Pajama Day!

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Day 39 of school

Dear Pajama Pals,

We are together again, and what a fun day it will be! Mr. Molinari has planned a pajama day for the Huntington Community. Let's survey how many friends are wearing their jammies!

This morning, we will begin with our Spelling test and then discuss what you were able to accomplish these last few days. In Reading, we will complete the selection test for What Jo Did and review our Reader Response questions.

Also, this morning, please complete a praise note to nominate and honor citizen for the month of October.

Let's have a wonderful day!

Love,

Miss O'Brien

Wacky Wednesday!

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Day 38 of School

Good Morning Boys & Girls,

Today is going to work a little differently than normal as I will not be with you! This morning you will begin with Social Studies, then continue to Art, followed by Computer Lab. Finally, you will begin your day of ELA.

Yesterday, you read the story "What Jo Did." It was an exciting tale about a little girl who was mistaken for a boy. After joining a group of boys in a game of basketball, her astonishing basketball skills were discovered. The boys were amazed at her talent and offered her the free ticket to join in the game anytime, provided she left her hat at home! I am sure you too have an amazing talent that has yet to be discovered.

This story taught us the lesson that it does not matter whether you are a boy or a girl, you can have a talent that can outshine a stereotype.

In your ELA class today, you will begin by completing the Reader Response Questions in your packet. Be sure to use text evidence to support your work. Then, you will work in the centers according to the schedule. All other materials for centers can be found in the red pocket chart on the back shelf.

I know you will have a wonderful day! Remember to be responsible and track your behavior and record a learning statement from yesterday and today in your Logs.

I will miss you! I am looking forward to hearing about your wonderful day!

Brandin, thank you for controling the technology! Shelby, at the end of the day, please remember to change the centers so they are ready for tomorrow!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Tuesday's here again!

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Day 37

Dear Boys & Girls,

Welcome to a new day! This morning we will be switching for Math first thing after chorus. This will be followed by ELA and then Physical Education with Mrs. Morrill. This afternoon you will switch again for Science. Please complete your morning work consisting of your Daily Fix-It and your learning log. I will ask a few of you to share this morning.

Today in ELA, we will continue to work on our Personal Narratives. Many of you have interesting stories about a time when you were a newcomer and perhaps had to make new friends. I am looking forward to reading and listening to more of your stories.

Also, we will read a story about a character named Jo. This character has a unique talent. Have you ever had a talent that others might find surprising? How can we help others showcase their great talents?

Let's Have a Wonderful Day!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Another Day!

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Day 36

Good Morning Boys and Girls,

Here we begin a new week! We have some unfinished business to attend to! I would like to spend some time finishing our Benchmark Writing as well as continue with our Personal Narratives. In reading we will focus our time on Cause and Effect relationships. I am sure you will be very familiar with this.

This morning, set a new goal on your weekly learning logs. We will take our Spelling pre-test and complete our daily grammar. Let's have a very productive day! Be sure to turn in your homework packets.

Sincerely,

Miss O'Brien

Live Like Writers!

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Day 34

Dear Writers,

Today we will be spending our entire ELA block in Writer's Workshop. The writing process is a step by step process designed to coach us as we craft a well written, detailed essay! So put on your thinking caps and jog your memories to be prepared to write, write, write!

Ms. Gomes gave me a wonderful report. I am pleased with the appearance of the classroom. Well done yesterday! You will surely be on your way to a wonderful day and a great finale to your week. This afternoon, we will continue with our writing portfolio collages.

Let's have a magnificent day!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Strength in Community

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Day 33 of school

Dear Community Collaborators,

Today, I will not be in the classroom. I am going to be thinking of ways to make centers more interesting for each of you as well as look at some of your prior assignments to get a sense of what assignments will advance your skills. I have the utmost confidence that you will have a productive day!

Your assignments today are very similar to yesterday. Your day begins with Health and Music. It will then be time for your ELA class. The first half hour will be dedicated to finishing or reviewing your Benchmark test. Remember to check, check, double check that you have answered each question completely and proven that you have gone back to the story by underlining the text. For those of you that finish, you will have a challenge to complete focused on climate and the United States.

For the remaining time in the period, you will get an ELA learning Contract. You will write a personal learning goal, then complete some activities INDEPENDENTLY! These activities review some important skills and strategies that we worked on all week!

During Social Studies, you will work as a whole class to make meaning out of the lines of the Preamble to the Constitution. All of your work will be collected at the end of each period! Please remember to do your best and work towards your learning goal (remember the one you set on your learning log at the beginning of the week, this should be the same that you write on your ELA contract.)

I will miss you today! Please do your very best as if I were there!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Huntington Hardworkers!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Day 33

Dear Huntington Hardworkers,

Today is a busy day! We will begin our morning meeting reviewing some of the qualities that make our classroom a unique community. We will read the Important Book and write a poem about ourselves that will help us to remember what each individual brings to the classroom!

In reading, we will continue to assess our reading skills by completing our Benchmark test. In addition, we will work on our Personal Narratives which will focus on reflecting upon being a newcomer. Remember to "zoom in" on your feelings so that the reader can get a sense of your situation!

Let's have a splendid day!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

A New Day!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Day 32

Good Morning Inquisitive Kids,

This morning we will begin our day in Math with Mrs. Chase. When you return, we will review our ELA skills and begin part one of our Assessment.

This week we will spend a lot of time writing personal narratives. We will also work on the Regions of the United States. Remember that it is important to record what you learn in your learning log each evening before you go home. Let's take some time to talk about what we learned yesterday!

Yesterday, we reviewed the story of Winn Dixie. We discussed the genre of realistic fiction and practiced summarizing the story. We also looked at words that help us to sequence important events. In addition, we zoomed in on the character of Opal. It was discovered through the text that Opal is a sweet, caring, respectful young girl who finds a friend in Miss Franny, the librarian.

Let's continue along on our learning journey and review Grandfather's Journey and Lewis and Clark and Me this week!

Let's have a discoverable day!

Love,

Miss O'Brien

Full Steam Ahead!

Monday, October 19th, 2009
Day 31

Good Morning Reading Road Trippers,

This week is going to be wonderful! I have so many goals for us. It is Benchmark Week, this means that we will assess our knowledge of reading skills from the past 5 weeks of school. The focus will be on summarizing, main idea & details, author's purpose, and sequencing. I know you will all do very well, remember the choice to succeed is your's.

We will go back to each story this week and review what we have learned. Your reading center packets will help us to recall many of the important components of genre, setting, character, vocabulary and more! In addition, you will be introduced to a new center: Reading Road Trip. This is where we use the stories we read to help us understand the regions of the United States.

Finally, we will review our spelling words from the week and begin the Spelling Speedway Challenge! We will also add words to our Quick Word Dictionaries so we are able to track the number of words we have mastered!

Looking forward to a wonderful week! Full steam ahead along our learning journey!

Love your Teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Community Culmination

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Day 30 of School

Dear Community Members,

We are going to pack our day full of activities today! We will of course assess our learnings for the week with our Spelling, Grammar, and Reading Skills. Mrs. Chase will also assess your math facts and check in on your understanding of large numbers.

I hope we can find time this afternoon to celebrate our successes with an activity. Be sure to cast your vote!

Let's Have a Wonderful Day!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Yosemite National Park Adventure!

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Day 29th Day of School

Dear Boys & Girls,

Today, we embark on an adventure across the country to California. While we are over in the Western Region, also known as the Pacific Region of the US, we will visit Yosemite National Park. Through the narrative non-fiction text, Letters Home From Yosemite, we will learn about the giant sequoia trees, towering mountains, and interesting wildlife that makes Yosemite a unique location in the west!

Today, we will also cast our votes to determine how we will celebrate our community accomplishment of earning 30 compliment gems as we "minded our marbles" to strengthen our fragile community!

Yesterday, I had a wonderful time playing "Do you wanna buy a duck!" It was so fun to walk like ducks to art class! I think we surprised Ms. Delehany.

We will have a visitor today. Superintendent Malone will be here observing the teaching and learning that takes place at the Huntington. I am sure he would love to learn more about what you are working on in class. Be sure to include him along our learning journey!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Friday, October 9th, 2009
Day 29 of School

Good Morning Red Sox Fans,

Today is Red Sox Spirit Day. It was a sad day in the city of Boston last night when the Red Sox lost thier first of five games in the playoffs. Let's hope our positive spirit here at the Huntington can inspire them to win the next four games in round 1 of the playoffs.

Today we celebrate Alyssa as our Good Citizen for the month of September. Her demonstration of RESPECT has awarded her this great honor! In addition, we will celebrate Elizabeth and Jayelyn for their hard work with thier Summer Reading and Math.

Today is also assessment Friday. Be prepared to turn in your homework packets, your ELA Center Packets, and take a few more assessments.

I look forward to a Fun-Filled Friday with my Fourth Grade Friends!

Love,

Miss O'Brien

Surprise!

Thursday, October 8th, 2009
Day 25 of School

Good Morning Surprised Students,

Yes indeed, I am present today! What a great surprise! Jury Duty was cancelled, that must mean there were no court cases to be held before a judge today. This is a wonderful thing simply because I get to spend the day with you!

We will continue with our centers today. Those of you that finish your reading responsibilities can work on assignments on the WORK BOARD. As Mrs. Henry likes to say, "If you think you're done, you've only just begun." As you all know, to meet expectation, you demonstrate you have a strong desire to learn more and more each day, so work hard and start another activity add to your learning journey!

Let's Have a wonderful Day!

Love,
Miss O'Brien

Historian Reporters

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009
Day 24

Dear Historian Reporters,

This morning, we will have Social Studies from 9:20-9:50. During this time, you will put the final touches on your Non-Fiction Posters that explain the historical event you have been studying in your Region Groups. Looking around the room, I am so very impressed with your progress. You are demonstrating excellence for which your Social Studies Grade will surely benefit! Keep up this great work!
Today is Wednesday which means following SS we will attend Art and Computer Lab. This will be followed by Reading Centers! We will work in the 10 important sentences center to practice sequence, the Fluency Center, the Comprehension Center, and the Writing Center. This will be oodles of fun! You will continue with these centers tomorrow as well.
I am looking forward to celebrating excellence in education today by rewarding students with trips to the prize boxes! We will work on organization of our new Homework Planner as well and you will get some great learning and organizational tools!
Let's get ready to learn!

Love Miss O'Brien
A FEW REMINDERS: FRIDAY IS RED SOX SPIRIT DAY! AND THE GOOD CITIZEN/SUMMER READING & MATH ASSEMBLY!

Southwestern Cowboys

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Day 23

Dear Southwestern Cowboys,

Today, we will travel to the Southwestern United States. We explored the land from a birdseye view yesterday as we watched the Discovery Education Explorers Video. Today, we will read the modern fairy tale The Horned Toad Prince. Although a fairy tale, it will expose us to the dialect, climate, and landforms of the southwest region. The character of the horned toad is modeled after the horned toad lizard which can be found in this region as well. I am sure you will find this story amusing and it will help you to make connections with other fairy tales you have read in the past.

Yesterday, we studied a few historical events that led to the signing of the Constitution. You will continue to work in your research groups to complete your posters. I am eager to learn more about what you have discovered about our Four Fathers!

Let's have a wonderful day!

Love,

Miss O'Brien

Fast Friday!

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
Day 21

Dear Readers and Writers,

Yesterday was quite a day. I am very proud of the way you were flexible as we worked in our center rotations for the first official time! This morning, we will work in learning centers again as well as complete a Selection Test for the story of the week, Grandfather's Journey. Together, we will compare and contrast the settings of Japan and California as described by the narrator. This may seem like a lot to pack into our block, but I know we will work together to complete it all!

In order to culminate our week, we will have Morning Meeting and a few friends will share. Elizabeth has something special to share. Perhaps we will hear another page of Alyssa's fabulous story!

I am looking forward to a wonderful day! Remember that your Homework Packets are due on Monday. If you have any questions, be sure to let me know before you leave today!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien

Begin Each Day as if it is the Greatest Day Ever!

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Day 20 of School

Dear Boys and Girls,

I am refreshed and invigorated today! I have a great feeling. Perhaps it is because it is the start of a new month? Maybe it is due to the cool 40* weather? Could it be because I got plenty of sleep or feel organized this morning? There are so many reasons but all signs help me to maintain a positive attitude. When I am positive, I know I will be successful today! Let's all take a moment to think of what brings us a positive attitude and mindset. Place yourself in that happy place and repeat to yourself..." Today I will have a successful day and meet each challenge with a positive attitude!" What word do you think appears the most in this paragraph? Could that be a word to keep in mind ALL day long?

Today we are going to begin our Fluency Center, Target Skills Center, and continue with our Independent Reading Roadtrip Center along with the Writing Center. I love learning centers. I think you will love them too! It takes discipline, diligence (hard work), and organization. I know you can do it. I know you will be successful today!

We will continue our study of the Constitution this afternoon! We will learn a new song that will help us understand the history of our country!

Let's continue along our learning journey!

Love your teacher,

Miss O'Brien