Innovations Fourth Grade

2012-03-05T08:46:00.001-08:00

This Week in Fourth Grade

This week we have been doing Spirit Week. Spirit Week was fun because most people participated. This week in Writers Workshop we were preparing for the STAR writing test. The test will be next Tuesday. In book club we continued to work on our Virtual Reality Book Clubs. Some of us continued our work on blogs and others worked on our living museums. Jack is working on turning the book Tiger Rising into a graphic novel. Check out the class blogs, the alchemist@blogspot.com, thetigerisrising@blogspot.com and thetigerrising@blogspot.com. We have been exploring a new animation site called xtranormal.com and creating movies on animal activism. Yesterday we had the Golden Monkey awards. Every student got an award.

PS. Mateo would like you to check out his blog helpthebigcats@blogspot.com

2012-03-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

This Week in Fourth Grade

PS. Mateo would like you to check out his blog helpthebigcats@blogspot.com

big cats work

2012-02-16T11:53:00.000-08:00

hi i'm a student at innovations academy and my name is Alec and you can see my work on http://www.savebigcat.blogspot.com/ click the red letters if you want to see my work. (i don't believe in capitalization in my blog. it's my signature)

Creating Believable Charecters.

2011-12-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

At the heart of every great story is an amazing character. The students spent three days developing their characters. They gave characters struggles that they had to overcome. Heidi’s character a one legged cat is constantly teased at school. Kai’s character is kicked out of his house and has to find a place to live. We also spent time discussing how writers put pieces of themselves in their characters. So some of our characters share similar traits or struggles that we ourselves share.

The piece you see is Jack Frisbie’s. He was working on developing the outside and inside of his character. The outside characteristics are what he/she looks like on the outside: brown shirt, freckles and handsome. The inside characteristics are who the character is as a person. Jack’s character is nice, respectful and helpful.

These writers job is to take these characters on a journey. The characters will experience challenges and setbacks until eventually they overcome their obstacle and become a different person.

WRITING FICTION: BIG DREAMS AND TALL AMBITIONS

2011-12-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

In Writer’s Workshop the students have been writing non-fiction stories. Writing make believe stories is challenging for students. In their mind their stories are rich, creative and feel pages. Getting these larger than life moments down on paper is overwhelming. The major focus of the unit is to move kids away from telling stories to showing them. A telling story reads, “There was a kid who was fighting zombies. Than the zombies attacked the kids became president and the zombies were destroyed.” The story zooms by. Showing requires students to zoom in on powerful moments and describe them in detail. The writer than puts these small moment scenes together in order to create a story.

2011-12-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

WRITERS WORKSHOP

We have started a unit on writing non-fiction stories. We have been looking inspiration in small moments. The idea is that stories can be hidden in the corner of our lives. Students are writing stories based on unusual shadows, mysterious footsteps and even family stories. Students are than plotting out story outlines that string small moment scenes to tell a story. The class is excited about their work. We cannot wait to share are writing with you.

PROJECT TIME

The class has been looking at the concept of activism. We are currently looking at Animal Activism and more specifically the issue of big cat extinction. The students have been looking at the problems facing Big Cats. We also have been working on understanding some possible solutions. We are trying to devise a plan on how to spread are message and intact change on the issue.

Discussing activism has also been connected to many interesting current event topics. The occupy movement in the United States and the current issues in Egypt have been discussed. Students are also looking at the different forms of Activism-Violent and Non-violent.

2011-10-31T13:38:00.001-07:00

FIELD TRIP

On Wednesday, November 16^th we will be going on our first field trip. We will be going to Reuben H. Fleet Science Center at Balboa Park. We will be watching the movie “Born to be Wild” and than visiting the museum after a quick lunch. The field trip will relate to three different content areas in school. In Patrick’s class, we have been talking about animal rights. The movie is on two women who help protect orphaned animals. The trip to the museum will be focused on alternative form or energy. Finally the museum also has a geometry exhibit, which comes just in time for the geometry unit being taught.

2011-10-31T13:23:00.001-07:00

PERSONAL PROJECT

Last week the students started their first round of personal projects. A personal project allows students to choose a subject, research about it and make a product. Products for this round of personal projects are dioramas, bulletin boards, tri folds and books. One group is even making a commercial. Many students selected animals like horses, dolphins, and Okapi. Other students are studying the Middle Ages, animal abuse, and Legoland.

There are many ways for you to support your child with their personal project. You can take some time researching their topic, print out information at home or take them on a trip to the library.

2011-10-24T13:25:00.001-07:00

BOOK CLUBS

Over the year fourth grade will be having Book Clubs. Students select books that they are interested in reading. They break up into groups (some students are working individually) and each day read a chapter or two. Most of the book clubs are being read aloud to students. Each person takes turn reading a page. This has students practicing their fluency. Fluency is a person’s ability to read aloud.

When the pages are completed the students have different jobs: Word Wizard, Discussion Leader, Illustrator, and Summarizer. If you like you can ask students what the responsibilities are for each job. There are currently four books in rotation: The Mouse and the Motorcycle, Bunnicula, Cam Jansen and the Case of the Missing Tooth and Stonewords (or the ghost story). Take a minute this week to ask your child about the book they are reading.

Conferences

2011-10-17T13:30:00.000-07:00

Conferences

Thanks so much for checking the blogs. The kids are checking every week to see how many page views we get. It’s pretty exciting; we even have people reading our blog in Russia.

This week is student led conferences. The students will be walking through the room and different centers. There will also be a station for writing goals. A goal sheet will be coming home, so please take a minute to go over it with your child. Also Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. School will be out at 12:00.

To sign up for a time you can go to Elizabeth’s blog. There is an online sign up form. If you already signed up, we transferred your name there.

Thanks so much.

2011-10-10T14:38:00.000-07:00

WRITERS WORKSHOP

This week the students will be working on their final drafts. Some students will be working on individual paragraphs, while others have created mulit-paragraph essays. During editing week students will be working on their rough drafts and also have time for free writing. Each student meets with Patrick and goes over comma, capitalization and spelling rules.

E-MOTES

I was walking through a book fair last weekend, and I came across a table promoting Emotes. The organization is promoting emotional intelligence and informing kids about their feelings. Each emotion has been given a character to represent itself. Bubba is happy. Cant is frustrated. Woe is worried. Boom is angry. The poster has been in the room and kids are already talking about their feelings more.

The Emotes also have action figures and stuffed animals. Some students have even started grabbing the Emote of the feeling they are having. It gives everyone around them a quick message about what is going on inside.

To that end if it would be possible to donate one of the characters it would be great. Please just let us know which Emote you donated in the comment section. We wouldn’t want 12 Awestrucks.

Thanks so much.

Patrick

STAY HUNGRY STAY FOOLISH

2011-10-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

The following is a shared writing done by the fourth grade B group. Student’s watched a speech Steve Jobs had given. They took notes and than worked together to create mind maps. A few students and Patrick typed it up.

Steve Jobs was the genius behind Apple. He died on October 5, 2011 of cancer at 56. He made one of the first computers when he was 20. He invented many things such as the iPad, the Mac, the iPhone, the iPod. He was a billionaire who donated his money to charities or spent it to make his company better. His death makes the future of Apple uncertain, although Steve Jobs has blue prints of future inventions.

His early life was rough and difficult. His mom put him up for adoption. His mother never graduated college. His father never graduated high school. He dropped out of college and started crashing the classes he wanted to. He started doing what he loved. He slept on the floor of his friend’s apartment. He was so poor he would walk seven miles to get a good meal. He started apple when he was twenty years old in his parent’s garage. He became a billionaire.

He was fired from his job at Apple, Which became a story of love and loss. Getting fired ended up being a good thing for him. He took a job at Pixar that later would make Toy Story. Pixar would make all the amazing movies we watch today. He also met the love his life there, his wife. Apple later purchased Pixar. Bringing Steve Jobs back to his old company.

He was diagnosed with cancer, which taught him a lot. He asked the doctor what was wrong. The doctor told him he would die in only a few months. He ended up getting lucky. He had a rare type of cancer that they could cure with surgery. He learned to live every day like it’s your last.

He taught us to do your best and follow your dreams.

Writer's Workshop

2011-09-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

We are working on a unit called STRONG SENTENCES AND POWERFUL PARAGRAPHS. The unit will focus on students writing descriptive sentences and paragraphs with topic sentence. Students will also be looking at the different types of sentences (simple, compound and complex). The study of sentence types will analyze of parts of speech subject, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. Students will also be practicing using mind mapping and the revision process.

This week students must turn in three mind maps and three rough draft paragraphs. This is the minimum requirement. Many students are going above and beyond. They are working on five-seven mind maps and paragraphs. Still another group has chosen to work on mutli-pargraph essays.

There are many ways you can support your child in this unit. First you can talk to them about the topics they are writing about. Second, take a minute to help your child research the topics on the computer. You can print the information and bring it in the following day. Lastly a trip to the library could really improve their work.

2011-09-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

This Thursday is Back to School Night. There will be an informative session at both 4:00 and 5:00. Please do your best to attend. We will be discussing the policy the fourth grade will have on technology (phones, I pods and handheld games.)

READING

I am so excited about how much this group loves reading. We had to have a meeting about not playing tag with a book in your hand. It’s always good to have a book or two that your child is reading at home. We don’t have homework, but I cannot stress enough how important it is to read at home. If you need help finding level appropriate books or recommendations, let me know.

APPRECIATION

We try to have time in the day for students to share compliments or appreciations. The students have been repeatedly sharing how kind everyone is being toward each other. For the first few weeks of school this group is getting along really well. They’re very comfortable with each other and going out of their way to be helpful.

THE FIRST SIX WEEKS

2011-09-12T14:09:00.000-07:00

The first six weeks of school are incredibly important. The tone established in that short amount of time is essential. It is during this time that children learn how to take care of the classroom, share their work, and learn about one another. Also students begin to learn how to give and receive feedback, determine class agreements, and lay the groundwork for councils. Classrooms at Innovations Academy have students participating in self-governance, self-direction and expressive free use of materials. So If your child comes home saying “I’ll we did was play.” They really spent the day mastering one of these skills.

This week we will be laying the groundwork for Writer’s Workshop. The first unit is called Strong Sentences and powerful Paragraphs. We will be working on creating interesting paragraphs with sentences with lots of details. Student’s will be choosing their own topics. They will than practice the art of revision.

2011-08-22T09:20:00.001-07:00

Dear Families,

I am so excited to start the new school year. There will be two fourth grade classes this year. The students will be rotating between Elizabeth and myself. I will be teaching Language Arts and Social Studies and Elizabeth will be focusing on Math and Science.

As far as supplies go Elizabeth and I will be sharing the students and our supplies. The supply lists available will cover both classes.

Each Student should get:

- One large 3 inch binder (stays at school) – Please put student’s name on the side

- Loose leaf 3 hole filler paper (1 pack of 150 - wide ruled)

- Composition Notebooks (4)

- Dividers (5 count)

- Several #2 pencils (around 10 -20)

- Pencil sharpener with cover

- Colored pens (2 of any color other than black/blue)

- Highlighters (2 of any color)

- Thin colored markers or Standard Markers (1 of either)

- Colored pencils (12 count)

- Scissors (1)

- Glue sticks (2)

- Spiral Notebook (70 page)

- 12" ruler (1)

- box of tissues (1)

- donation of favorite book to class (1)

- 10-20 dollar donation

Wish List for Additional Supplies:

Expo Markers, Antibacterial Wipes, Paper Towels, Napkins, Paper Plates, Plastic Forks, Plastic Spoons, Paper Clips, Binder Clip, Staplers, Construction Paper (all sizes and colors), Poster Paper, and White-Out, Pillows, drapes for the windows, empty picture frames, plants, fish tank.

**The suggested classroom donation for additional supplies this year is between $10-$20, however donations of any size are welcome. Please turn in monetary donations to the office. Funds will be directed to classrooms. Tax deductible forms can be obtained for all donations at the front office.

THE TEDDY ROOSEVELT MUSEUM AN EXPLANATION

2011-03-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

I had just finished reading the class a book about Teddy Roosevelt and was planning to have a brief discussion about his life. The students, however, had a different agenda. After discussing at length the environmental issues that caused our conservation President to "totally flip out”, they decided to open a natural history museum just like Teddy Roosevelt had done when he was nine years old. A museum that would inspire people to love nature, teach them about Teddy’s life and inform them about environmental issues affecting us today. Within forty minutes the students had chosen a new area of study and made a curriculum for the next month of school. The Teddy Roosevelt Museum became their passion project, evolving from their interests and ideas.

Exceptional instruction has nothing to do with the ability to come up with picture perfect products at the end. Its success is rooted in students being comfortable and feeling empowered to make decisions about what they learn and how they choose to demonstrate it. Extraordinary classrooms are driven by student’s own interests and ideas. The job of the educator is to connect as many questions and new insights to what the students are already bringing to the table.

In one fell swoop, we addressed standards in earth science and civic responsibility. In Language Arts we read for information, wrote paragraphs and spoke eloquently to the guests who came to visit the museum. Standards were not the driving force behind my instruction. They were the necessary tools for achieving our common objective. Like all learning should be, they were meaningful and relevant to the classroom.

The next five weeks was a whirlwind of planning meetings and curating our ever-expanding collection of prized shells, feathers and fossils. We made dioramas and created two massive wall displays on the life of Teddy Roosevelt. A life size Hopi monument was built in the corner alongside a museum gift shop. A team of museum security guards was assembled while another group organized the advertisement, publicity and tours. Each day was different with groups shifting and changing. The classroom was slowly being transformed.

The students’ museum project illustrates the importance of hands-on curriculum in education. When hands are moving, minds are working. When students are building and creating, they learn far more than the standards. They master how to work together with their peers. They understand how to share ideas, collaborate and compromise. They begin to understand their role within a group and how they contribute to it. These are the skills individuals need to be successful in society and the workplace.

The day of the museum opening, students beamed with pride and accomplishment as they took their parents, other classrooms and family friends on a tour. The Teddy Roosevelt Museum project was a huge success, in part, to the many adult members of the school community who collaborated on the project. A parent planned a whale watching field trip (whaling had been a major area of interest and concern for the students). Some parents made professional looking posters while others brought in movies related to the environment. One of the student’s sisters even served as Research Librarian, continually bringing in new books about nature and the life of Teddy Roosevelt

Adult collaboration is the cornerstone of an exceptional school culture. My classrooms have always had extensive parent involvement. They assist in the day-to-day activities and even in the planning of the curriculum. This involvement has made the classroom more rich and exciting for both students and parents.

Whale Watching

2011-02-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday my class went on a field trip to go whale watching. When we got there we had to wait a little while then we got on the boat. Me and my friend Jen Michelle walked around the boat. There was a small inside with a snack bar. The outside had seats in the back and a little part on the front. I stayed in the front with Jen. Some other people were in front with us. Than another freind said "See over there said my teacher. THan I look and it was a seal. It sawm right up to the boa. Than it was gone. It had gone under to boat. Than we had to sit down because the boat was starting

2011-02-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

In our leadership project, we were studying Teddy Roosevelt. He was a hero and helped save nature. Today we learned about someone new. Her name is Harriet slaves. She freed 300 people from being a slave. She was a brave and strong woman. She escaped slavery herself. We might make a project out of her.In our leadership project, we were studying Teddy Roosevelt. He was a hero and helped save nature. Today we learned about someone new. Her name is Harriet slaves. She freed 300 people from being a slave. She was a brave and strong woman. She was pretty nice. She escaped slavery herself. We might make a project out of her.

by-zainab

The Teddy Roosevelt Museum.

2011-02-07T12:11:00.000-08:00

Third grade is really excited by the Teddy Roosevelt Museum. We were inspired by reading Teddy Roosevelt biography. Teddy Roosevelt had a museum when he was a kid, so the studnets decided to open one themselves. The museum has three parts!

1. It will teach you about the life of Teddy Roosevelt.

2. It will inspore you to love nature just as much as Teddy did.

3. It will inform you about some enviromental issues facing our world.

So on February 10, 2011. Come to the museum at 5:00-6:00 on parent night.

2011-01-28T16:01:00.000-08:00

Report Cards

I was filling out report cards this week, and decided to do them a different way this year. I reformat ed them and made several changes. I also decided to fill them out with each student. Each child has a conference with me and we go over every aspect of the report card. The conferences have been great and its amazing. It's great to hear them talking about what they've learned and how they fell they are doing in class. However, this also means they take a lot more time, and that they must be completed in class. So my report cards won't be coming out until next Friday. Thanks so much for your patience.

HOPI PROJECT

2010-12-06T10:44:00.000-08:00

THE HOPI PROJECT

The class will spend six weeks living as the Hopi. Students will be researching Hopi life and than planning a “life size village” in the classroom. Students will be building pueblos, recreating weapons, games, and pastimes. Children will assume leadership roles in the community similar to that of the Hopi. Students will write about what they’ve learned and done in the project. Students will also be practicing asking questions and making connections between the past and life today.

OUTCOMES

I can describe how the Hopi adapted to their physical and environment and used their resources to meet their needs.

I know the religious beliefs customs and practices of the Hopi.

I can write paragraphs that establish a central idea and have a topic sentence.

I can read for information and find answers in text.

I can discuss the main idea in what I read.

PRODUCTS

Reader-Students will complete readers that track their reading and ability to answer questions.

Essay-Containing at least four paragraphs on Hopi life.

Mural-identifies Hopi’s resources and desert life and animals

Class Museum

2010-10-25T09:54:00.001-07:00

Third Grades Very Busy Week

Tuesday-School Pictures

On Tuesday send a your child ready for your picture. The students will each come home with an order form and viewing card. You can order online or bring the form into class. Make checks payable to Innovations Academy

Thursday-Field Trip Natural History Museum

We will be going to the Natural History Museum on Thursday, October 28, 2010. The cost for the trip is $6 for children and $8 for adults. We will be seeing two special exhibits on snakes and another on minerals. We will also be watching a movie. Please bring a sack lunch on field trip days.

Friday –Halloween Party

The class has decided to have a Halloween Party. The students have been planning it the party in the weekly council meetings. Each kid has a pretty good idea what he or she’d like to do and contribute. Costumes are okay but no blood and weapons. Thanks

CITY PROJECT

2010-10-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

What started off as a simple investigation in using cups as open-ended materials, has led to a total investigation in studying communities.

One student innocently asked, “Maybe the class should do a whole project together using cups.”

“Like building a city.” Elijah suggested. The entire class cheered with agreement.

Six weeks later and the class has explored human needs, the economy, and how government works.

The class spent time building skyscrapers, starting business, and constructing shelters for their Lego citizens.

Shared Writing-Fables

2010-10-01T10:55:00.001-07:00

Fables are make believe stories that have talking animals. Fables teach a lesson. In Uncle Rye and the Moon the lesson is to be very nice, kind and generous. In Heavy Load the lesson is to not carry around bad feelings. Fables tell how something came to be. In How the Elephant Got it’s trunk the crocodile pulled the elephants nose and made it long. In Stella and the Stars, a little girl hears other kids are scared at night. She lets the stars go into the night. Fables teach you lessons and how to be a good person.

-Written by 3rd Grade Class

Project

2010-09-22T15:34:00.000-07:00

FOLKTALES PROJECT

In Language Arts, we have been exploring folktales and fables. We’ve been reading lots of these short stories together and discussing the lesson we can learn from them. We are comparing and contrasting different stories from around the world and working with summarizing. We’ve been focusing on a book called Zen Shorts, a picture book about a wise Panda named Stillwater. Here’s a quick overview of he project.

QUESTION-The ideas were exploring and pondering

What are folktales?
Why did people tell folktales?
What are morals?
What can we learn from these stories?

OUTCOMES- Things we have to prove by the end of the project.

We can compare and contrast stories from around the world.
We can recall stories with a beginning, middle and end.
We can write clear and descriptive sentences.

PRODUCTS-The work we’ll have when were finished

Letters to characters
Diorama
Fable Paragraph
Story Summaries

Written by: Patrick

THINGS WE NEED

Thanks for all the help in bring in all our supplies. We’ve got enough color pencil, markers, pencils and paper to last for a long time.

There are a few things we need all the time. When we say all the time consider this list like water. If we have it we’ll use it.

Glue sticks
Tape of all kinds
Recyclables-paper towel rolls, containers, water bottles, cardboard boxes, corks.
Blocks
Legos
Craft supplies-tissue paper, poster paints, beads, buttons, foam, feathers, felt, clothes ect.

2010-01-14T16:52:00.000-08:00

THE MIDDLE AGES TIMES

The 3rd grade class at Innovations Academy ended the year unamimosly agreeing to study Ancient Egypt for the next project. I left for winter break planning an exciting project on the pyramids, ancient flooding Nile and mummification. I returned with a plan in hand. When I asked if the students were excited to study Egypt, they groaned, “We don’t want to study Egypt.” Shocked I asked them why and was told cheerfully, “Its been two weeks Patrick, were just kids, of course we changed our minds already.”

I said goodbye to King Tut and welcomed Constantine. Starting next week we’ll be studying the Middle Ages, which apparently is the new thing for 2010. The focus of the project will be studying how the people of the Middle Ages met their needs. We’ll be reading for information, practicing research skills, and writing informational reports. The class met to plan the project, and decided to build a medieval village and they have a few other ideas waiting in the wings.

We do need parent help in implementing the project. We need materials to build the village- pretzel sticks, sugar cubes, clay, paper towel rolls, hot glue gun sticks, white popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, white Styrofoam cups and fake flowers (some dollar stores sell them real cheap.) So keep your eye out when you are shopping. The more supplies we have the better our project will be. I can promise you we will use all materials and that we’ll still be in need of more. Thanks so much to the parents that have already donated.

MYTHOLOGY

The class has taken an interest in Greek and Roman Mythology. We started a new unit and the students are really excited about it. The students are enjoying listening to Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief. We’ve been reading some other short myths and stories. When were finished we have been acting them out, writing about them, and creating tabules. If you’re not sure what a tabule (tab-low) is ask your child. Speaking of asking your child about what’s going on at school, try asking them to tell you their favorite myth.

MULTIPICATION

You know in 2001, when there’s that giant white monolith reaching miles into the sky looming over all the people. Well that basically what multiplication is in the third grade. It’s hard, it takes a lot of practice and it’s a lot of numbers to keep track of in your head. I Thankfully the students at Innovations are coming up with new and creative ways to practice, practice, and practice. The class is coming up with new ways to review their multiplication facts. They’ve created games called battle dice, target math, and a strange game-involving pattern blocks is in the works. Multiplication takes a lot of time and repetition. If you want something to be doing at home than ask them to teach you one of the

October

2009-10-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Fables
In Language Arts we’ve been learning about fables. We read, acted a few out, and even created shadow puppets. We read an amazing book called Zen Shorts and the class decided to make it into a play. Ask your child what their favorite fable from the book was. If they’re up to the challenge ask them to tell you their favorite fable.

Projectime
We started the year off discussing our families and ourselves. We built a class timeline and talked about out hopes and dreams for the future. Next week we will be making a family tree so send in any pictures you have of grandparents, brothers, sisters and of course yourself. They will be talking about the origins of their names, so there’s an interview sheet coming home.

Currently we are trying to answer our essential question “What do humans being need in order to survive?” The class is building models of communities to illustrate our findings.