marlboroschool.net

The Annual Paper Feelings Poetry Reading Friday,
May 16th @ 1:00pm
The poetry reading will take place in the Library. All are welcome.

We continued our Wetland study both in the classroom and in the field. We watched as hundreds of tadpoles hatched and grew hind legs in our tank in the classroom. Everyone took time to observe water striders and a back swimmer in the classroom. In small groups we spent time observing and identifying the various critters in our tank. We had to relocate at least two hundred tadpoles back to their original home as they all started to grow fast. On Friday we continued our research with a field trip to Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center. We went “ponding” at the Vernal Pool and each group collected several interesting species of pond life. The most fascinating by far was the Fairy Shrimp. We looked at several of them under the microscope. We were able to identify the females by finding their egg sacs. It was a great trip and the weather was perfect. Elaine  has been so fascinated with this unit that she is ready to volunteer with Bonnyvale to sponsor a Salamander Crossing in Dover, VT.
This week the 4th grade will complete three science NECAP assessments. The tests will consist of three sessions up to 90 minutes long. The last session includes a hands-on science investigation and questions.
Charlene was impressed that so many students remembered to bring in recorders. Not all students played the recorder. Some students played the keyboard, while others played the piano. Charlene orchestrated the whole class combining all the instruments. Please remember to bring in your recorder for class this week.

Homework
1)     Read for 30 Minutes: Fill in the reading sheet and bring in on Friday
2)     Complete the Math Packet
3)    Study for the Spelling quiz on Friday
4)    Read the Activity Sheet about Beavers and Canadian Geese. Then, Answer the Questions in complete sentences.

Spirit Week this week see Friday Notes for details
(Unfortunately, we will not be here to celebrate Formal Day- see below)

We launched our study of Wetlands last week by setting up two tanks in the classroom. We observed a salamander, and found a caddis fly larva. The other tank holds two clusters of frog eggs which are slowly changing. By Friday we saw flutters of  movement in the tank as the tadpoles prepare to hatch. As  weather permits, we will continue to have wetland visitors.
On Friday, May 9th, we will go to the Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center (West Brattleboro) for the Vernal Pool Discovery program. We will leave at 9:00am and return in time for lunch. The field trip will happen rain or shine. Students should be prepared to get slightly wet but mud boots are not necessary.
We welcomed Elaine at All School Sing on Friday. She has thirtysix-years experience teaching fourth grade in Connecticut. She is going to lead a whole class math unit called Hands-On Equations.
Charlene is going to teach the children how to play the recorder. Several students mentioned that they had recorders at home and could bring them in to school. The school doesn’t have enough recorders for each student. If your child owns a recorder it would be great if they could bring it into school this week (music class is Thursday)

Homework
1)     Read for 30 Minutes-NEW: Fill in the reading sheet and bring in on Friday
2)     Complete the Math Packet
3)    Study for the Spelling quiz on Friday
4)    Read the Activity Sheet about Snapping Turtles, Coots and Arrowheads. Then, Answer the Questions in complete sentences.

We had a beautiful celebration last week for Jodi’s last day. We adapted “These are a few of Jodi’s Favorite Things” and sang it for Jodi at All School Sing. Many thanks to Sandy and Max for designing, packaging and making the beautiful, heartfelt quilt. When we presented the quilt to Jodi at All School Sing it brought tears to her eyes. After looking at it she immediately wrapped it around her shoulders and snuggled in for the rest of the celebration.
Back in the classroom we had our own celebration. Jodi was taken on a scavenger hunt by K.J. and Max in the woods, while the rest of us practiced our Circle Dance. We gathered in a circle clapping to a little Sister Sledge- Funk “We are family” and everyone entered the center to dance. I never knew we had so many break-dancers in our class. Jodi and I showed everyone how to do “The Bump.” It was so much fun. Then, Max and K.J. got us all doing the Limbo. Many thanks to Lisa and Eddie for the most decadent German chocolate cake I’ve ever tasted; complete with 18 flowers—one for each year Jodi has been at Marlboro. To end our day Jodi presented each child with a book and saying. It was beautiful.
We finished presenting our Book Reviews at All School Sing. It took some courage to stand up in front of the whole school and read the reviews. Everyone did a great job. Bravo!
Don’t be surprised if your child comes home a little more tired than usual this week. We will spend some time getting to know Elaine, our new classroom assistant, and working together as a group re-establishing routines.
Homework
1) Read for 30 Minutes-NEW: Fill in the reading sheet and bring in on Friday
2) Record Spring Observation Sheet
3) Study for the Spelling quiz on Friday
4) Practice your instruments

Join us for the Learning Fair Monday @ 6:30pm-8:00pm

The classroom is humming with excitement about our water experiments. We will share the results of our water experiments with each other Monday in preparation for the Learning Fair this evening. Come take a tour of the school to get a glimpse of the inner workings in each classroom.

In celebration of the March Reading Challenge the 3rd/4th grade class has been presenting book reviews to the whole school throughout the month of March and into April. Once again, we heard incredible book reviews last Friday at All School Sing from Max, Calvin, Bridger and Sheldon. This week  we will hear book reviews from Roshika, Yarrow, Sequoia, Sophie and Eddie.

On Thursday, April 3rd, the Kindergarten, Primary and 3rd/4th Grade will go on a Field Trip to the Latchis Theater to see/hear “Ferdinand”. This is part of the Brattleboro Music  Center’s “music in the schools” program and brings in the Windham Orchestra.  Kids have the opportunity to learn  about the different orchestra instruments they’ll be able to learn to play in  the Marlboro Elementary School band program. It’s always a great program.

Jodi will be out Thursday and Friday while she attends a training. Elaine will join us on Friday.

Homework

1)     Read for the March Reading Challenge

2)     Complete the Subtraction Packet

3)    Study for the Spelling & Vocabulary Quiz on Friday
Spelling and Vocabulary will go home on Tuesday

4)    Practice your instruments

It seems like ages since the last newsletter!  And, it’s been a while since we’ve all been here and since we’ve had a full week on a regular schedule.  We are trying very hard to catch everyone up on our winter projects as we begin diving into new ones.

Some of the work you may look forward to seeing at the Student-Led Conferences on March 21st are Math Problem-Solving, Water Myths, Literate Group work, Response to Literature Essays, Math class work, SSR books, Notebooks, Self-Assessments and Library book reviews.  You will also see a sneak preview of your child’s weather research project.

Also, put on calendar The Learning Fair, Monday, March 31st, featuring Weather Research books, Math Games and Water Experiments, Book Reviews and more.

The March reading Challenge begins on Monday and I like to make it a whole class project and a homework assignment.  Please help me in supporting reading outside of school through the March reading Challenge.  We will be doing special activities along the way to motivate kids to stick to their contract.

On Friday, we will watch a Greek Myth Shadow Puppet Show in David’s Room.

Homework
1.)    March Reading Challenge

2.)    Practice those math fact cards.  New ones go home this week!

3.)    “Clouds” reading assignment and questions for 4th graders.

4.)    Practice your musical instruments!!!  Spring concert is 2 months away!

Weather Folklore ~ “When ladybug’s swarm, expect a day that is warm.”

~ Magnificent Motif Maps are all the buzz in the 3rd /4th grade classroom. Kids have chosen their island themes, sketched out their ideas and created place names to label their landforms. This week we begin drawing the maps!

~ Today we brainstormed all of the information we know as a class about the water cycle. Over the next 3 weeks, kids will be solidifying their knowledge through readings, internet activities and the hands-on scientific process. Each small group will design an experiment that teaches one aspect of the cycle.

~ We have moved into work on multiplication and division. Kids are at many different levels with this work. Most fourth graders know some of their facts, some know most. I’ll need the help of the parents to make this happen. By February 22, our goal is to have all of the 4ths know all of the x facts 0-12.
(See homework below.)

***I can’t reiterate enough how important it is to know our facts as we progress into more difficult concepts.
Homework
1.) Tuesday night math due on Wednesday.

2.) Vocabulary assignment (due Friday)
Kids may need help the dictionary use.

3.) Practice your multiplication facts. Fill out the multiplication chart and highlight the ones that you still need to work on. Bring this sheet in on Friday!!!

4.) Practice your instruments each day for 15-20 minutes.
Geography Terms

Please create a matching card game using our water-related landform vocabulary.

Directions:
On one square, write the vocabulary word.
On another, draw a small picture that matches the word and write out the definition. Please look up the words in the dictionary).

Note: If you do not have a dictionary at home, most computers have a dictionary in the applications folder. You may also borrow a school dictionary for this assignment. Please ask me if you need to use one until Friday.

Vocabulary Words

Cape

Isthmus

Peninsula

Sound

Strait

Channel

Lagoon

Sea (different than ocean)
Vocabulary Cards

Homework
1.)    Tuesday Night Math due Wednesday ~ Use the checklist for your write up.  Please remember to show all of your thinking and work and not just the answer.

2.)    Please bring in a newspaper, magazine or on-line news article about weather and how people are effected by it.
Due Friday

3.)    Practice your math facts!

4.)    Practice your instruments.

Notes
Last week was informational text week.  We all completed the rough drafts for our response to informational text papers.
Some interesting samples of informational text came in from home including food packaging, phone books, pamphlet, CD cover, game and craft directions, an atlas, recipes, periodicals, posters, calendars, etc…
We did a scavenger hunt through the school looking for as many sources of non-fiction or environmental text we could find.
This week we begin using informational text to study weather!
We are also well into our geography unit on Maps and Geography.
Ask your child what the 5 main things you might find on most maps.

Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to all of the fun things planned for the next six weeks including winter workshops, winter sports, basketball games, more fun with Paul Hoak, “Dragon Rider” with Adrian Segar and the start of our science unit on the physics of water. Also, we begin new literature groups with books hosting mythical creatures.
In addition, we will be continuing to “fine tune” the incredible water myths that students have been working on.  Last Friday, we heard a few of the first drafts.
This week we’ll have a visiting teacher, Tina Shakespeare, who is our district coordinator for Language Arts and Social Studies.  Tina will be doing a five session writing workshop on responding to informational text.
Fourth graders will attend their 2nd Math Olympiad class with Janine.

The pattern of homework will change a bit with the winter schedule.  Monday Night Math will now be Tuesday Night Math and work is due on Wednesday.  There is no spelling for the next 6 weeks as we will be using our time to work on research projects related to weather and the water cycle.

Homework
1.)    Tuesday Night Math ~ due Wednesday
2.)     Please continue to work on addition and subtraction facts on your own.  Mad Minutes in January (2x/week) will be testing these operations.
3.)    Make a list of as many water-related land forms as you can think of.  Parents may help…please!  Examples include…island, cove, dunes
You may use the back of this paper to record your ideas.
4.) Read! Read! Read!

We don’t know if the word made it back home or not but subtraction facts are definitely happening. Through regular practice and the motivational games we designed (inspired by our work with Paul Hoak), we’re getting it! Keep up the good work. This week we add our last 8 facts for a total of 36 facts.

Read more »

We hope everyone had a healthy and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. The next 4 weeks of school will be quite busy.

Over the next month in literature class, we will look at the elements of story. First, we will do a comparative study of 5-6 water-related myths. After we get a strong sense of story components, we will then try our hand at writing original myths.

Read more »

Words for the Week from Jodi and Brenda ~ 11/12/07
We have a few new things going on in 3rd/4th grade.  First, we have Adrian Segar, with his amazing character voices, returning for Thursday read aloud.  He will begin reading Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funk.
Second, Pam has us all working on “Class Picks” in the library.  Each student has reviewed a favorite picture book.  These will be posted for others to read in order to get recommendations for good books. Next, they will choose to review  any book of their choice, from novels to informational text.
Third, we’re well into using The Problem Solver for Monday Night Math (MNM).  As a mom who supports 2 older students from MES for MNM, I can assure you that working on these skills is building a strong foundation for future math work. Thanks for your help.
Fourth, presentations for Literature groups has begun.  Mitchell, Keith, Max and Ben gave a wonderful account of Pirate Diary:The Journal of Jake Carpenter.  Not only were their write-ups well done, their strong voices and well-paced readings made it quite enjoyable.
Fifth, many thanks to Jen Carr for her volunteer work on Wednesday mornings. Jen is helping students work on their Personal Interest Projects.   It is a huge help!

Here’s where parents can also help. We are currently working on math facts to help us efficiently solve more difficult math problems. We talked about areas where each student could use help memorizing addition, subtraction and/or multiplication math facts. Your child knows which areas need the most focus.
All 4th graders will need to know their multiplication facts. There are some great resources on-line for fact sheets, games and old-fashioned flash cards.  Please see our MES Website: www.marlboroschool.net. Go to Jodi’s Room for links to math practice.

Homework
MNM due Tuesday        Reading         Spelling      Music
Spelling quiz on Friday this week!
New!!!!!!…………..Practice your math facts for Mad Minutes

Last Friday, I met with most of the parents and enjoyed discussing learning portraits and school work.  We talked about the areas each student excels in and where we need to work harder to improve.

On Saturday, I attended a workshop with Paul Hoak who has been working with our class for the past 4 weeks.  His program is called Action Learning to Energize and Motivate.  I have copied the list of skills we work on each time we do an intentional activity.  As I get more familiar with these methods, I hope to incorporate the learning in all that we do here.
We have 2 more sessions with Paul leading the activities.

This Friday we will take  a trip to Leland and Grey High School to attend the production of Oliver.  We will leave at 8:30 and return to school for early dismissal busses.

Homework
1.)    Monday Night Math
4ths Solve the problem and do the write up we talked about in class.
3rds ~ Solve the problem and show all of your work!!!

2.)    Spelling  Study as needed for quiz on Thursday!!!!

3.)    Read each day.  Weather and daylight permitting, take your book outside and enjoy the fresh air while you read.

4.)    Practice your instrument for 15 minutes a day.  Wednesday we have lessons!
5.)

“Still waters run deep.”

Monday and Tuesday Brenda and I are chaperoning on the Cape Cod trip with David’s Room.  Elaine and Larry will be in charge.  We will be having our regular classes all of this week.

Last week we did a fun activity with the globe to prove that a larger part of the earth’s surface is water. This week we will begin to think more about water on the earth’s surface, water in our bodies and all of the different forms water can take.  We will be doing some math activities to help us visualize water in percentages.

MNM
Thanks for your help with adding and multiplying decimals.  All kids can get to the answers to MNM with the skills they have but it’s great when parents show another way.  Please find MNM on the back side of this paper.

We are winding up our pirate literature study and will be moving into a look at water myths from around the world.  We will also be reading some non-fiction as a regular part of lit group over the next couple of months.

Homework
1.)    MNM
2.)    Read 3 times/week for 30-40 minutes.
3.)    Practice spelling as needed.  Study sheet due on Friday.
4.)    Practice your instrument for 15 minutes/day.

Thanks!
Name________________________Date_____________
Monday Night Math
Find 23 Ways to Get to 23
Rules:
You may use 0 and 1 once as a single digit for 2 ideas only.
Each true equation should use at least 2 different operations.
4th graders must use multiplication in all ideas except money
2 ideas must show ways to use coins to show $23.00

1.                                    2.

3.                               4.

5.                               6.

7.                               8.

9.                               10.

11.                               12.

13.                               14.

15.                               16.

17.                               18.

19.                               20.

21.                               22.

23.

Great job on our first Monday Night Math assignment!
We figured out that this problem involved using 2 or more operations, 4 units of time, use of charts to organize thinking and problem-solving.  Tools we used were clocks, calendars, charts and “show your work” paper.
We also talked about quality control issues and the class came up with a list of 4 items we want to consider each time.

1.)    Write your name!
2.)    Use a fresh sheet of paper and turn in neat work.
3.)    Attach all of your papers neatly….paper clips or staples please!
4.)    Follow the directions.

We use these problems to discuss problem-solving, the many different approaches to a problem and mathematical thinking.  How we present our work is called Math Communication.  If work is systematically organized, it makes it much easier to share in small or large groups at school.  Thanks!

This is a 3 day week.  There is no spelling this week.

Paul Hoake  was a big hit and returns this Wednesday.

Homework

1.)    Monday Night Math (due Tuesday)
2.)    Reading ~  20-40 minutes
3.)    Practice your instrument

Name______________________Date___________________Teeth Brushing and Tap Water

We discovered that Marlboro kids do not leave the water running while they’re brushing their teeth but many people do.
One Web Site claims that an average of 3.8 gallons/minute is used while the tap is running.

We are going to figure out how many gallons of water we would be wasting if we left the tap on while brushing our teeth.

Use the information from last week’s problem to answer the following questions. Use an organized list to keep track.

1.)    How many minutes per day do you spend brushing your teeth?

2.)    How many gallons of water is that per day?

3.)    How many minutes per week do you spend brushing your teeth?

4.)    How many gallons of water is that per week?

5.)    How can we figure out the total number of gallons for the        whole class?  How would you organize the information?

“That’s water under the bridge.”

We will be using this expression as we put the NECAP tests behind us this week.  This experience can be frustrating and you guys (the kids) were real troopers.  Brenda and I look forward to being back in the classroom together and “diving in” to our regular program.
This Wednesday, we will begin a series of 6 sessions with Paul Hoake who teaches problem-solving through activity-based experiences.  The skills he teaches are ones that can be applied to reading, math, friendship and life!
Another part of our social curriculum is The No-Fault Classroom. There is a parent piece to it that you may choose to try.  “Parenting From the Heart” classes are offered for parents and will be similar to what we do in school.  Having the same strategies and language may help kids and adults work together peacefully. The  P&F Meeting, postponed for next Monday, at 6:30 will offer you an overview of the classes.
Please notice the “Water in our Homes” maps in the front hall!
This is our last week of poetry class until the spring.  We will revisit the poems later and choose one for Paper feelings in the winter at which point we will return the poems to you.