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Dry Ice Fun

10/31/2014

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We received a delivery at our house, last week.  Inside the box was a styrofoam container with some materials that were packed with dry ice.  Well, you just can't let an opportunity to play with dry ice pass by, can you? Unfortunately, the delivery occurred at the beginning of an extended weekend, so I couldn't utilize it in the Hoggatteer classroom.

I collected my two children in the kitchen and we did a few quick demonstrations.
  • First, we used a room-temperature fork from our utensil drawer to make the dry ice vibrate and sing.
  • Next, I lit a candle, and proceeded to put out the flame by pouring the gas from a container of dry ice over it.
  • Placing the dry ice in a larger container, we added water and a squirt of dish soap.  Not only does the dry ice begin to turn to a gas and look spooky and smoky, but the soap makes "smoke"-filled bubbles.  Scooping the bubbles out onto our hands, we were able to pop them for an awesome smoky effect, releasing the carbon dioxide therein.
  • Finally, I soaped the rim of the bowl and drew a soap-saturated piece of material across the mouth of it.  This formed a layer of soap, effectively sealing the bowl and containing the gas.  A large bubble formed and grew as it filled with carbon dioxide.  When it popped, the "fog" escaped and fell down the side of the bowl.
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As we did these things, we were mindful of the dangers of handling dry ice.  The stuff is 109 degrees below zero in its frozen state, and as such is too dangerous to handle with bare hands, since it will quickly cause frostbite.  It goes without saying that it would also be dangerous to put it into your mouth.
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Academic All-stars

10/30/2014

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We were proud to honor some Hoggatteers at this year's Academic All-Stars presentation.
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Using Wonderopolis to Boost Reading Fluency

10/29/2014

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PictureScreen Shot from Wonderopolis
When we have used Wonderopolis, we have intended to use it as a basis for our comprehension.  Wonderopolis is an informational article that is published on the web daily.  Its title is usually a question:  Who Invented Pizza?, How Are Pickles Made?, and the like.  Our class uses this site to explore and respond to nonfiction text. Throughout the year, we work on finding evidence to support understanding, compare and contrast two sources of information, draw conclusions (make inferences and predictions), and summarize.

Now we can use Wonderopolis in an all new way. Last week, I thought of a new way to use this tool to assist students in increasing their reading fluency. When we mention fluency in reading, we refer to the rate at which a person reads aloud, with a goal of reaching a conversational speed.  After finding the Wonderopolis website, students may choose to allow the site to read the article of the day out loud. As the passage is read - in a semi-robotic voice - the words are highlighted on the screen.  Instead of listening to listening to the computer, the student may mute the sound and read the article aloud, trying to stay ahead of the moving highlights.  In this way, a fourth grader may read more conversationally, with a goal of reaching more than 140 words per minute by the end of our school year.

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Working on this will give students more exposure to words and more practice identifying words.  Our hope is that our fourth graders will move beyond sounding out letter combinations.  By reading more conversationally, comprehension should naturally follow.  I plan to use the Wonderopolis more often, but will do so with different emphasis and differing standards in mind.  Feel free to visit the site on the weekends, as well.

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Speleology:  Cave Features

10/28/2014

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Stalactites
Soda Straws
Column
Hoggatt Cave continues to take shape, as we have studied different types of underground formations.  We're still expecting more of the cave to reveal itself as we continue our spelunking.
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The Escher String Quartet

10/27/2014

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Every year, Pro Musica Joplin brings internationally-reknowned classical musicians to our school to enhance the arts experience for our fourth and fifth graders.  Wednesday, we had the honor of hearing the Escher String Quartet, from New York.

From the group's website:
The Escher Quartet takes its name from Dutch graphic artist M.C. Escher, inspired by Escher’s method of interplay between individual components working together to form a whole.
Our class was intrigued by the name of the quartet since we had recently created tessellations, inspired by some of M. C. Escher's works.
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ARF:  Bizarre Facts About Animals

10/26/2014

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We use many resources to motivate reading fluency in our classroom, including our collections of Music Appreciation and Not-So-Silent Movie videos.

The video here is one to assist more advanced readers in increasing their own fluency (hence the name:  Advanced Reading Fluency).  Some of the vocabulary in videos such as this is more difficult. Try reading the text aloud as it appears.
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Forgetful Clutter

10/25/2014

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In recent days, students have been quite forgetful at the end of the day. This could be because things have moved to different positions in the classroom during our cave explorations.  It might also be due to the weather turning colder and people wearing jackets they aren't used to wearing.  Then again, could it be that some are not paying attention during our dismissal time, and they are just in a hurry to get out of here?

I try to keep the room as organized and clean as possible, but it's hard enough just taking care of my own workspaces.  I really need student help to tidy the room at the end of the day.  To illustrate the need, just look at the picture accompanying this post.  What you are looking at is four jackets, three folders, three lunch boxes, and five books. Amazingly, all the water bottles were taken home this time!  I "rescued" all of these items, plus a few stray pencils from the floor, tables, chairs, and other locations around our room, and I placed the items in the hallway for identification.

Most of the items were claimed upon entry, but a couple were not.  If something is not claimed - and I do hold up every item to make sure - please check the lost-and-found box in the foyer area in front of the school office.  You can do this when you visit the school for this week's conference (See previous post for the schedule.)

The custodial staff tries to clean and disinfect our tables and chairs and vacuum the floor every night, and all of these items get in their way (I don't suppose you have the same problems at home, do you?).  Plus, we would like a class that smells and stays fresh and healthy-clean as much as possible.

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Speleology:  Cave Critters

10/24/2014

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This was a tough one, but it was time to add critters to Hoggatt Cave.  Students cut, folded, molded, and glued all the parts to our rare "blind cave trout".  This fish, in reality, is much smaller and sightless.  The models assembled in Room 404 are quite detailed and tedious.  regardless, Hoggatteers seemed to have a good time piecing them together.
On the following day, we took some time to cut and fold rare giant cave crickets in similar fashion. These will be a part of the tours we conduct with third graders and other dignitaries in coming weeks.
Up next:  BATS!
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M4+H LE46UE Team Formed

10/23/2014

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At the end of our coaching session for Math League on Monday, finalists were given one last qualifying test.  Notes was prepared and sent home with students to inform parents of the final standing.  In all, we can only have five students at the regional contest, but all of our qualifiers will compete at the first competition, in Bolivar, Missouri, on Saturday, January 31.  Due to some ties at the high end of our scorers, Mr. Culbertson and I have selected more than five students to coach.  After January 31, some of these will be our alternates for the regional contest in the spring (Have I confused you yet?).

Congratulations to the following students for making our 2015 team.  For the fourth grade, eight students made the cut:  JACKSON, ABIGAIL, CARLOS, ANNA, WILL, BYLER, ISABELLA, and COOPER.  In fifth grade, seven have made it through:  MATT, COLE, AMERICUS, DAKOTA, RYAN, EMMA, and LAUREN.

We will meet weekly, on Mondays, after school for an hour and a half, starting in November.  If you have any questions, please refer to the note we sent home, or contact me at school.

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500 Golden Tickets

10/22/2014

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We recently surpassed 500 cumulative Golden Tickets for our class, so last Friday, we took some time to celebrate.  I broke out some educational games, and gave students the time to have a little fun.  Since everyone contributed to the Golden Ticket tally (We use Class Dojo to track our "tickets".), everyone was able to participate in this celebration.
Games we played included Apples to Apples, Scrabble Apple, and Blink.
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ARF:  Animals You Wouldn't Want as a Pet

10/21/2014

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We use many resources to motivate reading fluency in our classroom, including our collections of Music Appreciation and Not-So-Silent Movie videos.

The video here is one to assist more advanced readers in increasing their own fluency (hence the name:  Advanced Reading Fluency).  Some of the vocabulary in videos such as this is more difficult. Try reading the text aloud as it appears.
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Math League Begins

10/20/2014

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Today (Monday) is the first day for Math League coaching.  About 25 fourth and fifth grade finalists will stay after school until 4:35 for tutoring and a qualifying test.  Scores will be figured into current scores (determined by district assessments) to qualify for the 2015 team.  Six top scorers from each grade level will be invited back for weekly tutoring sessions, also held after school on Mondays.  Mr. Culbertson and I will let students know whether or not they have made the team within the week.

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Conference Time

10/19/2014

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It's conference time.  The first quarter has come and gone, and report cards are ready to be distributed.  I have lots of information to share with parents about academics and conduct.  Please plan to attend at your scheduled time, this Wednesday or Thursday.  If you need to change your time, please call the school secretaries; they can make that change with you.  If you have forgotten your appointment, please click on the link (at right) to view the schedule.  The actual schedule is on the second page of this document.

Finally, remember that there is no school, this Friday!
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Meanwhile, on Picture Day...

10/18/2014

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When we went to the photographer, this week, the Hoggatteers looked him in the eye and firmly shook his hand.  I was the last in our group to stand before the camera.  Approaching the camera, the photographer looked at me and said, "So you're the one responsible for all the handshakes."

"We try," I replied, when a voice came from the other side of the room from the other photographer (We always have two photographers due to the size of our school.).

"I was his photographer, last year!" she said, crossing to our side of the room.  "I remember all of the handshakes from his students, last year."

We do not often consider the lasting impact of a respectful, firm handshake.  I know our school, our district, our state, and our nation have set academic expectations for fourth graders, but I also understand the value of good manners - that little "thank you" that accompanies a handshake, the proclamation of sorrow that accompanies a sincere apology, the "excuse me" following an offensive act.  Not only will our school, our district, our state, and our nation be richer and better for it, but our own lives are greatly enhanced when we are employable and enjoyable.  When people - including elementary students - are mature and kind, we must acknowledge the benefits.

I am proud of my class for something as simple as a "thank you" and a handshake.  The simple things make a huge difference.  Let's enter the second quarter with the continued goals that our "family" will become more and more unified, and that we will treat others the way we would like them to treat us.
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Wiiwards

10/17/2014

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Our school uses a reward system in which students earn Golden Tickets for Showing Respect, Observing Safety, Accepting Responsibility, or Resolving Conflict.  Students may trade these tickets for rewards at once they have accumulated 15, 30, or 45.

In our classroom, there is an added incentive.  Once a student has 60 Golden Tickets, he or she chooses a friend from our grade level, and the two will eat lunch in the classroom and play Wii games on the SMART Board.
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