Week 2

What a great time we've had so far this year! This has - without a doubt - been one of the BEST (and busiest) starts to the school year and I've loved every minute of it! In math, we are continuing with the Everyday Math series and are currently studying Geometry. While surfing the net for reinforcement activities for the students, I came across a wonderful website which I have already referred to quite often. This site has so many great resources and each game/activity correlates to Everyday Math. It's divided into units so it's super easy to choose an activity based on what we are currently studying. This site makes for a great unit review before a test! Students, check out the games ... I really think you'll enjoy them! See ... "learning is fun!!" In science, we are studying Organisms and their Environments. The students (and I) have been extremely interested in learning about the classification of living things ... especially vertebrates and invertebrates. In class today, we constructed backbones using Twizzlers, gummy life savers, and hollow pasta noodles. The students loved this, and now totally understand how and why snakes are vertebrates!! You can find a similar activity to the one we did in class, here. Below are a few pictures from our Vertebrate Activity!
We will have a Fantastic 5 test this coming Friday. I will send all Fantastic 5 classwork worksheets home with your child on Thursday so he/she can study.

Parents, remember, you are welcome to (and strongly encouraged) to stop by anytime!! We sure would love to have you! Please feel free to contact me at school with any comments/concerns.

Mrs. Carey Morris :)

Welcome to 4th Grade!

What a wonderful first day of school! We added 3 new brilliant students to our class this year! Welcome aboard Malik, Eric and Cody! We are so excited to have you join us!

I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to "loop" with each of my 16 3rd graders from last year. The benefits of looping have already been obvious! Our day began without anxiety and more importantly, learning began TODAY in my classroom!! The smooth transitions and close working relationships that I observed today often take nine months to foster; but at 7:45 this morning, I had already felt a strong sense of community among my parents, students and myself. What a great beginning to the new school year!! I'm looking forward to an enriching and rewarding new school year with this special group!

Parents, as always I'd like to extend an invitation to you - an invitation to see what's happening on the "other side" ....

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
On the other side of the door
I can be a different me,
As smart and as brave and as funny or strong
As a person could want to be.
There’s nothing too hard for me to do,
There’s no place I can’t explore
Because everything can happen
On the other side of the door.
On the other side of the door
I don’t have to go alone.
If you come, too, we can sail tall ships
And fly where the wind has flown.
And wherever we go, it is almost sure
We’ll find what we’re looking for
Because everything can happen
On the other side of the door.
–Jeff Moss

As I greeted my students this morning, I proudly watched my "old" 3rd graders officially become 4th graders as they walked through my door - through my NEW 4th grade door - and on into the "other side!"

My 2009 - 2010 Class