On My Mind...

Hi Everyone!

I hope this post finds everyone well rested and ready for last few weeks of 2007! I had a wonderful Thanksgiving in my new house and even got the plumber to come to hook up the new stove...just in time to cook the turkey! I am looking foward to a great December with the kids. It will be busy, but we will do our best to keep it interesting with creative projects and fun science activities. We will also begin to prepare to say goodbye to Mrs. Brush, who will finish student teaching with us at the end of the month.

Here is a quick update from Room 5:

Winter Weather...

Well, it was quite a surprise last Tuesday to see snowflakes falling from the sky! It was very exciting for us as it was our first chance to go out and play in the snow this year. Please encourage your child to dress appropriately for winter in Massachusetts. We do go outside most days for 30 minutes, even in winter. Once the snow pack arrives to stay, you child must have on both boots and snowpants to play in the snow. Hats, mittens/gloves, and scarves are also greatly appreciated by the children (when they are shivering on the field or playground.) not that they would ever admit that they were cold! Also, consider labeling your child's gear so that it does not wind up in the Lost and Found. Thank you for your help with this.

Fun with Friends

Warm and Cozy

Toasty Hands or...

Chilly Fingers!

Study Hall
We have begun to have Study Hall at the end of the day. After the children pack up for dismissal, they are allowed to work on projects, get a jump on homework, or read. This gives Mrs. Brush and I the opportunity to help kids with homework or "field" any questions about projects. The children have been really receptive to the idea so far and we plan to continue. Remind them to ask for help if they need it!


Math: Tabulate-A-Turkey
Just before the break, the students were given a "pretend" $1.50 to create a turkey. They could purchase paper strips, google eyes, confetti, feathers, and pompoms. We provided the glue and paperplates "free" of charge. The students had a great time planning their supply purchase and creating their turkeys.

Gobble, Gobble!

Proud of her work!

Crafts & Math...what a great day!

Math: Mad Minutes
Will this be the week that someone hits 60 facts in 2 minutes? I finally got my 60 last week!
I am proud to say that many students have gotten to at least 30 facts in 2 minutes, so we are half way there. Please keep practicing!

Social Studies
We have finished with Canada and have moved into the Northeast Region. We made maps of the region and foldables to help us organize our new vocabulary words. Some students have opted to take part in an enrichment project. They will be making an ABC Book of the Northeast Region. They will select various points of interest, geographic and historical features, and will write a paragraph about each for every letter A-Z. (Example: A is for Appalachian Mountains, B is for Boston Tea Party) They will also create an illustration for each page. Some work will be completed in class, but your child must do work at home as well in order to meet the December 20th due date. Please have your child ask me for help if they need guidance!

Science:
We will be wrapping up Earth Science this week and Mrs. Brush will be starting her unit on Matter. We have cooked up some great activities for this unit and we know the children are really going to enjoy it!


Vocabulary Parade:
Costumes are due on Thursday and the Parade is at 1:45 PM on Friday. Don't forget your camera and feel free to dress up as a word too!


On a closing note, I took a really great field trip with my family on Saturday night. We went to see Zoolights at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA. The whole zoo is covered in holiday lights and you can walk around and see the animals. Emma loved it as did the rest of my family. You should check it out, if you are looking for a fun family activity. Be sure to dress warmly as it is all outdoors. Here is the link for more information:

http://www.stonezoo.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=875


Have a great week!
-JoAnne

SUCCESS!

Hi Everyone!

I just want to say thank you for taking the time to come in and meet with Mrs. Brush and me. The class is truly a delightful group of students to work with. We enjoyed sharing stories and making plans to help your child to do his/her best. I am also pleased to report that this is the first time in my 10 years of teaching that I have had 100% attendence at parent conferences.

I also want to send out a special thank you to the Zeh P.T.O. for approving a recent grant to benefit our classroom. They generously funded new educational board games for our class to use as the weather turns colder. We look forward to playing Scrabble, Boggle Jr., Apples to Apples, and a few more that I can't remember right now. Thank you, P.T.O.!

Here is a quick update from Room 5:

Social Studies: Mrs. Brush led a lesson where the child were inspired to make Native American masks that represent their individual families. This connects with our study of Canada and the Inuit people. See the creative student work below.

Our Native Family Masks

Writing: We are working on our Northeast Sensory Poems as well as our Disgusting Foods essays. Our bulletin boards have been updated and we are very proud of our beautiful work. Please stop by to see our "sparkling" Super Monkey bulletin board outside of Room 5. Here are just a few pictures from our boards...

Our Fall V & V pictures

Our Favorite Hero- Super Monkey

Mathematics: Well the challenge is out there for "Mad Minutes Master of the Day". Interestingly, we have had a new "master" each day. I am pleased to say that I have made it (finally) to 60/60 correct in 2 minutes. We continue to emphasize "personal best" and growth over time. We will keep on it!

Reading: Some students in Mrs. Brush's group completed independent projects to supplement their study of The War with Grandpa. They started presentations today and should be commended for excellent work. I am so proud of their effort!

Two War with Grandpa Games

A Map of Peter's House

Vocabulary Parade: Please encourage your child to keep on top of this project. They should use their project calendar to stay on track and they should be working on their costume. Remember, the costume is due on 11/29 (Thursday) and the Parade is on 11/30 (Friday) at 1:45 PM. Parents and cameras are WELCOME!

Field Trip: Thank you for the many offers we've received to chaperone our trip to the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Our four chaperones are: Mrs. Alessi, Mrs. Kelley, Mrs. English, and Mrs. Thompson. I will be sending home the "extra" checks on Monday or Tuesday. If you were not selected, don't despair...we hope to go on a spring field trip as well!

Reminders:

• 11/20 (Tuesday) Quiz on Canada
• 11/21 (Wednesday) 11:30 Dismissal for Thanksgiving Break
• 11/22 Happy Thanksgiving
• 11/26 Professional Development for Teachers

I hope eveyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Rest and enjoy time with your families if you can!

-JoAnne

Busy Week...

Hi Everyone!

My home office is slowly coming together and Mr. Gorham set up the card reader for the digital camera today. I have been snapping pictures of all the fun activities we have been working on in room 5. Thank you also to everyone who was able to make it to Read-Aloud Night last Thursday. We had a great turnout and it was nice to hear Mrs. Zia share some of her writing with us.

Here is the update:

Mathematics: We are now into multiplication. We have begun "Mad Minutes" are working toward completing 60 facts in 2 minutes. We will do this daily to build not only accuracy, but automaticity. I am not expecting everyone to complete 60/60, but I am looking for improvement over time. We are graphing our progess as well. (I am still trying to beat my personal best of 59/60...I keep leaving one blank!) Please use the websites or standard flash cards to practice. It will make division that much easier for your child if they know their facts.

Welcome to Canada! The zebra has switched from his sombrero to a "Mountie" Hat!

A rousing game of Jeopardy!

Wow! That was easy, right?!?

Social Studies: We have been learning all about Canada and are working on province reports with partners. Mrs. Brush created an exciting Jeopardy game for us to review with. She has also been teaching us French.

Science with Mrs. Guitard

Science: Mrs. Guitard (our field study student from FSC) has shared a lesson on hot air balloons with us. We have also continued to test our minerals. So far, we have tested for luster, streak, cleavage, fracture, and specific gravity (density). We will also test for hardness this week. Thanks again to Mrs. Thompson (Mrs. Villaflor's student teacher) for helping us!

Testing Minerals

It must be fun if everyone is smiling!

This group is dedicated to their scientific work!

Writing: We are busily writing our five paragraph essays on disgusting foods. Revising and editing using "interesting" vocabulary continues to be a primary focus. We will also begin a sensory poetry project to help kick off our study of the Northeast Region in social studies. Thank you for sending in pictures with your child!

Reading: We are continuing with realistic fiction. The War with Grandpa group made authentic looking "War Declarations" using a tea stain process. The Because of Winn Dixie Group has been working on charater development and finding evidence in the story to support answers to comprehension questions.

Read-Aloud: We have begun to read "More Tales from the Classroom at the End of the Hall," the sequel to the first book we read in room 5. Ask your child what their favorite chapter has been so far.

Vocabulary Parade: Please keep track of your project using the calendar that was provided. Four creative words are due on Tuesday. We will select one word together and then you are free to begin costume construction. Parents are welcome to "parade" with us around Zeh on Friday, November 30th at 1:45 PM. Bring your camera. This is a fantastic fourth grade activity and we will all have the opportunity to increase our vocabulary. I can't wait to see everyone in costume!

We have a busy week coming up. Here are just a few reminders:

• 11/12 Monday- No School Veteran's Day
• 11/13 Tuesday- 11:30 Dismissal for Parent Conferences/Vocab Parade Words are due at School
• 11/15 Thursday- 11:30 Dismissal for Parent Conferences
• 11/16 Friday- Field trip $$ due to school for our trip to the Harvard Museum of Natural History
• 11/17 Saturday- Pancake Breakfast and Shop 'til You Drop

(And For My Planners...) A Look Ahead:

• 11/21 Wednesday- 11:30 Dismissal
• 11/22 Thursday- Happy Thanksgiving (No School)
• 11/23 Friday- No School
• 11/26 Monday- Professional Development for Teachers (No School)
• 11/30 Friday- Vocabulary Parade begins at 1:45 PM

I look forward to seeing you all at Parent Conferences. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

-JoAnne

Tricks & Treats...

SMILE ...as we wait patiently for the new bus...

Punching into work

Mr. Paul (Our Museum Teacher & "Overseer")

Getting background on the mill workers

Watching a video at the museum

A view of Lowell from the past

Working time!

Speed it up!

Teamwork & communication are important.

Punch in to get paid!

Hi Everyone!

I apologize for the delay in posting. It has been a busy couple of weeks. As many of you already know, my family is moving. I am surrounded by boxes and my husband has packed our computer up at home, limiting my access to technology! Luckily, it will be over by this weekend.

Life at Zeh has been great! The children are making wonderful progress and are a joy to teach! Please note that I have added websites to the left of the blog for the children to use (with a responsible adult) to help them practice their facts. It is expected that they will practice at home, as we will be moving into multiplication and division shortly. Additionally, there is a poll for you to respond to at the bottom of the page. Scroll all the way down. Just another feature to try on my blogging journey.

Here is the update from Room 5:

Mathematics: We are working on a money mini-unit. Some children are working on solidifying their skills (counting bills & coins, making change using the fewest bills & coins, word problems, and column addition with money) and another group is working on "The Million Dollar Project". Both groups are using hands-on materials and creating interesting projects that will demonstrate their understanding of money and related concepts.

Science: We have begun our unit on Planet Earth. We did a KWL Chart (and they know a great deal!) and a diagram of the layers of the Earth. We will also sort minerals and perform "tests" like geologists. Next week, we will make a clay model of these layers that the children will be able to bring home. We are working closely with Mrs. Villaflor's student teacher, Mrs. Thompson, who has developed some great projects on this unit.

Social Studies: Our plane will be departing from Mexico very soon! The children will be making an Native American art project using yarn with Mrs. Brush. We will have a very short Mexico quiz on Monday, and then we will be off to Canada. Brrrrr!

Reading: Realistic fiction is moving along. Our three groups are all working on finding the evidence (support) in the text to answer open response questions in a well-developed paragraph. We are also practicing our discussion skills and developing our vocabulary.

Writing: Welcome to 5 Paragraph Land! We have begun our first five paragraph essay of the year. We will be practicing using our graphic organizers and following all the steps of the writing process. The children will be writing about their three least favorite foods. This topic is great for promoting the use of strong verbs and vivid adjectives. The children are pretty expressive about what they do not like and why.

Field Trip: The trip to the Lowell Mills was amazing! The children were active learners and really enjoyed the whole experience...until the bus broke down on the ride home. They handled this transition so well and we were safely loaded onto a new bus in just a few minutes. Thank you to the chaperones who helped to make the trip safe and enjoyable. Thank you to all of the parents for coming to pick up your child at the end of the day.

Our next trip will be on Friday, December 14th, 2007. We will be heading to the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, MA. More info will be coming soon. Click on the link below if you are curious...

http://www.hmnh.harvard.edu/

Read Aloud: We finished up with The Doll People and located Auntie Sarah in the attic. The class voted to continue reading the sequel, The Meanest Doll in the World. Ask your child how they think Annabelle and Tiffany should help Callie's Dolls to defeat Mean Mimi. (She is quite the bully!) You can also ask them who their favorite character is in the story.

Halloween: On October 31st, we will have our annual Halloween Parade. Participation is completely optional. Please remember that this is a school-wide (K-5) activity and we should dress appropriately. If your costume has a mask that is too scary and may frighten the younger children, please leave it at home. Also, please leave all toy weapons at home as well. They have no place at school. Please contact Mrs. Ransden, our room mother, if you wish to assist with costume changes or with our craft activity. This is a food-free event. Please do not purchase candy, cupcakes, or drinks to share with the class. I thank you in advance for your understanding with this new change in school policy.

Parent Conferences will be held on Tuesday, November13th and Thursday, November 15th. Each day there will be slots from 1:00-3:00 PM and from 6:00-8:00 PM. Please return your conference request forms by October 26th and remember to include any specialists/support staff that you may wish to make an appointment with.

Reminders

1. Mexico Quiz on Monday, October 29th, 2007
2. Halloween Parade 1:30 PM on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
3. Book Fair is at 9:10 on Tuesday, November 6th.
4. Read Aloud Night will be on Thursday, November 8th, in our Room. Mrs. Zia and I will be reading at 6:30 PM. Wear your jammies and listen to some great stories!
5. No School on Veterans' Day- Monday, 11/12.
6. Half days (11:30 Dismissal) on Tuesday 11/13 , Thursday 11/15, and Wednesday 11/21.
7. Thanksgiving Break: 11/22-11/26 (Monday is Professional Development Day for Staff)

Thank you and have a great week!

-JoAnne

Looking Ahead to the Long Weekend...

Our ABC Books for The Cod's Tale

Letter Writing to Our Canadian Provinces

Hi Everyone!

It's hard to believe another week has passed! We are already at Columbus Day Weekend and it will be Turkey-time before we know it!

Here's the quick update:

Reading: We are working on our final copies of our ABC books for The Cod's Tale. See pictures above. Each student has their own individual copy that they will take home in a few days. The ABC books are looking fantastic! Starting Monday, we will begin our unit on realistic fiction.

Social Studies: We've finished our economics unit and will have a BIG test next Friday, October 12th. Please use the study guide that your child received on Tuesday to help prepare for this assessment. It is a lot of vocabulary to master, but I am confident that the many activities and projects we have done in class should help to reinforce the concepts. We've also written letters to Canadian provinces this week for our upcoming unit on Canada & Mexico. See pictures above. Hopefully, the provinces will send us back information such as brochures & maps to help us with some research. We will be heading to Mexico first and learning some Spanish from Mrs. Brush!


Mathematics: We will be having a math test on Wednesday, October 10th. Your child received a study guide on Tuesday to help them prepare for this test. I changed the original date from this Friday to this Wednesday to allow us some extra time to explore algebra and number expressions.They may take home textbooks, but must remember to return them to school each day as we use them for class lessons. Our next mini-unit will be on money!

Science: Coming soon! We will begin our unit on Planet Earth!

Field Trip Chaperones: Thank you for volunteering to help us with our trip! We appreciate your time and ENERGY!

Reminders:

1. Please encourage your child to practice multiplication/division facts.


2. Please limit the number of toys that your child brings to school. I am taking many "things" away during instructional time on a daily basis.


3. Math test: October 10th, 2007
4. Book Order Due: October 10th, 2007


5. Economics test: October 12th, 2007


6. Field Trip to Boott Cotton Mills: Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

September 26th, 2007

Our Finished FALL Acrostics

Sponge painting our FALL backgrounds

Hi Everyone!

I enjoyed having the opportunity to meet with many of you at "Get Acquainted Night." I know the children were thrilled to receive "surprise" letters from you in their desks on Friday morning. It was a brief meet and greet, but please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about class or homework.

Here's the quick update...

CLIMB Theater (Creative Learning Ideas for Mind and Body): We had a special treat on Wednesday. Khary & Elizabeth (actors) from CLIMB Theater visited our classroom and performed various skits on bullying and ways to STOP bullies from bothering us. They were energetic and had everyone participating in their skits. They will be visiting all the classrooms K-8 in Northborough this fall. If you want to check out the program, they are offering a parent workshop at Proctor School on October 2nd at 7:00 pm.

http://www.climb.org/

Mathematics: We are wrapping up our study of addition and subtraction. We will have a test next Friday, October 5th. We will be moving on to money next, a favorite topic for many children!

Social Studies: We are almost ready for an economics test. A study guide will be sent home in your child's agenda sometime next week. Our next focus will be on our U.S. neighbors, Canada & Mexico! Mrs. Brush will be leading this unit.

Field Trip: Here is a link for our field trip to the mills, if you are feeling curious...

http://www.nps.gov/lowe/

Writing: We have finished our beautiful FALL acrostic poems and they are hanging in our hall. Check out the photos above of our creative process. We had a blast sponging our poem borders. Super Monkey is almost down to his last mission in Chimp City. We will publish a class book of his/her adventures for you to keep.

Reading: The Cod's Tale ABC Books are up and running. Ask your child which letter they will be writing about for our class book. Realistic fiction will begin soon!

Read-Aloud: We are still trying to solve the mystery of the missing Auntie Sarah Doll in our book, The Doll People. Papa Doll has just been "cat-snatched" by the Captain! Have your child predict if and where Auntie Sarah will be found.

Reminders:

• Fall Fundraiser: Orders are due tomorrow- September 28th!


• Field Trip $ and slip due tomorrow- September 28th! $15.00 check to ZEH P.T.O.


• Picture Day: Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007


• Math Test on Addition & Subtraction: Friday, October 5th!


• Field Trip to Lowell Mills: Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

That's all for now. Thanks & have a great weekend!

-JoAnne Gorham

September 19, 2007

Hi Everyone!

It was great to see so many Zeh faces out at Applefest last weekend. Emma & I certainly enjoyed the parade and the gorgeous cool weather. As you can see, Emma was also quite pleased with the paper bag hat that she made at the Newcomer's Booth. Fall is lurking and it seems hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of summer!

Here are some quick updates on Room 5's activities:

Math: Quiz on Place Value tomorrow. We will begin to review addition & subtraction next. Please keep practicing the multiplication facts. We will be multiplying and dividing very soon!

Social Studies: We are coming close to wrapping up our Economics unit. I have planned a fabulous field trip to the Boott Cotton Mills in Lowell for mid-October. Details to follow.

Writing: I am amazed at the wonderful work that is being produced so early on in the year. The third grade teachers deserve a nod for preparing such creative writers. Super Monkey is alive, well, and flying high in Room 5! We are focusing not only on revising and editing skills, but finding our 5 BEST vocabulary words to share in every paragraph we draft. Stay tuned for more Super Monkey adventures!

Reading: Our nonfiction unit on The Cod's Tale, is coming to a close. We will wrap it up with an ABC book using information we've learned from the text. Our next unit will be on realistic fiction. We will be reading The War with Grandpa and Because of Winn-Dixie.

Language Arts: We are working on a FALL acrostic poem and painting project. We are also looking for new words that help to "paint" vivid pictures in our poems.

Read aloud: We have begun to read The Doll People by Ann M. Martin. It is a fantasy/mystery involving a Victorian doll family and a modern "plastic" doll family. They must work together to uncover the mystery of the missing Auntie Sarah Doll. Ask you child which family they prefer; the Funcrafts or the Doll Family. Perhaps, they have some predictions to share with you.

Homework Help: Agendas are assigned and initialed by a teacher everyday. I encourage you to review them with your child. Feel free to initial the agenda as well. Also, if the homework is on colored paper, it it due on Friday. If it is on white paper, it is due the next day. Please contact me with questions or concerns.

Reminders:

1. Curriculum Night for Parents is Thursday, September 20th from 6:30-7:15 for Grades 3-5 and from 7:15-8:00 for Grades 1-2. Please feel free to drop in, visit with Mrs. Brush & I, and investigate your child's daytime home. I look forward to seeing you there!
2. Fall Fundraiser is at its mid-point. Please return order forms by the end of September.
3. Picture Day for our class is Wednesday, October 3rd. Please have orders in to school if you plan to purchase a photo package.
4. Field Trip to the Boott Cotton Mills will be Wednesday, October 17th for our class only. Mrs. Zia & Mrs. Villaflor will take their classes on Friday, October 19th. The museum was not able to accomodate a group of our size for their guided program on one day. Permission slips are coming soon.

Thanks for all you do to support your child at home. We have had a great couple of weeks and I am really enjoying working with this wonderful class!

-JoAnne Gorham