Mrs. Wright's Fourth Grade Class
Updates, News and Photos of our awesome days at Baker Butler
Room C-11
Where the learning and magic happens..
Baker Butler Elementary
Our window..
This window is decorated each season with different clings. The students love it.
Fourth Quarter Updates!
Hello Families!
Can you believe that the end of the year is rapidly approaching?! We have so many fun things planned for the end of the year. Its going to be great!!
We will continue to prepare for the math SOL this week! Its been all review all the time for a few weeks now. The students are doing great and working hard. We have been working on measurement in science too in order to really practice those measurement skills.
Our reading SOL is over and we are back to enjoying reading, writing and projects. The students continue to work hard and be motivated readers. Our writing project this week will be planning and writing our letters to the FIFTH grade teachers. Can you believe we are about to say goodbye and head to fifth grade?
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns as we move through the fourth quarter. Keep an eye on parent portal and the blue Friday folder. We are taking practice tests each week so the students get a lot of practice on the computer, so the folder does require a signature.
Can you believe that the end of the year is rapidly approaching?! We have so many fun things planned for the end of the year. Its going to be great!!
We will continue to prepare for the math SOL this week! Its been all review all the time for a few weeks now. The students are doing great and working hard. We have been working on measurement in science too in order to really practice those measurement skills.
Our reading SOL is over and we are back to enjoying reading, writing and projects. The students continue to work hard and be motivated readers. Our writing project this week will be planning and writing our letters to the FIFTH grade teachers. Can you believe we are about to say goodbye and head to fifth grade?
As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns as we move through the fourth quarter. Keep an eye on parent portal and the blue Friday folder. We are taking practice tests each week so the students get a lot of practice on the computer, so the folder does require a signature.
John and Lana relax after the reading SOL
Sebastian chose to read after his test
Connor took a reading break after his SOL
The girls worked on a puzzle after their SOL
One group chose to play UNO after testing
Andrew and Jeffrey took a brain break after testing
Jurnnie paints after testing
It stopped raining for a few minutes and we snuck out!
More UNO to rest our brains before jumping back into work!
Our Minecraft Project is Coming Along!
The VA Studies group learned how to post links in their minecraft world!
Soon we will all visit the minecraft VA Studies world and will be able to watch videos, see photos and visit links thanks to Mrs. Whitenack teaching the students how to do it!
The reading group is looking at new books by the author they liked this year!
They had to read about other books the author has written and respond in minecraft!
The reading group also perfected their build to get ready for other groups to visit the setting of their book!
The math group worked on a graphing challenge in minecraft!
VA Studies girls!
VA Studies boys!
VA Studies boys work on posting links!
Mrs. Whitenack and Jamie work on fixing a link!
Lana conducts a survey that she will use to create a graph in minecraft!
Working together to complete the build of their book's setting!
A guest from another classroom got to join us and the boys practiced giving tours of Jamestown!
Another friend joined our class for a tour of Jamestown!
Math group builds their graphs!
Working together!
The girls are a great team!
Our Class is FILLED with MAKERS!
Throughout the last few weeks we have taken any opportunity we get to go to the library and extend our thinking and learning by using the maker tubs. The students LOVE building, creating and learning in a hands on environment. We have been practicing for SOLS, taking tests and studying so much that we really enjoy our time in the library. This class is filled with amazing thinkers- they will go far!
We are also so lucky to get to continue our mindfulness and movement classes during this stressful time of the school year. Since we are nearing the end of the year we made our teacher Ms. Polina some cards to thank her. In the past few weeks we have loved learning partner poses, how to work together/listen to each other and a few team work games too!
We were all so excited to spend a little while after the reading SOL making special projects for our MOMS! It wasnt much but this class was so ready to make some art and do some writing to honor our special moms. I hope you all enjoyed your Mothers Day!!
We are also so lucky to get to continue our mindfulness and movement classes during this stressful time of the school year. Since we are nearing the end of the year we made our teacher Ms. Polina some cards to thank her. In the past few weeks we have loved learning partner poses, how to work together/listen to each other and a few team work games too!
We were all so excited to spend a little while after the reading SOL making special projects for our MOMS! It wasnt much but this class was so ready to make some art and do some writing to honor our special moms. I hope you all enjoyed your Mothers Day!!
Noah and Jah'Quez built a marble run!
Connor and William made laser circuits!
Horeb and Sebastian built working circuits!
Horeb and Lana made a HUGE magnet build!
Miya is a STAR at bananagrams!
Juhi and Jamie love bananagrams!
Sebastian explains his maker tub to a guest from VA Beach!
Another group of bananagram players!
William and Andrew do a lego maker tub!
Jurnnie and Lana used magnets and art supplies for this build!
Bananagrams!
A SUPER fun marble run!
John solved a HARD maker challenge!
Jah'Quez didnt think he could build this but he DID!
Evan solved a hard one too!
More card art!
Cards for Mindfulness too!
A card for Ms. Polina!
Art and Friends!
Mindfulness and Movement!
A team game of speed pass! Dont drop hands!
Reading, Writing and Projects- Oh MY!
I always teach anchor lessons to students (no matter the age) through picture books. We then transfer our thinking about picture books to more difficult text. I usually use a few great picture books each year and tend to enjoy many different authors. This year this class LOVED an anchor lesson I did with a Patricia Polacco book and asked if I could find more books by her. I happily added 10 or so books every few weeks to the book area and we began devouring her picture books. We have currently read 48 of her books! We can easily recognize themes, characters and connections thanks to our amazing knowledge of all things Patricia! We have watched so many experiences through her books and have had some incredible discussions. She doesnt always write about light topics and we've grown closer and closer through her books. Ask your students which book is their favorite!
In an effort to extend our picture book study (we are DETERMINED to read all 60 of her books!) and our thinking we learned how to do "black out poetry" and used our favorite Patricia Polacco books to try it out. Secretly each student went to the library and put their names on a page in one of the Patricia Polacco books. I would sneak and copy the page for them when I got a break during the day. Then they would secretly create "black out poetry" by taking the page and blacking out any words that they did not feel were important, strong, feeling words. What was left was made into a poem and framed with black paper! They then presented them to the class and we used our white boards to guess the book they used! The students LOVED it. I LOVED it. I bet Patricia would love it too! I will take some photos of the finished products this week- but here is a preview!
In an effort to extend our picture book study (we are DETERMINED to read all 60 of her books!) and our thinking we learned how to do "black out poetry" and used our favorite Patricia Polacco books to try it out. Secretly each student went to the library and put their names on a page in one of the Patricia Polacco books. I would sneak and copy the page for them when I got a break during the day. Then they would secretly create "black out poetry" by taking the page and blacking out any words that they did not feel were important, strong, feeling words. What was left was made into a poem and framed with black paper! They then presented them to the class and we used our white boards to guess the book they used! The students LOVED it. I LOVED it. I bet Patricia would love it too! I will take some photos of the finished products this week- but here is a preview!
Connor choosing his strong words for his poetry
Evan hid so no one would see his page!
Jamie blacked out the words she didnt need!
Jeffrey presented his poetry
Everyone was able to make a guess!
Miya presented an amazing poem!
Evan and his poetry!
Noah presented an awesome poem!
Jurnnie LOVED this activity and did it three times!!
THANK YOU!!
Ive never been so celebrated as a teacher as I was last week during teacher appreciation week. Thank you so much for all the cards, gifts, food and treats! We ate amazing lunches, had breakfast from PTO and I received so many thoughtful things. I am so forever grateful that Ive been blessed with this class my first year at BBES. Thank you just really doesnt even cover it. You made me feel fantastic. I am so lucky!!
Incredible!
THANK YOU ALL!
Such a SPECIAL week thanks to a SPECIAL class!
Fantastic box with so many goodies!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Beyond blessed.
SO thoughful!
I may or may not have eaten this in one day.
This made the rain easier to deal with!
Quick Tips for Success on the SOLS!
We take our math SOL on Thursday and Friday of this week. The students did an incredible job arriving at school on time and well fed for their reading SOL. Thank you so much!! Please be sure your student gets a good nights sleep and heads to school on Thursday feeling great! Remind your student how important it is to go slowly, work out their math problems and do their best. I appreciate your support during this time!!
Forms, Information and Upcoming Events!
Although all the forms for Jamestown are not due please remember to send your money and slip as soon as possible!
If you need another form please let me know but I sent second forms home to those who have not returned them in this week's blue folder.
** If you would like to attend the Jamestown field trip as a chaperone you will need to have a volunteer registration on file as well as a copy of your drivers license. Please call the office if you need more information. **
If you need another form please let me know but I sent second forms home to those who have not returned them in this week's blue folder.
** If you would like to attend the Jamestown field trip as a chaperone you will need to have a volunteer registration on file as well as a copy of your drivers license. Please call the office if you need more information. **
Event Information
Math SOL
Day one of our math SOL begins at 8:30 on the 19th and day two begins at 8:30 on the 20th. Its a two day test and ends on the 20th.
When?
Thursday, May 19, 2016, 09:00 PM
Where?
Baker-Butler Elementary School, Proffit Road, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Event Information
Jamestown Field Trip
Our buses will leave around 7am and will return around 5pm. More details and info coming home soon!
When?
Thursday, Jun 2, 2016, 07:00 AM
Where?
Jamestown, VA, United States
Just a little Spring Cuteness from my house to yours!
One Last Thing!
I've decided to jump on the TWITTER bandwagon! Our class is doing so many amazing things and has begun to get some attention from around the district. Since other people were tweeting about us I thought I better get on board! If you use twitter please follow us @MrsWrightACPS to see whats going on in our classroom each day! Let me know what you think!
Mrs. Ashley Wright
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the mean to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea" Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Email: AWright3@k12albemarle.org
Location: 2740 Proffit Road, Charlottesville, VA, United States
Phone: 434-974-7777
Twitter: @MrsWrightACPS
Weekly Homework!
Weekly homework is given out on Mondays and due by the next Monday. The students should also be reading nightly. Please let me know if your student needs help finding a good book to bring home to read.