An Adventure

When you are working with nine and ten year olds, and the "lesson plan" doesn't go as planned, you look for ways to help them feel safe and comfortable with the change in the routine.

On Monday morning, we smelled natural gas. We grabbed our coats, hats, and mittens, and we were out of the building in what seemed like less than five minutes from our initial concerns. We waited outside like it was a fire drill. We told them we were "on an adventure"! We answered any questions with the limited information we had. We smelled gas. When you smell gas, it is recommended you leave the building and call 9-1-1 from a safe location. That is exactly what we did. We watched the snow plows work on the roads. We saw the fire trucks approach the school.

 As a precaution, we moved further away from the building, into the field. It was covered with ice. Buses began to arrive. Some classes were able to board. Mr. Greninger and Ms. Leom's classes were invited to Zion Lutheran Church to settle in and warm up. Our students gathered in their community or dining area. Students sat at tables with friends and chatted. Teachers helped students find the bathrooms, and more. When the all clear was called, we walked back to school.

Looking back, as we returned to school.

In all, we missed about an hour of school. Everyone was safe. We enjoyed some fresh air and a walk with friends. We collected a good story of an unexpected start to school. From the smiles on the many faces, it was an enjoyable unplanned adventure.

Best Wishes!

After two weeks, helping in our classroom, we sent Miss. Carrie off to her education adventures of learning the skills to be an effective teacher.

Best Wishes!

Catch the Wave

On Friday, we had our annual "I Love to Read" Kick-off Pepfest. This year's theme is "Catch the Wave and Read".

Southeast Quiz

We are studying the Southeast States and Capitals. Ms. Leom has us practice in class. She gave a quiz. We had to list one state and capital in the Southeast region and post it.

We hope you continue to study at home!

Cause and Effect

The Minnesota fourth grade state standard, students will understand what they read using a variety of strategies (using kid friendly terms). Last week, we focused on using Cause and Effect to comprehend what we read.

We read several texts and determined the text structure of cause and effect for each.

Workshop

On Monday January 23, while students were home from school, teachers had a workshop day. There were several meetings, and teachers worked on second quarter grading.

WCCO's Mike Max visited Milaca Public Schools to speak to teachers on the Dahlager Theater stage.

The Prank

On Thursday, our lesson was idioms. Students picked an idiom and were illustrating it. One student chose "goes bananas". He was writing, "My cat goes bananas." Teasing, Ms. Leom said, he should write his name "goes bananas". He got write (right, we are working on puns too) to work. Soon he came up to me, bouncing with excitement. He had written, "Mrs. Leom and her helper goes bananas." He was so pleased with himself. He laughed and giggled. I had him share his example with the entire class, and teach them the idiom, "goes bananas". For twenty minutes, there was laughter and giggling. He was so pleased, "I pranked you, Mrs. Leom." Yes. It was perfect!!

It also fit our Olweus lesson for the day. Sometimes, we can have fun and enjoy when people tease us. Everything people share with us is not intended to be hurtful, mean, or negative. Sometimes people are trying to connect it funny ways. 

Ms. Leom did "go bananas". Laughing and learning with students is one of the best parts of each day!

Proverbs and Adages

We are working on Proverbs and Adages today. It is part of our Vocabulary Acquisition and Usage Standard. Today we learned what each means.

Proverbs are a saying that offers advice or instruction on how to live your life.

Adages are an statement that expresses some kind of truth about human nature or how people behave.

Then we shared some examples.

Next we played a game. Students received adages and as a group, tried to explain them. Next, students received the meaning cards, and matched them to the adages. 

 I was impressed with how many adages students knew. What a great day to learn!

20 Minutes

Every WOW (White-Out Wednesday) Day, we have D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) Day too. Ms. Leom enjoyed having her Greninger readers in her room to share the time.

Guess who was reading this text!

 It was a sunny afternoon for 20 minutes of reading around the classroom!