Hot Potato

My class played hot potato today.

Based on the giggles, yelling, smiles, and laughter, we had fun.

Pajama-rama!

These are my students.

I love each one. 

Gift Giving

Every year, Mr. Greninger gives his students a page of coupons. There is a coupon for a free assignment, and a coupon for free initials. All his students love it!!

Ms. Leom is giving her students a new book, a candy cane, an eraser, and a pencil. There were over 100 books for students to choose from. Students can select a book that interests them and reflects their family rules.

You choose.

Merry Christmas to some of our favorite fourth graders!

Rehearsal

We had a 10:00 rehearsal in the gym.

On our way ...

Getting organized ...

We are going to "rock" this concert!

What's the subject?

Our Grinch learning today was all about the subject and predicate. The "who the sentence is about" (the subject) and "the action or telling about the subject" (the predicate.

Apparently, the Grinch got ahold of our sentences, cut them apart, and we had to put them back together. This active cut, sort, and glue offered several opportunities to talk about the subject and predicate and learn from each other!

The students had to color the subjects in green and the predicates in red. It helps students identify that subjects are almost always in the beginning of the sentences and predicates are often at the end ... if students were paying attention to the clear color-coded message on the board ...

It was the perfect cut, sort, glue, and talk lesson for the second day before Winter Break AND the "little" concert planned this afternoon!

Venn

Today, we introduced / reviewed Venn Diagrams. Venn diagrams are two overlapping circles, used to help people organize and record information.

First, Ms. Leom read the book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Next, as a class, we created a venn diagram, a graphic organizer (a way to sort and write out information), to compare and contrast the book and the cartoon version of the movie. We did this together in class.

Ms. Leom's Class's work

Mr. Greninger's Class's Work

As we worked, we made a list of details to remember when completing a Venn Diagram.

At some point in our discussions, Ms. Leom had to point out that the book, originally published in 1957 was written first. The cartoon version was first debuted in 1966. The "real" movie, as the fourth graders refer to it, and the story they believe to be the source of all things Grinch was released to movie audiences in 2000. 

 

originally published in 1957

released in 2000

debuted in 1966

Finally, having watched the cartoon movie last week, hearing the book this week, and three days of Grinch discussions, including a focus on the character traits of the Grinch in the beginning of the story, versus the end last week, students had to use their information to create their own Venn Diagram of the Grinch early in the story versus the end of the story.

Annotate This!

The BEST day of learning happened today! Ms. Leom put the Southeast States and Capitals Practice Test on Edmodo. Students accessed the app and found the practice test. They transferred it (is that even the technical term ?) to the Annotate app, and students began to work.

Luckily (actually, planned) for every student in the room, our high school helper was available. He has been applying this process for the last four years. We all benefitted from his experience and patience.

Our students were ROCK STARS! They were so patient (with Ms. Leom's lack of knowledge), and they persevered when they didn't know what to do next!! We have a ways to go until we are proficient at this process and skill, but it is SO EXCITING to glimpse the possibilities and start the journey!!

Grinch Week

It is Grinch Week in Ms. Leom and Mr. Greninger's fourth grade classes. Students' seasonal energy and enthusiasm are being channeled in a "learning extravaganza" to continue to make porgress on our learning goals. 

On Thursday, the students watched the cartoon version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". They reviewed character trait learning from September. The classes discussed character development and how the Grinch changed form the beginning to the end of the story. Students also reviewed our author's purpose learning from November. They identified the author's purpose and used details from the movie to support their purpose.

On Friday (today), we read and sang along to "The Grinch" song. All week, we have been working to develop our fluency. For some students, singing with a familiar song is very helpful to their fluency practice.

Then, we created Grinch Portfolios to showcase our Grinch learning. 

I LOVE Grinch portfolios!! I love how they are all so individual and even when students "mess up", it still turns out perfectly! I love this learning is "error-proof", and how students smile and have fun.

Next week, we will read the book. We will compare and contrast the book and the movie. We will explore cause and effect. 

We continue to focus on the fourth grade standards and developing our learning goals. We use a variety of strategies and contexts to motivate, engage, and develop our skills. Using the Grinch and the holiday energy, for many students, the learning is lost in the doing.

Also note, the other fourth grade classes have students who do not celebrate the holiday, so they are using Despicable Me to teach the same lessons. Ms. Leom posted "Grinch Week" in her newsletters two weeks prior to the beginning to allow families the opportunity to express any concerns prior to the start. We want to support our students and families. :)