Coding Club

I did it,  with help of course, but today was the first day of Coding Club!!

1st Day of 4th Grade!

My new students entered my room with a coloring page on their desk.  I didn't say much to them about it, just to color it all in and to make each stick person in the picture themselves. They colored, some more happily than others.  I then told them that everything in my classroom will have a purpose and this activity is no different.  They entered my class today as individuals, just as they colored their own separate sheet, but we come together as a family just as the separate pictures together make a whole picture complete.

I then asked them to put the picture together and create the big picture.  They were all excited at first, but then some slowly went towards the back, not saying much at all.  There were leaders from the start that wanted to take control and direct every placement of every picture.  I tried to give out some hints, but very few listened.

I asked them to go back to their desk and think about what happened.  I asked them to reflect, where they one of the ones that stood back or took charge.  Did they listen to my advice or was their mindset closed to learning something new.  Some said they never knew coloring pages could be so difficult! I then asked them to try and problem solve again, this take taking an opposite role.  If they stand back, then now they will stand up and speak what their thoughts are, if they are normally loud, then they would stand back.  I told them this is trying something new if one thing doesn't work out.  They all looked at me like I was crazy, but gave it a shot.  They did a much better job of working together and listening to the others.  I then asked them if they were open to changing some of their pictures if they realized that it needed changing.  Some where and some where not.  I explained that this is how they problem solve.  They need to be aware of their behavior when problem solving, only then will they understand the different changes they need to make.  

I had a great first day with my new crew.  They are an awesome bunch!

Meet the Teacher

I'm so thankful and grateful to meet my new students.  I can tell we are going to have some awesome fun this year!  I'm also thankful that previous students of mine continue to come up and give me a hug.  I love every one of them and love that they remember and think of me, as I think of them too!

Back to School Painting

I love to paint and finally did to help relax before the big rush next week. Our school also painted together.  This is our second annual paint to decorate the faculty lounge. This year's theme is hearts.

Back to School

I'm getting excited about the new school year!  I love all the Back-to-School supplies in the stores.  I had a wonderful summer and am ready to get this school year started.  I've worked some in my room, here is a sneak peak...

Field trips...

Teacher Playdate: Pizza and Painting

I helped with Math Club this year and our kids won district!

Field trip to Waco Mammoth Site

They helped find fossils from current dinosaur dig sites in the United States.

Field Day Fun!

Mission Tour- San Juan

State Capitol Tour

School Wide Field Trip- Cultural Day

Soap Carvings

Amon Carter Museum- Greatness!

World Party Time

 I love that my school does not have your "typical" open house.  We have World Party.  Each grade level has their own continent to study and each classroom chooses one country from their continent.  Fourth Grade has the Continent Aftrica and my class learned all about Morocco.  These are some of the projects they did- which were amazing.  Parents help them recreate dishes and drinks and each student walks around with their own passport and learns about all the different contries and tries all the different types of food- it is a wonderful and education experience!

Camp Write Along

In preparation for the STAAR writing test, we spent a whole week going through Camp Write Along.  The songs were great and everyone seemed to have a grand time! I loved the relaxed atmosphere right before testing- just the way it should be!  I have to find my pictures to upload some of the things we did on the last day of camp.

Butterfly Life Cycle

We received some caterpillars and are watching them go through their life cycle- so cool to watch!

April 13, another view of the darlings...

 April 13, Some more have formed their Chrysalis...

 April 9, The first one started to make its Chyrsalis.  We had to stop class and watch this in action- so neat!

 April 9, I think something is about to form!!

April 5, just another view of them.

 April 5, they are growing!

 April 2, we got our caterpillars!

Book Tournament

We are down to voting on the final Book of the Year! One of our parents set up this booth and had ballots ready for them to choose their book. They even had stickers made for each kid showing off that they voted!!

Math Anchor Charts

These are some of the math anchor charts I have made this year to "anchor" our learning. I get my inspiration from all over the Internet. I love making these because it helps me work through the process of how to teach some of these difficult concepts to my class.  I tried to list these in the order they were taught this year.  

Place Value: Know numbers up to Billions, expanded, standard, and word form, and rounding.

Decimals: Understand the place value of decimals along with adding and subtracting decimals.

Fractions: Equivalent, Simplifying, Comparing, Improper and Mixed Numbers, Decomposing, Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Multiplication: 1 digit by 2 digit, 1 digit by 3 digit, 1 digit by 4 digit, 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication.

Different strategies on solving multiplication problems.

Division: Long Division, Interpreting the Remainders

Geometry: Lines, Angles, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Symmetry, measuring angles with a protractor, finding missing angles.

Data: In and Out boxes, Area, and Perimeter

Measurement: Conversion of measurement, Customary and Metric Measurement, Elapsed Time