California Geography and Block Building

October 20, 2009

                  We will be wrapping up our unit on California Geography in the next couple of weeks. Children are currently working on reports about California's four major regions. The students are working in groups of three to write about six topics about each region: Coastal, Mountain, Central Valley, and Desert. They have been using a webquest designed by Ms. Freeland to research their topics in the computer lab. They are working on webbing their ideas to turn into cohesives paragraph, which they will eventually put together.

                  The big event for California Geography will take place next week, as children use the Community Hall to "build" California out of blocks and butcher paper. They will be using the information they gathered for their reports to identify things and places they want to include in their section of California. As a team they have to not only collaborate to map out their region, they have to work with the other teams to make sure everything is placed where is should be. This is the first time I am doing block building with children and am very excited to have it as part of our curriculum for this unit. Any parent help during the block building would be wonderful. I envision the adults in the room supporting the problem solving as children work together to figure out how to make everything fit as it should. Please let me know if you are interested in participating.

I am excited to see the outcome....

Tags: social studies

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Amazing Story Leads

October 06, 2009

Tags: 3rd grade , 4th grade , writer's workshop

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Writing Personal Narratives

September 21, 2009

                 The children have been busy at work writing personal narratives. They are looking at their lives, searching for small moments that have meaning to them, and then turning them into stories. The focus of this first unit of study is to convince children that they have moments in their lives that are worth writing about, to give them the tools and strategies to craft concise, detailed stories, and to create a toolbox of strategies for generating personal narrative topics. The students in Room 11 have so much to tell about their lives, very few have had a difficult time coming up with small moments that inspire them to write.

                 I have read stories about watching a sunset atop a ferris wheel in London, getting knocked down by a wave and swallowing sea water, flying through the air on a Wave, the moments before going down a large drop of a rollercoaster, getting soaked by a super soaker, body surfing, and getting across a river without a bridge. I am asking children to live like writers, and be on the lookout for story ideas and notice them in their hiding places.

Tags: writer's workshop

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Reader's Notebooks

September 11, 2009

This year students will be writing about reading in their Reader's Notebooks. For their first entry, they reflected on what they know to be true about reading. Here are some of their responses:

• Books can take you out of this world.
• Some books can solve your problems.
• I like to read to other people.
• Reading is like sports for your eyes.
• Sometimes I  don't feel like reading.
• Sometimes I relate to the characters.
• Books are better than t.v.
• Books give you more information than movies.
• When I get really into a book I feel like I am the character.
• I like to read different books in my room.
• I know I have to get a book I enjoy to read.

This is just snapshot of the children's ideas, but a window into the rich reading lives of the students in Room 11!

Tags: 3rd grade , 4th grade reader's workshop , reader's notebooks

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Revised Wish List/Classroom Needs

September 08, 2009

First, I want to say THANK YOU to all the parents who helped get the classroom ready (patching, painting, cleaning, etc.) prior to school starting. It really looks great and I could not have done it without your help! I also want to say thank you for all the classroom materials that have been donated so far!! 

Warmly,

Jessica

Below is a revised wish list:

• 15 red two pocket folders
• 15 light blue two pocket folders
• 15 green two pocket folders
• Sturdy electric pencil sharpener
• Low odor dry erase markers
• Garden hose
• Pencils
• Sponges (preferably with a scrubby side)

Opportunities to Volunteer:

If you are interested in any of the following, please contact me via email (jessicay@oscmail.org) or in person.

• help preppring materials (cutting, laminating, sorting; can be taken home)
• dusting off the tops of the hanging lights
• Finish painting (inside of cabinet doors)
• Reinstalling cabinet handles
• have a special skill or interest to bring into the classroom (perhaps collaborating with me for a particular subject or unit).
• reading with children
• ?????

Thanks Again,

Jessica

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