Edmodo

Today, Ms. Leom had both her classes access Edmodo. Then she took the time to troubleshoot any glitches (there were several).

Students used Edmodo to access their readers' theater script for their fluency practice.

Edmodo is the app the high school students use to access their homework and access classroom learning materials.

This was a "baby step" in the process. Edmodo can be accessed by iPad or a home computer. We are so excited everyone knows how to log in. Now let the applicationS begin!!

Never too early

Ms. Leom's class invited their first grade reading buddies to fourth grade today. It was their first visit to our classroom. We took a break from reading to share our iPad experience with them. We introduced them to the game, Stack the States (it is never too early to begin to study and practice for fourth grade states and capitals learning).

the Southeast

We are learning about the Southeast Region in Social Studies. We had several activities today to support our learning.

First, Ms. Leom had us come up with one state and capital from the Southeast. It gets our minds working. Then, we wrote in our planners that the Southeast States and Capitals test is just a week away! Ms. Leom allowed a re-test experience for the Northeast, since it was our first states and capitals test. That will not be an option as we move forward. By the end of the year, the students need to know all fifty states and capitals. It is a good time to be studying!

Then, students had work time to work on their questions. Ms. Leom walked around the room and helped students. Her high school helper worked with a student who was sick several days last week. When students finished, Ms. Leom checked over their work, and gave them feedback so they could rework and make some corrections.

Students were so engaged and focused, every student in Mr. Greninger's class earned initials for his/her hard work today!

 As students finished their Southeast Questions, they were invited to play States and Capitals Bingo.

the Corps

Our learning focus this week:

The standard:

The Lesson:

This morning, we reviewed reading fluency. We talked about short pauses, the fluency skill we worked on in mid-November. You pause when you encounter punctuation marks. 

Today, we learned about "full stop pausing" at punctuation marks found at the end of sentences. For a full stop pause, you stop, take a breath (not a dramatic, annoying ordeal, but a natural breath when you are talking), and then continue reading. We practiced with whisper reading at our table. Then we applied our learning on a readers' theater script. 

This is an exciting script for us. Next week, our concert is all about Sacajawea, and Lewis and Clark. This script also tells their story.

 This story is also an example of historical fiction. Our learning continues.

Arens Wins

Ms. Aren's class won the Amazing Postcard Race. They received postmarked postcards from all fifty states first. Ms. Leom learned of the win through a Facebook post. Most of the class learned about the win on the playground.

Ms. Leom's class is still collecting postcards. We have fifteen states that we would like to see.

These include:
Oregon
Idaho
Colorado
New Mexico
Kansas
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Indiana
Tennessee
South Carolina
West Virginia
Delaware
Vermont
Maine
Connecticut

The postcards will be removed from our display and placed in a basket for students to enjoy and read. Toward the end of January, Ms. Leom will send each postcard home with the student named.

39 Steps

The entire fourth grade started our day in Dahlager Theater seeing the junior high one act play, "39 Steps". The story is a "murder mystery" that takes place in the 1940s on a radio sound stage.

Our arrival

Director, Mr. Copeland welcoming us

The play

The class enjoyed seeing the sound effects that go into telling of the story. 

We used the play as a lesson in active viewing.

It was a great way to start our learning day!

Organized

Many of our lessons start with getting our work space organized.

Whether we are in Reading ...

Or Social Studies ... 

One of our first steps is to organize our materials. We pile our books, iPads, pencil boxes, and other materials on our name tags, and spread out our learning materials so we are ready.

Next, we often talk about our learning goals. By organizing our space and our minds, we limit our distractions. We are ready to learn.