http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/index/ en edjukated@gmail.com Copyright 2012 2012-02-06T18:54:10+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/levers http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/levers#When:18:54:10Z We're studying levers in science, and today's investigation was very engaging! Classes We learned that there are three classes of levers, using a pneumonic device 1-2-3-F-L-E. This helps us know where the fulcrum, load, and effort go in each class. In a Class 1 lever, the fulcrum is in the middle, with the load on one side and the effort on the other. This looks like a teeter-totter. By moving the load and effort closer or further away from the fulcrum, it makes it easier to move the load. Both forces, the load and the effort, move downward. A Class 2 lever, however, switches things up. It puts the Load in the middle, and the fulcrum and effort are on either side of that. In this case, the load still is a force that moves downward, but the effort has to move upward. Finally, a Class 3 lever puts the effort in the middle. As with a Class 2 lever, the load moves downward, and the effort moves upward. Today's Investigation Today's investigation was engaging because each member of the team was able to design their own lever, either a Class 1, 2, or 3, and test it out by building it. We were able to discuss which models make moving the load easiest. Why are levers important? We have discussed why levers are important. As a class we came up with several examples of where levers are used in everyday life: our paper cutter in our classroom, a teeter-totter, a bottle opener, a clothespin, construction sites, etc. They make doing work easier. Classroom Activities, 2012-02-06T18:54:10+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/parent_homework_conferences_survey http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/parent_homework_conferences_survey#When:02:13:28Z In order to prepare for parent/teacher conferences next week, I’d like your input on your impressions of how this school year is going. We are working hard, and I’m curious to know how you are perceiving it. In this way, we can steer the conversation to your concerns and questions. You can locate the survey here: http://schrad.me/conferences Parent News, Parent Homework, 2012-02-06T02:13:28+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/top_5_book_series http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/top_5_book_series#When:00:14:10Z My class is sort of on an book series binge lately. Also, I love young adult literature, so when I find a series I like, I tend to devour it. Those points in mind, I thought I'd post a Top 5 of my favorite books in a series. 1. The Chronicles of Narnia This is just a classic. We're currently reading the first installment of this series, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, as our shared reading book. The vocabulary in these books is outstanding, and our class has had great things to say about what they're reading. The students in my class our quite interested in the rest of the series. I love this series for several reasons. First, I love the style in which it is written. It seems as though the author, C.S. Lewis, is actually reciting the story to you as you read it. There are moments when he departs from the narrative of the story and talks to the reader. This is the kind of book where you can read it and take away the story, and then later in life read it again for even deeper meaning. Also, the magic in this book is great fun. How wonderful to discover a new world while playing hide-and-seek? Finally, I love the way in which the children have defining characteristics that make them separate from the whole. They need each other because they each offer something unique. 2. The Mysterious Benedict Society Speaking of needing one another, the Mysterious Benedict Society is such a great story. In this story, a group of children with unique talents join forces to save the world. I love the theme of everyone has to work together to achieve the task, and even the cantankerous little one is extremely important. This book is clever in that it involves riddles and puzzles to figure out. I'm reading this story as our read aloud, and I've got a couple students following along as I read, and I have a few students ready to move on to the next story! 3. The Hunger Games This is an AWESOME series. The premise seems pretty brutal: In a futuristic society, 24 children must fight to the death in order to bring honor to their land. However, the author does an excellent job of keeping the action going without being overly gruesome. I read the three books in this series in a matter of a week; I couldn't put it down. Now, they are making the first book into a movie, and it comes out next month! 4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid This series of books is awesome. They are funny and witty. I love them because they are easy to relate to, whether you are an adult or a fourth grader! They're written using cartoons, and so the books are fun to go through. It's like you're reading comics! 5. Harry Potter This series is epic. I couldn't make a list of series without at least mentioning this series. The books are amazing, and I love how the story gets darker and more intricate as the series goes on. It's like they hook you with a lighthearted tale in the first book, and then you're trapped in a much bigger story than you thought you would be! In the case of fourth graders, the sheer size of the books can be intimidating, and it may be out of the reading level for some of them, but it's such a great story. The movies are good, but there is so much more in the books. Conclusion Books in a series a great fun. They have the ability to pique interest, and can hook you as you follow though a journey. There are several other series that are big with fourth graders (i.e. Percy Jackson), but these ones are my current favorites. Personal, Top 5, 2012-02-05T00:14:10+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_miss_cowhick http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_miss_cowhick#When:02:38:21Z Thank you Miss Cowhick for being our Mystery Reader this week. It’s been fun to have staff members read in our room lately. Miss Cowhick the teacher for our first grade Study Buddies. She read a chapter from our read aloud book, The Mysterious Benedict Society, and then answered several questions from our class. Mystery Readers, 2012-02-04T02:38:21+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/walk_time http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/walk_time#When:04:10:57Z All hands have been on deck for reading, and great things are happening! For thirty minutes a day, four times a week, we have begun what we are currently referring to as Walk Time. The premise is that we all have things we need to work on as readers. Some of us are working on phonics or comprehension, and others are working on fluency, vocabulary, or other reading indicators. Our three fourth grade teachers, our principal, iCoach, and four paras are all contributing to groups working in these areas, and as a fourth grade, we are getting much better at discussing how we're learning. Personal, Weekly Recap, 2012-01-30T04:10:57+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/parent_homework_probabilities http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/parent_homework_probabilities#When:03:33:30Z This week’s parent homework comes from the Everyday Math Family Letter for our current unit. These letters include information on what is being studied during the unit, activities and games to play, and even solutions for the StudyLink math homework pages. Family Letters are sent home at the start of each unit of study. Also, they are available online at www.everydaymathonline.com. Have your child look for everyday uses of probabilities in games, sports, and weather reports. Ask your child to make a list of events that could never happen, might happen, and are sure to happen. Share your list on www.mrschrader.com by commenting on this article. Parent News, Parent Homework, 2012-01-30T03:33:30+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_mrs._campbell http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_mrs._campbell#When:03:53:13Z We had Mrs. Campbell join our classroom this week to read to our class. Her story was a book suggestion from a second grader! Mystery Readers, 2012-01-28T03:53:13+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_darin_feldkamp http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/mystery_reader_darin_feldkamp#When:20:49:48Z This was the first time that we had a student guess the Mystery Reader on the first clue. Darin came in and did a great job with reading a couple A-Z books for us, and he had some interesting things to share about growing up on a farm! Mystery Readers, 2012-01-13T20:49:48+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/scheduling_parent_teacher_spring_conferences http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/scheduling_parent_teacher_spring_conferences#When:20:26:00Z It's time to begin scheduling parent/teacher conferences for the Spring. They are coming up on February 15th in the afternoon and all day on the 16th. This year, I am going to be scheduling them a little differently. I would like you to schedule them online through our class' Google Apps accounts. The process should be fairly simple, but it will take a few instructions. 1. Go to our Google Calendar appointment schedule by clicking [here] or going to http://schrad.me/appointment. 2. Log in using your child's Google Apps credentials, located in the MOOSE. In the email field, you will need to add an "@mrschrader.com" to the end. For example, if it says that my username is jdoe, then I would need to type "jdoe@mrschrader.com" in this field. Then, I would enter my password in the next box, and click Sign In. Your next page would look like the image below. 3. In the blue bar at the top, there is an arrow, and you will have to navigate to the right to the week of October 24th. You'll know you're there when you see a bunch of available appointments on the 15th and 16th. 4. Each box that says Parent/Teacher Conference is an available appointment for you to schedule. Find a time that works for you and click on the appointment slot. The box below is what will pop up, allowing you to confirm your appointment. 5. Click Save and your appointment for Parent/Teacher Conferences is set! See you then! I appreciate your willingness to sort of change up the way you schedule this. My intentions are twofold. First, I want to make it convenient for you to schedule your time when you are available while letting you see what is available. This way, you can find what works for you. Second, I want to make it possible for you to schedule appointments with me. I'll talk more about this at conference time. Parent News, Parent Homework, Personal, 2012-01-08T20:26:00+00:00 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/calling_all_mystery_readers1 http://www.mrschrader.com/index.php/site/calling_all_mystery_readers1#When:20:20:06Z We’re out of mystery readers, and we could use your help! Mystery Readers visit on Friday afternoons at 3:15 and read a book to the class. We love having visitors, and have a great time trying to figure out clues as to whom our mystery guest might be! If you’re interested in helping us out by reading to our class, please email Mr. Schrader at cschrader@usd345.com. Thanks! General News, Parent News, 2012-01-08T20:20:06+00:00