Global Read Aloud Kick-Off #GRA16
By now hopefully your child has shared with you the informational letter about the Global Read Aloud. I wanted to share some pictures of our class participating in the location/geography lesson through a Mystery Skype with one of our class connections. Using the "Twenty Questions" format, students in our class took turns asking and answering "yes" and "no" questions to help determine the location of the other class. It was very exciting for the students, and they were great representatives of Olive School! The school is West Belmar School in Wall, New Jersey. Students applied many skills in this activity : collaboration, critical thinking, questioning, feedback, communication...just to name a few! Some pictures of the Skype are shared below:
By now hopefully your child has shared with you the informational letter about the Global Read Aloud. I wanted to share some pictures of our class participating in the location/geography lesson through a Mystery Skype with one of our class connections. Using the "Twenty Questions" format, students in our class took turns asking and answering "yes" and "no" questions to help determine the location of the other class. It was very exciting for the students, and they were great representatives of Olive School! The school is West Belmar School in Wall, New Jersey. Students applied many skills in this activity : collaboration, critical thinking, questioning, feedback, communication...just to name a few! Some pictures of the Skype are shared below:
The second class we will be collaborating with is in Singapore...yes you read that correctly, Singapore. It is a 3rd grade class that attends, International Community School in Singapore. Since the time difference is a factor we will interact with them over the digital media application called SeeSaw. We spent time using SeeSaw to introduce ourselves to these students. They did the same and also shared this great video to help us guess which country they lived in. Please click the link to view.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_nzLEYbjbTdREROUkVMOEVNdUE/view?ts=57ee0858
Math
Timed facts test have started and we are in our 2nd week of graphing our results. The timed tests are given on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Everyone started on addition and will progress through each operation at their own pace. Students need to earn a 98% or higher on THREE CONSECUTIVE timed tests before passing on to the next operation. They are given 50 problems to complete in 2 and 1/2 minutes.
It is SO important that students have fact fluency as in 4th grade we begin to venture into more complex math skills. Fact fluency benefits students immensely in acquiring these new math skills. Students should master addition and subtraction early third grade and multiplication and division by the end of third grade. We find that this fluency needs to be revisited in 4th grade as well. Please be sure students are practicing facts nightly. You can find links to practice options under the RESOURCES page on this blog.
CHARACTER COUNTS AT OMS
Character counts is a joint effort with OMS and the PTA putting together some great events and activities for the students at OMS to highlight different character traits that we as a community value and hope to instill in our students.
Last Friday the Character Count initiative honored family members that have served our country through their military service. These VIPs were featured on the OMS morning announcements. Our own Gwennie Gilbert's grandfather, Donald J. Matker, served in the US Army Specialist (Aircraft Maintenance), 4th Class.
In the month of October National Character Counts Week will be celebrated October 17-21st. An optional at home activity can be completed and returned by next Friday, October 14th. If your child participates their submission will be part of a wall display similar to the "What's Your Super Power?" display last year. See flier that will be sent home tomorrow displayed below.
Character counts is a joint effort with OMS and the PTA putting together some great events and activities for the students at OMS to highlight different character traits that we as a community value and hope to instill in our students.
Last Friday the Character Count initiative honored family members that have served our country through their military service. These VIPs were featured on the OMS morning announcements. Our own Gwennie Gilbert's grandfather, Donald J. Matker, served in the US Army Specialist (Aircraft Maintenance), 4th Class.
In the month of October National Character Counts Week will be celebrated October 17-21st. An optional at home activity can be completed and returned by next Friday, October 14th. If your child participates their submission will be part of a wall display similar to the "What's Your Super Power?" display last year. See flier that will be sent home tomorrow displayed below.
News from the LMC (Library Media Center)
For the past several weeks during LMC time the fourth graders have been creating landform tours in an online program called Google Tour Builder that is similar to Google Earth. To begin the project, they researched five types of landforms and found examples of those from around the world. Then, they added those landforms into the Tour Builder program and typed facts about them. If they had time, they enhanced their slides with photos. We invite you to view your child’s project by following this link to the OMS LMC website. You can look on the Student Projects page and click the appropriate class link. Only students who finished their projects will have their tours linked to the class page.
http://olivemarystittlmc.weebly.com/student-projects.html
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the project.
Sincerely,
Nancy Brown
OMS PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM INFORMATION
What? - Reflections is a PTA sponsored arts program that invites children to participate using their creative talents. There are six different categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Where? - Reflections submissions should be turned int the OMS front office. The pieces will be judged within their category, and move through the various levels. Items can move from council, to district, to region, to state, and all the way up to national.
When? - Submissions are due in to Olive by, November 4th. The final division level will be sending the submissions to the National PTA in March, 2017. We will have a celebration ceremony shortly after to acknowledge all participants, regardless of advancement.
Who? - All students from Pre-K through 12th grade may enter as many pieces as they would like. Categories will be judged within divisions of Pre-K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12. In addition, there is a Special Artist division for students receiving services.
For the past several weeks during LMC time the fourth graders have been creating landform tours in an online program called Google Tour Builder that is similar to Google Earth. To begin the project, they researched five types of landforms and found examples of those from around the world. Then, they added those landforms into the Tour Builder program and typed facts about them. If they had time, they enhanced their slides with photos. We invite you to view your child’s project by following this link to the OMS LMC website. You can look on the Student Projects page and click the appropriate class link. Only students who finished their projects will have their tours linked to the class page.
http://olivemarystittlmc.weebly.com/student-projects.html
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the project.
Sincerely,
Nancy Brown
OMS PTA REFLECTIONS PROGRAM INFORMATION
What? - Reflections is a PTA sponsored arts program that invites children to participate using their creative talents. There are six different categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, and Visual Arts.
Where? - Reflections submissions should be turned int the OMS front office. The pieces will be judged within their category, and move through the various levels. Items can move from council, to district, to region, to state, and all the way up to national.
When? - Submissions are due in to Olive by, November 4th. The final division level will be sending the submissions to the National PTA in March, 2017. We will have a celebration ceremony shortly after to acknowledge all participants, regardless of advancement.
Who? - All students from Pre-K through 12th grade may enter as many pieces as they would like. Categories will be judged within divisions of Pre-K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12. In addition, there is a Special Artist division for students receiving services.
A last note....I recently learned that we have some students in 4-3 that participated in the Morton Arboretum Scarecrow contest with their Girl Scout troop. My sister-in-law works in the education department there. (Another Mrs. Beck)She found their work of art and Skyped us live to show off the girls' great work! A big congrats to Kayleigh, Gwennie and Molly on their hard work!
Don't Forget...Cub's spirit day is schoolwide on Thursday, October 6th. Wear your favorite Cubs gear to show support for our hometown team!