We are beginning a new venture in the class, KidBlog. Get excited!!! In class, we will be using KidBlog in Literacy. Students will be writing about their reading, science experiments and other activities in school. Check out the link for more information. Below is a YouTube video the explains how KidBlog has been used in other classes. Please check in with your child and ask questions about KidBlog in the classroom.
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At back to school night a parent asked me how do we help our kids on homework. I answered the question by saying, "Ask you child to show you their process." However, A few days ago a student put my words into friendlier fourth grade words, "When I get stuck, I start with what I know." Give your child multiple chances to work or tinker with the problem and explain their thinking. See the chart below that is a good way for you to assist your child.
When I looked at the graphic, I realized the graphic doesn't just represent how to help your child with homework, it will also help you build an independent learner who is able to take risks. Try thinking about how you solve a difficult problem. Do you feel yourself going through the same steps? If so, then you can relate to your child and show the importance of persistence. Students are currently working on writing fictional narratives. We began with making connections to past writing units in third grade and moved into creating dynamic characters. Students in Room 30 have learned that authors share their work in order to improve. So far we've shared our characters struggles and story arcs.
Some things students are looking forward to accomplishing in the upcoming weeks are drafting their story by writing individual scenes. Although it can be tempting to write a bed to bed story: I woke up and got out of bed..."What an adventure." I said to myself as I hopped back into bed. As a student this year previously said, "There's so much more to the story than that." What really drives a story are the scenes. You see, the scenes will be put together like bricks in a wall. Once the scenes are completed, laid out and assembled, they'll complete the story and stand on it's own. Ask you child about the scenes they've planned in their story arc, their dynamic character, what the character's struggle or motivation is, and finally, what your child has done to create "drama" within their story. Have you finished reading a book lately? Would you recommend it to anyone? If the answer is yes to either one of those questions, I want you to submit a book review. Click the link to download the Book Review PDF. To see an example of a book review or book suggestion, look at the Categories section to the right. You'll be able to see some student examples as well as books that I have reviewed in the past, too.
How to Submit a Book Review
What Books Deserve a Book Review
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July 2016
A Noteworthy 4th Grade Bowman Blog
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