Blue Ribbon Ice Cream

Students were surprised today with a delivery of ice cream to celebrate Blue Ribbon!  Yum!

Big Blue Ribbon News at Concord today!

Today we found out we are a National Blue Ribbon School!  We are all so excited!  Each child wrote on a blue ribbon why they think Concord is so special. They will bring these home tonight to share with you. 

Salt Maps this week

I am posting the note I sent home last week. Please send in your child's flour and salt for their map by Wednesday. Also congratulations to Emira and Eli!  They will be our new CLC reps this month. 

Shaw Nature Reserve

We had a great day today at Shaw Nature Reserve!  Students looked at a lake ecosystem and participated in an earth walk through a prairie. We were also back in time for our Leader in Me assembly so it was a fun, busy day. 

Missouri Brochures

Today we started to research the different regions of Missouri. With our research notes we are making a brochure showing off the Show Me state!

Relating Division and Subtraction

We learned a new strategy in math today. The students have known how addition can help solve multiplication problems. Today we learned that subtraction can also be used to solve division problems. We worked out a few problems to demonstrate. 

Students also have their first spelling tests tomorrow. We practiced today with a buddy check in class. 

Revising and Reading

Today we started to revise our writing. We talked about rereading with a lens- having a specific focus for revising.  We also have a cafe board in our room to remind us of different reading strategies. We added to it today. 

Lauren's Blog

Super Sorters and Math Review

Today we had an intense game of math baseball to review for tomorrow's test. We are also working hard in spelling by sorting words. Some groups have a long/short vowel focus, while others are looking at prefixes.  Don't forget to wear Concord gear tomorrow!

Buddies Have the Power to Lead

Today we met with our first grade buddies from Mrs. Boyd's class.  We worked together to discuss how we have the power to lead at home, school, and everywhere in our lives. The fourth graders did a great job helping the first graders!

Looking Deeper at Characters

Today we looked at the characters in the text trying to figure out why they do what they do. Our MVP of the week also shared a book with us. 

Ecosystem Project

We started working on an ecosystem project in class today. This will be a final grade for science chapter 4 instead of a test. 

In math we wrapped up old stations and started some new. We have a chapter 2 test on Friday. 

Food Webs Day 2

Today we finished up making food webs. The class did a great job making some very interesting food chains. 

Constructing Food Webs

Today in science we learned about food chains and food webs. A good chain is the transfer of energy from one organism to another. Food webs are when food chains overlap. We started to construct food webs today and we will finish tomorrow. 

Counseling and Rounding

Today we had our second counseling class of the year. The focus was active listening and the class demonstrated this even during the storm!  We estimated sums and differences as well. This is rounding before adding and subtracting. The important thing is to check for the place value indicated in rounding. It is not always the largest place value!

Math and Writing

Today we started to look at the heart of the story. We took scenes from the story arcs and started to write. We are focusing on showing, not telling. 

In math we started a new set of rotations. Today we worked on mental math strategies. In class the students got it, but this can be tricky. I did tell the class if they struggle tonight on homework they can solve the problems the usual way. 

Stop and Jot

Today in reading we talked about what good readers do while reading. We practiced with an activity Stop and Jot. They know I love rhymes and Lauren added in, "When you think about the plot!" 

Properties of Addition

Today we learned about the properties of addition in math- Associative, Commutative, and Identity. The class is used to me making anchor charts daily, so today they made the charts!  We also had a drawing in class for our first three members of the CLC.  Everyone will get a chance to do this!  Each month it will change. 

Story Arcs and Review

Today we wrote story arcs for the narrative fiction we are writing. Each student began to plot out their ideas for the entire story. We will then write scenes from the arc. 

We also reviewed for our science test with a scavenger hunt review and a game of around the world. I told them to review the study guide tonight. 

Math Baseball Math Review

We reviewed for our chapter 1 math test today with a little math baseball. We focused on place value, writing numbers the three different ways we practiced, and rounding. Comparing numbers, greatest/least, and ordering will also be on the test. Test is tomorrow. 

4 Step Problem Solving

Today we wrapped up chapter 1 in math. We practiced problem solving with a 4 Step approach. We will have a test on Thursday. Tomorrow is math baseball time!