4th Grade and Cooper are Lovin' WONDER

 

 

4th Grade has begun their first PBL on Kindness.  We have made kindness bracelets after coming up with an acronym for K.I.N.D.N.E.S.S. In Social Studies as we were studying Native American symbols, the students wrote statements about kindness on their N.A. Kindness Cloths. 


Our students are also currently working on their Kindness Calendar where they choose which kindnesses to complete, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally on their calendar and getting a parent signature. These are due on the Tuesday after Labor Day Holiday.

Now, we are reading the award winning book, Wonder, by R.J. Palacio.  It is a memoir written by a 10 year old boy living in Manhattan.  He has been home schooled by his mother due to a rare facial deformity.  His parents decide to enroll him in Beecher Prep, a private school, for the start of middle school. Although extremely self-conscious and scared of being around kids his own age, he gradually gets used to and even begins to enjoy school.  Auggie faces many obstacles, mostly because of Julian who encourages others to avoid and isolate him.

Through this book and other activities we have planned, we hope that the students will see that they will always be faced with choices on how to treat others and that even small kindnesses can have a large impact. At the end of the first nine weeks we hope to find the answer to our driving question: "How can one person change the world?" 

 These 6 Math Wiz Kids have managed to change their baseline score for multiplication timed tests by scoring 90% or higher.  Their tests are posted on the 4th grade hallway along with all the other 4th graders that have reached this goal.  This means they are exempt from studying and getting the multiplication log signed each night and taking the Friday test.  I'm so proud of these 6 students for achieving their goal!!

This class is quickly learning our 3 Classroom Rules:
BE KIND, BE RESPECTFUL, AND BE ORGANIZED!  They are working in teams to be the top marble earners each week.  Two groups with the most marbles spends 15 minutes on Friday afternoon having Challenge Time.  Here are some pictures of our winning groups at Challenge Time: