Holiday Stations

Today after lunch and recess we had holiday celebrations. Many people sent in goodies and some adults were able to come in and help with a station.

Annika's mom taught us about the Dreidle...

And then students played the game with Ilana's mom...

At one station students cut out paper snowflakes...

And made ornaments at another station with Niskua's mom...

And learned about the Advent Wreath and read Christmas stories at a station with Michael's mom...

And decorated Winter Solstice cookies at a station with Bailey's parents!

Have a great break everyone, whatever you do or don't celebrate!!!

Word Work

Like the magnetic letters in our Daily Five's Word Work station? Then try this online game with 8 letters instead of 9!
Word Work Game

Longhouses

Don't forget to bring in your longhouse sometime next week if you're making one at home! They will go in the display case at school for the month of January!!!

Haudenosaunee Nations

In the days before break we have started a research project about each nation. Students are reading and taking notes in small groups and are later going to present the important information of each nation. Here's a clip of them working diligently!


And since I accidently ended the video clip before remembering that Bailey and Matt were behind the cubbies, here's a picture of them working diligently too!

Coffeyhouse Stories

What a great turnout for Coffeyhouse Stories! We had a nice variety of drinks and snacks but the best part was your stories! Everyone did so well reading them with expression and clarity! Thank you parents and guardians for making it out and supporting our class!

Trout Coloration

Today Bill Foster came in and did a presentation on trout coloration. We saw pictures of trout who live in different environments and saw that their coloration reflected their environment. For example, a trout that lives deep in Cayuga Lake tends to be darker, while a trout living in a clear stream in the fall tends to be colorful, reflecting the leaves. Then students colored their own trout and expressed what kind of environment their trout lives in.

Wampum Belts

Today we started to make Wampum Belts by coloring in squares on a grid. The Haudenosaunee use wampum (shells, beads) as a trade item, or to make beautiful belts to represent stories, history, and civilization. Often parts of the designs represent something. They are purple and white. The purple stands for civics while the white stands for peace.

Longhouse Project!

Yesterday I sent home the project packet for our longhouses. This is not mandatory, but a really fun project you might want to participate in if you have the materials and time! I did this when I was in fourth grade and I never forgot it.
For some inspiration or ideas, here are some pictures of the ones that were made last year:

Coffeyhouse Stories

Flyers were sent home yesterday... it has been decided that "Coffeyhouse Stories" will be Tuesday, December 15th at 6:30pm in Miss Coffey's classroom! Students will be reading the Native American stories they have been working on. Hopefully it won't go later than 7:30 or 8:00.
If you are able, it would be nice if you could bring any of the following:

-***we need someone with AED training to be present***
-hot chocolate
-tea
-coffee
-snacks (like baked goods), etc.

Metric Measurement

Today we started studying the Metric System in math. We discussed places we see things measured using the Metric System, like buying a 2-liter bottle of soda or seeing a temperature listed in degrees Celsius. We have really been concentrating on the fact that there are 10 millimeters (mm) in a centimeter (cm), 10 centimeters (cm) in a decimeter (dc), 100 centimeters in a meter (m) and 1,000 meters (m) in a kilometer (km). Below, Max finds things around the room to measure in centimeters.

Reading Buddies

We have paired up with Ms. Keating's kindergarten class for weekly reading buddies! Both groups love it and the 4th graders are helping the kindergartners learn to read by using the pictures, helping them sound out words, pausing to have them guess the next word, etc.

Thanksgiving Wordle

Today in the computer lab while the students practiced their typing skills, I called them up one by one and asked them to give me some words that remind them of Thanksgiving. This is what I got! (click on the picture to see it close-up)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you are enjoying your break! If you have a moment, please take time to reflect on what you are thankful for. Leave me a comment to post!

I am thankful for:
-being a teacher at Caroline Elementary
-a supportive family
-a comfortable house
-loving pets to come home to every day
-a wonderful partner to have fun with
-living in Ithaca and all that it brings (hiking, farmer's markets, festivals, great restaurants, etc)
-my friends
-my students who teach me as much as I teach them

Thankful

Click on the pictures below to see a close-up of what Liam, Sam, and Bailey are thankful for!

Thanksgiving

I hope that everyone gets to spend some quality time with their families over these next few days off! I personally am going to travel to my hometown near Rochester to see my dad, mom, sister, brother, and family dog Charlie. It's nice to spend time with those we love and who love us!

Here are a few excerpts from the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address that parallel things I am thankful for. Let me know if you read it to your family on Thanksgiving!

The People
Today we have gathered and we see that the cycles of life continue. We have been given the duty to live in balance and harmony with each other and all living things. So now, we bring our minds together as one as we give greetings and thanks to each other as People.
Now our minds are one.

The Earth Mother
We are all thankful to our Mother, the Earth, for she gives us all that we need for life. She supports our feet as we walk about upon her. It gives us joy that she continues to care for us as she has from the beginning of time. To our Mother, we send greetings and thanks.
Now our minds are one.

The Plants
Now we turn toward the vast fields of Plant life. As far as the eye can see, the Plants grow, working many wonders. They sustain many life forms. With our minds gathered together, we give thanks and look forward to seeing Plant life for many generations to come.
Now our minds are one.

The Animals
We gather our minds together to send greetings and thanks to all the Animal life in the world. They have many things to teach us as people. We see them near our homes and in the deep forests. We are glad they are still here and we hope that it will always be so.
Now our minds are one.

The Trees
We now turn our thoughts to the Trees. The Earth has many families of Trees who have their own instructions and uses. Some provide us with shelter and shade, others with fruit, beauty and other useful things. Many peoples of the world use a Tree as a symbol of peace and strength. With one mind, we greet and thank the Tree life.
Now our minds are one.

The Stars
We give thanks to the Stars who are spread across the sky like jewelry. We see them in the night, helping the Moon to light the darkness and bringing dew to the gardens and growing things. When we travel at night, they guide us home. With our minds gathered together as one, we send greetings and thanks to all the Stars.
Now our minds are one.

The Enlightened Teachers
We gather our minds to greet and thank the enlightened Teachers who have come to help throughout the ages. When we forget how to live in harmony, they remind us of the way we were instructed to live as people. With one mind, we send greetings and thanks to these caring Teachers.
Now our minds are one.

Closing Words
We have now arrived at the place where we end our words. Of all the things we have named, it was not our intention to leave anything out. If something was forgotten, we leave it to each individual to send such greetings and thanks in their own way.
Now our minds are one.

And they're off!

Well like I predicted, today when we came in there were about 13 trout who had swam out of the basket over the weekend! Later some students helped more to find their way out by leaning the basket a little bit more. Most students were very interested in this exciting step!

Trout in the Classroom

After the students left Friday, I sat quietly and observed the trout. They are getting active! Bill told us yesterday that any day now we could see our little guys swimming to the top of our basket. I lowered it half an inch so that they can get out of it easily. You should check it first thing Monday... there's a chance a little alevin will be at the bottom of the tank hanging out in the rocks!
Here's a video of them trying to swim up!

A Closer Look

Today Bill Foster came into Miss Coffey's 4th grade class at Caroline Elementary. We put a few of the alevin under a digital projector to get a really close look at them now! We noticed that their egg sack is receding as they are absorbing it. We discussed that soon we'll need to feed them food and we might even see them swim to the surface (the top of the basket) to hop into the larger area of the entire tank!

Chorus Concert

Excellent job to those who performed in the 4th grade chorus concert tonight! I love listening to you sing! Singing (and making music in general) is a wonderful hobby!

Word Games!

I just found this great website that has free word games on it! I just tried out about 6 of the games and they are fun, challenging, and great for 4th graders! Check it out here, and I will also be adding this link to the right side of this page.

Tonight's Math Homework

I accidently left off tonight's homework (50-Facts Test) in the homework packet, so instead, take time to study your multiplication facts for homework tonight!!!
Freerice.com
Sorry for the confusion!

New Classroom Library

IT'S FINISHED!!!!
Click on the picture to see it zoomed-in:

I'll be back tomorrow!!!

Yes I've been out all week with the swine flu... but I've been fever-free for 24 hours finally and when I was feeling better, I spent some time preparing our new classroom library in my guest bedroom!!!



Hopefully everything will be all set to go Monday!!!!

Obama ushers in a new era for Indian Country

Barry Derfel, the Instructional Specialist for Educational Equity in our district, informed me of this important event in Washington DC on Thursday.
President Obama addressed the concerns affecting Native American people and their communities today. “I get it. I’m on your side. I understand what it means to be an outsider,” he said. “… I know what it means to feel ignored and forgotten, and what it means to struggle.”
Click the link to read the rest of the article, and feel free to leave comments on this post.

Trout in the Classroom

This is our first year with the Trout in the Classroom program and we're trying desperately to keep our little guys alive! Unfortunately, we've having trouble keeping the pH level down and so far we've lost 11 trout. Here is Silas, Allyssa, and Tommy learning how to test the pH level.

Haudenosaunee Voicethread

The Trout Have Arrived!

Today Michael from Trout Unlimited delivered our 100 "alevins" (since they have now hatched out of their eggs!) Alevins, as seen in the video, lie on their sides with their egg sacks still attached. This is their initial food source. It actually weighs them down for awhile! Eventually they'll consume their egg sack and swim up over the basket edge into the larger area of our 55 gallon tank.

Happy Halloween!