How We Spent Our Summer Vacation

Today, September 2, 2014, we read the book How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Mark Teague.  In class, the students brainstormed activities they did over the summer.  Here are our favorites:

• Swimming
• Visiting New York x 2
• Going to Boston - A RED SOX GAME!!
• Whale's Tale x 2
• Hershey Park x 3!
• Renewing of the Vows 
• Camping in Maine
• Riding an Airplane (FIRST TIME!)
• Six Flags
• Fisher Cats Game
• Camping with Family
• Cheer Leading
• EATING Ice Cream
• Costa Rica
• New Dog
• Hiking
• Washington D.C.
• Wedding
• Prince Edward Island

Teaching on Tuesday!

On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, we'll start school at Mount Lebanon!  Over the summer lots of things happened!  We have a new superintendent, a new principal, a new classroom, and a NEW year!
Our classroom space is all set for the 22 fourth graders to learn.  We have a new math program this year too!  We even have new math manipulatives. I have a plan to have a math lesson of exploration with a guided discovery using our new math books and our new manipulatives.   It's going to be a blast!
We also have MONARCH CATERPILLARS!  We'll be raising a few caterpillars and studying their life cycle.  While doing so, we'll write our own books.
I'm hoping we'll have lots of parent volunteers this year!  We're going to need some help with art projects, math games, and field trips!
Well, that's all for now....more to come...hopefully weekly...hopefully by kids...
High hopes for a happy year!
Cheers!

Hello Mr. Zebra!

Today, we read the book, Zella, Zach, and Zodiac by Bill Peet.  We created colorful zebras  using watercolor paper, water colors, and pencil.  Check them out!

It's a RACE to the FINISH LINE!

It's May 19th and it's been over a month since we've last written to inform our followers of all the GREAT things happening in Ms. Allen's grade 4.
Our American Revolution projects are well under way.  Students are working in teams of two to research the biography of a FAMOUS character from the American Revolution.  We're studying Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Benedict Arnold, Abigail Adams and more!  Stay tuned for an invitation to our presentations coming up in June.  Students can get extra credit for dressing as their character on the day of their presentation.
On Friday, we'll head over to Great Brook at Goodwin Park to participate in the 8th Annual Lebanon Student Watershed Congress.  This is an all day event that corresponds with our science curriculum based on environmental stewardship.
After 3/4 of a year piloting two math texts, the district has decided to go with Envision Math.  This was a long process, but with a good outcome.  We'll finish out our year teaching the Math in Focus text and next year, students will be taught from Envision Math.
Speaking of math, we'll be starting the next unit in math.  The topic is Adding and Subtracting Decimals.
Daily 5 has been filled with projects!  We're reading the book Fever 1793 as an independent study.  We're also making trout life cycle mini books.
There are many exciting upcoming events. Here are a few:
5/20  - Kilton Visit
5/21 - Chorus Concert @ LOH
5/23 - Watershed Congress
5/26 - No School - Memorial Day
6/19 - 4th grade step-up day
6/20 - New Principal Sing
6/24 - 4th grade recognition @ 8:15-9:30, 11:30 cookout, 1:00 early release

Vacation is on its Way!

Happy spring!  Hooray for sun and vacation!  This last week before school break I have been meeting with parents.  It's incredibly rewarding to meet again with families and discuss progress, especially of the progress-making kind!
Report cards will be sent home tomorrow, April 11th.
At one of the conferences I discussed making a report card for me.  What do you think?  What should I be working on? One of the things that was brought up was, "Where do I find information about the Great Stone Face project?" So now, I am posting Great Stone Face information in a convenient place. Here is the link.
Last fall, Mrs. Stone, our school librarian introduced this year's picks.  Students were given a dossier to track their reading and comment on the books as the read.  Voting for GSF books has already happened at school, but the final votes for the state must be turned in by April 14th! We'll soon hear of the winners!  Our school library as well as our Lebanon Libraries also carry many of the books.  If you're looking for a good read on vacation, check 'em out!
Enjoy the week...it's a flurry of fun as we travel through the next few months!

March Madness

It's March and we're going MAD!  What a busy and long month March can be.  Today, we took a trip to the Kilton Library.  Amber, the children's librarian. read us From Dawn till Dusk by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock.  We've also been reading Roald Dahl books in class.  We just finished Matilda and we're now reading Fantastic Mr. Fox.  We are focusing on improving comprehension, expression in reading, and literary elements.

In math, we've been studying fractions.  Today we learned how to take a mixed number and convert it into an improper fraction.  Khan Academy has been helping us with our lessons.

We're studying weather in science.  Right now, we are learning about thermometers and temperature.   We've also read about weath and made quizzes to test our learning. In addition to weather, our trout eggs have arrived.  They are being housed in Miss Renehan's room.  We'll be observing the eggs later in the week.

We'll be embarking on our medieval unit soon.  Calling all parents!!! We'll need help with food, set up, and take-down for our feast.  Email me if you can help!

Reading Week

It's reading week at Mount Lebanon School. Tomorrow, we have read you t-shirt day and an author visit!  Natalie Kinsey-Warnock will be speaking to our fourth graders at 9:45 tomorrow.  On Thursday, we'll have wacky hair day and on Friday, we'll wear pajamas to school.