Peek at the Week
News from Ms. Ballard's Class ......... September 18, 2016
Welcome to Fourth Grade
Welcome to Fourth Grade!
I will be sending out weekly newsletters to summarize what we are doing in class and events around the school and community. I hope that it is a useful tool to keep you informed about what is happening at school. Please let me know if there are additional items that you would like to see in the updates.
The beginning of the school year has been wonderful! Thank you for sharing your children with me!
Lindsay
I will be sending out weekly newsletters to summarize what we are doing in class and events around the school and community. I hope that it is a useful tool to keep you informed about what is happening at school. Please let me know if there are additional items that you would like to see in the updates.
The beginning of the school year has been wonderful! Thank you for sharing your children with me!
Lindsay
Calendar of Events
Monday, September 19 - iPad Roll Out
Tuesday, September 20 - PTO Meeting - 5:30 Dinner, 6:15 Meeting
Friday, September 23 - Black Story Tellers Field Trip (permission slip sent home Friday)
Friday, October 7 - Grandparents' Day
Friday, October 14 - Picture Day
Tuesday, September 20 - PTO Meeting - 5:30 Dinner, 6:15 Meeting
Friday, September 23 - Black Story Tellers Field Trip (permission slip sent home Friday)
Friday, October 7 - Grandparents' Day
Friday, October 14 - Picture Day
Specialists
September 12 - October 4 - Art
October 5 - November 1 - Music
November 2 - November 29 - Science
November 30 - December 9 - PE
December 12 - January 3 - Maker Space
October 5 - November 1 - Music
November 2 - November 29 - Science
November 30 - December 9 - PE
December 12 - January 3 - Maker Space
Reading
Walk into our classroom during our reading block, and you will see students who LOVE to read. This 75 minute period includes:
1) Literature Study/Read Aloud -- I read a novel aloud the the whole class. Through questioning and discussions, students learn comprehension strategies. This format of reading also allows children to hear a 'fluent' reader decode text. Currently we are reading Kate DiCamillo's (Minneapolis author!) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
2) Students scattered about the room reading self-selected books (as seen in the photo above).
3) Students reading and enjoying books together.
4) Students writing about their reading.
5) Students sharing information about their books with the class.
6) Students reading and conferencing with me and Mr. Quiggle (the ELL teacher who works in our class).
1) Literature Study/Read Aloud -- I read a novel aloud the the whole class. Through questioning and discussions, students learn comprehension strategies. This format of reading also allows children to hear a 'fluent' reader decode text. Currently we are reading Kate DiCamillo's (Minneapolis author!) The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
2) Students scattered about the room reading self-selected books (as seen in the photo above).
3) Students reading and enjoying books together.
4) Students writing about their reading.
5) Students sharing information about their books with the class.
6) Students reading and conferencing with me and Mr. Quiggle (the ELL teacher who works in our class).
Learning Through Games
Multiplication and addition skills are practiced during math time when the students play Yahtzee.
Games build so many skills -- math and literacy, social skills like rule following, cooperation, building of friendships, etc.
Classroom Wish List
We would love to build our board game supply to use during Friday Fun, indoor recess, and special events. If you are able to donate lightly used or new games to our classroom, we would be grateful.
Suggested games:
Battleship
Connect 4
Cribbage
Chess
Checkers
Uno
Monopoly
Scrabble
Blokus
Playing Cards
Legos
K'nex
Puzzles
** Your child probably has some ideas too :)
Games build so many skills -- math and literacy, social skills like rule following, cooperation, building of friendships, etc.
Classroom Wish List
We would love to build our board game supply to use during Friday Fun, indoor recess, and special events. If you are able to donate lightly used or new games to our classroom, we would be grateful.
Suggested games:
Battleship
Connect 4
Cribbage
Chess
Checkers
Uno
Monopoly
Scrabble
Blokus
Playing Cards
Legos
K'nex
Puzzles
** Your child probably has some ideas too :)
iPad Rollout
Tomorrow the students will set up their iPads for the year. We spent a lot of time last week talking about 'digital citizenship' and internet safety. The iPads will be used only for educational purposes and under strict guidelines. If you have any questions, please contact me.