tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1873843841536431382024-03-19T05:10:23.877-07:00Ms.Ehtesham's Grade 4Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-33083344824616837792022-05-13T11:56:00.003-07:002022-05-13T11:56:56.968-07:00<p> Hi Families,</p><p>This will be a quick blog post since so much of our week was taken up by SBAC testing. The students really impressed me with their stamina and perseverance on our testing days! They worked super hard and no one was in a rush to finish. I have no idea if their answers were correct or not, but I am proud of them for trying their best!</p><p>During the times that we haven't been testing, we have been trying to get outside and play. I have given a lot of reminders about healthy competition and how winning is not as important as having a good time and staying kind. I think the emotions are running pretty high right now!</p><p>Today Gregg Martin from BRMS (Guidance Counselor) came to JES to talk to the 4th graders about the school, the teams, the clubs, etc. I think they are all pumped (AND nervous!)</p><p>We also started a new math unit this week -- does that seem crazy? This unit is all about data and ways to represent it, and it is a fun and stress-free unit. We won't do much of it next week since we will be having the math SBAC tests, but we will get back to it a little bit here and there over the next few weeks.</p><p>The next few weeks are a little crazy! Here are some important dates for you to remember:</p><p>T, W, and Th next week: SBAC testing</p><p>F May 20: 4th grade track meet at MMU</p><p>W May 25: Final Camp Swampy trip</p><p>F May 27: Move Up Day at BRMS</p><p>T June 9: 4th Grade Celebration at MRP</p><p>Please feel free to email me with any questions about any of the above. It's a busy time!</p><p><br /></p><p>I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and stay cool!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-72475436031358063282022-05-06T10:54:00.009-07:002022-05-06T11:07:24.025-07:00<p> Hello and happy Friday! There is a lot of important information in here, so I will try my best to be brief.</p><p>The week has seen a lot of reviewing and preparing for our SBAC testing. We did a few practice SBAC tests, mostly so the students could get used to the format, to logging in and out, and to see what kinds of questions they should expect. I told the class how I feel about SBAC testing: It is a snapshot of a moment in time, and honestly says more about me as a teacher than it does about them as human beings. Of course it is important to do your best, but getting nervous about it is not necessary! It is only a survey of how 4th graders are doing across the country, and is not a reflection of their intelligence or worth. I hope you will give the same message. We start on Monday!</p><p>Thank you to those of you who have signed up for (and approved your children to attend) our final Camp Swampy trip.<b> <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AQTpWx8H33YvgTgYf6P4U0qyuJJAQjWKVrdafkaZNuk/edit?usp=sharing"><span style="color: #800180;">Here</span></a></b> is the document for you to complete to sign up to volunteer and to grant permission to your child to attend. If you plan to chaperone, please complete this<b> <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScoiQStXlQn_bkxqjskIhI-68GbTy0A8Q3I2_Jci760IaFHVw/viewform"><span style="color: #800180;">form</span></a> </b>and read this <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LPKwG560P9VXenNXdFpEAGk3M7t-tXXfChLFfsY18co/edit?usp=sharing"><span style="color: #800180;"><b>document</b></span></a> as soon as possible so you can be approved and get on our list! In other Camp Swampy news, I have gotten approval for us to have a fire and make S'Mores while we are there. I would love some volunteers to send in ingredients for these, and also someone to send in juice and cups. If you can help with either of these, please let me know. If your child can't have S'Mores for any reason, also please let me know and we will find an alternative that works. I am looking forward to it being a fun-filled day! I hope we have nice weather because we don't currently have a rain date. Stay tuned!</p><p>As you may have heard from the JES office, we are making yard signs for each 4th grader. The signs will have their photo, their first name (only) and the JES logo on them. We would like to place these in front of the school facing Route 15. Please complete this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XEjBuCcZlOs7uDiAfayqvuxlO3uD91-2YEHe-KFrVuw/edit"><span style="color: #800180;"><b>form</b></span></a> to let us know if it is okay to display your child's yard sign. If not, we will display it inside the school building. All yard signs will be displayed at our 4th grade celebration at Mills Riverside Park, and you will be asked to take them home with you on that day.</p><p>Finally, this is that time of year when I start noticing how many books are missing from my shelves... I feel like I'm not doing my job if I don't lose at least a few each year, AND I would love to get the majority of them back! If you see books around your house that belong to my classroom or the JES library, please try to get those sent back. I appreciate it!</p><p>I hope to see you all at the Green Up Day breakfast tomorrow!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-80682546140311194982022-04-08T11:08:00.001-07:002022-04-08T11:08:24.198-07:00<p> Hello Families,</p><p>Here is a quick rundown of our week:</p><p>Math: We have finished up the multiplication bend of our unit, and have moved into division. Division is a much trickier operation for students to grasp, and we will need lots of practice. Stay tuned for a list of strategies that we will be using. They will not learn the traditional algorithm for long division that we all use as adults -- that comes in middle school once we know for sure that they understand division conceptually. Mostly, we use what we know about multiplication in order to help us divide!</p><p>Reading: Most clubs have finished their historical fiction book clubs, but students are continuing to read historical fiction on their own. We have worked hard on determining themes and lessons from these books, and I see the students really stretching their thinking!</p><p>Writing: We are still plugging away at our literary essays. We are learning how to write even more complicated theses and to really analyze our books! This unit is a favorite of mine since it tackles both reading more intentionally AND writing!</p><p>Science: This week we learned about tectonic plates and we discovered that earthquakes mostly happen at the edges of these plates. Next week we will begin to learn about the theory of Pangea and about how glaciers and volcanoes form and what they do to the earth.</p><p>That's a wrap! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-11480052536227467482022-04-01T11:02:00.000-07:002022-04-01T11:02:54.741-07:00<p> Happy Friday! It is hard to believe that it is already April nd that our time together is going so fast! The last few months of school go by really quickly, and I am trying to hold onto my hat!</p><p>Here's a rundown of what we did this week:</p><p>In math, we are learning a variety of strategies for double digit multiplication. I sent home a family letter today, so be sure to check your child's backpack. Overall, what we want students to be able to do by the end of 4th grade is to break the numbers apart into tens and ones, and to use what they know about multiplying by 10 to multiply by 20, by 30, etc. One of the strategies we use for this is called the "open area model." This is what it looks like:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgCKeJaQmrxz02uirtqEYcLfrWCM4fESj363sbqEUNofZHnHobZ3jRHOQzYOLu-Qk3P0bcLdMjFn_yfn3tKebro_0Wy-YFlA8_MrzAi0uEHl2Hbw9SD_1s-pjOWvFaPjcdSVs4mYy4g0zZYTn9DlTOuRVfGNgnMnYY7Z155T6YHNhHsjqhcmN-VJA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFgCKeJaQmrxz02uirtqEYcLfrWCM4fESj363sbqEUNofZHnHobZ3jRHOQzYOLu-Qk3P0bcLdMjFn_yfn3tKebro_0Wy-YFlA8_MrzAi0uEHl2Hbw9SD_1s-pjOWvFaPjcdSVs4mYy4g0zZYTn9DlTOuRVfGNgnMnYY7Z155T6YHNhHsjqhcmN-VJA" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your children should all know how to do this, so ask them to explain it to you! It is not the algorithm that we all learned when we were in school, but it is a type of algorithm and is methodical and clear. I am really proud to see these students begging for more multiplication problems. They know that practice makes perfect, and they are enjoying being successful! We move onto longer division next week, which will be a whole different ball of wax....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In reading, we are continuing to learn strategies to help us determine the themes and messages of our historical fiction books. The students are still reading in clubs, and they are discussing their books in order to push each other to think more deeply. This is hard -- they much prefer to simply retell what happened in the chapters. But they are beginning to have some deeper discussions! They are a work in progress.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our literary essays are coming along. At this point, everyone has a thesis and they are working to find direct quotes from their books to use as evidence. This is another super important skill that is hard. You can't just use any old quote; it has to be one that helps you prove your point! I hope to be finishing these essays up by the end of next week or early the week after. We will move onto a new unit after vacation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We finished up our science unit this week. The students learned so much about how humans use natural resources to make electricity. They understand which resources are renewable and which are not, and they get that ALL methods of making electricity have some consequences for our planet. I'm thinking one (or more) of them will grow up to save the world! Next week we will begin a unit on geology and tectonic plates.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr. Bouchard helped our class make a video about Green Up Day for Green Up Vermont's video competition. I have no idea if we have any chance of winning, but it was really fun to make this video! Enjoy: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peT-KmwSpoU">Green Up Video</a> Thank you, Mr. Bouchard!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the next few months, I am hoping to get parents involved in a variety of field trips, Camp Swampy, and some end-of-the-year festivities. If you are interested in being involved or chaperoning, please visit the MMU website, go to the Families tab, and click on Volunteering. You can complete the forms necessary for a background check so that we can ask you to help. Thank you! I sure hope I can get you all involved in our class somehow!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that is everything for this week. Please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns. Happy weekend!</div><br /><br /><p></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-47651949076020732952022-03-25T12:45:00.002-07:002022-03-25T12:45:08.061-07:00<p> Hello families,</p><p>It was lovely to meet with all of you over the past few weeks. I always enjoy conferences (especially when we can do it in person) because I feel like I get to know the students even better! Thank you all for taking the time to meet with me. We won't have any other scheduled conferences this year, but I am always available for a meeting if you feel the need.</p><p>I was out sick the past few days, and it sounds like the class had a tough time settling down and getting any meaningful work done. We took some time today to re-establish expectations and norms, and to discuss how to continue to be your best self even when routines are interrupted. This is a work in progress!</p><p>We have started out new math unit on multiplication and division. This week we did a lot of prep work by talking about making a reasonable estimate. One of the ways to do this is to think about what we know about the multiples of 10. If we are multiplying 22 X 56, we can start by saying we know 10 X 56 = 560. That means 20 X 56 = 1,120 (or twice as much as 10 X 56). Once we have that established, we have a pretty good baseline or estimate. If we proceed with the problem but get a solution in the multi-thousands or below 1,000, we know our solution is not reasonable. Next week we will begin looking at various strategies for breaking the numbers apart when multiplying. I will send home a family letter about this unit on Monday. Stay tuned!</p><p>I will be brief about reading and writing because we have moved very slowly this week, particularly since those are harder lessons to have taught by a guest teacher. In the past few days, the students wrote and shared letters with me. They are still working on paragraphing and elaboration skills. They are also still working on reading their club books and writing about their reading.</p><p>The class has earned a celebration. This time, the "selection committee" chose bedtime day and flashlight reading. Please remind your kids that they can wear comfy clothes/pajamas on Monday. They can wear slippers, bring a blanket, and bring a stuffy. If possible, have the bring a flashlight so we can read in the dark -- just for something fun and different! They will still need to be prepared for PE and the outdoors.</p><p>That is all for this week. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns.</p><p>Happy Friday!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-33353463563866400682022-03-10T11:08:00.002-08:002022-03-10T11:08:48.083-08:00<p>Welcome to a Thursday blog! I am not going to be here tomorrow, so I thought I should check in briefly before I go out of town. It feels like it's been another short week, especially since Wednesday was an early dismissal day. But we have been busy!</p><p>In math this week, we tackled adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators. This was relatively easy! We also worked on regrouping fractions for subtraction, and that was hard! The objective here is for students to understand that they can turn a whole number into fractions with the same numerator and denominator -- that's a kind of regrouping! The photo below shows what I mean.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_hbjRQBTGg62_UeEq3atbDv5fj91U34uvJGMbrkNSlUMCoEbIpIAQoOuFRJyaYhoSoGer51sPEOrDfopwsaJkOQywX2ejFBeJrSGPS8jQN6uJYLJYuW1MztWY65jEKjBnTc5sp0LEKA5zPdPCYl4RzIpEIkRDNACUnllRK5gBq1RX99GhC9lfGAuN" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi_hbjRQBTGg62_UeEq3atbDv5fj91U34uvJGMbrkNSlUMCoEbIpIAQoOuFRJyaYhoSoGer51sPEOrDfopwsaJkOQywX2ejFBeJrSGPS8jQN6uJYLJYuW1MztWY65jEKjBnTc5sp0LEKA5zPdPCYl4RzIpEIkRDNACUnllRK5gBq1RX99GhC9lfGAuN" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>This will take some practice, but I know we will all get there! We also began adding decimals this week, and will do more of that next week before getting into multiplication with fractions and whole numbers.</p><p>In writing, we are starting the "idea gathering" for our literary essays. Students are reading a variety of high level picture books and coming up with ideas about the characters and the themes. Next week they will each craft a thesis and get busy writing their essays.</p><p>We have started our historical fiction book clubs. The class is learning about how to notice the mood of the books (there is always trouble brewing!) and how to tack the "who, what, when, and where" onto their mental bulletin boards. Next week we will learn about double timelines and how they help us with comprehension.</p><p>In science, we are learning about renewable and nonrenewable natural resources, fossil fuels, and how humans use them for energy. We are learning about which things we use take the most electricity, and how each energy source has its pros and cons. </p><p>Tomorrow is NAEP testing for most of my class. You all received a letter about this about a month ago, and I reminded the students about it yesterday. All I can ask is for them to do their best and not put any pressure on themselves. We don't get to choose whether or not JES gets tagged for NAEP testing.... so here we are! Those students who aren't testing will spend time in the classroom with some review work while their peers take the test in other parts of the school. If you have questions about this, contact the office (since I will be away tomorrow.)</p><p>Thank you for signing up for conferences. I have sent out links for next week's conferences (if you didn't ask for an in-person conference.) If you did ask for in-person, you did not receive a link and you should assume that your in-person conference time is on my schedule. If you received a link from me for a virtual conference but would rather meet in-person, that is also fine. Just let me know! I will send out links for the week off 3/21 sometime next week.</p><p>I look forward to Monday when masks become optional. We discussed this as a class, and I think we are all ready to respect each family's choice and to be kind and caring about masks/no masks. I know it will be an adjustment, but it is a happy one!</p><p>I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I hope NOT to be driving in the storm! Stay safe, and happy snowstorm!</p><p><br /><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-63578793646074650832022-03-04T11:46:00.001-08:002022-03-04T11:46:29.968-08:00<p> Hello Families,</p><p>It has been a short week, but it has been nice to be together again! We spent some time re-establishing expectations for learning, and we also reviewed what it's like to be able to be in a circle on the rug (something we haven't done for a while!) This class adjusts so quickly to everything -- they have had a great week!</p><p>Academics have been a little slow this week since we needed some time to review. Math never stops... so we had 3 math lessons this week! We are now learning how to add fractions and how to decompose them. Today students were coming up with equations to equal 7/8 (like 1/2 + 2/8) and using models to show their thinking. Next week, we will get into subtracting fractions as well.</p><p>We are about to start historical fiction book clubs, but I am waiting for a few books to arrive. This week we reviewed what is meant by historical fiction, and we practiced finding certain elements of the genre in small passages. Next week, our clubs will begin in earnest.</p><p>We also "flash drafted" opinion essays this week. Many of the students were able to start and finish an essay in 2 days! We chose engaging and controversial topics that they felt strongly about. Some of these topics were: Should kids have Smartphones? Should kids be on TikTok? Should teachers give homework? They all had PLENTY of opinions about these topics! Next week we will begin learning how to write literary essays. So much BIG work for these little people!</p><p>I was pleased to see the letter from Mr. Alberghini about masking becoming optional starting on March 14. I know there will be some excitement about this, and it will be an adjustment! Next week, we will brainstorm as a class how it will feel, how we can continue to feel safe without masks, and how important it will be to respect each others' choices. </p><p>I wanted to mention 2 important things: First, the read-aloud book for our historical fiction unit is a book called Number the Stars that takes place during WWII. The book does not have any graphic descriptions of war or concentration camps, but instead focuses on the resistance movement in Denmark. I know that some of the students don't know much about the atrocities of WWII, and we aren't going to discuss them in class. But they may come home asking some questions about this era, and I wanted you to be prepared.</p><p>On a related note, the second thing is about the war in Ukraine. I have been hearing a lot of talk about it among the students, and I know some kids are scared or anxious. Today we had a class conversation about it. We looked at a map and located Ukraine, we discussed some of the reasons (in general) that wars begin, we looked at pictures of Ukraine (from before the war, of course!) and we talked about what sanctions are and what refugees are. It was a pretty surface conversation, but they asked a lot of questions that I couldn't answer (like, "Will there be a WWIII?") We stuck to the basic facts and I assured them that THEY are safe. Let me know if you have any questions about this, or about anything else!</p><p>Finally, please don't forget to sign up for a parent conference. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IxXNyuHlPLGaSrNXuwoPOGieGmoNQtZpW5OVl0RKyCw/edit?usp=sharing">Here</a> is the link.</p><p>Happy Friday!</p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-44676636554580248932022-02-18T10:51:00.002-08:002022-02-18T10:51:33.346-08:00<p>Wow. I can't believe it is already February vacation. The time is flying by, and I am already starting to get sad about saying goodby to this class! I know that a little rest and relaxation is in order, and I think we will all come back ready to roll up our sleeves and work hard in early March.</p><p>This has been a finishing up week, so there is not much to tell you about. Math is the one subject area that had any new learning this week. After making decks of fraction cards, we compared them to landmarks (such a 1/2, 1 and 2) and then put them in order on a number line. We also learned a variety of strategies to determine which fraction is bigger. This is not easy! We ended the week making decks of decimal cards, and we will return to those right after the break.</p><p>We had a lovely time at Camp Swampy this morning, and I am so glad we went despite the cold. We tried to do some tracking, but only one group found a rabbit track. I guess we were there too early for the animals to be out and about! Instead, the students decided to organize a game of Hide and Seek (entirely on their own!) The got it going and had a blast. Mr. Bouchard and I were only there to make sure everyone was safe -- they didn't need or want our guidance. I loved seeing them take on leadership roles and make sure no one was excluded. I was smiling from ear to ear, and they were enjoying every minute.</p><p>I am sending home a sign-up sheet (in my email) for parent conferences. Please find a time that works for you, and let me know if you need a different time. Also, your children are always welcome to attend if that works for you!</p><p>Please also keep an eye out for a letter from Mr. Williams about NAEP testing. Students are chosen randomly to be given this test -- for some reason, my class got lucky (or unlucky, depending on your perspective) and 19 out of 23 of them were chosen! The letter tells more about the testing, which we are mostly uninvolved in.</p><p>I hope you all have an opportunity to take some time off to be with your children over the next 10 days. I will miss them, and look forward to seeing them in March! </p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-26028252756281861972022-02-11T11:00:00.001-08:002022-02-11T11:00:55.473-08:00<p> Happy Friday! Another week down, and one to go before vacation.</p><p>Here is this week's rundown:</p><p>Math: Our main focus this week was on creating decks of fraction cards. The "wholes" were made up of blank squares or squares divided into thirds or fifths, and the students had to decide which whole to use to make 3/12, 2/10, etc. This was harder than I anticipated, but they worked in groups and helped each other. Today, each group spent some time comparing each card in their deck to landmark numbers like 0, 1/2, 1, and 2. They are getting better at noticing equivalent fractions and learning to put fractions in order!</p><p>Reading: This week, I continued assessments while the class had free reading time. We are working hard to build our stamina as readers, trying to really dig in to read for 30 to 45 minutes with no interruptions. This is harder in a classroom full of peers than it is at home, because there are clearly more distractions! But we keep working at it, and we will get there. The students also wrote letters to me about their reading this week -- telling me about the themes, the main ideas, the characters, etc. I have not read them all yet, but I look forward to it!</p><p>Writing: We are in the final days of our persuasive writing unit. The students are working on making sure they have an introduction with a hook, a thesis with 3 solid reasons, and body paragraphs with lots of good evidence for each reason. We've had a lot of practice with this format, so it is definitely getting easier, and I am excited to see them all understanding what a paragraph is!</p><p>We finished watching Cool Runnings today, and the class really seemed to love it. They are asking for another movie, but I think we will wait until after vacation. Now that we have been informed that they can talk without their masks on, I'd rather let lunch be a social time rather than a time to look at a screen. </p><p>We have been cleared to go to Camp Swampy again next Friday! I will keep a careful eye on the weather and be in touch with you again mid-week to verify, but we are all looking forward to seeing our forts and being in that special place again!</p><p>Please check backpacks today for notices from the library. Many students have overdue books!</p><p>That's all for this week! Enjoy your weekend.</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-73763640023852282422022-02-05T13:08:00.001-08:002022-02-05T13:08:13.023-08:00<p> Hi Families,</p><p>Yesterday's snow day was a lovely chance to rest and refresh, but it also caused me to forget about my weekly blog. So here is a somewhat abbreviated version just to keep you in the loop.</p><p>Math: We are fully into our fraction unit. This week, we tackled decimals and learned how they are related to fractions. We used a 10X10 grid to visualize decimals, and we talked a lot about decimal place value (tenths and hundredths) so that students can read and write them correctly. This coming week, we will begin learning how to put variou fractions in order, and we will also learn about improper fractions and what they mean.</p><p>Reading: All groups have finished their social issues books! We are spending a little time just free reading during reading time. This gives everyone the opportunity to have some choice, and also give me a chance to do some reading assessments as I get ready to write up report cards. I am noticing that the class has a lot more stamina than they used do when it comes to reading!</p><p>Writing: We are just about finished with our persuasive essays. After learning the format of this kind of essay with their opinion piece, this essay is getting written quickly! The students are becoming proficient at using paragraphs, which is one of the main objectives of this particular unit. Next we will tackle literary essays, using a very similar format.</p><p>Social Studies: We finished our civics unit on Monday with a debate. I really enjoyed watching and listening as the "legislators" debated the pros and cons of the bill. They all had nametags and I referred to them all as "Representative Smith, etc." They thoroughly enjoyed this! In the end, the bill did not pass. Since then, we have moved onto a short unit celebrating Black History month. Although we started out talking about and defining racism, we will focus a lot on the lives of both ordinary Black people and those who have done amazing things (not only activists but musicians, doctors, etc.) We will read a lot of books and watch a lot of short videos to spark conversation over the next few weeks.</p><p>A few other important points:</p><p>Sale: Thank you to all who have sent in items for our sale this Wednesday. If you have anything to send, it's not too late!</p><p>Valentine's Day is coming up. Although we won't have a party, I will allow the students to pass out Valentines. Bringing Valentines is completely optional, but if your child brings them, please make sure they bring one for everyone in the class so that we don't have any hurt feelings. Here is a class list:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Gabe A</li><li>Gabe P</li><li>Maeve</li><li>Jaela</li><li>Lily</li><li>Makaylee</li><li>Aubri</li><li>Greta</li><li>Lorna</li><li>Catherine</li><li>Kuziva</li><li>Noah</li><li>Jack</li><li>Eli</li><li>Aiden</li><li>Dylan</li><li>Myles</li><li>Ellie</li><li>Emma</li><li>JJ</li><li>Malakai</li><li>Cameron</li><li>Abel</li></ul><div>Movie: Since we are trying to keep talking to a minimum during lunchtime due to COVID protocols, we often watch a silly cartoon. The students have asked if we could watch a movie instead. Lunch is only about 25 minutes, so it would take us almost a week to watch a movie. I thought of the movie Cool Runnings since the Winter Olympics are happening and the movie is about the first Jamaican bobsled team. The movie is rated PG for mild language and one barroom brawl, but has a wonderful message about sportsmanship and determination. If any of you have any objections to your children watching this, please let me know and I will find something else.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's all for now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.</div><p></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-52012663970931567592022-01-28T09:51:00.000-08:002022-01-28T09:51:03.718-08:00<p> Hello families. I hope you are all staying warm and healthy! Here is the rundown for this week:</p><p>Math: This week we started our fraction unit. So far, we have been finding fractional parts of a 4X6 rectangle, using what we know about 24 to help us find 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, etc. For young math thinkers, it is important to be able to SEE the fractional parts, and to understand what a unit fraction is (1/4 is easier than 3/4, for example.) We have also worked on equivalence, or understanding that 1/2 is the same as 4/8. Yesterday and today, we switched to a 5X12 rectangle, and we worked on finding 1/5 and 1/12, then 2/5, 4/5, etc. This was a difficult switch for the class, but it will all make sense to them eventually as we keep working at it! Next week we will move on to hundredths, and begin to make a connection between fractions and decimals. Stay tuned!</p><p>Reading: We are just about finished with our book club unit, and most clubs are close to the end of their books. We have continued to talk about IDEAS and how to push ourselves to discuss in depth rather than always retelling or predicing. We are getting there!</p><p>Writing: This week we switched from our opinion writing to persuasive writing. The students are all working on coming up with a thesis and 3 reasons for it. These pieces will be letters to you, to Mr. Williams, to me, to government officials, etc. The point is to try to convince someone to DO something or change something. I am impressed with the topics I have seen so far!</p><p>Social Studies: Since we learned about how a bill becomes a law last week, this week we learned all about our state government and about how our General Assembly works. We ended the week by looking at a few actual bills that are on the docket. On Monday, we will have a mock legislature and debate House Bill 28, which if passed, would make it possible for students to opt out of using a computer while at school. We had extensive conversations about who this bill would impact, and how. I think the class is beginning to understand that our legislators have a big job! I know they are all looking forward to the debate on Monday.</p><p>Here are a few important details for next week:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We will have Snow Motion on Monday. Please be sure to send appropriate outerwear, etc.</li><li>We also have our mock legislature on Monday. I have asked the students to dress"professionally" if they want, just to make it feel more like they are actually state representatives. I know this is tricky since it is the same day as Snow Motion, but they can change into their business attire after recess. This is OPTIONAL so please don't let it cause any issues!</li><li>I am still looking for items for our store. Please feel free to send these in!</li></ul><div>Here are a few questions to spark conversation:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How much money do you have in your account?</li><li>What is a welfare check?</li><li>What is a fraction, and is there such a thing as the bigger half?</li><li>Who is Ruby, and what promise did Ivan make to her?</li><li>What is your thesis for your persuasive piece?</li></ul><div>I think that is all for this week. Enjoy the weekend!</div></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-53099460069056935532022-01-21T11:53:00.001-08:002022-01-21T11:53:26.200-08:00<p> Hi again. It's yet another freezing Friday, and the class has been stuck indoors a lot this week. I hope next week is better!</p><p>Here's a brief rundown:</p><p>In math, we finished up our measurement unit. This week we focused on strategies for finding the area of different shapes, and then of rectangles. We also reviewed perimeter. Today, as a fun bonus, we got to play with protractors and learned how to measure angles. Of course, we continued working in our checkbooks as well. Everyone got paid, everyone paid taxes, and everyone paid rent. They are enjoying this!</p><p>In reading, we really worked on how to have deeper book club conversations. We learned about the importance of pushing ourselves to have ideas, and also how important it is to be open to the ideas of your book club peers. Students are writing in their reading journals, and they are even working on collecting evidence from the text to back up their claims!</p><p>I am super impressed with the writing that everyone is doing. The opinion writing essay is very structured and forces the students to think about paragraphing. They are writing wonderful essays about sports teams, friendship, seasons, and so much more. Some are even using metaphors to make their writing more meaningful. By the middle of next week, we will be moving onto persuasive writing. Don't be surprised if you get a well-written 5 paragraph essay convincing you to paint a room of your house, get a new pet, or take a vacation. I've seen many essays like that in my years of teaching! This essay unit goes so well with our social issues book clubs and also with our civics unit.</p><p>Speaking of civics, this week the class learned about congress, what is meant by democrat and republican, and how a bill becomes a law (complete with "I'm Just a Bill" from Schoolhouse Rock!) Next week they will learn about Vermont's government and we will look at a few actual bills that our legislature is considering. Then we will choose one to debate and write to our congressman/woman about. These students are becoming young activists!</p><p>If you haven't already, please remember that I am hoping to collect some "garage sale" items that your children don't want anymore so that we can use the "money" left in our "accounts" for something real. Feel free to begin sending items in anytime!</p><p>Here are a few questions you can ask your children this week to spark conversation:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Who are Ivan and Stella?</li><li>What does it mean when a bill dies in committee?</li><li>What does the government use our tax money for?</li><li>What is a right angle?</li><li>What is your thesis in your opinion essay?</li><li>What does Ms. Ehtesham take VERY SERIOUSLY?</li></ul><div>I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Remember, we have SNOW MOTION on Monday morning! Let's hope for some moderating temperatures!</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Friday!</div><p></p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-67530463886947690212022-01-14T10:41:00.001-08:002022-01-14T10:41:39.139-08:00<p>Happy chilly Friday!</p><p>I hope you are all staying healthy and warm! We have had a warm and cozy week here in the classroom. Here is the rundown:</p><p>We finished up the linear measurement part of our math unit. The class learned how to convert inches to feet and yards, and millimeters and centimeters to meters. More importantly, they learned about how to measure perimeter. They all understand how to do this! We will keep practicing it throughout the year. We have moved on to learning about polygons and symmetry and measuring the area of odd shapes. This short unit is hands-on and fun for everyone! </p><p>Of course, the most exciting part of our math work this week was our checkbooks. Everyone got paid and entered their paycheck amount into their check register. Then they wrote me a rent check and a tax check (along with a great discussion about why they all owed different amounts for taxes -- based on income) and subtracted those amounts in their check registers. It took a little time to refresh our understanding of the US algorithm, but we all got there! The students seem to LOVE this activity! Some of them are finding out it is hard to make so little money and manage their bills... they don't know this yet, but some of them will receive a "welfare check" later (following a discussion about how our government uses some of our tax money.) Such important life learning!</p><p>We continue reading our social issues books in clubs. This week, we focused a lot on figuring out the social issue, and on HOW to have a good, rich book discussion. This takes practice! They are already getting better at it!</p><p>In writing, we are still working on our opinion pieces. The students are writing about all sorts of things, ranging from sports teams to friendships to cats versus dogs. The topic is important because a good opinion essay needs 3 solid reasons. For example, I might write "I love ice cream because it is refreshing, it has lots of flavors, and there are so many yummy toppings." My next job would be to write a paragraph saying more about each of those 3 reasons. We are using colors to help us stay organized. Ask your child to explain more about this!</p><p>Our civics unit continued this week. After learning about our rights and responsibilities as citizens last week, we shifted into learning about how our government works. This week we learned about the 3 branches of government and what their responsibilities are. The class understands the need for checks and balances. They could all pass a citizenship test!</p><p>On Wednesday, February 9 (an early release date) we plan to have our "sale" to celebrate the ending of the checkbook activity. If you have any kid-friendly items that you were thinking of throwing away or donating to Good Will, please consider sending them in. The class will have a blast "buying" each others' stuff! Let me know if you have any questions about this. Thanks in advance!</p><p>That's all for this week. Stay warm!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-61571786491850437072022-01-07T08:32:00.001-08:002022-01-07T08:32:27.716-08:00<p> Happy 2022, everyone! It has been a really wonderful week here in the classroom, despite sickness and the usual interruptions. We are so happy to welcome our new student, Gabe. It feels like he has been here all year! He fits in beautifully, and the class has been wonderful in making sure he feels like he belongs. </p><p>January is usually my favorite month of teaching. With the holidays behind us and spring fever not yet upon us, these 6 weeks are productive and calm, with lots of learning happening. This year looks to be no exception (assuming COVID doesn't disrupt us too much) and I am looking forward to some good weeks ahead.</p><p>Here's the rundown for this week:</p><p>In reading, we started our Social Issues book clubs. The students made a sad list of social issues that face us in today's world, and they are reading books in groups and identifying/discussing these issues with their peers. This sort of literary analysis combined with real-life issues is so good for them to tackle, and they are certainly mature enough for the conversations!</p><p>In writing, we have just started an opinion writing unit. The students are still picking their topics, but they will all write a 5 paragraph essay with a thesis that they have to support. They will be masters of paragraphing by the time this unit is over! The social issues they are reading about will help them come up with some strong opinions to write about!</p><p>We have started our civics unit in social studies. So far, we have learned what is meant by democracy, and we have learned what rights and responsibilities we have as citizens of a democracy. We also learned about the Bill of Rights and the first 10 amendments. If you hear your child saying, "I plead the 5th," it is because they learned about our 5th amendment and the freedom to not incriminate yourself in court! We will go on to learn about our 3 branches of government, what is meant by Democrat and Republican, and how a bill becomes a law. They will be very informed citizens when this unit is over!</p><p>Finally, in math, we are doing a short unit on measurement. This week, we focused on linear measurement and perimeter. Next week we will get into symmetry and finding the area of unusual shapes. The students all received their "checkbooks" and we are starting our math simulation. Each student has a "job" and will get a paycheck weekly for 4 weeks. They will also get a tax bill and a rent bill. They will need to write 2 checks each week to pay their bills. Of course, they will have to add and subtract their checks and payments in their check registers. This is a great way to practice the algorithm, and also a wonderful life skill to learn! Naturally, they love doing this... and the celebration at the end will be a sale where they can spend their "money" to buy a variety of stuff (that I might be asking you to donate -- garage sale items that you don't want anymore! One man's trash is another man's treasure, right?) Stay tuned!</p><p>That is all for this week. I hope you all have a restful and HEALTHY weekend!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-6535474135980402832021-12-17T16:19:00.001-08:002021-12-17T16:19:29.710-08:00<p> Hi Everyone,</p><p>This week went by so fast! At the end of the day, with a million holiday-related things on my mind, I walked out the door a little earlier than usual. I went off shopping, and about an hour ago, I realized I had never written my blog post for the week! I apologize for being so late, and for all of the typos I found (and then fixed) in last week's blog. I guess we are all a little busy right now!</p><p>It has certainly been a busy week. The classroom is abuzz with excitement, and it has been hard to get all 22 students to sit, listen, and stay engaged. I know their minds are elsewhere, so I have tried to keep the new learning to a minimum. Instead, we have done a lot of reviewing and finishing up. We have completed our expert books! On Monday, we will have our on-demand assessment for nonfiction writing. I told the students this today because I like them to have some time to plan and pick a topic. If you have a moment, talk to your children about this and help them nail down a topic so they are ready for Monday. It should be a topic they know a lot about so they can write like experts! I am hoping to see some wonderful organization in their writing!</p><p>We are also more or less finished with our nonfiction writing unit. Today the students got together with their research groups and taught each other what they have learned about various extreme weather events. They learned a lot during their research -- and I don't mean just facts. They learned how to research across multiple texts, how to tackle the really hard parts of the books they were using, and how to come up with some ideas about their topics. I am impressed with them!</p><p>We took a brief dive into our energy unit this week during science. We played with "roller coasters" and marbles and learned about potential energy and hills. We will come back to this after break -- mostly learning about how humans use various natural resources to make energy in the form of electricity.</p><p>Math is the only subject that we kept on with this past week. After learning how to use the US algorithm for addition and subtraction with numbers up to 1,000, we were ready to move onto much larger numbers! We made a 10,000 chart in our classroom, and we learned a lot about place value and how to move around in our number system. These are BIG numbers and they are hard for many students to conceptualize, much less add and subtract! But that is exactly what we did this week. We practiced using the traditional algorithm to solve problems such as 23,145 - 16,848. We also learned to really think about every equation and to decide if the algorithm was the best strategy. We can solve 25,000 - 4,500 in our heads FAR more easily than with an algorithm, All those zeroes and all that regrouping (or borrowing) is a lot harder than using our knowledge of numbers and our mental math skills! We will finish up this unit before the break, but of course we will keep adding and subtracting -- forever!</p><p>Thank you to all off you who have sent in crafting supplies. I know the students are looking forward to our Maker's Space next week. It will be nice to take a brief break from the usual academic pressure and have a little creative fun!</p><p>I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Think SNOW!</p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-30126449556785097412021-12-10T12:47:00.008-08:002021-12-12T05:19:17.905-08:00<p>Happy Friday! It is has been terrific to be back at school all day the past few days. The week went by quickly, but we made the best of it!</p><p>We definitely had to spend a bit of time this week reviewing classroom routines and expectations. This is normal after a week's vacation, but was particularly necessary since the class had a guest teacher for a week. Even though it took time away from our academics, it was necessary. I feel like today was a good day all around, and I feel like we are back on track (just in time for another vacation coming up....!)</p><p>Here's a quick review of our academics this week:</p><p>In reading and writing, we are still working with nonfiction texts. Students are working in research groups. Each group is researching a different kind of weather event. They are learning how to find what subtopics to research and how to make sure they are synthesizing across the books they read. In writing, they are working to finish up their expert books. They are adding pictures and other nonfiction features, and they are learning to say more!</p><p>In math, we finally learned the US algorithm for subtraction (what we used to call "borrowing.") Wow! They seem to love doing this! Here is a photo to show you our first method (which is a transitional method) and then the usual method:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmP4s-e3vTwQNbioCQkupiOFLiNd-fylTwmeue4-87KEhgJKCL9zSVoatYnNtSBfkBlcAbS9RICXAeLnh4y67qFpX8Cm80LSYHVbLT81yDFfvcQRjxaYRa6LrLAJPi0vHfAens8Dq-1o/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmP4s-e3vTwQNbioCQkupiOFLiNd-fylTwmeue4-87KEhgJKCL9zSVoatYnNtSBfkBlcAbS9RICXAeLnh4y67qFpX8Cm80LSYHVbLT81yDFfvcQRjxaYRa6LrLAJPi0vHfAens8Dq-1o/w261-h348/image.png" width="261" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can seen, in the transitional method, the top (or larger) number is expanded out by place value. The smaller number is as well. This way, students can better see exactly what is happening as they regroup from hundreds place to tens place, etc. After all, 1,582 is the same as 1,000 + 400 + 170 + 12. (I hope this makes sense! It does to your children -- ask them to show you!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once we start using the algorithm (some are already using it) we have to be very careful to LINE the numbers ups, and to always remember that we have to regroup any time the number on the top is smaller than the number we are subtracting. Phew! We will continue to practice this next week as we get into the 10,000's!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is some other important information:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please be sure your children have snow pants, boots, coats, and gloves daily. Many of them prefer to go outside to play in just their regular clothes and shoes, and then they are wet and uncomfortable all afternoon. If you put it in their backpack, I make them wear it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the winter holidays upon us, I am thinking of doing a Secret Snowflake activity. Here is how it works. The students each pick a name (randomly) and then I create a Maker's Space here at school. I have a lot of craft materials! Each student will then make some sort of gift for the person they chose. I will give them 2 separate days to work on this since glue and paint need to dry. Then they will wrap these and give them to each other! This is ALL done at school so that everyone has access to the same materials and there is no burden on you. (Of course, I may send out a list of crafting things the students want if I don't have them, but that is up to you!) Please let me know if you don't want your child to participate in this. We plan to do it on Monday and Tuesday 12/20 and 12/21. A few kids have said they might not be here, so let me know that as well. Of course, reach out with questions or concerns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think that is all! Thank you again for all of your support during my sickness. Have a wonderful weekend!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-53342772374965147672021-11-19T10:50:00.003-08:002021-11-19T10:50:53.362-08:00<p> Hello Families,</p><p>It has been a while since I have blogged. I was out sick 3 days last week, so I feel a bit out of touch! Here is a brief rundown of what we are doing in 4th grade:</p><p>In Reading, we have transitioned to nonfiction texts. Most of the class truly prefers fiction, but they are working on trying to love nonfiction as well. They have learned about what structures authors use, how to commit to a book or topic, how to figure out the meanings of unknown words, and how to recognize a "hybrid" text. After break, we will learn about summarizing and looking for main idea.</p><p>We are also writing nonfiction ("expert books") texts. This class really loves to write! They have all created a table of contents and chapter headings, and they are working hard to organize their writing into sections based on their headings. They are putting in expert words, pictures and captions, and a mix of facts and ideas. I am enjoying reading their writing!</p><p>In math, we have shifted from multiplication/division to adding and subtracting with large numbers. So far, the class has reviewed place value and learned how to add using the standard algorithm that all of us learned ("carrying" the one, which is actually called regrouping.) Many of them are so relieved to have learned this -- it is far more efficient than the strategies they are used to! We purposely wait until grade 4 to teach this so that we are certain that kids are solid in their understanding of place value. After break, we will learn how to subtract using the algorithm as well. This is far trickier, especially when "borrowing" across a zero! We will take our time and get lots of practice. </p><p>In science, we spent this week learning all about the human eye. The students all made a model eye using a ping pong ball (the hot glue makes them look like they have cataracts...) and they all know how to identify and label the main parts of the eye.</p><p>Today was another Camp Swampy day! We decided not to try to get to the pine forest because we know there are a lot of ticks in the woods, and the trail is very tight and overgrown. We will try that in the winter on show shoes! You never know what you will find in the woods, and today we found a deer stand (on the ground) with a few cans of beer on it. Unfortunately, one of the cans exploded and we had a small beer fountain. If your child comes home smelling of a brewery, this is why! It gave us a perfect opportunity to talk about how humans effect the woods. After that bit of excitement, we went to our usual spot and the class spent the last hour simply playing and building their forts. I so enjoyed watching them have the chance to play in such a carefree environment!</p><p>Here are some new words for this week: fatigue and defiant. I know we all feel some fatigue and are ready for a break. I hope none of you experience any defiance from your children!</p><p>I am thankful every day for this lovely class and all of their unique personalities. I am also thankful for all of your support. I hope that you all enjoy a lovely Thanksgiving with loved ones, and I look forward to seeing the students in a week.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-969210348958499542021-11-05T10:54:00.002-07:002021-11-05T10:54:14.917-07:00<p> This was a "finishing-up" week! We worked so hard to get things done, and we did it! We finished our writing unit and had a fun tropical celebration. The writing is hanging on our bulletin board and the class is proud of their work. We finished up our narrative reading unit, and the students all made so much progress in the kinds of thoughts they jotted down in their Reader's Notebooks. Finally, we finished up our multiplication and division unit. The final assessment made me happy -- there are still a few tangled ideas about multiplying and dividing, but we have made HUGE progress since September.</p><p>Next week, we will begin reading and writing nonfiction units. Your children will all be writing "expert books" so this might be a good weekend to help them come up with some ideas. We will be reading books about the weather, at least for a few weeks. Then they will get to choose other nonfiction books that are appealing to them.</p><p>We will also start our next math unit, Adding and Subtracting with Large Numbers. Although it starts out with some review, this unit teaches them all a lot of flexible strategies for adding and subtracting, really cements their understanding of place value, and teaches them how to add a subtract with what we used to call "borrowing and carrying" (which is really just regrouping.) They always love this unit and have a huge AHA moment when they begin to understand this!</p><p>Our new vocabulary words this week were elated and fragrant. Use those around your dinner table!</p><p>Ask your kids about:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Empathy</li><li>Day of the Dead</li><li>Was Funny Once</li><li>Algebra!</li></ul><p></p><p>That is all for this week -- short and sweet, for a change! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It looks like it is going to be abundantly sunny!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-68006956935223449482021-10-29T11:05:00.000-07:002021-10-29T11:05:00.674-07:00<p>What a beautiful day for a visit to Camp Swampy! We lucked out. We started out by sitting and reflecting individually about what has changed in the forest since the last time we were there. After sharing our ideas, we learned some good strategies for identifying trees. We discussed the barkm the shape, and of course the leaves. Then each "den" went out to their adopted tree to see what they could come up with. Finally, they got a chance to build on to their forts and just have some fun in the woods. We will go again in 2 weeks, and we can't wait! </p><p>We ended our day with candy maps -- another fun activity! The students made their map bases out of Rice Krispies Treats, then put Snow Caps, Laffy Taffy, and Blue Laces on the show the rivers, the lake, and the mountains. They may have eaten a Snow Cap or 2, but the map is coming home to be eaten at your discretion! I am impressed with how much they have learned about Vermont's geography!</p><p>We have finished our narrative writing unit, and we will have a small celebration on Monday before moving on to our next unit, informational writing. In the narrative unit, students learned how to add setting, dialogue, a problem, a plot, and lots of action to their stories. They did a wonderful job!</p><p>We are almost finished with our multiplication and division unit (more in the spring.) Students are working hard to understand how to multiply by 10 and how to use that simple strategy to multiply and divide larger numbers. They still aren't completely used to this and it isn't their go-to strategy yet. But we are getting there!</p><p>We have started a "Shades of Meaning" wall with vocabulary words from our read-aloud (Gregor the Overlander.) It is really helpful if you can use the words at home, around the dinner table, in the car, etc. The more the words are heard in context, the more likely the kids are to learn them. This week's words are hostile and arrogant. Enjoy putting those to use!</p><p>Here are some things to ask your kids about this weekend:</p><p>What's the 10th multiple? (of ANY number)</p><p>Who are Gregor and Boots?</p><p>Who is Glassman?</p><p>What is meant by foreshadowing?</p><p>What happened to the tiger?</p><p>What is a conifer and a deciduous tree?</p><p>That's all for this week. Enjoy the weekend, and Happy Halloween to all who celebrate!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-71795072353218908102021-10-22T10:49:00.000-07:002021-10-22T10:49:02.310-07:00<p> Hi Families,</p><p>It has been a super busy week in the classroom! Since I just met with most of you to discuss your children, I will keep this brief. We are still working on all of the same units, so I have nothing terribly new to say!</p><p>In math, we are working hard on learning how to multiply larger numbers by 10. Kids have learned to "just add a zero," but I don't accept that because <b>adding</b> a zero to a number doesn't change it! I have taught them that we are simply moving the tens place to the hundreds place, the ones place to the tens place, and then putting a zero in the ones place! This still confuses them, and it would be easy to fall back on the "add a zero" trick, but I think it is more important to have the conceptual understanding of how our number system works. Ask you child what 24 X 10 is. Or 31 X 10. Or any large number by 10. This would be a fun way to entertain yourselves on a car ride, and good practice for them as well!</p><p>We are continuing to finish up our reading and writing units. Today the students looked at the 4th grade writing report card so they could see what the expectations are. I gave them each a checklist so they could do some reflecting on their own writing and decide what still needs to be done. Their stories are cute and really coming to life. I can't wait to celebrate their writing the week after next!</p><p>During conferences, a few of you mentioned that you are having a hard time getting your kids to read. This week, I am sending home (in the Friday folder) an official HOMEWORK sheet that tells you and your child what needs to be done. The reading log (an expectation) is on the back. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this small change. If your child reads regularly and you really believe she or he doesn't need the log for accountability, just let me know.</p><p><b>School photos are coming home today. They are beautiful! Please be sure to take them out of your child's backpack before they get ruined.</b></p><p>Many of you also said your child doesn't tell you a lot about what happens here at school. Here are a few things you can ask them about:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Why do maps need a compass rose?</li><li>Should Sistine and Rob let the tiger go?</li><li>What is a multiple?</li><li>What part of your story are you writing? What is your character's main problem</li></ul><div>Finally, if you haven't already seen <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AQTpWx8H33YvgTgYf6P4U0qyuJJAQjWKVrdafkaZNuk/edit?usp=sharing">this</a> link to give permission for new Camp Swampy dates, please don't forget to do that soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you all have a lovely weekend and enjoy spending time together!</div><p></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-90411287256386873112021-10-14T10:51:00.003-07:002021-10-14T10:53:14.867-07:00<p> Happy Thursday! Since we have no school tomorrow, I will give you a brief update today!</p><p>I have really enjoyed "meeting" you in parent conferences this week, and I look forward to talking to more of you next week. It is always pleasurable to discuss your children and hear your thoughts about how school is going for them.</p><p>In math this week, we started learning about division with remainders. I am impressed with how quickly this class was able to grasp division conceptually! They seem to fully understand that dividing a large number by a smaller number means doling it out into equal groups. That conceptual understanding is half the battle. It gets tricky when you can't dole it out without having a leftover. We have learned that we can show this remainder as "r___" but that we also have to think about the story context and answer the question. For example, if the story asks us how we can divide 25 balloons among 6 people, we can say each person gets 4 balloons and the last balloon gets popped. If the story asks how 6 people can share 25 brownies, we can say each person gets 4 whole brownies and then another quarter of a brownie. This can be confusing, but these children are beginning to get it!</p><p>Our stories are coming along nicely, and we are working hard on adding dialog, adding setting and action, and making sure we stretch out our stories so that they have details and suspense and a plot. It is developmentally appropriate for 4th graders to write a quick story and think they are "done!" We are working to really develop the habits of mind necessary to stick with something and continuously make it better.</p><p>In reading, we continue to push ourselves to develop ideas about the characters and the themes of the books we are reading. This is not an immediate thing, so we are taking baby steps. The class is very good noticing at talking about these in our class read-aloud, but it is harder when they are reading on their own.</p><p>During Word Study (Phonics) this week, we began looking at the various letter combinations that make the short o sound. Our language is so confusing! Here are some examples: thought and brought, talk and chalk, faucet and launch, ball and tall, etc. No wonder we have a hard time spelling! Next week we will look at all of the sounds made by ea (such as team and great) and ei (such as weird and sleigh.) I will try my best to keep you updated on our phonics work weekly so you can support at home.</p><p>We have started learning about Vermont's geography, and everyone seems excited to be making maps, a compass rose, a key, etc. So far we have made a waterways map and a map of our mountain ranges, along with a map that shows all of those as well as our neighboring states (and country) and Montpelier. They are becoming experts! If you are out driving anywhere, notice and label what is around you -- such as the Winooski River, Camel's Hump, etc. </p><p>Be sure to check backpacks today! I sent home a lot of completed work as well as an Original Works fundraiser envelope.</p><p>That's about it for this week. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. As always, be in touch when you need anything.</p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-19438978193831201442021-10-08T08:16:00.000-07:002021-10-08T08:16:11.775-07:00<p> Hello families,</p><p>I apologize for not being in touch last week -- I hope that my Instagram photos gave you a sense of what we did at Camp Swampy. It was a lovely few hours, and the students all had a lot of fun. They worked together to clear an area for our meeting circle, and they moved a lot of logs that Mr. Bouchard had cut. It was amazing to see it all come together in just a few minutes! We talked a lot about the history of the place and about what sorts of plants and animals live there now. They all wrote in their journals about how we impact the forest by being in it. Finally, they got together in their "dens" and made forts. Each den also "adopted" and flagged a tree. Next time, we will identify the trees and take some measurements and other observations so we can keep track of how they change over the course of the year. I wish we could go weekly rather than monthly!</p><p>We now have the Tower Garden in our classroom. We are growing kale. The students all learned about how plants can be grown hydroponically. This week, we used water test kits to test and then adjust the pH of the water in the Tower Garden. We will be learning about the importance of pH throughout the year.</p><p>We started learning about the geography of Vermont this week. We will learn about the mountain ranges, the lake, the main rivers, and the various physiographic regions and their features. On October 29, right in time for Halloween, we will make Vermont maps out of candy and Rice Krispies Treats. The students will bring them home to eat, so you can decide how much/when/if they can eat them!</p><p>In reading, we are continuing to learn strategies for comprehension, focusing mostly on the characters in the books we are reading. We are paying attention to the traits and behaviors of our characters, as well as their struggles and yearnings. I always find that 4th graders learn to love reading in a different way once they start thinking about the characters like this!</p><p>We have spent a lot of time planning for our first writing piece. Everyone has a character and a story arc that shows the plot. Today they will begin writing their drafts on their chromebooks, and then we will spend the next few weeks revising and improving the stories. They have some amazing ideas, and I can't wait to see how their stories come out!</p><p>In math, we have moved from multiplying one-digit by two-digit numbers to division! This is often a very confusing switch for fourth graders. I was impressed yesterday by what I saw them doing! I am attaching some photos that show some of the strategies we are currently using for both multiplication and division, just so you know what I'm expecting. I know you probably learned to multiply and divide a different way! If these are confusing for you, ask your children to explain them!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoMzGtiB0xzuoSbVwd6WCIoW3h8e2CH_5EwFxpsbAqVXo-ItSUdCtmWFmILbmJRn-zTZkwIbUA3YbhYGFflyT2Dmt-lJAaOqArGqbBgUJ4Zpq2gtzNMfn0oQ2tQz3c_EdwoX3JL40zmg/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1457" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoMzGtiB0xzuoSbVwd6WCIoW3h8e2CH_5EwFxpsbAqVXo-ItSUdCtmWFmILbmJRn-zTZkwIbUA3YbhYGFflyT2Dmt-lJAaOqArGqbBgUJ4Zpq2gtzNMfn0oQ2tQz3c_EdwoX3JL40zmg/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EP8NzRnhTd3e-l_XWx5Vhm71r0cyU_yUvi6lgW4jn-Dvs2rVwS4INHhaIadPmLqRJik0VBZuWsI1Ev95XMV1QLnxFiDriyqGSqjJihJPfuJOFa1uqwFGxyKvRzNSKOshAfQbCR_XVDY/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1093" data-original-width="1457" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-EP8NzRnhTd3e-l_XWx5Vhm71r0cyU_yUvi6lgW4jn-Dvs2rVwS4INHhaIadPmLqRJik0VBZuWsI1Ev95XMV1QLnxFiDriyqGSqjJihJPfuJOFa1uqwFGxyKvRzNSKOshAfQbCR_XVDY/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Finally, there are a few things in the folder I want to tell you about. I sent home a sample of student writing along with a copy of a recent math assessment. (Due to illnesses and various times students have been out of school, not everyone has these.) I thought it would be helpful for you to have these in front of you when we have our parent conference. I so wish we were having them in person! I also sent home a list of "Words to Learn" for the students who have Word Study with me (others have it with Mrs. Lee.) These are common words your child still needs to learn. A few of the students haven't had a chance to finish this yet (and a few others don't currently have any they are working on) but they will bring them home soon! I suggest letting your child write these in shaving cream, with sidewalk chalk, over and over again with fancy pens, etc. Make it fun!</p><p>That is all for this week. I look forward to meeting with you all over the next 2 weeks -- it's always so good to see parents and get to know them a bit!</p><p>Enjoy your weekend and the glory of fall!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-51208586493033370892021-09-24T11:01:00.001-07:002021-09-24T11:01:24.823-07:00<p>Happy Friday! It's a beautiful sunny afternoon, but it was definitely too wet for Camp Swampy this morning. I am glad we postponed, and I look forward to going next week. Thank you to all of you who filled out the google doc giving permission again. If you haven't done that yet, please be sure to do so by next week. </p><p>We've had another great week here at JES. We have continued talking about strategies for finding topics to write about during our writing time. During Word Study, we have learned about contractions and how to spell them and put the apostrophe in the correct place. In reading, we have discussions about how to write down our ideas, how to challenge ourselves, and how to check for understanding as we read. I am continuously impressed with the reading stamina in this classroom! This group really enjoys books!</p><p>We finished our first math unit today. It was mostly a review of what it means to multiply, but we also learned about factors and multiples, as well as how to identify prime and composite numbers. We are getting into our Math Menu routines, and students are beginning to get work that I have prepared specifically for them now that I know them better as math thinkers. I collect their work weekly and correct it -- I give back any work that needs to be fixed, and I send home all work that is correct. You may see these Math Menu packets arrive in your child's folder. They often ask me if they can recycle them, and I say no! You are free to recycle them, of course, but I'd like you to know what they are working on. If you see some work that is not finished or not attempted, don't be alarmed. There are some pages that are required and others that are just there as a stretch for students who are finished or want a challenge. I don't always correct those, and that's okay!</p><p>Our science time this week was spent learning about different animal adaptations and how various structures of animal bodies help them survive. Today, we did another lab trying to decide which dish soap makes the best bubbles. This required deciding the criteria for "best" and then planning out steps and collecting our data. It was messy, but fun. The classroom smells like Palmolive!</p><p>During social studies this week, we read a historical fiction book about the Greensboro sit-ins of the 1960's and the protest movements they sparked. This led to a great conversation about protests and picketing. We talked about issues that matter to us, and each student made a "picket sign" that shows a passion worth fighting for. We had everything from "Save the animals" to "No guns." I love seeing how passionate this group is!</p><p>Finally, parent conferences are coming up soon. I look forward to (virtually) meeting all of you and talking to you about your children. The students are also welcome to attend the conference since we will be talking about them, but I will leave that up to you. Mostly, we will review how the year has been so far and make some goals for the rest of the year. <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hh6eAmOZrscVfi53cK0uS9BsczWa7O7BxewZZvJJVbo/edit?usp=sharing">Here</a> is a link to sign up for a conference. I have tried to have slots that are early in the morning and some that are in the evenings so I can accommodate a variety of schedules. Please let me know if none of these times work, and we will find another that does.</p><p>I hope you all have a restful weekend doing something fun!</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-27457457963943849412021-09-17T15:38:00.003-07:002021-09-17T15:38:41.342-07:00<p>Sorry for the late blog -- it was a busy afternoon and I completely forgot! I'll keep this brief since the weekend has already started and I don't want to bore you... </p><p>I am really impressed with this class! They absolutely love to read, and they already have the stamina to read quietly for at least 30 minutes without interruption. That is a skill that is usually not seen at the beginning of 4th grade. They are continuing to read books that they have chosen, and we have short lessons daily about how to figure out unknown words, how to know what genre you are reading, how to make sure you are comprehending, etc. </p><p>This week's writing focused on what is meant by the word "sentence." We practiced framing sentences and looking for the subject and the verb. We discussed capital letters and ending punctuation. Today we discussed paragraphs and topic sentences. This basic nuts and bolts learning will set them up nicely for writing their first narrative piece in a few weeks.</p><p>Math this week was all about factors and multiples. Do you know the difference? See if your children can tell you! We also learned about multiplication problems with comparisons, such as "I read 6 pages. Bob read 4 times as many pages. How many pages did Bob read?" This is a whole different kind of problem, and it is good practice for them to conceptualize what that means! </p><p>In science, we moved on from learning about plant parts to learning about animal parts. Each student is working on a short research project -- researching an animal and making a poster of some of its body structures and their functions. We are learning that all of the structures help the animal survive in one way or another!</p><p>Since we have no Open House planned and you can't come into the school, I have been trying to email all of you with some updates about how your child is doing. If you haven't received an email from me about your child yet, you will get one next week! If you have received one, I'd love to hear back from you. Let's keep the communication going!</p><p>Here are a few important announcements:</p><p><b>Please check your child's backpack for permission skips. I am still missing a few, and our first trip to Camp Swampy is this coming Friday.</b></p><p><b>Parent conferences are coming up in less than a month. I will be sending out information about them soon, so keep your eyes out for a sign-up email.</b></p><p><b>As a way to celebrate learning about plants, I am hoping to make terrariums with the class. I am in need of the following items:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><span> 2 liter soda bottles (1 per student)</span></b></li><li><b><span><span> potting soil (1 large bag)</span></span></b></li><li><b><span><span><span> natural (undyed) aquarium gravel (3 - 4 bags)</span></span></span></b></li><li><b><span><span><span><span> fish tank filter charcoal (available at places like PetSmart)</span></span></span></span></b></li></ul><p></p><p><b><span><span><span><span>If you would like to donate any of the above, please let me know. I hope to make the terrariums the week after next.</span></span></span></span></b></p><p>That is all for this week. As always, feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. I hope you all have a splendid weekend with your sweet children!</p><p><br /></p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-187384384153643138.post-72599512834403960412021-09-10T12:00:00.000-07:002021-09-10T12:00:22.792-07:00<p> Happy Friday everyone! It's been a short week, but it has been full. I am continuing to get to know the students and I am really enjoying them! They are good at being silly when appropriate, and good at getting serious in a hurry when it is work time. They love to read, they are fully in the swing of math, and they know the classroom routines and expectations. I'm feeling very lucky!</p><p>We started our first math unit this week. While some of it is review, there are some new concepts as well. The main focus is on factors and multiples (and keeping track of the difference) and using arrays as a representation for multiplication. We will continue to practice our multiplication facts and learn to use the ones we know to figure out the ones we don't know. Today we learned about prime numbers and square numbers. Ask your children to explain them to you!</p><p>During reading time, the class is learning routines and procedures like how to choose books, how to "buzz" about their books with their reading partners, how to write about their books in their notebooks, and when it is okay to abandon a book. When it is time to read, they are completely engaged! I love seeing them relax with a book.</p><p>During writing time, we finished making collages on the covers of our journals and we did a little bit of writing based on a silly photo of a dog. Next week, we will learn about sentence structure (subject/verb) and practice, practice, practice using capital letters and punctuation (which 4th graders always seem to hate using!) We will also learn how to take an ordinary sentence and "explode" it by adding who, what, where, how, why, etc. Finally, we will learn how to use paragraphs by writing a simple letter. After all of that, we will be ready to start our narrative writing unit!</p><p>We started our first science unit this week. The unit is called "Structure and Function" and we are learning how the characteristics of living things help them survive. Today we dissected some marigolds and discussed the function of the leaves, the stem, the roots, and the flowers. I am impressed by how much this class knows!</p><p>Here are a few important updates:</p><p><b>Please look in your child's folder today. There is a school photo envelope as well as a permission slip. Please let me know if you have questions about either. I'd love the permission slip returned by next Friday.</b></p><p><b>The class earned their first celebration. On Monday, we are having "bedtime day." This means they can come in pajamas or comfy clothes, they can wear slippers (or socks) in the classroom, they can bring a blanket, and they can bring a stuffed animal (please be reasonable -- it should fit in a backpack!) They have PE on Monday morning so they need to bring appropriate footwear as well. This is a choice -- they can wear their regular clothes if they don't want to participate!</b></p><p>I think that's all for this week. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.</p>Ariane Ehteshamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07513942406205947174noreply@blogger.com