Book Talk Tuesday

February 10, 2015

It's Book Talk Tuesday! Mrs. Larson has a book to talk about.

One of my favorite places in the twin cities is Half Price Books.  On my last shopping trip I picked up a copy of Amy Poehler's new book.  I was excited to read it because biographies are my favorite genre.  

Amy and I have a lot in common.  We are both from Boston and we are the same age.  Though she is divorced, rich, and a TV star, but I am not.  (I would do a Venn diagram for you but I'm typing this on my iPhone and it's too complicated !:))

I love to read books about comedians.  I have read the biographies of Jerry Seinfeld, Kathy Griffin, Tina Fey, and Joan Rivers.  (Rest in peace, Joan)

Talk to your neighbor and discuss the different comedians that you enjoy.  Is there a person in your family that makes you laugh? 

It's Amy!!!

Be good. Be nice. Behave!!

I Love To Read Month Contest

February 9, 2015


Good Morning Fourth Graders,


This month is I Love To Read Month. To celebrate reading at Lincoln Center we will have a Decorate the Door contest.  Each classroom will express creativity and display the best PYP and reading connections on their classroom doors.  Look at the flyer below created by Mrs. Gerber for more detail. 
Happy Reading!

Reading + PYP - Decorate the Door contest!

PYP believes that language arts are essential for learning, expressing our creativity, and building relationships.  In an effort to show how the PYP and reading go together, we will sponsor a Door Decoration Contest during the month of February!  

Let’s celebrate reading for understanding and enjoyment, express our creativity, and show how we express ourselves on our classroom doors!!!

One  Intermediate Classroom

and One Primary Classroom

• Will be honored for the best display of PYP and reading with
               $150 to spend on books for your classroom!!!!!
• Will receive $150 to spend on supplies for the best effort in door display as a way to honor the process of working together to create meaning. (Student effort is valued most.)

What: Decorate your classroom door in a way that shows how or what your classroom reads and how reading relates to the PYP. (Do any of the essential elements of the PYP relate to your reading? Concepts? Attitudes?  Action? or Skills?? Maybe a transdisciplinary theme? ) The display should represent a collaborative effort by students in order to receive the effort award.

Who: Ryan Higbea and another VIP will judge the door for best understanding and display of the PYP + Reading as well as for best student effort.

When: Please have your doors ready by February 23^rd for judging on the 25^th.  Winners will be announced and everyone will celebrate the love of reading with a popcorn reading party later in the month.

Be good. Be nice. Behave.

Good Fit Friday ~ Let's Get HAPPY

February 6, 2015

Happy Friday Fourth Graders,
Overall we had a really kind review of your day with all of the guest teachers yesterday. Your actions are appreciated! Believe me, teachers would rather be here at school with you, than having you with a sub. When we come back to school and hear that the day went well, it is a huge relief!

For Get Fit Friday, I chose a JUST DANCE that we are familiar with. On this grey day, after a long week I thought HAPPY was the perfect song to pick us up and start our day strong! Stand up, push in your chairs, and GET HAPPY!!

Happy by Pharell

Be good. Be nice. Behave. 

Guest Teachers

February 5, 2015

Good morning caring community,
This morning you will notice we are in a hallway of guest teachers. Today each class will have a substitute teacher in their classroom. I really encourage you to have empathy today. Quite awhile ago, we watched/read a story about a boy that had so much empathy for his elderly friend. Empathy is when you really put yourself in someone else's shoes, well not really, you just imagine it! Your heart truly feels what the other person's heart must feel and what they are thinking.

Today think:
Would I do or say this if my teacher or Mr. Fugazzi were with me? If not, don't do it with your sub.
Would I try to get away with this or that if my teacher was here? If not, don't try.
How do I act with my teacher or other fourth grade teachers? Do that!

Make our guests feel welcome. Make them want to come back!

Knowing what's right doesn't mean much, unless you do it.
~ Theodore Roosevelt

Line Basics, Lunch, Dismissal, and Targeted Services

February 4, 2015

Good morning principled pupils,
We spent a great deal of time in January reviewing and renewing our Essential Agreements, Hopes and Dreams, and other important aspects of school life. As a fourth grade community we are really, really struggling with a few things. These struggles are affecting teachers and students all over our school.

Line Basics ensure that we are walking safely in the hallway, and that students and teachers working can continue to work without being interrupted. We MUST walk to specialist, lunch, and dismissal in line basics.

Speaking of lunch. Recess begins at 12:10. It has begun at 12:10 since the first day of school. In fact, for fourth grade this year it has always and will always begin at 12:10. You may NOT go outside before then. Even if you have a guest teacher that thinks you can. When we are walking down the center stairwell, we are being so disruptive to Senor Stanke's and Ms. Roszak's classes. This is NOT okay.

Next, our lines at dismissal are also a MESS. When your teacher dismisses you from your classroom, walk to your dismissal line, wait in line basics, and walk to your destination. This is NOT time for drinks, bathroom breaks, or hanging out. Do your job. Get to where you need to go.

Finally, Targeted Services (Math or Reading Academy). Many of you go to this after school program. It is expected that you bring your pencil. Many of you go to your after school class and return to your classroom for a pencil. This habit is disrespectful and irresponsible. The same behavior is happening day after day. This is also NOT okay. From this point forward, if you have to return to your classroom for a pencil or anything else, you will miss recess the next day. Get with the program, kids.

 

What does, "Be good. Be nice. Behave,"mean to you? Are you doing this?

Book Talk Tuesday

February 3, 2015

Hello, I am Mrs. Laliberte and I would like to talk about a book called, HOOT by Carl Hiassen.

This Realistic Fiction story is about a boy named Roy Eberhardt that moves to Florida. He lives in a town called Coconut Cove.  Roy encounters many obstacles in this town such as a bully named Dana Matherson, a strange shoe less boy known as "Mullet Fingers" and endangered burrowing owls.  

Roy discovers that "Mullet Fingers" is trying to save the burrowing owls.  A corporation by the name of Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House wants to build a pancake house right where the burrowing owls live.  The owls' lives are threatened by bulldozers. 

I like this book because it shows how kids can make a difference and take action to save and protect nature.  It's a great story about friendship, compassion for animals and making the community a better place.

I highly recommend this book for a class read-a-loud or for you to read. 

Happy Reading! 

Be good. Be nice. Behave.  

Groundhog Day

February 2, 2015

Good morning open minded citizens,
Today is a special day called Groundhog Day. This is a real "holiday" celebrated in 49 states and Canada. Sometime this morning groundhogs all over the eastern part of our country will peek out of their little holes to determine if we will have six more weeks of winter or an early spring!

Now it's hard for us to make a prediction when it is below zero degrees this morning! Our frozen brains may be a bit biased and think winter will never end, or perhaps we are over winter and eager for spring to be here!

Make a tally chart with your class. How many of you think we have six more weeks of winter? How many think spring is coming soon? Once you have your chart complete, think about other ways this data can be organized or displayed. Can you come up with clever word problems with this information?

**NOTE** By the time some of you read this, the groundhogs may have already made their predictions!! If that's the case, was your prediction right?!?!

Learn More About Groundhog Day

Be good. Be nice. Behave.