No lego club on Thursday, Jan 3.

Hello,

An IEP meeting was just rescheduled for the Thursday that we get back to school.  Therefore, Lego Club is cancelled on Thursday. 

Have a great holiday vacation.  I look forward to the new year and the opportunity to be your child's teacher for another six months.

Merry Christmas,

Mr. Shea

Last blog before break

Hello,

First of all, I want to suggest that you check out the letter from our superintendent on the school homepage.  A paper copy went home today, but if you didn't see that, the letter on the website is identical. 

Secondly, I want to thank you for a great start to our school year.  We have a very important few months coming up.  I think we've set the stage for some real growth.  It's kind of like Saturday at the Masters.  That's called "Moving Day" in the golf world.  Jan, Feb, and March are the important "Moving Days" for school.  We've gotten to know each other.  The expectations are in place.  Good habits have (hopefully) been established.  Now it's time for some learnin'.  Together, that is what we will get.

Our Roald Dahlathon has been very successful.  The kids are reading the books and are excited to tell me about them.  I look forward to being able to use their common knowledge of these books to start dialogues on all sorts of topics.  103 books have been read by the class in the last eight days.  That is an average of over five per kid.  It's impressive. 

Unless I get some random inspiration, I probably won't blog over the holiday.  I generally stay away for five or six days and then get back in to reorganize the mess that I've created over the first few months. 

Happy holidays.  Enjoy the family time.  It is a wonderful age.

Thanks,

Mr. Shea

No Blog Tonight

Hello,

I'm sorry.  Our team meeting ran long.  I'm late for a dinner.  Book swap tomorrow.  Spelling test tomorrow.  Lego Club tomorrow.

Good night,

Mr. Shea

Hello,

We had a limited math class today.  It was only about a half an hour due to guest speakers from Maine Operation Lifesaver.  (http://www.maineol.org/)  They are a group that teaches about safety around railroad tracks.  Their message was to stay away from the tracks and don't put anything on the tracks, including pennies. 

We had music class this morning.  As I'm sure you've heard, fourth graders learn to play recorders.  Ms. Brown has a great system where the kids can earn "belts" as they are able to play more and more difficult songs.  She calls it Recorder Karate and the kids tend to really get into it.  Ask your child what color belts that they have earned.

We spent a little time on manners and shaking hands this afternoon.  It was mainly the basics.  Shake hands with your son or daughter tonight.  I hope they can give you a firm handshake and look you in the eye.  We also talked about please, thank you, excuse me, and holding doors open for people.  After the holidays, I will give a standard negative response to anyone asking for some sort of permission, unless they say please.   I hope these manners carry over to your household.

We're wrapping up the geology unit.  We spent a little time going over the fourth grade rocks and minerals test.  I don't like the test very much so I'm explaining some of the things on the test that I would like to see changed.  I will give them a similar test during the first week in January.  Their homework tonight is to explain the rock cycle.  Judging by the reaction that I got when I wrote the assignment on the board, I still have some work to do to get that knowledge cemented. 

On an awkward note, please don't feel obligated to buy me a Christmas gift.  Feel free to donate to a charity or local library.  The teachers at school are doing a little "Secret Snowflake" gift exchange.  I got Kitkat 6-pack today.  The kids were drooling.  The eating tally stands at: KIDS 0, ME 1.  I'm looking at a clean sweep on this one. 

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

Notes

Hello,

No students asked me about the events in Connecticut.  It was not addressed.  We went on with our regular business.  Snow was the main topic of the day:  Where can we go without snowpants?  Do you think they should have cancelled school today?  Did you hear how loud the snowplows were last night? 

Our school staff held a meeting this morning.  Our school counselor let us know that extra counseling services would be available in the coming weeks, for staff and students.  She anticipated that these events were affecting us a lot more than our children.  I'd say she was right about that, based on what I saw today. 

I've been running a lot of the "What if..." scenarios in my head.  Here is my opinion:  No amount of security can stop a determined maniac.  I don't want to live in fear. I don't want to see our front doors locked again.  I didn't like it when it was a rarity to see a parent in the halls.  A school needs to be safe, warm and welcoming.  On opening day, HBS only felt safe.  We have been making headway on the warm and welcoming.  I don't want to go back to sliding lunches through the window box into the office.  I totally understand anyone wanting to go back to the locked doors, but I don't agree.

I went to see some of the rec basketball games on Saturday morning.  After the news of Friday, I just wanted to go see "my" kids.  That probably sounds ridiculous to some of you, but I can assure you that it doesn't take long for most teachers to feel that way about their students.  I don't have kids of my own.  My classroom students are my kids.  With that in mind, it doesn't surprise me in the least that the teachers in Connecticut acted as heroically as they did. 

I hope that you have all taken a look at the message from the Superintendent.  It went home with all students this afternoon.  It is also on the school website.  Attached to his message was a note on recommendations for talking with your children about the incident.  Please contact me with any comments or questions.

Have a good night. 

Mr. Shea   

The Dahlathon is on

Hello,

The teams are picked.  The books are stacked up in front.  Now it is time to read!!!  Students will be reading books from my favorite children's author, Roald Dahl, from now until vacation.  (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Magic Finger, James and the Giant Peach, Esio Trot, Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Danny, Champion of the World, and the list goes on.  These are all books that should be read before leaving fourth grade.  Ask your child how our class competition will work.  A lot of books got taken home tonight.  I hope they are well loved.

The Snowy Owl made it to the final four for the first time since I have been holding the WWF adoption tournament.  The Tiger went down by a six vote margin.  The Grizzly Bear takes on the Red Fox in our next quarterfinal matchup. 

Mineral identification is going pretty well.  I hope to get all of their final "best guesses" tomorrow.  Feldspar, quartz and sulfur seemed to be the easiest.  Three different forms of gypsum seem to be throwing them.  I think that we can all agree that mineral identification is a difficult endeavor.

The character stories are coming along nicely.  We'll have to find time for some sharing tomorrow, so they can get some reader feedback.

The Lego Club made some movable pulleys this afternoon.  The power of multiple pulleys is very impressive.  We'll be making a machine that uses pulleys next week and then it will be on to wheels and axles.

My math class struggled a bit on last night's homework.  We had gone over the first couple in class and I thought they understood enough about multiple digit multiplication to get through it easy enough, but it was difficult for them.  Believe it or not, I feel like it was more a misunderstanding of what an equals sign means than anything else.  We went over where we had trouble and the same homework as last night is reassigned for tonight.  It should go more smoothly.

Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

Have a great night.

Early Release tomorrow

Hello,

Don't forget that tomorrow will be an early release day.  It is a 1:00 dismissal time.  Teachers will be meeting to discuss our math program.  I probably won't do a blog tomorrow.  We only have math and phys. ed before lunch.  Harry Potter lunch will have to be cancelled due to all classes eating in their homerooms.  HP club will still meet on Friday after school.

Homework club met tonight.  Math homework is proving to be very difficult.  Please don't help your child to the point that the homework shows that they know something that they really do not.  Homework should always be a review or extra practice.  If it looks Greek, leave a note explaining what was attempted. 

The Komodo Dragon won narrowly 11-9 over the Grey Wolf in this morning's vote.  Only nine animals still in contention to be the class adoptee. 

We'll be having a book swap next Thursday.  Here is a look at part of the flyer without any graphics:

Book Swap

Thursday, December 20th

 Tired of the same old books on your bookshelf?

Need something new and exciting to read?

 

You’re in luck!

 

It is time for a good old-fashioned book swap!

 

       Bring in up to 10 books (good condition please) that you no longer want or need. For every book that you donate to the swap, you will be able to pick out a book to take home.  For example, if Joe brought in four books to the swap, he would get to choose and take home four other books.

*Books must be brought in by Thursday, December 20th.

*Bring in appropriate grade level books in good condition.

*Mr. Shea will add plenty of books to the cause.

 

I've bought a lot of 25 and 50 cent books over the past few months to add to the sale.  It should prove to be fun and worthwhile to everyone participating. 

I've got to run.  Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

Happy Monday

Hello,

There are still two full weeks before vacation, but the kids are doing well to keep their focus.  We jumped in to mineral identification today.  Students have 15 minerals and are writing down their observations in seven categories: feel, color, streak, hardness, light, luster, and shape.  They should be able to explain all seven of those mineral properties to you.  They will continue to write down their observations tomorrow.  They have streak plates, pennies, and nails to do their testing.  Later I will take away the minerals and give them mineral identification cards.  We'll see how many of them can identify them based on their writing. 

I had a class of enthusiastic writers this afternoon.  The students created characters last week and now have been paired up to write stories that have their characters in it.  Some are writing together.  Some are writing individually.  We have some odd character pairings which should make for some interesting scenarios. 

The Harry Potter Club is meeting after school on Friday to make house banners.  Here is the permission slip that went home tonight:

Harry Potter Book Club

 

The Harry Potter Book Club will be gathering after school on Friday, December 14th from 3:30 to 5:00.  We will be creating our house banners.  The meeting will be sprinkled with occasional trivia questions about the first book and prizes will be awarded.  Refreshments will be provided, but if crackers, fruit, and fruit juice doesn’t work for your child, could you please send them in with their own snack?  This meeting is completely optional.  Please sign below to let me that your child has permission to stay. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please fill in one:

 

____________________ will stay after school on Friday, Dec. 14 

 

Parent’s Signature_______________________________ 

 

I'm not sure if you can see all of that, but I'm done fooling around with it trying to make it fit.

The Black Jaguar was the second big cat in a row to go down in our WWF adoption elections.  The Grizzly Bear was the big winner today.  The Red Fox beat the Leopard on Friday.  Tomorrow's election will pit the Grey Wolf vs. the Komodo Dragon.  The last of the final eight will be decided on Wednesday with the Emerald Hummingbird going up against the Cheetah.  Has your child supported any of the victors thus far?

Thanks for reading.  Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

Aaaahhhh... much better

Hello,

I told you that today would be a better day.  Nothing like two birthdays in the classroom to pull you out of the muck.

We met with our second grade book buddies today.  They came in for a twenty minute reading session before we joined them for lunch.  Our kids did a great job reading and listening with their little pals.  I was very pleased.

Our math class is flying through the multiplication.  Rocket Math is all about automaticity.  If you don't immediately know the answers, you won't pass the tests.  So far, so good.  Make sure to get a look at your child's results one night.  They can explain how it works.  If your child's math teacher doesn't do Rocket Math and you are interested in doing it, let me know and I'll show you the program. 

I introduced an addition game to my math class today as well.  Those facts are not to be forgotten.  I can see that many kids know their multiplication better than their addition.  We'll get both down pretty well this year. 

The Lego Club had a second successful meeting.  I'm actually teaching much of our simple machines unit through the Legos.  Your children will definitely have a "LEG" up when we get into that unit later in the year.  I'm planning to use them as experts and I am very excited to see how far they will be able to push themselves.  The club is definitely just an extended school day, only with their teacher a little more relaxed.  It is never too late to join.  (Every Thursdays until 5:00.)

Another thing I want to mention about our homework clubs.  I can see how much some children are struggling with the math homework.  This work should be review and shouldn't take too long.  If your child spends a good twenty minutes on math and has still not finished, you have my permission to write: "Spent 20 minutes on." and then sign your name.  None of us want your child to flounder or worse, do things incorrectly over and over.  I hope that they will come in and articulate where they had trouble, however. 

Reading books need to be finished by next Wed.  Check to see if your child is on pace. 

I'm off to the Bates Bowdoin basketball games.

Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

Wow, rough day

Hello,

I'm sure your child was able to label me as "crabby" today.  It was a long day.

Things that children said to me today:

"But everyone else does it."

"But I didn't do it on purpose!" 

"Do we have to do the homework?"

"What if we don't?"

"But I did it, I just left it at home."

"My mother didn't put it in my backpack."

"You didn't give me one."

"I thought you were talking to her."

"We were just taking the long way back to class.  We're allowed to."

I'm barely cracking the surface. I had some of the most one-sided conversations today.  It was a terrible storm of "Not my faults," and "Who me?"  I felt like I was in lecture mode for half the day.  AAuugh!  I really don't like days like this.  One of the best things about teaching is that the next day always feels like it is going to be better. 

We did have some learning take place in between all of the times children weren't taking responsibility for their behavior.  We heard from several speakers about the Amur Leopard and the Duck-billed Platypus.  The Leopard won the class vote 13 - 7.  I think the students were quite shocked to learn that there are only 30 Amur Leopards left on the planet.  Tomorrow's match-up is between the Red Fox and the (traditional) Leopard.

In science, we heard about the rock cycle in a presentation from our Rocks and Minerals group.  This was the last in a series of presentations that started yesterday.  We also did a couple of geologic charades.  One group performed as a canyon being formed by a river.  Another group was a destructive earthquake.  Many students were confused by this performance, so I showed them a video clip of how the land acts very much like a liquid during an earthquake.  The quake moves in waves and the land "ripples" like water.  The performers did a good job of this.  We'll do a couple more geologic charades tomorrow.

My math class has been working on gaining the knowledge they need to tackle chapter three head on.  We have been working with multiplication and factors.  In Rocket Math, the class voted on the theme of our inspirational posters.  In the past, I have had race cars, a football field, a rocket going across space, etc.  The idea is that every time a student passes a math level, they get to move their rocket, car or ball.  This year they voted on bowling for the theme.  I've cut out the lanes and copied the pins and bowlers.  As soon as I can put the finishing touches on these things, the kids will be able to move their bowling ball closer and closer to the pins as they pass more and more multiplication tests.  The ten pins will represent the last ten tests.  Pass all the tests, get a strike.  Not as easy as a race track, but we're making it happen.  I don't think it is the bowling theme, but the fact that the results are public that will make this motivating. 

Welcome to any math parents reading this for the first time.  Please feel free to call (841-2599) or email me with any questions or concerns about math class. 

Have a great night.

Mr. Shea

PS. Lego Club tomorrow until 5:00.

Chorus concert tonight

Hello,

The homework club just left and the chorus concert starts in one hour.  I hope everyone made it home in time for a bite to eat.  Homework was a limited tonight due to this.  One math class didn't give any and I just gave six problems on greatest common factors.  Come on by the school at 6:30 if you want to hear some festive music.  It still seems early to fa la la to me, but I've always been a procrastinator.

In the WWF adoption elections today, the Snowy Owl took down the Tasmanian Devil quite easily.  The Tiger, with two people speaking in favor of it, (Did you know there are only 3200 left in the world?) beat the Zebra in a very close election.  The Zebra also had a spokesperson.  (I learned that each zebra family (a dozen or so) are led by a zebra stallion.)  Tomorrow pits the Duck-billed Platypus vs. the Amur Leopard.

Students were put into groups of two and three this afternoon and tried to identify whether rocks were igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic.  Overall they did very well.  It is a very tough thing to do.  Tomorrow they will get twelve rock identification cards that describe the rocks that they are working with.  I'm hoping they can match the details of the written cards with the rock specimens that they belong to.  Your child should know the difference between igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic at this point.  They might be able to sing you a song about it. 

Speaking of songs, the continent song looks like it will make it through another year.  The kids have learned it and haven't tried to top it.  They wrote it in cursive this morning for morning work.  I'm having to come up with more limited morning work assignments than I'm used to, now that we are switching for math right at 9:10.  I wish we had a little more class time before rushing off to math, but such is our schedule this year.

I'll see some of you in a half hour at the chorus concert.

Have a good night.

Mr. Shea

Let the tournament begin

Hello,

The Amur Leopard took down the Bison 12-7 and the Black Jaguar narrowly defeated the Penguin 10-8 in the first round of WWF adoption voting.  No one did any outside research to be able to earn the chance to stand up and speak on behalf of their animals.  In the past two years, every animal that has been vouched for by a student has won their competition.  It pays to try to sway the voters.  We'll see if anyone feels strong enough about the Zebra, Tiger, Snowy Owl, or Tasmanian Devil to find out info that might convince some classmates to vote their way.

Class presentations on caves, rocks and minerals, fossils, volcanoes, crystals, and earthquakes brought out some interesting questions and discussions.  Students saw pictures of the giant crystals of Mexico (worth looking up), Carlesbad Caverns, and Luray Caverns.  We saw a youtube clip of bats coming out of Carlesbad.  We talked a bit about echolocation and then got into a little bit about how we see.  The kids liked the changing size of a pupil under bright light. 

Just a reminder: Tomorrow night is the chorus concert.  6:30 until 7:00 in the gym. 

I'm really feeling run down right now and am calling it the earliest night of the year.  I need a nap.

See you tomorrow.

Mr. Shea