today were:  I can ...
* read and learn about Veteran's Day
* make inferences to answer questions
* use nonfiction context clues; such as, heading, pictures, captions, and more to find information.

Students had questions:

 and worked with a partner to use the information packet to locate the information.

Cover of the Information Packet

first page in the packet

Ms. Leom was available to help students with any questions.

What our students learned:
* "I Pledge Alligiance" means "I promise to be true."
* The government bought college and their homes
* Veterans Day was called Armstice Day
* I did not know that the red (on the American Flag) stands for valor and zeal
* Veteran's Day is important
* The flag's color blue stands for heaven, loyalty, justice, and truth
* Flag folds into a triangle
* People were hurt and killed in World War II
* There was a different name for Veteran's Day
* The flag has 50 stars that mean the 50 states
* Display of the American flag is usually from sunrise to sunset
* I learned about the history of Veteran's Day, and the difference between Veteran's Day and Memorial Day
* I learned a song (we heard "Taps" and "The Star Spangled Banner" in class)
* I learned how important Veteran's are
* We got to learn about the bald eagle
* I learned what the colors of the flag mean
* I learned that veterans fight

Need a book?

This week, fourth graders in Ms. Leom's Flex Reading class needed an historical fiction book for their book project approval. EVERY effort was made to help students be successful:

* Students learned about the assignment on Monday morning before lunch. The assignment was due on Friday.

* Each student who is working on a book project was given a list of series that would work.

* Ms. Leom has a basket IN her classroom library labeled "historical fiction" books

* We are reading historical fiction books IN flex, students were able to check out the books at the end of the school day and return them early the next day, as long as it was NOT the same book they were using in Flex (The Book Project is a "home" activity, and if students read the SAME book we are reading and discussing in class, they are losing on the opportunity to develop their skills at home.)

* Both classes had Book Check-Out on Thursday morning, and students could check out a book. Mrs. Vickers was available to help students find a book

* Mr. Greninger helped students in his classroom, using his library find books, and when in doubt, met with Ms. Leom to clarify details

* Ms. Leom sent students to the Media Center additional mornings as needed

* When a student asked for suggestions, Ms. Leom took the first five minutes of Specials and checked the book out in her name

EVERY student who connected with Mr. Greninger and Ms. Leom for support was helped. There were MANY opportunities and creative solutions for each student to be successful.