An Ocean Museum at North Winneshiek School? Is it possible? Of course it is when you are in 4th grade! The 4th grade class is studying about several vertebrate ocean animals including whales, dolphins, manatees, turtles, and stingrays. The students are gathering important information about their animal writing a research paper and then presenting a few facts. The presentations will be done to classes in the lower and upper elementary. The classes come to the 4th grade classroom where there will be models of each animal. Then the 4th grade students will give a short speech about their animal. It will be an exciting time for the students in 4th grade and at North Winn to learn new information on ocean animals! The 4th graders will also gain more knowledge on various writing skills. The ocean in our classroom is an ocean of learners!
Realistic fiction, humor, adventure, and fantasy are the talk of the 4th grade reading groups. The students are reading books from each of these genres. During discussions in groups we talk about why the book fits into that particular genre, the characters, personalities, and also the problems or conflicts that the characters face. The students are involved with their comprehension on an individual level and also a group level. They are answering questions together and with their group, learning to communicate their answers, as well as, writing them down with details on paper. We will continue to develop these skills in reading.
In Reading, we also started a new reading block time. It is the Daily 5. Students have learned right along with me about this amazing program and have flourished as readers. They are now taking a more active role in picking out books, learning about retelling and how to read to someone effectively. If you want to see what we have been doing in our classroom with this new reading block time, log onto my blog at http://www.northwinn4thgrade.blogspot.com/ , there is a lot of information about this exciting new reading block time in our classroom!
There may be only one quarter remaining but there are lots of new ideas and adventures to undertake. The 4th grade students will be involved in their learning, create their learning, and develop their skills as the end of their 4th grade year draws near.
