Scrooge

Check out some of the Wordles that we created today. This week we read the story A Christmas Carol, as I read aloud students put into practice th emany skills we've been working on in class. They looked closely at who Scrooge was as a man, what made him that way, and how he changed over time. Students wrote a bunch of notes as I read, and then put those notes into Wordle to create this visual image of their notes. See some of the work by clicking on the links below.

Scrooge Wordle

Scrooge Wordle 2

Scrooge Wordle 3

The Power of Words

Check out a short video clip to see the kids working on their Toontastic cartoons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZynMnlaG4Y&feature=youtu.be

We have been talking a lot about the power of words.  The recognition that words are powerful can truly change a classroom climate.  This week students have been working on being more respectful to one another and to others in the building. Today we zoomed in even more, and we focused on the power of words in technology.  Cyberbullying is becoming a serious problem.  Kids all over the country are finding it easier to say mean things to one another through the "safety" of a machine.  Students had a great lesson today where they shared their own experiences and began to look closely at online messages that they might, at first glance, think is perfectly acceptable, but when looked at closely, they began to see that words can be interpreted in many different ways.

After this lesson, students were asked to create an animated cartoon showing the power of words. We used this amazing app called Toontastic.  Students could choose various backgrounds and characters, then animate the characters and record their own voices saying the dialogue.  They created stories of princesses being bullied by soldiers, sharks on the moon who just didn't belong, and even aliens who were bullies. These animations are then finalized and created into "feature films" with background music and credits.  Needless to say, we had a lot of laughs while all the while learning how important it is to think before we speak. Check out the video link above. It will give you a taste of what the students were doing.

Socrative

   I used a great new app today with the students. It is called Socrative. It is a student response system which allows me to generate questions ahead of time, and for students to use their ipads to answer the questions and get immediate feedback.  Today we took a quiz on Vermont geography. Students were encouraged to use the maps that they have been collecting to answer 10 questions.  The questions were multiple choice and short answer.  The students signed into my "room" by simply typing in the "room" number. They then typed in their names and once submitted, started their quiz.
   Who would have thought that taking a quiz could be fun? When technology is involved, the students seem to miss the fact that they are doing real work.  So I watched as they focused intently on choosing the right answer, or typing in the perfect response.  I heard little cheers when they were given the green correct box and the disappointments when they red incorrect box appeared.
   When all students work was submitted, I was sent a print out of all of their responses and the scores that they received.  It gave me immediate feedback as to areas that the entire class seemed to be struggling with.  What a wonderful tool! This is just one more benefit to having ipads in the classroom. The fourth graders are truly lucky.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Check out our door decorations!  We joined with our neighbors, Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. Nichols, to create this festive Santa's Workshop.  Yesterday students decorated trees, made the wreath, cut out letters, colored elves, and in the end we have this beautiful display to show for all of their hard work. You can't see it in the picture, but the elves have the faces of the students! The whole school is decked out top to bottom.  We are taking a tour later today to admire the work of all the classroom doors.

What a Week...

   Well, I must admit that this has been a long week. I think the kids feel it too.  Perhaps it is the season, or maybe it is due to the craziness of November's schedule to be back to regular days. Whatever the case, I have a class of tired children.
   We started the week with a rough math test.  The students didn't do as well as I had hoped. So, I went over somethings and gave it back to them the next day to fix their mistakes. It seems the entire fourth grade struggled with this exam, so we decided not to count the test. We've spent the rest of the week reteaching and focusing on multiplying big numbers. There are two main strategies the students have learned. The first strategy is the array model. This is where students build a frame with one number on the top and one on the side. They then take those numbers and look for smaller numbers that they can group together. For example, if they are multiplying 23 x 6 they may recognize that they have two groups of 10 x 6.  The second strategy is a little more advanced, but many students are beginning to recognize it and use it more often. It is the distributive model. Looking at 23 x 6 instead as 20 x 6 and 3 x 6 and then adding those two numbers together.  I encourage you to ask your child about these methods and have them "teach" you.  This is a wonderful way to solidify what we are doing in class.
    Students have also started creating Glogs through the online website Glogsteredu. This is an online interactive poster that can include, photos, video, and audio.  The focus of these Glogs is a region in Vermont. Each student has been assigned an area to study. They read an article on all areas, took notes on their assigned region, and then did a bit more research online before starting this project.  We will spend the next two days in the computer lab finishing up. I will be sure to share them as soon as they are ready.
   On another note, as you can see above, one group completed their Vermont puzzle. This was such a wonderful accomplishment. They have been working so hard in all of their down time.  I am so proud of them. The other group is coming along nicely as well. They should be finished in a matter of days.  They are anxious to start another one. We shall see what I can find!

Bully Machine Video

Popplet

  Popper? People? Poople? No... Popplet.

    You might be asking yourself if I've lost it? No, quite the opposite in fact. Today was a fantastic day!  Today, I felt like I was a 21st century teacher. I felt empowered and excited as I watched the students accessing online tools to enhance their learning. I must admit that I've been feeling a little stilted in that area, not because I didn't have great ideas, but because the technology was limited.  But we are finally up and running. 

    Today the students were introduced to Popplet.  This is a fantastic site that allows students to design colorful graphic organizers. Above is the start of a Popple that students did as a class as a test run. This site offers students the chance to create linking thoughts. They can add photos, make drawings, and even comment on each others' Popples. They can color code their thinking as well. 

    The image above shows a Popple based on the character Palmer from the novel Wringer by Jerry Spinelli. Students started with the character in the center. They then chose adjectives that described Palmer. Those descriptions are in the blue.  Then their job was to prove it. We've been working tirelessly on using the clues in our reading to support our thinking.  So around each of the adjectives are situations from the book that support the characteristic!

    Needless to say, the students had a blast! They quickly learned how to manipulate the popples, change color, add text, draw, and arrange their thinking in an orderly fashion.  All the while, they were learning and being asked to do some deeper learning. They didn't complain once. In fact, a number of students commented how much fun they were having.  

    We will head back to the work tomorrow to finish up our Popples.  Ask your child to see theirs. Go to www.popplet.com and log in to their account. Just use your child's school email address and they should know their password. 

The Bully Machine

    The fourth graders have been really busy this week.  They are preparing for their big "performance" of the Bully Machine at Friday's assembly.  This 6 minute performance has been a lot of fun for the students and the adults.  We have laughed as students snap their heads, limbs and bodies to attention. We've giggled at their hoe-down moves. We've smiled at their touching last poses.
    I have been incredibly impressed with the fourth graders' professionalism, dedication, and drive to pull off the best "show" that they can.  Each student is taking part, and all are adding their own flair to the performance.  You would think that managing 43 kids all doing their own unique moves might be difficult or challenging. Instead, I've found it invigorating.  I love the look on their faces when they accomplish their goal. I love to hear them cheer for one another. I love the feeling of true success when they nail the whole thing for the first time.  Their enthusiasm is so contagious. These are the experiences that I truly love as a teacher, and I think it is fairly safe to say, that these are the moments students love too.  How many of you remember you elementary school plays, concerts, skits? Isn't it funny that we can recall them like they were only yesterday?  I hope that this will be a memory for my students, I know it will be something that I will not soon forget.

Puzzles

  At the end of the day on Friday I pulled out two Vermont 1000 piece puzzles.  I split the class in half and had them go at it. What I didn't realize was just how much fun the kids would have!  They were focused, cooperative, and 100 percent engaged in the activity. So much so, that they begged to leave the puzzles out in the room (my plan the whole time, but they didn't need to know that.)
  Today the students piled into the room begging to do the puzzles.  They finished their morning work, "Mrs. West can I work on the puzzle?" They finished their math work, "Mrs. West can I work on the puzzle?"  They had a few minutes before lunch, "Mrs. West can we work on the puzzle?" It was time for dismissal and we had to wait for the buses, "PLEASE Mrs. West, can we work on the puzzles?"  Who would have guessed that I created such monsters!
  The things is, the puzzles are giant maps of Vermont.  Each includes important attractions, land formations, rivers and borders.  Each puzzle is an interactive lesson for the kids. They are quickly learning that when they put together Lake Champlain  it is in the north western part of the state.  They are pouring over our state's features without even realizing they are doing it. I hear them talking about the Quechee Gorge, the Connecticut River, Ben and Jerry's, Stowe, etc.  All the while, they are having a blast!  Shh, don't tell... 

Private or Personal?

  Every student's hand was raised in the air. Some were waving, others were hopping in their seats. You could feel the excitement in the room.  We were talking about their world. This wasn't stuff found in old textbooks. This was their life, their understanding, their experiences, and boy was it obvious.  What caused such a zap of energy into my small class? A lesson on private and personal information on the web.
  We began by discussing websites that they knew required information in order to use them.  It was amazing the list they came up with.  It was very apparent that most students had access to the internet at home, and have spent enough time online to know all too well that almost every site you now visit asks you to register.
  We took out the ipads and opened up www.bookadventure.com. This is a simple site geared towards kids all about about reading.  We began to take a close look at the type of information these sites ask for. I asked the students to pay close attention to what information was required and what information was optional. Then a heated discussion started about why each was marked accordingly.  The ideas were flowing, and I was greatly impressed by the way the students built on each other's thoughts.
  I then passed out a list of information that students might offer up. This list ranged from their favorite band to their social security number.  I gave them a few minutes to mark each item as private information, details that you shouldn't ever reveal online, or personal information, details about you that are okay to share with people you know.  We then dug in and began to share our thoughts and reasons for why each was marked the way it was.  We discussed in great detail what it meant for someone to steal your identity or to know too much about you.
  The kids were impassioned, engaged, and on the edge of their seat.  But above all else, I think that they really learned something. I could hear them as we lined up for lunch discussing how they were never going to give out their last name again.  Lesson successful!

Where in the World is Vermont?

     Today we switched from our animal science unit to the geography of Vermont.  We began by looking at the globe on Google Earth.  We were able to then zoom in to North America. Most students were quickly able to identify that Canada was to our north and Mexico to our south.  We zoomed in further to the United States.  When asked where Vermont was on the map, some students struggled. Many new that it was somewhere in the east, but the actual location was a little daunting for some. We colored the state green and then colored and labeled Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island yellow. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many students recognized that these states were part of New England.  We colored the rest of the United States red, and students were asked to fill in any states that they may recognize and know. The focus of this unit is not to learn all the fifty states, but I thought it important to give the kids a chance to share what they know about the geography of the United States of America. 
    Tomorrow we will be zooming into New England and looking at Vermont's placement more carefully. We will then zoom in one more time onto the state itself.  In the coming weeks, students will be learning the counties and geographical regions of our state. Eventually everyone will be working with partners to create a Glogster! This is a very cool online poster that is made of video, audio, and visual representations. I can't wait to get started on this project.
    At home, be sure to talk to your students about the geography of Vermont. You might start pointing out the mountains or some of the rivers as you drive.  You may mention when you cross over into New Hampshire and how you knew you were no longer in Vermont.  Mention the borders of the state or even the borders of the counties.  I always encourage talking to your kids about what we are doing in class as it only enhances their learning process and encourages them to be active learners in and out of class.

Entering the 21st Century!

    Today, the fourth graders entered the 21st century, and boy were they excited.  As some of you may know, the fourth and fifth graders at DBS are piloting new technology.  We have brand new ipads and net-books for the students to use in class. We have been patiently waiting for the wifi in the school to be up and running so that we could use these devices to their full potential.  The students have been impatiently asking, "When, Mrs. West?"  Well, today I could finally answer, "Today!"
     As you can see on their faces, this experience was thrilling. We began the lesson reviewing the dos and don'ts of using technology.  This was just a quick reminder from a previous lesson that they had this year from Ms. Paquette, our Tech Integrationist.  I was proud of how much they remembered, and how eager they were to follow the rules.
     Our first lesson involved a wonderful educational app called Brainpop.  The spokesboy, Tim, and his robot, Moby, have educational videos on just about every subject under the sun. Today we spent a little time learning how the presidential election actually works.  As one student commented, "This is really interesting."  (Out of the mouths of babes). I enjoyed watching the students interacting with the technology. In pairs, they were able to rewind parts of the video, pause, fast forward, and replay over and over at their own pace to get the information that they needed.  They had so much fun "playing" with the ipads, that they really didn't realize they were learning as well. Isn't that the best kind?
     We are so blessed to have these devices this year, and I am excited to see all the possibilities that we can do with them.  Ask your child what they thought?  You'll be sure to hear about them a lot this school year.

Putting the Garden to Bed

Today we went outside to put the DBS garden to bed! Imagine a dozen fourth graders with spades and rakes in their hands digging up weeds. I am sure you can picture the excitement of this activity.  Once a week the fourth grade has Dartmouth College students come to teach lessons on healthy living. They have been learning about layers of the dirt, composting, recycling, etc.  There job today was to dig up all the weeds in order to make sure the garden was ready for winter.  Come spring, students will be planning and planting the DBS garden.  We had a few surprises today,  it seems that the fifth graders missed a large section when they harvested. We had lots of potatoes, and even found a squash that was left behind.  Every child has a small potato with them that they got to take home from school.  I encourage you to use it at dinner this week as the Dartmouth students will be asking how each student used their potato.  (I realize that they are small. Just do the best you can!)

Wait...you want me to think?

    Students were asked to think today. I know, I know what you are thinking. Aren't they asked to think every day? Absolutely. But today was a little different. Today I pointed out to them that they were thinking, and that seemed to blow their mind.  One student even said, "Wait, you want me to think?"  This made me laugh.  The students were busy observing ordinary things in the classroom.  They spent three or four minutes writing these observations down in their writer's notebook.  Students noticed all sorts of unique things about the room: the Coca Cola signs, the Time Out sign, other students, and even their teacher.  Then after a few minutes of writing I asked them to stop and to have a thought about what they observed.  They were asked to push themselves to THINK!  They were writing things like, "That makes me think that every child needs time to take a break, " or "I realize that the old Coke bottles were so much cooler than today's bottles." 
    This exercise is getting students prepared for writing personal essays. This type of writing is a long way from just telling stories about their lives, but what I was most impressed with was how no one complained about doing the work.  They loved it!  Tonight for homework, students have been asked to observe their every day lives at home. Perhaps they will observe how you eat dinner, or their football practice, or maybe the way their sister plays video games.  Whatever the case, they will observe for a few minutes and then push themselves to have a thought or two about these observations.  I encourage you to ask them about their thinking. Push them to write more, to think more, to explain more fully. 
     YES, I want you to think!

My First Blog!

    I want to start by saying thank you to so many of you for making my transition to Dothan Brook so easy and wonderful. I feel right at home with my new DBS family. I can't believe that October is half over!  It has been an amazing first six weeks.
     My fourth graders have settled into the routine, and they are making amazing progress.  I've seen an incredible growth in their writing. Today we focused on why writers write.  The students learned my favorite quote ever, "No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader!"  They learned that writers have something to say.  They were so excited about being able to write what was on their mind, that they were upset when the writing time was finished. What more can a teacher ask for?
     I have also seen my class start to live the lives of readers.  They talk books, they share the stories with their friends, and they are anxious to get their hands on a book at any point in the day. I was ecstatic today when a self-titled "nonreader" finished his third book of the year and anxiously asked me, "What am I going to read next Mrs. West?"
     This week we got rolling on our second unit in math class.  The Great Wall of Base Ten was built over the '57 Chevy on my wall.  The students had fun figuring out the dimensions, 100 cm x 100 cm and an area of 10,000 sq. centimeters!
     We had amazing Dartmouth students come to teach the students about soil.  They are preparing the students to put the DBS garden to bed next week, and then to plant in the spring.  We also finished up listening to the creative new animals that the students came up with based on the physical and behavioral adaptations of their chosen environment.  I had some very creative animals! Come check them out on the bulletin board outside our class!
     Short week, only 2 more days left to go, but so many exciting things yet to come!