The compliments keep coming!

The 4th grade keeps getting compliments on their presentation of the MLK speech. At an after school all-staff meeting on Wednesday, one Upper Division Teacher acknowledged the 4th grade teachers and started a round of applause for us. Another Upper Division teacher asked how long we had practiced for - she couldn't believe that we accomplished all we did in only 3 weeks!

We also got an email from a FA parent:

From parent email
"I attended Wednesday Morning Meeting today to see my daughter read her Book Buzz report. What I didn't know was that the 4th graders would be reciting Martin Luther King's Dream speech. Their performance brought tears to my eyes, and I want to congratulate you and your children on a rendition beautifully done."

If you were unable to see the speech, check out the video!

A place for our pets!

Hi everyone,

We decided to section off a little part of our Meeting Area to showcase pictures of our pets. If you want to, please bring in one picture of your pet to add to the showcase.

In Social Studies we are continuing to study the South and are focusing on the Civil Rights period. We have been assigned random topics to study within our own own classrooms. Our class is studying the following:

Grace: Freedom Riders
Jenna: Ruby Bridges
Aidan: Little Rock Nine
Sam: Thurgood Marshall
Alex: Civil Rights Act of 1964
Nathan: Opposition to the Civil Rights Act
Sammy: Montgomery Bus Boycott

We are researching these topics and gaining more knowledge about them within our own classrooms. On Tuesday we will meet back within our mixed-4th grade classes and find out who our partner or partners are that studied similar topics. Together we will come up with a way to present this information to our classmates - maybe via iMovie, Power Point, or a skit.

Coming Up

Wednesday, January 27th - 4th Grade presentation of the "I Have a Dream" speech during All School Meeting

Thursday, February 4th - Pizza and Game Night 2010 (more information to come)

Friday, February 19th (tentative) - 4th grade Biography Breakfast. Parents invited! More information to come.

Sledding time!

Who would have thought that a snow storm that happened before winter break would still bring us so much excitement?

We had a delightful time sledding down the hill where we have recess, and then explored the hills that the "far field" has to offer. It was a blast! We are all hoping for more snow : )

Inside the classroom we are working hard practicing for All School Meeting on January 27th when the 4th grade class reads a component of the MLK Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech. Please come if you can! ASM starts at 8:15.

We are continuing to read both Hank Zipzer: Niagara Falls, or Does It? in addition to The Liberation of Gabriel King. Today we were able to compare and contrast the main characters, Hank and Gabe, to discuss what's the same and what's different about them. Here is what we came up with:

SAME
They are both boys.
They are white and have friends that are African American.
They both get into trouble with adults.
They both get bullied by another student who takes away their desserts in their lunch boxes.

DIFFERENT
Hank lives in New York and Gabe lives in Georgia.
Hank is starting 4th grade and Gabe is ending 4th grade.
Hank has a dog and Gabe does not.
Hank has a sister and Gabe does not.
Hank's story takes place in the present, and Gabe's story takes places in the 1970s.

That's about it! Have a great 3-day weekend. ~ Mrs. Lawless

And we're back!

Hello there! We are back in the swing of things here, picking up right where we left off.

Yesterday's field trip was amazing! We are sorry that we did not need parent chaperones for the trip. In today's blue mail folders, the students are taking home some information/coupons for the Pequot Museum. It is unfortunate that the use of a camera is not allowed. We were able to capture a picture of some students playing the Native American Ring Pin game, though!

In Language Arts this week we began reading the first book in the Hank Zipzer series, written by Henry Winkler. To my dismay (but not shock) the students did not know about Happy Days, nor did they know about "The Fonz". I was certain to show them a video of the opening theme song, and a brief clip of Fonzie at his best before we talked more about Henry Winkler.

We began our unit on the South talking about the basic geography. Today within our integrated social studies groups, we discussed some of the many events leading up to Martin Luther King Jr.'s important speech. We brainstormed ideas that we want to know more about (Whatever happened to Rosa Parks? Who were some other leaders besides MLK that tried to change things?) and will be dividing into groups to research some of these topics within our own classrooms. Then, we will come together again with our integrated classes and work on presentations (power points, skits, movies, etc.) that demonstrate our knowledge.

All of 4th grade will also be presenting a portion of MLK's famous "I Have a Dream Speech" at All School Meeting on Wednesday the 27th of January . This is an event that 4th grade started last year and is beginning to turn into a tradition. Please come if you can! All School Meeting starts at 8:15 and there are chairs along the back for parents.

Have a great weekend and stay warm! ~ Mrs. Lawless