Plays of Week #9

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 10/12  = No School

** Continue to bring in Animal Shelter Donations

**This is a part of our PBL project and we have extended our collection period until the end of the month.  This will take us all the way up to the Big Event!  We would love to see how much a difference we can make for the C.A.R.E shelter in our community!

Tuesday 10/13 = Picture Day!!

New Spelling Words will be sent home

Library Check-out

Friday 10/16 = Spelling Test

**Look for our daily student Tweets from Team Meyer**

**Please send in Permission slips for our upcoming field trips**

Reading  = This week, we will be continuing look at non fiction text features.  We will use articles and a variety of magazines to think about why the author used the text features they did.  If you child is reading a nonfiction book at home please have them do the same.

Writing = At the end of the last week, Team Meyer had the option of writing their draft on paper or on a Google doc.  Whichever way they chose I was excited to see the ideas flowing!  This week we will look at our word choice and conventions for our writing pieces.

Math = This was the first week Team Meyer had much more voice and choice within their learning.  We creating and reflected on a Must/May do list option during Workshop.  Their Must Do's include: My Math pages, working with Mrs. M, Fact practice, and work on Aleks.  Their May Do's include: Hour of Code (a team favorite), fact practice, chapter games.  So far, I have been very impressed with the way Team Meyer has been making choices.

Spelling = Team Meyer and their Words their Way spelling groups are up and running well.  They will receive new words on Monday (Tuesday this week), work with their words throughout the week, and be tested on Friday.

PBL= Last week, we experienced a wonderful time at Elfindale.  Please ask your child about it and look at the pictures below.  This week, we will be thinking about how to show kindness at Portland.  Also, thank you for those of you who have sent in donations for our pet drive!  Remember we have until the end of the month for this!

Highlights of the Week...

Plays of Week #8

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 10/5 = Continue to bring in Animal Shelter Donations

**This is a part of our PBL project and we have extended our collection period until the end of the month.  This will take us all the way up to the Big Event!  We would love to see how much a difference we can make for the C.A.R.E shelter in our community!

Tuesday 10/6 = PBL Field Trip to Elfindale  - there will be friendly conversation, singing, treats, and 4^th grade has made them wonderful cards to build friendships with.

Library Check out

Tentative Math Chapter 3 Test

Friday 10/9 = Spelling Test

**Look for our daily student Tweets from Team Meyer**

Reading  = At the end of last week, we began the discussion of non-fiction text features.  This week we will look more closely at them using the mentor text: Digging Up Tyrannosaurus Rex by John Horner and Don Lessem.  We will look at what text features are and why the author put them throughout the text.  If you child is reading a nonfiction book at home please have them do the same.

Writing = This week we will be wrapping up our Mentor text of “Glowing Shoes” and looking more at refining our stories within our webs: Who What When Where and Why.  When your child is writing in their notebook on Monday and Wednesday nights please remind them to be thinking of this with their stories they are writing.  It will help them during class writing time.

Math = I am hoping all the review went well on Friday.  I will talk with Team Meyer on Monday and decide when we are going to test.  Tentatively, we will be testing on Chapter 3: Understanding Multiplication and Division on Tuesday.  Also, this week, Mrs. Castillo will be helping Team Meyer have more personalized learning within our Math Workshop schedule.  We are going transition from times rotations to more student self-guided schedule.  Now that Team Meyer has more technology we will be able to maximize our learning time and time with Mrs. M.  We are very excited to try new things and I know we can handle it!

Spelling = Team Meyer and their Words their Way spelling groups are up and running well.  They will receive new words on Monday, work with their words throughout the week, and be tested on Friday.

PBL= Last week, we finished our Animal Shelter posters and signs.  We even began our donation collection.  If you have not sent in items for the collection please do so.  It is extended to encourage more participates and 4^th grade has even partnered up with Mr. Greiner.  His big event at the end of the month is going to promote the C.A.R.E animal shelter.  We thank him for helping out with our PBL project and the shelter. Tuesday, we will be taking our field trip to Elfindale.  Our focus group which will be leading this will be the Elderly Friend group.  It was their idea to take a field trip there to hand deliver cards, sing songs with them, and visit with them.  We can’t wait to show our appreciation for them and share our project with them. 

Highlights of the Week...

Plays of Week #7

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 9/28 = Team Meyer and Team Eaton's classes will start collecting donations from the school - Animal Shelter : This is a part of our PBL project and we will be collecting until October 5th

We would love to see how much a difference we can make for the C.A.R.E shelter in our community!

Tuesday 9/29 = Library Check-out 

Friday 10/2 = Spelling Test

**Look for our daily student Tweets from Team Meyer**

Reading  = Our exploration with Making connections continues within our reading.  On Friday we were even to use a great resource online called "Today's Meet" to make our connections within our read aloud Wonder.  This week we will read the mentor text Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman.  At the end of the week, we will begin our next strategy which focuses on non-fiction.

Writing = Last week we used Google docs to reflect on a mentor text from a previous 4th grader.  I was impressed with how Team Meyer was able to comment on the beginning, middle, and end of the story.  Please ask your child how they utilized the Google doc.  This week, we will continue to look at that same mentor text.  We will think about Organization, Voice, and Sentence Fluency while working with it.

Math = If you have not sent in your child's Chapter 2 test signed please do so.  We will be reflecting on our progress all year and having our tests to look at will help enhance this.  Last week we began Chapter 3 and had a great Math Talk with Mrs. C relating multiplication and division.  We, again, used Today's Meet for that discussion as well.  This week we will be continuing Chapter 3 and look to test sometime in the following week.  

Spelling = Team Meyer and their Words their Way spelling groups are up and running well.  They will receive new words on Monday, work with their words throughout the week, and be tested on Friday.

Content = Team Meyer received their chrome books this past week and we are learning how to utilize.  We are talking about how to combine our 4 C's = Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking while integrating our new technology!

PBL= Last week we put into place our action plan.  Please check out the pictures below and ask your child what they learned.  This week we are turning our focus on to carry out our action plans for our three focus groups: Animal Shelter, Elderly Friend, and Showing Kindness.  Also, please send in those donations for the Animal Shelter.

Highlights of the Week...

Plays of Week #6

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 9/21= Pennies for Portland Continues

Tuesday 9/22 = Library Check-out 

Thursday 9/24= Parkview Cares - students from Parkview come to Portland to help and inform them about Parkview

Friday 9/25 = Big Event

Reading  = We will be working with the comprehension strategy by making connections.  We have begun this throughout our read aloud book: Wonder.  This week we will extend it with several mentor texts: A Bad Case of Stripes and The Old Woman Who Named Things along with our independent reading books.

Writing = This week we will be incorporating writing into our PBL unit a great deal this week.  We will also be working through the six traits of writing in relation to mentor texts and then eventually our own personal pieces. Through this week = Ideas, Organization, Voice, ad Sentence Fluency.

Math = Nice Job Team Meyer on your Chapter 2 Test focusing on Addition and Subtraction.  Monday we will go over the test as well as begin Chapter 3 which focuses on Multiplication and Division.  We will relate the two operations and understand the properties and rules.  Mrs. Castillo (our math coach) will also be in to help use explore even deeper with these concepts.  Please be practicing your multiplication facts at home.  Our multiplication facts will not be far away.

Spelling = Team Meyer and their Words their Way spelling groups are up and running well.  They will receive new words on Monday, work with their words throughout the week, and be tested on Friday.

Content = Team Meyer received their chrome books this past week and we are learning how to utilize.  We are talking about how to combine our 4 C's = Creativity, Communication, Collaboration, and Critical Thinking while integrating our new technology!

PBL= We had an AMAZING week learning last week!  We had many guest speakers from the community come in to talk to both of our 4th grade teams.  We all learned so much and admired all our speakers for how they make a difference in our community!  Please check out the pictures below and ask your child what they learned.  This week we are turning our focus on to carry out our action plans for our three focus groups: Animal Shelter, Elderly Friend, and Showing Kindness.

Highlights of the Week...

Plays of Week #5

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 9/14 = Pennies for Portland Continues

Tuesday 9/15 = Library Check-out and Team Meyer receives their Chrome Books 

Wednesday 9/16 = Team Meyer's Open House (5:00-6:00 pm)

Thursday 9/17 = Rest of Portland's Open House (5:30-6:30 pm)

Constitution Day

Friday 9/18 = Elementary Night at Parkview High School at 6 pm 

*Class with the most in attendance receives rewards (see below for details)*

Reading  = At the end of last week, we brainstormed what will help us with Guided Reading this year.  I was impressed with how Team Meyer worked together and what was the most important to them.  We will begin Guided Reading Groups this week and add in more choice within Reader's Workshop.  Our first Reading Comprehension strategy is Making Connections to our books.  Team Meyer may want to focus on this when filling out their reading log at home as well.

Writing = Check out below how we considered our 6 Traits of Writing similar to a pizza.  This week we will integrate our writing within our PBL unit and investigation with Constitution Day.  Also, nice job on writing in those Writer's Notebooks.  I will be collecting round 2 of writing from Team Meyer next week.  

Math = At the end of last week of wonderful Math coach came in and worked with us on several strategies new strategies and Math Talks.  She will come into our room throughout the year working with the whole group, small groups, and students individually.  This week, we will continue in chapter 2: subtracting across zeros, problem solving real world problems.  Our test for Chapter 2 will be tentatively scheduled for this Friday 9/18.

Spelling = This week we will begin our first Words their Way program.  Team Meyer will be placed in groups with different spelling lists based on their beginning of the year assessments.  New words will continue to go home on Monday and tests will be on Friday.

Content = We will continue to think about Digital Citizenship.  It is important that we teach our kids how to use technology properly and in the most appropriate ways.  This week Team Meyer receives their Chrome Books so we will be reflecting on this a great deal as we become 1:1 with technology! 

PBL= Making a Difference: How can we build a caring classroom and neighborhood community?  Thank you Mrs. Jones for sharing with us about your job and how you make a difference in our community.  This week we will have several guest speakers from Convoy of Hope and the Community Foundation.  At the end of last week, we chose our 3 focuses in how we want to make a difference: Animal Shelter, Elderly Friend, and Sharing Kindness.  Please ask your child which focus they chose and the problems they noticed within it.  

Elementary Night @ JFK- Friday the 18th @ 6pm 

The challenge from Sunshine Elementary staff and students has been extended to us! Mr. Martin called and said they would like to see who has the most student show up next Friday. The winning schools teachers will get donuts served to them by their principal. Each student out of every class who comes will receive one minute of extra recess per student. 

Example: If Team Meyer has 8 students attend Elementary Night at JFK Stadium they will get 8 extra minutes of recess.

Highlights of the Week...

Plays of Week #4

Reminders for the Upcoming Week

Monday 9/7 = No School

Tuesday 9/8 = Library Check-out

Pennies for Portland begins

Next week...

Wednesday 9/16 = Team Meyer's Open House 5-6 pm

Reading  = Team Meyer did a wonderful job setting goals for reading last week!  They are getting in their reading log routine and settling in our classroom while reading.  This week we will be setting up our reading notebooks.  This will stay at school with them and be used throughout the year.  We also will practice some strategies together and prepare for guided reading groups 

Writing = This week we will begin our Write Steps curriculum.  We will be comparing pizza to the 6 traits of writing: Ideas, Organization, Voice, Sentence Fluency, and Word Choice.  Pizza may sound silly, but hopefully they will be able to come home and describe it to you.  We will use this analogy throughout the year.

Math = Nice Job on our 1st Math test last week!  Please sign and return this test with your child.  Last week we began our Addition and Subtraction chapter.  This week we will continue working in this chapter by estimating sums and differences, adding and subtracting whole numbers, and subtracting across zeros.

Spelling = This week we will continue our Spelling routines with a whole group list with commonly used words.  We are going to work with the days of the week again because we need more practice with them.  Along with those words we are going to have some commonly misspelled words.

Content = We will continue to think about Digital Citizenship.  It is important that we teach our kids how to use technology properly and in the most appropriate ways.

PBL= This week we will be selecting groups and the focuses for them as well.  We also look forward to another guest speaker.  check out the pictures from Mrs. Smart visiting last week.

Highlights of the Week...