Morning Message 5/28/10

Good Morning and Happy Friday!
Today is Friday, May 28, 2010.
Tiger Day: E
Day 166 of School, 14 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY!
• Market Day is only 2 weeks away! Be sure you’re working on your projects and meeting with your business partners, both inside and outside of school-- recess and lunch are good times to chat about your progress. We will have time to make business signs and one advertisement in class. But you need to manufacture your products, make displays, and practice your services at home. Pre-planning and cooperation with business partners (if you have any) is crucial!

THIS MORNING:

• We’ll relax a little and celebrate-- we have a treat brought in by Mrs. Pavela... We’ll wait until after announcements before we start serving. Then we’ll continue to work on our writing pieces. Memory pieces MUST be finished today! Ms. Bragg will be meeting with everyone to edit their work... We might even have some time to start researching electricity!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine. Don’t forget to put snack in your desk.
2. Take out your business plans, meet with your business partners, and go over your progress. If you don’t have a business partner, meet with another solo entrepreneur. Give each other feedback.

Morning Message 5/25/10

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Tiger Day: T
Day 162 of School, 18 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Today we rock the reading SOL! Wednesday is Virginia Studies and Thursday is Math.

THIS MORNING:
We’ll prepare for testing in our classroom. Then we’ll head down to the computer lab after announcements.

To-Do List:

1. Have you returned your Friday Folder to its box? We’re missing several. Make sure that you turn in any important papers as well.
2. Snack needs to be eaten before we go down to the computer lab.
3. You’ll need to prepare a clipboard of scratch paper. (I know that most of you probably won’t use scratch paper today... But it’s good to have it just in case.) You get to choose from the scratch paper options at the front of the classroom.
4. Make sure that you have plenty engaging reading material ready for when you finish the test. You may also bring your writing notebook with you.
5. Read quietly until it’s time to head down to the computer lab.

Morning Message 5/24/10

(NOTE: I missed posting a few days of morning announcements... So sorry!)

Good Morning! Today is Monday, May 24, 2010.
Tiger Day: S
Day 161 of School, 19 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Our end-of-the-year SOL exams start tomorrow with Reading. Wednesday is Virginia Studies and Thursday is Math. Remember to eat a good dinner tonight, go to bed at a decent hour, and have a quality breakfast (no sugar!). You’ll need to arrive to school on time. We’ll be testing in the morning.
• How many ribbons did your earn on Study Island this weekend?
• This morning will be the last time that Math classes meet.

THIS MORNING:
We’ll make a map of Virginia’s Native American Language groups... Then Jeopardy!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. Work with your timeline group to CAREFULLY remove your timeline from the hallway. Be sure to remove the tape CAREFULLY as well. Roll it up... We’ll take photos later.
3. Locate your issue of Virginia Studies Weekly that talks about Native American language groups. You’ll color the map on your desk to reflect where the language groups lived.

Advice from the SOL Fairy!

Morning Message 5/18/10

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, May 18, 2010.
Tiger Day: I
Day 157 of School, 23 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Tonight is the opening of the Art Show!
• Are you using scratch paper when you work on the Math section of Study Island?
• SOLS are next Tuesday (Reading), Wednesday (Virginia Studies), and Thursday (Math). What should you be doing to prepare? What about the night before and the morning of-- what would be important then?

THIS MORNING:
Kinetic and potential energy! Plus, we’ve got a new song to sing!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. On your desk you have a sort. See if you can identify the difference between kinetic and potential energy. Cut up the examples and make two columns.

Partial Quotients Long Division Demonstration (video)

One day I will make my own video... Until then, this one is pretty good. As the teacher in the video says, the partial quotients method is "forgiving" because you can solve the problem in different ways.

Karl Roemer's Long Division Song (music video)

Karl Roemer - Long Division: The Song That I Must Sing lyrics
This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down

Division is a most important operation
It has a cousin called multiplication
It involves making groups of an equal size
Or making a given number of groups to organize

This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring or down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down

Its use for making packages and sharing things
Partitioning money and making clothing
Calculating speed, average or given times
It all can be shown equally on number lines

This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down

Division and fractions are like close neighbors
The dividend in the numerator
The divisor is down in the denominator
The quotient’s the answer and the remainder’s left over

This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
This is the song that I must sing,
In order to divide like a queen or king
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down
Divide, multiply, subtract, bring down

Rockin' the Standards: The Place Value Rap (song lyrics and video clip)

THE PLACE VALUE RAP
Music by Ben Jacobs, Lyrics by Tim Bedley

The digits, the digits, they each have a name
Memorize ‘em, Understand ‘em is the game
We start at the decimal, to the left we move
Each place is 10 times bigger, multiply ‘em and we prove

The digits, the digits, they fit in so tight
Greater to the left and lesser to the right
Starting at the decimal, sandwiched in between
Zeroes hold the empty places, haven’t you seen?

The digits, the digits, each one means a lot
You can’t leave ‘em out of the place value spot
Reading big numbers each comma’s a word
“Thousand, Million, Billion,” commas, haven’t you heard? Word!

Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Comma
Thousands, Ten Thousands, Hundred Thousands, Comma
Millions, Ten Millions, Hundred Millions, Comma
Billions, Ten Billions, Hundred Billions, Comma

Let’s take it to the right of the decimal point
We’ve got tenths, hundredths, thousandths, ten thousandths
Smaller than a 1 with a T H

Morning Message 5/17/10

Good Morning! Today is May 14, 2010.
Tiger Day: T
Day 156 of School, 24 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Business plans are due today!
• We get to show off our knowledge next week! SOLS are next Tuesday (Reading), Wednesday (Virginia Studies), and Thursday (Math).

THIS MORNING:
We’re tying up loose ends in order to earn laptop time.

To-Do List:

1. Return your empty Friday Folder to its mailbox.
2. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
3. Turn in your business plan to Ms. Bragg’s turn-in-work box.
4. Tying up loose ends! In order to earn a laptop, you need to have the following completed:
5. Who am I? Who are we?
6. Virginia History questions-- blue book
7. Once you’ve earned a laptop, you can explore the following areas of portaportal: (a) the ENTIRE Virginia Studies folder, (b) Science > Force, Motion, and Energy

Morning Message 5/14/10

Good Morning and Happy Friday!!!
Today is May 14, 2010
Tiger Day: S
Day 155 of School, 25 days left

I was really impressed with all the business ideas that I heard about yesterday. We’ve got some really creative entrepreneurs in our classroom!

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Market Day business plans are due Monday. Everyone must fill out a business plan. If you’re working with a business partner, your plan will probably be slightly different (Think: How are you dividing the manufacturing/practicing tasks?).
• Market Day Labor and Expense forms aren’t due until Market Day because you will have expenses up until the end. BUT, don’t wait until the last minute to fill out your expense form! Do it when expenses occur. I will be checking it at least once before Market Day.
• We now have 2 sets of flashcards at home in a shoebox or bag (VA Geography & Jamestown).

THIS MORNING:
We’ll start out with some Virginia Studies... Then we’ll check in with Mr. Nye.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. Take out your Virginia Colony (not your Jamestown or your Geography flashcards)... Find a partner and enjoy studying together. Which cards are the hardest to remember?

Morning Message 5/13/10

Good morning! Today is Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tiger Day: R
Day 154 of School, 26 days left

Fantastic job yesterday on the Mile Run! TJ is so proud of all of you for pushing yourselves and finishing.

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Because we had twice the Math on Monday and Tuesday, there will be no Math today.
• Market Day Expense and Labor forms aren’t due until just before or on Market Day... You’ll have material and labor costs right up to the end.
• REMEMBER: The due date for Market Day business plans has been moved to Monday... This way you’ll have the weekend to work on them.
• Note that it is not necessary to have a business partner... You can work alone.

THIS MORNING:

• We’ll start out with some Virginia Studies... Then if we have time, we’ll do some Science.
• We’ll be headed down to the Computer Lab at 10am to work on our writing pieces (especially our Memory Pieces!)... Ms. Bragg will be meeting with business partners during this time.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. It’s time to pull out another blast-from-the-past set of flashcards-- Virginia Colony!... Find a partner and enjoy studying together. Tonight we’ll add our Jamestown flashcards to our baggie or shoe box at home. It’s time to keep your Virginia Colony flashcards in your homework folder.

Morning Message 5/12/10

Good morning! Happy Mile Run Day!
Today is Wednesday, May 12, 2010.
Tiger Day: E
Day 153 of School, 27 days left

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 4th grade buses will depart for GM at 9:20am. This means that we have some time to do a bit more decorating!There will be no Encore today.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. You have two choices... You can either work on decorating your t-shirt some more... Or you can pull out your flashcards and study with a friend.

DECORATING:

• Don’t forget to use the clipboards so that the ink doesn’t bleed through.
• You may only use one marker at a time. If you want to get a different color, you have to return the color you were using first.
• Use the maps that we made and the textbook to get ideas for your VA t-shirt!

Morning Message 5/11/10 (posted one day late)

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tiger Day: G
Day 152 of School, 28 days left

WOW! All I can say is “WOW!!!” and “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! The party you threw for me yesterday was amazing and the gifts were so generous! Mr. Bragg and I had fun last night looking at all the stylish clothes that Cora will wear and playing with all of her new toys. Thank you so much for sharing in the baby excitement with me... It makes it that much more special.

REMINDERS!/ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Today we again have math all morning. The other half of the 4th grade will be taking the Math practice SOL test today (Evans’s, Kelly’s, and Szachowicz’s classes). We’ll eat snack before we switch at 8:50am.
• If you brought a white t-shirt to decorate, just leave it in your locker for now... We’ll get creative this afternoon!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. Same as yesterday because we need the review and don’t have much time. Take out your Jamestown flashcards and study with a partner. Have fun playing games!

Perimeter Area Song-- dance moves!

Perimeter Area Song
(The More We Get Together)
To find a shape’s perimeter, perimeter, perimeter
To find a shape’s perimeter, just add all the sides
‘Cause rectangle area, yes rectangle area
Is one side times the other, and area you’ll find

Morning Message 5/10/10

Good morning! Today is Monday, May 10, 2010
Tiger Day: I
Day 151 of School, 29 days left

Thank you so much for being so flexible on Friday when I wasn’t feeling well. I really appreciate your helpfulness! I’m feeling much better today-- the midwives checked me and the baby out and everything’s OK... It’s just a minor problem that is nevertheless very uncomfortable... But I should be fine if I drink enough water.

REMINDERS!/Announcements:

• Today and tomorrow we’ll have math all morning. Half of the 4th grade will be taking the Math practice SOL test today and half tomorrow. We’ll eat snack before we switch at 8:50am.
• Don’t forget about white t-shirts for Wednesday’s Mile Run... If you brought one in today, you can store it in your locker for now. I’ll see what I can do for some last-minute decorations... More details tomorrow.
• Business plans are due this week! I’ll make time to talk with each of you about your ideas this afternoon.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. Return your empty Friday Folder to its box. Be sure to turn in any important papers first!
3. Take out your Jamestown flashcards and study with a partner. Have fun playing games!

Morning Message 5/6/10

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, May 05, 2010.
Tiger Day: S
Day 149 of School, 31 days left

Thank you so much for the lovely books! They’re such thoughtful gifts! I’m really looking forward to meeting my little one and to reading with her! I started to bring the books home because I was really excited to share them with Mr. Bragg... But then I thought, wait! The 4th graders should add inscriptions, so that when I read the books to Baby Bragg, then I’ll remember the 4th grade class of ’09-’10. Do you know what an “inscription” is? I’ll explain later.

REMINDERS!/Announcements: Please bring in a white t-shirt by Monday. Our color for the Mile Run will be white.

THIS MORNING:
We’ll see exactly how much we know about Virginia Studies! We’ll be taking a practice test.

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack
2. Take a look at your regions flashcards-- remember those?! It’s a blast from the past! Find a partner and enjoy studying together... You’ve come up with so many creative games!

Morning Message 5/5/10

NOTE: There was no school on Monday, 5/3/10 and Ms. Bragg was out of the classroom at training on 5/6/10.

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, May 05, 2010.
Tiger Day: R
Day 148 of School, 32 days left
(NOTE: Looks like we got a little off on our day count. Now we're back on track.)

REMINDERS!/Announcements:

• Please bring in a white t-shirt by this Friday. Our color for the Mile Run will be white.

THIS MORNING:

• We’ll be doing some Virginia Studies-- finishing up our Virginia Studies Weekly quizzes from yesterday-- and some language arts. We’ll start (and probably finish) a short new book.

THIS AFTERNOON:

• Fun VA Studies review! We’ll talk about planning what we can do with the time we have left.
• We'll talk about Market Day!

To-Do List:

1. Complete your morning routine! Don’t forget about snack.
2. Take out your Virginia Studies binders to help you with your quizzes.

SONG: "How to Read a Map" by Teacher and the Rockbots

LYRICS:

I'm lost.
What should I do?
You need a map.
I need a clue.

Flower shape - easy to see,
Letters N, W, S and E.
Why does this help and tell me now what does it mean?
It's a COMPASS ROSE.
The compass rose shows North, South, East and West.

North and South - well now I know,
East and West - which way they go.
What do you call these four main directions?
The CARDINAL DIRECTIONS.
Intermediate directions would be northeast, southeast and so on.

How far is it from here to there?
Can we measure distance to anywhere?
The map size is smaller than the real world.
Look for the SCALE.
The scale is like a little ruler that helps you measure distances between places.

A little lost.
I'm getting clues.
From a map.
That I got from you.

Dots, triangles, colors and many lines;
What do all these things define?
I see a tiny airplane and what is this star?
These are SYMBOLS.
An airplane shows the airport; a star is a Capital city.

How did you know what the symbols are
When you're driving around like in a car?
Can you find it on the map and where will it be?
Use the MAP KEY.
The map key tells you what the symbols mean.

This map doesn't show the entire place.
I know that it's part of a bigger space.
Could it be from England, Iraq or Mexico?
Look for the INSET.
The inset is a small map that's a more detailed view of part of the main map.

I was lost.
But I learned something new
How to read a map.
And I thank you

SONG: "Electricity" by Teacher and the Rockbots

LYRICS

Robot: What has no color, weight or smell, and is all around us?
Electricity, electricity

Iron, steel or nickel, it's made with one of these
Makes the dial of a compass point North with ease
It has two poles: positive and negative
The Earth is one too and they're everywhere we live
Teacher: It's a MAGNET. You can find one in a speaker.

Electrons and ions attract and repel
Positively shocking; the negative's a yell (yow!)
Chemicals can do the same in a battery
The world is a better place with this discovery
Teacher: It's an ELECTRIC CHARGE!

The electric company uses this machine
Powered by coal or other source of energy
Moving wires and magnets in a big way
Supply electric current every single day
Teacher: It's a GENERATOR!

Robot: Let's review

The natural force of a magnet is free,
But how does this metal make electricity?
Wrap wires around it move it with a machine,
This can generate electricity!

Did you know that your brain and muscles need a very small amount of electricity to work?
Robot: I need electricity too!
But be careful with the large amounts of electricity around your house
Robot: It will cook your goose!

He flew a kite with a metal key in 1752
He was interested in what lightning could do
Inventor of the lightning rod, a safety device
Protecting people from electric shock was very nice
Teacher: Thank goodness for BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.

A famous inventor that made a better light
A bulb with carbon filament that burned nice and bright
He designed a power system first used in New York City
Electric wires into homes, a brand new industry
Teacher: He also invented the phonograph... it's THOMAS EDISON.

It starts to flow when you switch on a light
If the circuit's path is closed and wired up right
It passes through conductors like metal or water
But not through plastic or another insulator
Teacher: That's an ELECTRIC CURRENT... I don't want that in my body.

Robot: Let's review again

Electricity - Ben Franklin and a kite
Electricity - Thomas Edison and a light
Electricity - you need to treat it right
Electricity - a shock with a killer bite