Friday, January 13, 2012
Dear Families,
I hope you all are enjoying the new fallen snow…let’s hope it keeps coming!
Two new book groups are up and running and the other two will start next week.
In writing we have been using a program called inspiration to make webs for procedure pieces of writing. As a class they tried to write the steps to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When I followed them VERY literally, they realized the importance of word choice, sequence, and transitions. Once they have completed a web they turn it into a piece of writing, focusing on establishing a context in the introduction, organizing the steps sequentially and clearly, and using an appropriate voice.
The class explored ideas around what they think is matter and is not matter. Given a set of pictures groups organized them into 2 groups and had to explain why they sorted them as they did. The class currently made these groups: nature like/not nature like, liquid-air/not liquid-air, solid/not solid, feel it/not feel it. We will continue to explore and try to answer the question, “What is matter?”
We have started a new project with our kindergarten partners. They have been studying numbers, number value, and number combinations. So different partners are either making books illustrating number combinations or creating a sensory number packets using sand paper and stickers. The students have continued to be positive role models for the kindergarteners and the kindergarteners really look up to them and value their time together.
Enjoy your weekend.
Ali Hale
Friday, January 6, 2012
Dear Families, I hope you all enjoyed a fun filled vacation and that your new year is off to a great start.
We are getting back into the swing of things and although everyone was a bit tired – 7:30 is SO early – we made it through and are ready for a full week next week.
In math we spent some time reviewing the material we covered before break including linear measurement – using both metric and U.S. standard units – and describing and classifying polygons. We are now describing and measuring angles which will be followed by a focus on area measurement.
In science we will be shifting gears. We have finished our earth and sky unit and will be investigating states of matter. Students will continue to use their science notebooks as they investigate the different states of matter and their properties. This unit will lend itself to more inquiry based activities.
The Vermont game boards that you saw at parent/teacher conference time are complete and were very successful. Everyone enjoyed playing each other’s game the few days before break. Over the next couple of weeks we will be completing our unit on Vermont and will then move into a study of United States Geography.
Book contract grades were sent home earlier this week, please let me know if you have any questions. Next week new book groups will start up again.
Thursday, January 12 is the winter concert; don’t forget to put it on your calendar.
Have a great weekend.
Ali Hale
Friday, December 16, 2011
Dear Families,
We have had a fun filled week welcoming our new classmates, working on our book contracts, and trying to complete our Vermont game boards. Daisy, Nick, and Alex have joined our class and have been very welcomed by everyone.
Next week, students will be presenting their book contract projects on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I was very pleased with the effort everyone put into their responses to literature and their willingness to make some major revisions. I have been getting the sense that the projects are going to be spectacular and inspiring and am excited to see them. Check with your child about their day, you are welcome to come in if you would like.
The class has been working hard on their game boards, most of the factual information is on them and now they’re making game cards, and making them look good. I am hoping that they will be finished so that we can spend time actually playing the games next week.
Kindergarteners have been working on patterns, and our latest project with them supports this concept. We listened to The Mitten and had partnerships illustrate one part of the story for a story quilt. This week they created the boarder for the quilt using a pattern of their choosing. One will be hung outside our classroom for you to see.
Have a great weekend,
Ali
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Dear Families,
Thank you for taking the time to come to conferences, it was great to connect with you about your child. Our new students, from Massachusetts, will be joining us on Monday, Daisy, Alex, and Nick.
We had an inspirational visit from Katherine Paterson on Tuesday afternoon. We were able to read several of her books before her visit and really enjoyed them. We were all struck with how “normal” a person she was. Even though she is a “living legend,” she was approachable and personable. She started by reading an excerpt from Bridge to Terabithia (one of the books we’ve read), which was fabulous. Then she used student questions to guide the rest of her talk. Her advice to any aspiring writers was to read.
We have started a book contract project, which means your child is reading a book of their choice, writing a response to literature on it, and creating several projects to share with the class. The first goal is to read the book; the due date is December 5th. The next goal is to write the response to literature. We are writing a practice response this week to a book we read together, The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson. Then next week, once they have finished reading their books, everyone will work on their response here at school. Projects will mostly be done at home but may be started here as time allows. I have impressed upon the class that they do not need to wait until finishing the book to start their projects, they can make some as they go along. Presentations are the week before winter break and I’ll let you know your child’s time soon.
Thanks,
Ali Hale
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Dear Families,
We had a fantastic field trip to the state house and museum. The tour around the state house had us follow a bill from the committee room, to the senate, to the house, and finally the governor’s desk. We also learned about the history of the building. Find out what interesting facts your child can share with you? At the Vermont Historical Society Museum we learned about Abenaki daily life and toured around the museum exhibits. What artifacts did your child get to study? Thanks so much to Jeanette, Amy, and Sharron who were able to join us.
We have just started our 3rd unit in math and like the parent letter said we are studying multiplication of larger numbers. Your child should be practicing his/her facts to become fluent with them (from 0-12). Please help quiz your child on these nigthly.
For those of you with children taking music lessons and band, I wanted to let you know that I have spoken to the class and explained that they need to be responsible for remembering their own instrument and music. I will have them write it in their homework books but I will not be letting them call home anymore for you to bring in forgotten instruments and books.
Remember that next Thursday, November 17th we will be putting on a performance of our Abenaki puppet show at 8:00. The students have been working really hard on the writing of these stories, editing them into a puppet show, and making the puppets and set designs. We hope you can join us for the performance. We will also be showing a video of the puppet shows at assembly on Friday, November 18th, at 7:45.
I will be in touch about building a wigwam, please let me know if you are interested in helping. Thanks to the Kingsbury family we have great looking sapling poles to get us started!
Please remember to sign up for your conference. It is online this year. If you need help don’t hesitate to call me.
Thanks, look forward to seeing you soon,
Ali Hale
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Dear Families,
The weeks feel like they are continuing to fly by! We had a fantastic field trip to Shelburne Museum. I was really impressed with the activities that were organized at various points around the museum. Students were able to investigate Morse code, bartering, print making, transportation, and a wide variety of other activities. We also explored the Ticonderoga, an old school house, a circus barn, a covered bridge, and many other sites. Everyone was fully engaged all day and many wanted to see more. The back of their “passport” has a free admission ticket for them to use.
Next Friday we will be joining Mr. Greenleaf’s class on a hike for hunger. We are going to hike up Stowe Pinnacle. We are looking for parent drivers, so please let me know if you can join us. We plan on leaving school at 9:45 and returning in time for the buses.
We have been working on our Abenaki folk tales and are working on turning them into puppet shows. We are currently planning to have a live puppet show at 8:00am on November 17th that we would like to invite you to. There will also be a video showing of the puppet show during morning assembly on November 18th. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help gather supplies and build a wigwam. The supplies include 25-30 saplings about 15 feet tall that bend easily and are cut to a point at each end, and painter’s canvas. Please let me know if you can help. Thanks!
Have a great weekend,
Ali Hale
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Dear Families,
I hope you all enjoyed the fabulous weekend! Friday is our field trip to Shelburne Museum. We’ll be leaving as soon as assembly is over and return in time for buses. Students can sign up for a brown bag lunch or they need to bring their own. I am looking for 2 chaperone’s to join us so please let me know if you’re interested (call 496-3643 or email alihale71@gmail.com). I also need to collect $2 to cover the costs; chaperones will need to pay this as well. Please let me know if this is a hardship for you. Thanks, and keep your fingers crossed for another sunny day!
Ali Hale
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Dear Families,
This week has been disrupted by the NECAP testing but we have all made the most of it. The class worked really hard on each test, snacked well (thanks to the PTA), and enjoyed some games and activities. Tomorrow we head to the Green Mountain Club for our first field trip. This will be a fun connection to our unit on Vermont. I seem to remember last year the weather was fresh! Please help your child dress appropriately; we will be walking though the woods. Everyone needs a bag lunch from home if they did not sign up for the school bag lunch.
In science we started our unit on earth and sky and have started exploring our solar system. Everyone is becoming and expert on one planet and will have an opportunity to become the teacher about that planet. You may have noticed your child coming home with moon journal. There are times when this works really well and other times when it is too cloudy, ect… As I told the class, do the best that you can.
It is supposed to be a glorious weekend; I hope you can all enjoy it.
Thanks,
Ali
Friday, September 23, 2011
Dear Families,
I am so happy with how our classroom is shaping up. The entire class is really working so nicely together. They are being respectful of one another, responsible for themselves, and are working really hard. This week felt like we might be getting the hang of being back at school. I hope the end of your days at home are also becoming easier.
One part of our week that is working really well is our time with our kindergarten partners. This week, partnerships started work on a book titled: How We Are Alike. They drew pictures of themselves and their partners and then started to work on listing in words all the ways they look alike. Students are learning the difference between a scientific drawing and a free draw, ask them which this one was. There will be several pages of this book: How are our families alike? What are the things we both like to do? 4th graders have shown a lot of maturity and leadership while working with the kindergarteners.
I began our exploration of Vermont this week through several centers to familiarize the class with Vermont and some resources that are available. The class broke into 3 groups and explored a Vermont puzzle, our Vermont library, and worked on our Vermont bulletin board. We have also started to work on our Abenaki stories with Mrs. Belknap’s class.
We have read 6 books by Patricia Polacco, an incredible artist/author. Ask about the stories, how are they similar?
I hope you all have a great weekend. Remember, open house on Monday at 5pm.
Thanks,
Ali Hale
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Dear Families,
Many of you let me know that you could not access the blog. My mistake! Here is the correct address, please try again: https://alihale.wordpress.com. Sorry for the confusion.
We started spelling this week. Monday-Thursday there will be spelling homework. For those doing word sorts this should take 3-5 minutes. For those doing Wordly Wise it will take longer. I have sent home homework expectations for spelling on a separate sheet. Please let me know if there are and questions or concerns.
This year in science students will be using science notebooks. As I explained to the class these notebooks are just like those a real scientist keeps and they should become a tool. This week we started learning how to use these notebooks, and in what ways they can become a helpful, meaningful tool. Ask your child about their notebook and what we have done with it so far.
I was really pleased with everyone’s interactions and efforts with their kindergarten partners last week. Many 4th graders are responsible for more than one kindergartener, which can be rather tricky. Last week they did a treasure hunt and this week 4th graders will be helping them with counting and measuring.
We have had a fantastic week and are off to a great start to the year.
If you have any Vermont postcards or pictures that you are willing to donate to our class, please send them in.
Thanks,
Ali Hale
