What and How?

What is a BLOG? Why would we want to use it both inside and outside the classroom? Help me understand how we could use a blog in school. What could you do, if you had access to your own blog, what would you use it for? What sorts of things would you talk about? Let me know in the comments below!

Organization

In 4th grade you will hear Mr. M talk a lot about organization. What does organization mean to you? How do you stay organized at home? What is going to be the most difficult part of this year in terms of staying organized? Is there anything that Mr. M can do to help you out?

Does it look like Mr. M is very organized at the moment? What could he do to fix this mess? 

Back to School

School is starting back up for us here at Walker next week! I am very excited to meet my students and get rolling on a new year. This week has been spent going through and organizing new curriculum materials, very exciting. The room had been taken apart and put back together in an effort to become more organized. 

Slowly but surely we are getting to a usable classroom. Mr. M will be at staff meetings through the early part of next week and then a "meet your teacher" hour on Wednesday from 2:00-3:00. Hope to see some of you there! 

Bookmans School Challenge

School Challenge

Today I found an interesting opportunity for Walker while exploring Twitter. Bookmans has always supported schools and children who love to read. The contest boasts a 15,000 dollar first prize to one Arizona school. I asked students today what they think that they could do with that much money...What an interesting topic of conversation, what do we think that Walker Elementary school needs the most? Is it technology related? Or perhaps something for the playground, some think that it is time for an overhaul. I am curious to know what my parents think about the opportunity to be given 15,000 dollars. I am just one small part of the inner workings that makes our school community functional. There are dozens and dozens of staff, parents, and students that makes our school so special. How could we put this money to good use?!

Summer Time Blues

The summer is fast approaching and we are all excited for some time off, even Mr. M. What are your plans for the summer? More importantly, what are you going to do this summer to keep from being bored?

Help give Mr. M some ideas to keep him busy, entertained, and learning. What books do you plan on reading this summer? Give me some suggestions 4th graders!

Descriptive Paragraph

So you have just had 4 days away from school, Mr. M would like to know what you did.  Please write a Descriptive Paragraph explaining what you did, where you did it, and how it was all done!  Remember to start off with a good topic sentence, and build on your description with supporting details.  Don't forget to wrap it all up with a concluding sentence.

Daily Life

This week at school we will be reflecting upon that which we are thankful, we have opportunities that many did not have in the early 1600's.  Think about what your life is like now, and what would have been different at the first Thanksgiving celebration.  Please answer the following questions in preparation for your research today!

What would you have dressed in?
What types of food would you have eaten?
What sorts of games would you have played?
What sorts of chores would you have to do?
What things would you be learning at school?

Today I would like for you to compare & contrast what life was like for Pilgrim and Wampanoag children.  Take good notes and give me at least 3-5 facts (You could write more ) about each culture, how were they the same and how were they different?

Here at the Scholastic site you will find information about their clothing, housing, food, chores, schooling, and games that they would play.  You will be writing a letter as either a Pilgrim or a Wampanoag this week, be sure to write down as many details as you think are needed.  The more facts that you have, the better your essay will be later on this week!

Division Games - Can You Dig It?

Here is a link to an interactive division game that I thought you might enjoy. You are helping the archeologist dig up bones using fact families. Let me know how well you do!

Division Games - Can You Dig It?:

Book Fair

This next week we have parent teacher conferences and the book fair will be here at school!  PTO has done a wonderful job decorating room 9south; they have a great selection of books.  There is a classroom wish list at the book fair and this year we are trying something new.  The scholastic book fair is now offering online shopping as well.

If for some reason you can't make it to the school to do a little shopping, you can do it online instead!  We even have a classroom wish list online (wink, wink).  This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage your progressing reader to become excited about reading.  For my students, what are some books on this page that you would love to see in our own classroom library?  Tell me in a comment and I will add them to the classroom wish list!