Field Trip - BRIMS/WKU

Friday the fourth graders took a science field trip to Barren River Imaginative Museum of Science and WKU. We all had so much fun!!

At BRIMS, the students watched several demonstrations and were then able to be set loose on their own to "play" with all of the science exhibits in the museum. This was my first trip to BRIMS, but I was very pleased! The man who presented was very knowledgeable, but still able to take it down to their level. He was entertaining and kept the kids' attention.

After BRIMS, we went to WKU to perform some more science experiments. The students made their own glue, which they then used to complete an organizer about physical and chemical change. Then, the highlight.... With the help of WKU student lab assistants, my fourth grade students dissected frogs!!! They handled it so well! I only had one student who absolutely did not want any part of it. A few were hesitant at first, but really got into it after they got started. Every two-three students were partnered with a WKU student who walked them through the dissection, but my students actually got to do a lot of the cutting and measuring themselves. They learned about body systems in a way that I could never teach them. It was awesome!

Big Red even stopped by!!

Newbery Medal Reading Challenge

Since 1922, 90 Newbery Medals have been awarded. No, the Newbery Medal is not the be-all, end-all of what makes a good book. I sometimes read a book and get frustrated that it is such an awesome book and yet received no recognition. On the other hand, sometimes I read a book that has won a prestigious award and I hate it. But no one can argue that on the whole, Newbery books are awesome books for intermediate children and as an intermediate teacher, I feel I should definitely make an effort to read more of them.

I am challenging myself to read all of the Newbery Medal Winners. Since a new one is added every year, it may take me quite a while to catch up! 

Here are the Newbery Medal Winners that I have read (and remember well enough for them to count!):

1. 2009 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (04/10)
2. 2008 Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz (04/10)
3. 1999 - Holes by Louis Sachar (BeforeChallenge)
4. 1997 - The View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg (07/11)
5. 1994 - The Giver by Lois Lowry (BC)
6. 1991 - Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli (BC)
7. 1990 - Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (04/10)
8. 1989 - Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman (03/10)
9. 1988 - Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman
10. 1986 - Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan (BC)
11. 1984 - Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary (BC)
12. 1982 - A Journey to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard (03/10)
13. 1979 - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (05/13)
14. 1978 - Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson (BC)
15. 1977 - Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor (10/13)
16. 1968 - From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg (BC)
17. 1963 - A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (BC)
18. 1941 - Call It Courage (2011)

(BC) - Before Challenge

~Wish Me Luck!!~

Humane Heroes

Mrs. H's fifth grade class just finished an amazing project to raise money for the local humane society. It really is a sweet story - check it out here! 

Valentine's Day Parties

Alright guys, I know you took some pictures at your Valentine's Day party! Email them to me at mrsborland at gmail dot com and I will add them to this post!! I also want pictures of VDay Decorations and Bulletin Boards!

My class made a simple version of these 3D Hearts - ours only used three hearts and the kids decorated them like conversation hearts.

Cutting Out,

Glueing,

All Done!

Mrs. Y, a fifth grade teacher at my school, had her kids play a really cute game! She wrote one half of famous couples the kids would know on a notecard and had the kids tape it to their backs. They could go around the room and ask other kids yes or no questions until they figured out who they were. Some of her famous couples included Shrek and Fiona and Barack and Michelle Obama - too cute!

I'm Finished, Now What??

One of the biggest headaches of teachers (or at least this one!) is that not everyone works at the same pace. So what do you do for those early finishers? Fortunately, fourth graders are old enough that you can tell them to read a book or work on homework, but what about those kids who ALWAYS finish early no matter how much work they have? You don't want them to spend half their day waiting on the other students to finish. Plus, do they really need to be reading a book during core math time? Shouldn't they be doing math??

I'm Finished Folders

This is why I am now using I'm Finished Folders in my room. The folders are kept in hanging file folders in a crate and kept on a back table (see picture at top). I got the idea for organizing them from Mrs. G, a kindergarten teacher in our building. I saw her kiddos filing their morning work away and thought, hey, if her kids can do that, mine sure can! Anyway, whenever a student is finished with their work (including checking back over it!), they may go to the back and pick out their I'm Finished Folder. They take the whole folder back to their seat and keep it until the end of class. The two sides of the folder are labeled "Finished" and "To Do." I love using these because it reinforces to the kids that at school we have fun, but we cannot afford to waste even one minute of time!

What Goes in the Folder

Each students folder is different. It is full of worksheets providing practice of skills we have already covered in class. There are some papers that most every student gets, some that go just in my more advanced students' folders, and some that go only in the folders of my students who need more help on a certain skill. Each student also has some papers that only go in their folder. For example, I will print a worksheet from FasttMath that allows them to practice their Focus Facts. They may also have a paper they have already turned in that needs to be corrected. This is also a great tool for my English Language Learners. Their folders are filled with math that is right on their level and can be done independently or with the help of a study buddy.

Possible Problems

• I do have some students that will rush through their work just so they can work on their I'm Finished Folder. For these students, they must ask my permission before getting their folder. I will only let them get their folder if I can tell they took their time and checked their work.


• I make sure that at least once a week, I allow about 10-20 minutes for all the students to work out of their folders. That way my slower workers get to use them too.


• I periodically have them clean out their Finished side for me to look over. I spot check their work and hand it back with a SOAR ticket or a piece of candy. This keeps them motivated to actually do the work in their folders instead of socializing when their work is finished.


• I keep a three ring binder in the back of the crate that helps me keep track of the papers I have stocked in the folders as well as answer keys. We have an awesome instructional assistant at our school who will grade papers for you while she is sitting with kids in the ABC room. : )

Mudshark by Gary Paulsen

Title: Mudshark (2009)

Author: Gary Paulsen, Newbery Honor Winner

Other Books by this Author: Hatchet, Brian's Winter, Lawn Boy, and many others

AR Reading Level: 6.3

AR Interest Level: Middle Grades

AR Points: 2

My Rating: Didn't Like It, It was Okay, Liked It, Really Liked It, It was Amazing

I enjoyed this book. It tells of a boy who has answers - all because of his mad observation skills. These skills help him solve all types of problems, which is good because his school has a lot. Each chapter opens with an announcement from the principal warning kids to return lost erasers, stay away from the rogue gerbil, and ignore the Hazmat team that is dealing with the problem in the faculty restroom.

This book would be a little bit too difficult for most of my fourth graders, but for the ones who would be able to read it, it would be enjoyable and age-appropriate.

Book List -

 A list of the books I've read since beginning the blog. If I have written a review, it will be linked.

Of course, I have read more books than this, but I am only including ones relevant to teaching : ) 


For Students:

1. Mudshark by Gary Paulsen (02/11)
2. Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson (02/11)
3. Call It Courage by Armstrong Sperry (03/11) NB
4. Kneeknock Rise by Natalie Babbitt (06/11) NB
5. The View from Saturday by EL Konigsburg (07/11) NB
6. Best of All by Max Lucado (07/11)
7. A Penny's Worth of Character by Jesse Stuart (07/11)
8. Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko (07/11) NB

For Teachers:

1. The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child by Donalyn Miller (06/11)
2. Drumming to the Beat of Different Marchers by Debbie Silver (07/11)
3. Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever by Mem Fox (07/11)

Reading 911 - Chapter Books as a Whole Class

Questions from Teachers Just Like You...

"Right now I am working on a literature unit for my reading class because we are sooo bored with our routine with the reading textbook. I've been reading Arthur, For the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan and want to make some fun activities and assessments to go along with it. Any ideas? I really want to introduce my students to wonderful books written by great authors! Any helpful hints or suggestions? Do you all read any chapter books as a whole class?"

I think our kids can get bored with the basal series too. Some of the stories just plain don't interest them. I personally do not teach any core reading, but I do have a supplemental reading class. My kids are the more advanced readers and so I have read a few chapter books with them. We are getting ready to start reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by EL Konigsburg. I read this with them last year and the kids really seemed to like it.

As far as fun activities and assessments go, I always find my best ideas through google. I found this site while looking for ideas for my class. Last year, I narrowed down some of these choices for my kids and let them pick for themselves. I had some pretty good diary entries from Claudia's point of view, a few homemade board games, and some really neat travel brochures the kids made by researching the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I also had a student make a really nice sculpture based on the Angel sculpture from the book. I wish I had taken pictures!

Do your kids suffer from Basal Boredom?? Please post any ideas you have used/found for using chapter books in your classroom!!

If you have a question or situation you would like some input on, please email me or find me on facebook!

The 101st Day of School

While most primary children celebrate the 100th day of school, our 1st graders celebrate the 101st day of school. All the kids dressed up like they were 101 years old. They paraded around the other classrooms at the end of the day and let me tell you, they were the cutest 101 year olds anyone has ever seen! Some of them wore big glasses or shawls and crept around holding their hips and clutching canes. Hilarious! Below is a picture of a few of our first grade teachers.

Whew! Teaching for 101 days can really wear on your body!

Chex Mix(ture) - Mixtures and Solutions

Thanks to Mrs. R for the idea!

To demonstrate for my kiddos the difference between a mixture and a solution, I used two things they were familiar with - ChexMix and KoolAid. We brainstormed good ingredients for ChexMix and then the kids volunteered to bring in the ingredients. I mixed the ingredients together in front of them and we discussed how pieces could easily be picked out if you didn't want them to be part of your Mix. Then, I mixed some Cherry Koolaid together and we discussed how this was a solution because the substances are spread evenly throughout and are a little harder to separate. (We discussed that if you boiled out all the water, the solids would be left behind.)

Our ChexMix Ingredients:

1. Pretzels


2. Sunflower Seeds (just the insides)


3. Marshmallows


4. M&M's


5. Raisins

WKU Lady Toppers Game

Today every third-sixth grader in the County and City School District were invited to a Lady Toppers Basketball game. We're talking 6,000+ kids here!!

I'll admit - I wasn't exactly excited about the prospect of missing another entire day of instruction just to watch a basketball game - all of these snow days have really put us behind! I was also nervous about keeping up with all of my kids at Diddle Arena, especially since I knew there would be a big crowd as we found our seats, used the restroom, and even visited the concession stand.

But all of my worries were for nothing. The day was smooth sailing! Western did an amazing job getting us all in and out of there. The concession lines were a little long, but I guess there was not really much that could be done about that. None of my kids even asked me to use the bathroom! I think they were having too good of a time watching the Lady Toppers win and waving their complimentary red towels they received as they entered the arena. It was a great experience for my kids, especially the ones who do not usually get to attend things like this with their families.

I am going to take some of the stats from the game and integrate them into our Data Analysis unit. But honestly, even if I have to stretch to tie it to core content, I really think it was worth missing "instructional time" to see my kids have such a good time with each other. Photos were taken from my iPhone, so I apologize that they are not the highest quality.

Did any other readers go to the game?? Did your kids have as much fun as mine??

Mobile Science Lab

Every year we schedule the Mobile Science Lab for a visit for our third and fourth grade students. Our fourth graders make lip balm and GLOOP and have a really fun time! This year, we made the newspaper! The Daily News did a wonderful job and I am so proud of my kids for giving good quotes! You can read part of the article below.

Real-life applicationsEducators reinforce science lessons with traveling exhibits, hands-on activities
JENNA MINK, The Daily NewsPublished: February 2, 2011

It wasn’t an ordinary science class for Myron Salvador and a slew of other fourth-graders at Alvaton Elementary School.
Last week, the 9- and 10-year-olds clustered inside a small trailer, pounding handfuls of slimy substances.
“We’re learning this stuff in science,” said Myron, 10, of Alvaton. “It’s pretty cool because it’s a good activity for everyone, and you can play around and squish it.”
The Mobile Science Activity Center, sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, travels across the state, letting students conduct experiments about topics they’re learning in science classes.
It’s one of many techniques teachers are using in science classes. As they implement hands-on learning, teachers are striving to apply science to real-life situations.
“It’s very important for them to have hands-on learning so they can see science in the real world,” said Angel Borland, a fourth-grade teacher at Alvaton. “It makes it real for them.”
The most recent data from the national report card show that Kentucky fourth-graders outpaced the nation in science in 2009, according to information released last week from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Faculty members at Alvaton Elementary schedule the mobile trailer for a visit. It has traveled to the school for the past four years, bringing new science experiments.
“It is such a valuable learning experience,” said Cynthia Rider, a fourth-grade science teacher who initially scheduled the visit. “Anything that’s hands-on in science is a plus.”
Students make lip balm and ice cream. Last week, they were learning properties of matter – solids, liquids and gases – by making gooey globs that resembled Silly Putty.
“Everything we do ties to science curriculum they are teaching in the classroom,” said Jason Hodge, program coordinator for the mobile science lab.
The Department of Agriculture started the program about 10 years ago. Schools can reserve the trailer for up to three days for $100 a day, and slots fill up quickly – Hodge’s schedule already is full for next year, and he travels only to the western part of the state.
“It’s amazing how upset the kids get when they find out they were going to get to do this and then they don’t get to,” Hodge said, referring to cancellations due to snow days. “It’s the only thing that makes kids want to go on a snow day.”
Several teachers try to schedule the mobile science trailer before the state testing window in the spring. Several teachers say test scores improve after students visit the mobile lab, Hodge said.
“You can take students who don’t quite understand something in the classroom,” he said, “then they get here, and they hear somebody else explain it.”
Students bounced in and out of the trailer throughout the day, chattering about their projects and toting their experiments back to their classrooms.
“You can be out of the classroom,” said Kayla Thomas, 9, of Warren County. “You can listen and learn new things.”

Copyright 2011 News Publishing LLC (Bowling Green, KY)

Inaugural Post

Hello and welcome to my blog!

I am designing this blog as a way to keep up with the goings-on in my classroom and around my school. My hope is to provide a place for teachers to share creative ideas for the classroom. If you have any creative ideas, please contact me about doing a guest post! I would love to have you!

Welcome to my classroom!