Sound Wave Experiments

Students are learning about sound and how it travels. They have learned that sound travels in waves. These waves are like vibrations that travel through a medium, such as air, water, string, or metal. To solidify this understanding, students conduct experiments. Currently, students are exploring how far a whisper can travel, given two cups, string, and two paperclips. Many students figured out that to send their whispered message to their partner, the string had to be pulled tight. The tighter the string and metal were pulled, the stronger the vibrations, and the clearer the message.

Poets 3/20/18

Fourth graders at Leverett Elementary School are poets. As part of our launch into studying poetry, students are reading poems and poetry anthologies. They have begun writing innovative poems. Today they turned to the poems and anthologies for inspiration. They noticed the emotion and description in the poems. They allowed that to inspire them as they wrote their own poems. After working, many fourth graders were eager to share their poems with their classmates. After each poet presented his or her poem, the class snapped to applaud, as is tradition when poets share their work.

March 14, 2018

On March 14, 2018, fourth graders at Leverett Elementary School had a thoughtful and reflective conversation about the type of environment they appreciate learning in. As a classroom community, we acknowledged that to feel safe and comfortable to take risks and try our best, respect needs to be shown towards everyone. As a classroom community, we brainstormed many ways that we already show respect towards each other. Fourth graders also brainstormed ways to build a stronger presence of respect. The following is the combined list, what we are striving for in our classroom.

 

Respect in Our Classroom is…

  • Using a class list to ensure everyone gets turns
  • Using a class list to take turns in the “comfy chair”
  • Slowly spelling MISSISSIPPI at the water fountain
  • Having opportunities to pick partners
  • Not writing on classmates’ papers
  • Teaching classmates how to do something, not just telling final answers
  • Not interrupting others when they are talking
  • Not being rude or disrespectful when talking with others
  • Not ignoring anyone
  • Acknowledging others when they talk to you
  • Not saying inappropriate things
  • Keeping an open mind
  • Being quiet during reading
  • Doing your afternoon job well and not rushing through it
  • Asking to use someone in an example, in a comic, or anything being created
  • Not logging onto classmates’ accounts
  • Caring about others if they get hurt
  • Not talking behind others’ backs
  • Stopping when someone says stop
  • Respecting school property
  • Not hurting others
  • Respecting teachers
  • Listening to teachers when they are talking
  • Greeting adults when they greet you
  • Saying hello to adults
  • When a teacher asks you to do something, don’t say no, just do it

 

Read-A-Thon 2018!

Today was an all-school read-a-thon! Students came to school dressed in comfy clothes. They brought sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, and favorite books to read. The day was filled with reading and literacy-based activities. We spent time reading independently, buddy reading, reading to and with first grade buddies, reading and finishing expert book projects, creating comics and short stories, and analyzing clues to solve logic puzzles. It was a wonderful and exciting day of literacy.

First Grade Buddies

Fourth graders began their Read-A-Thon day with their first grade buddies. Fourth graders practice being role models to younger students. Today, they worked with their buddies to complete a bear craft. After working together on the project, buddies had time to read together. Fourth graders practice their decoding and fluency skills as they read aloud, and first graders practice their reading skills as they read to their fourth grade buddies. Fourth grader students truly look forward to spending time with their first grade buddies.

Becoming Stronger Readers

In fourth grade, students learn to select books that will help them advance as readers. We call these texts just right books. Students are taught the five finger rule to help them select just right books.

When selecting a book, before getting lost in the story, students use the five finger rule. They open up to a random page in the middle of the book and read. Every time they come to a word that is challenging to sound out or that they do not know the meaning of, they put up one finger. At the end of the page, they notice how many fingers are up. They repeat this as they read 2-3 pages. If the student put up 0-2 fingers, the book is probably too easy and not going to help them advance as a reader. If three fingers are up, the book is probably just right. It will challenge them while still being able to hold onto the complexities of the text. If 4-5 fingers are up, the book is likely too challenging. These books should be set aside and tried again at another time.

Many students love particular books that do not challenge them as readers. These texts are fine to read, though they should be saved for independent reading at home, after the 20 minutes of nightly reading is completed.

 

Creative Social Studies Projects

Towards the end of the United States and mapping unit, students created innovative projects that reflected their understandings from the unit. Students chose to work individually, with a partner, or as a member of a small group.  Surprisingly, of the many project options, all students chose to create board games and comics. Each project teaches players and readers about the fifty states, capitals, and other unique attributes of our nation.

Fourth graders taught their games and shared their comics with one another. They spent time teaching and learning from each other.