Writing About Fractions

Fourth Graders concluded their unit on fractions this week. They learned all about parts of a whole, changing fractions to decimals, adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions with like or unlike denominators, and making equivalent fractions. Then on Wednesday, students were writing on the table tops again, however this time, they weren’t writing poetry. They were writing all about fractions. Students worked on solving a real-world math problem and then they responded to their peers’ explanations by agreeing or disagreeing with their solution. Students who agreed would further clarify how the problem could be solved, while students who disagreed would write their number model, picture, and explanation.     

MAP Project Performance

On Tuesday, Fourth Graders participated in the first ever Musical Anthology of Poetry or M.A.P Project Performance at the Circular Church. The M.A.P Project was inspired by the death of poet Maya Angelou. Laura Ball, a musician and TCS choir instructor, devised the project as a way to keep the words of her poetry heroes and heroines alive while furthering their music in the classroom. Fourth Graders proudly performed, read beautiful poetry, and some even sang a few solos. The overarching goal of the project was to wed contemporary verse of living poets with the modern sounds and tools of pop music to create a new folk sound and songbook. The M.A.P songbook provided a vehicle for students to engage with modern issues, topics and current events. Fourth Graders engaged with lyrical verse and learned all about the great poetic voices of our modern era.  

Poetry Buddies

On Thursday, Fourth Graders got to buddy up with their Kindergarten pals for poetry and lunch buddies. This time, the Fourth Graders were acting as writing partners to share their poetry expertise with these little poets. Fourth Grade expert poets could be found helping the Kindergarteners add luscious language, rhymes, repetition, alliteration, and many other poetry tools they knew to a poem they created together. Then, they headed outside and got together again for lunch buddies.

Important Dates

Saturday, March 24th                  Spring Planting Party

Friday, March 30th                       Spring Break begins

Monday, April 9th                         Return from Spring Break

Thursday, April 26th                     Paddle boarding and Kayaking Trip