Fourth Grade

Earthquake!

2008-04-18T08:44:00.000-07:00

This morning at approximately 4:38 AM the Saint Louis Area experienced an earthquake. Tell us what you were thinking as you felt the earth shake!

Counting on Grace by Elizabeth Winthrop

2008-03-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

I just finished my first Mark Twain nominee for the '08-'09 school year. As a lover of American history, I couldn't have picked a better book. Elizabeth Winthrop tells the story of young children working in Cotton Mills in Vermont in the early 1900s. Back then, kids as young as nine years old worked 13 hour days in horrible conditions. Entire families were forced to work just so they could eat meals that contained nothing more than potatoes. I was amazed when reading the conditions in which these families lived. Imagine being snatched from your lessons at school and forced to work in a factory with no open windows and no air conditioning with floors so filled with grease it was hard to stand. I would recommend this book to those readers who are confident in their abilities. It is a quick read but contains some challenging vocabulary. If you begin reading this book, let me know so I can assist you and engage in dialogue through this blog. It is in our school library.

Zach's Lie by Roland Smith

2008-01-15T08:36:00.000-08:00

On page 97 Zach apologizes to Peter for punching him in the face. What are your feelings about Zach's apology and the conversation that takes place between the two boys? Be sure you are using complete sentences. Proof-read your post and check for spelling and grammar errors.

Great simile in A Week in the Woods!

2008-01-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

On page 92 Andrew Clements chooses to use language beautifully with the following simile: "As quiet settled over the campsite, Mark Felt lie his ears were growing." Why do you think Mark was feeling this way?

A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements

2008-01-13T12:31:00.000-08:00

Mr. Maxwell refers to Mark as a "smart-faced kid" (p. 49). At this point in the story, what character traits does Mark have that allows Mr. Maxwell to form this opinion?

Monkey Man

2007-12-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

We are reading Do You Know The Monkey Man by Dori Butler. What kind of thinking are you doing as I have been reading the book outloud? Share you're thinking here!

Introduce yourself!

2007-10-29T11:51:00.000-07:00

Tell us how you came up with your nickname. Also, tell us what you enjoy doing in your free time. We are using this post as a practice to get us used to responding to blogs.

May-Bird and the Ever After Part 4

2007-05-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

We have been studying the reading strategy of cause/effect recently. Identify at least two cause and effect relationships in our read-aloud book. Tell what is the cause and what is the effect.

May-Bird and the Ever After part 3

2007-05-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

In three sentences, give a summary of the chapter that we just read. Be sure to include the most important parts that let someone who has not read the chapter understand what is going on. Be careful of your grammar and spelling. You can use Microsoft Word to help you with this like we did in class the other day.

May-Bird and the Ever After part 2

2007-05-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Are you still enjoying May-Bird and the Ever After? I really loved reading your responses in the last blog entry about this book. I was especially proud of the comments and suggestions you made to one another. In this blog entry I would like you to pose questions to the class about May-Bird and the Ever After. Be sure to use "fat" questions. If you need help forming them, use the link from our assignment page to view some question starts or click here to give you some ideas. Try to use some higher order questioning. We are just asking questions :)

May-Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson

2007-04-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

Wow. What a beginning! I think this book has a lot to offer us as readers. What is your first impression? What do you predict will happen next? Make your prediction here and be sure to support it with evidence from the story. Watch your spelling, or you post will not be accepted!

New animal creations

2007-04-10T12:26:00.000-07:00

Copy and paste your new animal with your description and the link to the postcard here.

My Cycle Break

2007-03-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

How was your cycle break? Tell me about 2-4 neat things that happened or that you did over these nice 2 weeks.

Power Out!

2007-01-16T07:56:00.000-08:00

I know many of you were without power this past weekend and are eager to share your experiences. What was life like without electricity? Write at least 5 sentences telling about your weekend without power. If you did have power, write about what it would have been like without it. Be sure to read over your entry and check for spelling and grammar mistakes before submitting.

Mark Twain Award

2006-12-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

Recently we have finished reading our four Mark Twain Nominees: Toes, The Old Willis Place, Abduction, and The Last Holiday Concert. Which one did you enjoy reading the most? Tell about why you would choose your favorite to win the 2006-2007 Mark Twain Award.

Thanksgiving

2006-11-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

On Thursday we celebrate Thanksgiving, a time of thanks. What things are you thankful for? Write at least three things that you are thankful for. Be sure to be descriptive and use correct spelling and punctuation.

How did you come up with your nickname?

2006-09-12T09:43:00.000-07:00

So you have picked you nickname to use for our class blog. What made you come up with it? Is it a special name to you for some reason? Using at least four good sentences, tell me about the nickname that you chose and why you picked it. Be careful of your spelling. If your post contains too many errors, it will not be posted.

Advice

2006-05-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

Very soon you will be leaving this classroom and entering fifth grade. Brand new fourth graders will be entering this classroom in about two and a half months. What advice would give them? It could be about fourth grade, your teacher, or life in general. Remember, be specific. The more details the better!

Petals around the rose

2006-05-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

Last night you taught a parent, brother or sister the game Petals around the rose. Using complete sentences, punctuation, and capitalization, describe the process that you went through. This is going to be taken as a reading grade. You need a minimum of six sentences.

Edward Tulane

2006-04-26T13:11:00.000-07:00

We just finished the story The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Would you recommend this story to a friend? Why or why not? Please be thorough in your answer.

Responsibility

2006-04-10T10:06:00.000-07:00

The definition that we use in our classroom for responsibility is being dependable and making good choices. An example of being responsible is by taking care of things that belong to you. Tell me about a time that you were responsible. It could be an instance at home or school. Remember...watch your spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Be specific in your details!

Testing Miss Malarkey

2006-04-03T08:29:00.000-07:00

Write a summary about the story that we just read together. How are you feeling about MAP testing? Compare how you feel to how Miss Malarkey feels in the story. Remember to please watch your spelling and punctuation. I WILL NOT post entries with mistakes that are distracting to the reader!

Cycle Break

2006-03-18T18:14:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! So I think it is awesome that I have been getting so many requests to post on the blog. To answer Little Red's question, yes, your cousins may post, as long as they are responding to a topic. And that brings up another matter. Boys and girls...if you would like to post a comment on the blog in reference to a topic, that's great. However, if you are just posting so that you can tell me something exciting or talk with me, please e-mail me instead of attempting to post! The address is andrea_blanco@fhsd.k12.mo.us

So here is the new blog topic and I would love to hear from you! What have you been doing over cycle break to keep your brain active? I know that at least three of you have been visiting our website and the blog: Mr. Trash, Little Red and Cutiepie. I am looking forward to hearing from you :)

Mrs. Blanco

Lady Liberty

2006-03-06T09:34:00.000-08:00

Identify the main idea of Lady Liberty. Also, tell me two things that you learned. Be sure to use detail and restate the question in your answer :)

Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco

2006-02-24T06:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we read the story Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco and you were asked what your emtional response to the end was. Emotions include feelings such as happy, mad, sad, glad, etc. How did you feel after reading the end of the story? Why do you think you felt this way? Please use complete sentences with capital letters and endmarks!!!! RAS it.

Respect

2006-02-22T13:56:00.000-08:00

What does respect look like? Give an example of when you saw someone showing respect, or being respectful. The situation could have occurred at school, at home, at the grocery store, anywhere! Be specific!

Smart Ideas

2006-02-09T12:20:00.000-08:00

Tell me what you learned today using Smart Ideas. Be sure to use complete sentences and correct punctuation. What was your favorite part of Smart Ideas? How could you use it in Writer's Workshop?

Tight Times

2006-01-09T10:05:00.000-08:00

Respond to the following questions when you comment. Be sure to use your nickname, NOT your real name or it will not be posted!!!!

1. Why do you think the family was having a lot of tight times? (#9)

2. Why were the parents crying when they saw the kid with the cat? (#14)

3. How do you think that the cat got in the trash can if the lid was closed? (#24)

****Be sure to RAS your answers: Restate, Answer, Support!

Second Question: Wild Things

2005-12-14T08:10:00.000-08:00

How would the story change if he had worn a Dolphin costume instead of a Wolf costume? (RAS it!!!)

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

2005-12-14T08:07:00.000-08:00

Question #1: How old do you think that Max is? What makes you think that? As always, be sure you are using support from the text and pictures to back up your response. (RAS)

My First Blog

2005-12-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

So this is my first blog ever! I have to say...I am really proud of myself. My intent for this blog is to create a forum where teachers, students, and parents can communicate effectively about educationally related topics, whether said topics are simple (like a homework question) or complicated (like advice on technical problems or behavior issues in the classroom). Feel free to add your thoughts to my blog. Currently I am interested in suggestions on Westward Ho! This is an integrated social studies project that involves technology and The Oregon Trail.

Thanks for reading,

Mrs. Blanco