Wednesday, November 30, 2011

More Examples Written With The Class

Show Time!
Lights! Camera! Action! There is no place like it. Isles of people scarfing down popcorn, children laughing their heads off and a big screen can all be found at one place, AMC Movie Theater. When I close my eyes and think of my favorite place, it is without a doubt a movie theater.
            The lights go out and the fun begins. The movie theater is my favorite place for no other reason than the big screen. It is here where my favorite movies come to life. Harry Potter or Diary of a Wimpy Kid were great books but to see them spread out across an entire wall of projection is breath taking.  Sitting in those rows of chairs you can see everything from a small ant to a large tree. There is no way to miss an important scene. It does not matter if you sit on the front row or the very very back because you can still see it. It feels like you are IN the movie interacting with the characters. The last movie I saw was The Polar Express. As I strolled in to find my seat it was like ants in an ant hill in the theater. After finding the perfect spot, what seems like hours, when actually it is only minutes, the lights begin to flicker. Show Time! The screen filled with images, my heart sank and I knew I had found my happy place. That is why I love to go to the movies. The big screen is like sweet chocolate cream pie.
            SeaWorld may be fun. The neighborhood pool is a blast, but my place of all places is the movie theater. Whether to see a good book come to life, have a good laugh with your friends, or just enjoy the treats, the AMC  Movie Theater is my favorite place to be.

S- Yellow
E- Blue
M- Green
C- Gray

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Spelling Words 11/28

argue
cart
aware
march
rare
carpet
charge
stare
declare
pardon
arch
alarm
harness
tardy
spare
smart
charm
glare
snare
spark

Monday, November 28, 2011

Mrs. Clark's Fourth Grade Class: Narrative VS. Expository

Mrs. Clark's Fourth Grade Class: Narrative VS. Expository

This Week...

This week we are wrapping up our unit on Expository Writing and Reading. Students will write their final Expository paper for 2011. :) We will spend the next 2 weeks studying poetry.

In reading, students will review Main Idea and Summary and apply what they already know to Informational Text. We will also review how text is organized, context clues, elements of informational text, and making inferences.

In math, we are beginning our unit on Geometry. Students will have the opportunity to extend their learning through hands on menu activities. It is important that students are studying the vocabulary at home. A huge part of Geometry is Vocabulary!

In Science, we are beginning matter.

In Social Studies, we are wrapping up on unit on Texas Revolution. Students will share what they have learned from each battle and share it with the class.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Turkey Day!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving! Go Aggies!! :)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Batter Up- Expository

Batter Up!
Minute Maid Park is the place for me. Whether to get examples from players or watch a baseball game, I feel at home in the stadium.
Professionals are professionals. At Minute Maid Park, my heart is filled with joy. Here I can learn from the best. At each game, the players take turns at bat. Sitting up in the stands, you can sit back, relax, and take notes. When the first star player enters the batters box, I watch in amazement. They will spread their legs shoulder length apart and even bend there knees. It may be hard to see from way up top, but usually you can look at the big screen to see a closer look. With the bat over his shoulders, I can watch him prepare to swing. The ball will soar and he will throw his shoulders forward and swing with all his might. The first time I saw Craig Biggio at bat, my heart pounded. I took notes like a college student in chemistry class. At my next baseball game, you should have seen me hit the ball. 
Minute Maid Park is without a doubt the place for me. As soon as I a walk through the doors, I feel overwhelmed with joy. It is special to me because there in the park I learned to be the athlete I am today.

Another Expository Paper...Written together by Mrs. Clark's Class

Home of the Fighting Texas Aggies
Whoop! A sea of endless Maroon and people shouting  “howdy” is no other than the great Aggie Land. When I close my eyes and think of one place that has changed my life, College Station, home to the Fighting Texas Aggies, comes to mind.
            Down! Set! Hut! The best part about Aggie Land is Kyle Field. When you enter the stadium on game day, instantly you feel at home. People will stand in lines to get their cokes, hot dogs, and prepare for kick off. The stadium is a roar of laughter and hollering fans cheering on their team. You can feel the spirit as soon as you enter the gates. At every Aggie Football game the fans can be found standing on their feel screaming, “Gig em Aggies!” I remember my very first football game. It was my freshman year of college. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. After I found my seat, or should I say bench there is no sitting at Aggie games, my heart dropped.
            Whether to attend a game of the Fighting Texas Aggies, be welcomed by all the friendly residents or hear the core band play, Aggie Land is truly my special place. When I’m lost, sad, or just plain bored, I know I can load up my car and head to College Station for a good time.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Narrative VS. Expository

NARRATIVE: (A moment with that person.)
Write about a person that is important to you!
Trash Day!
I hurry and drop it into the container. Three bags full this week. I pinch my nose in disgust. Luckily it was coming today.
I stormed down to the end of my driveway with the cans trailing behind me. The truck was creeping around the corner, sure to stop at each house. It was only yards away. I felt relieved that I remembered early this morning that it was Tuesday, trash day. The bucket with my neighbors’ trash clanged together as the load dumped into the truck. Men were hanging on to the back by only a large bar. This gave them quick access to grab the cans. 
At each stop they pounced off with an immense amount of energy. They’re like the energizer bunny that keeps going….and going… This simple occasion happens twice a week. While it seems routine and normal to me….I ask myself what if? My mind drifts off to a world without garbage men. A world where my car would be forced to stay parked in the driveway for the trash would take over. I imagine the streets with empty soda cans, old food from yesterday’s dinner, dirty diapers, old furniture, and more cluttering the boulevards.  The putrid smell would be unruly interfering with life’s everyday events. It would be a life of chaos. I snap back to reality as the last can of my trash is lifted into the truck. 
While my family and friends are an important part of my life, it is the everyday people that make the world go round. I am thankful for garbage men for keep my planet clean.  When I stop and reflect, I quickly realize the importance of their career. 

Expository: (Explaining Who and Why)
Write about a person that is important to you. Describe who and why they are important!


A Trash Man! Can’t Live Without Em’!
Trash is unavoidable. It is everywhere you turn. I eat lunch, I have trash. I go grocery shopping, I have trash. I do my homework, I have trash. A world without a trash man is a world of chaos, disgust, and clutter.
          A clean planet is a happy planet. A trash man matters to me like milk to a baby. He keeps the planet clean. Twice a week the trash man comes to pick up my trash. He delivers it to one landfill. It isn’t scattered around or left where animals can get it. When the trash is picked up, my neighborhood is left smelling fresh and clean, like a clean load of laundry. Each week, I step outside with the trash trailing behind me. I think about a world without a trash man. It would be a world of mush covering the highways, slim in the grass, and bacteria everywhere. Trash would take over. Thank goodness I have a trash man.
          Organization is very important to me. Without a trash man, my house would be in ruins. Cooking dinner would mean throwing empty cans into my living room or old meat containers out into the backyard. Having a trash man keeps my house together. He allows me to put everything into a white bag. This bag is then placed into a large plastic container. Those few days a week I push the container out to the curb, and it waits to be carried off to its next destination, the landfill. My world with a trash man is a world of peace and harmony. It keeps my house clean and free of clutter.
          Whether it means keeping a tidy house, clean planet, or a fresh fragrant home, a trash man is important for many reasons. When I picture someone who affects my life in a positive way, I think of the trash man. He keeps my world in check.      

Monday, November 7, 2011

Informational Text Features

Students should be able to identify and explain the purpose/importance of informational text features.

Informational Text Features
Importance
Labels
Helps the reader identify a picture or photograph and its parts.
Photographs
Helps the reader understand exactly what something looks like.
Captions
Gives a little information about the photograph to better understand it.
Maps
Helps the reader to understand where something is.
Different Types of Text (bold, italics, etc)
Helps the reader signal “Look at me! I’m important!”
Table of Contents
Helps the reader identify key topics.
Index
Alphabetical list of everything covered in the text with page #’s.
Glossary
Helps to identify key words.
Subtitles
Helps the reader to know what that section is about.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Grammar Review


Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Commas- Grammar Review

The three grammar rules that will be tested this week all have to do with commas:

Using commas in a list or series- if a list or series three items or more are in a sentence, the items need to be separated by commas. (Ex. Rover got a bath, went for walk, and burried a bone.)

Using commas with dependent clauses- A dependent clause does not express a complete thought. When found at the begining of a sentence, it needs to be separated by a comma. (ex. As the marching band went by, we cheered and yelled.)

Using commas with appositives- An appositive is a word or phrase that is another way to say the noun or pronoun in front of it and needs to be separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. (ex. Mrs. Tomlinson, our science teacher, says that animals have adaptations to help them survive.)

Conferencing with your kiddos!

NARRATIVE
How can I help my children with narrative writing? I am so glad you asked! J

It is important that students are completing their pre-writing (STARS) and complete story for every prompt. After they have finished here are a few questions you can help conference with your child:

Did they describe where they are at in detail? They should build their setting, not describe it.

Did they pick one small moment and describe it?  One setting and one place.

Can you tell what they are thinking throughout the story?

Do they have a Show, Not tell?

If they answer yes to all these questions they should be ready to go. There are a few examples on my blog.


EXPOSITORY TEXT
Now, expository…. This is a new concept for students. I know you are wondering…how can I help them..?!

Here is the writing process:
1.)   Read Prompt
“Write about 1 thing you have made. Describe what you made and why you enjoyed making it.”

2.)   Generate a list of ideas. Choose One.
a.      Science experiments
b.      Cakes
c.      Origami
d.      Music
e.      Robot
f.        Stories.
g.      Paper airplane
h.      Cupcakes
i.        Light switch***

3.)   Why did you think this was enjoyable?
a.      Creative
b.      Challenging
c.      Help us light up our rooms
d.      It was fun.
e.      Educational
f.        Hands-on education (fun)

4.) Generate ideas for S-E-M-C- (This should be done for both body paragraphs.)
Statement- Lights! Camera! Action! Creating a light switch was a great challenge.
Explanation - make light light up first.
Wires had to be in the exact place.
If it wasn’t lighting I had to figure out why.
Was the light bulb burt out or battery dead?
Once you had a circuit we had to make the switch. The important part is all the metal had to be touch.
We worked together trying different things. And finally it worked. I loved the trial and error.
Me- Now when I think about turning on the lights, it makes me appreciate all the hard work Thomas Edison did.
Closing- Creating a light switch is a challenge that I would be up for again tomorrow.

Electricity! It All Starts With a Battery!
(Introduction) Electricity is a wonderful thing. In science class, I created my first light switch with just a battery, few wires, light bulb, index card, and a few brads. It was a challenge from the beginning and I was smiling from ear to ear.  I loved working with my team to put the wires in just the right place. We put our hands and minds together to make the light bulb light up with a switch.
            (Body Paragraph 1) Lights! Camera! Action! Creating a light switch was a great challenge. From the beginning, the first challenge was to make the bulb light up before worrying about the switch. The wires had to be in the exact place. It was a process of trial and error. We put our heads together and worked to figure it out.  Finally, the light bulb was lit and then it was time for the next challenge, the light switch. We dove in like a scuba diver looking for fish. My mind raced with all the different ways. Finally, it was like winning a race. We completed the light switch. Now when I think about turning on the lights, it makes me appreciate all the hard work Thomas Eddison did. Creating a light switch was a challenge that I would be up for tomorrow.

Stories should include an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. An example of an entire paper is on my blog. J


I hope this is helpful!

Expository Text

Here is an example of expository text. :) 
 
To Choose or Not to Choose?
Choices are like stairs, each one leading to another level. While we make simple choices everyday, what to wear, what to eat for lunch, the most important choice I have had to make is the paint color of the walls in my house. 
 I asked myself grouchy as a bear or serene as a cat?  Colors change your mood. I wanted to wake each morning with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye.   As I stood in the store glaring at the thousands of paint samples my mind raced. Red…too bold…green…what is this a golf course? I pondered to myself. Think of a beautiful sunset coming above the horizon. The colors are calming and rich. This color will determine my ever changing days. I knew it was an important one.
First impression is everything and if you walk into my house my goal is to shock you with my decorating talent. Choosing the color to paint my walls is like picking out your wedding dress. It is the first thing everyone sees and the one thing everyone remembers. When you make the last step towards the front door and turn the medal handle, it hits you like a gust of window. First impression! The purple color will fill your heart with warmth and send an inviting feeling your way. I want you to walk away thinking, WOW!
While picking out your paint color may seem simple, it is so much more wrapped up into one big decision. It can determine you day just by looking around. So remember, when you pick out your room color how will it affect your future?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

I'm rich! :)

It was a lot of fun! Thanks for cheering me on!

Your Awesome Fourth Grade Teachers!