Mrs. Shigemasa's Class Blog

In the story, "The Boss of the Plains," John Stetson gave his hat a nickname based on himself. We brainstormed many examples of eponyms including: Baldwin Stocker School, Huntington Library, Levis jeans, McDonald's. Share one or two eponyms. Make sure your idea is unique.

Please answer the question you were assigned when reading Blog Updates at your conference.

TO STUDENTS WHO ARE CONFERENCING ON TUESDAY, here is your message:

• For homework this week, please go to our class blog (prompt titled Student-Led Conference) and answer the following question: After looking through your portfolio and work samples during Student-Led Conference, what is one thing that you have shown improvement in? (It can be something related to academics or behavior.) What can you do to make sure you will continue to progress in this area, OR explain why you think you made progress.

TO STUDENTS WHO ARE CONFERENCING ON WEDNESDAY, here is your message:

• For homework this week, please go to our class blog (prompt titled Student-Led Conference) and answer the following question: What is one goal you set for second trimester, OR what is an important goal that all fourth grade students should strive for this coming trimester? (The goal can relate to academics or behavior/character traits.) Explain ways to reach this goal.

• For homework this evening, please go to our class blog (prompt titled Student-Led Conference) and answer the following question: Explain why Student-Led Conference is important. How does it help you to be a better student in school?

This week was Red Ribbon Week. It is a good time to think about developing good habits. How can you practice healthy habits? Choose one or more ideas to blog about. Here are some suggestions:

• What you do to take care of yourself? You might want to think about what you learned from our health lessons.
• How can you persuade someone that you do not want to develop a bad habit such as smoking cigarettes?
• What are some unhealthy habits that lead to poor health? 

As you work on your differentiated icon frame, let's think about an ethical issue involved in the story of the Titanic. We learned that Robert Ballard left a memorial plaque at the wreckage site. He requested that the wreckage and all its artifacts remain undisturbed. Despite his request, some people brought up many things from the wreck. They did not agree that these special objects should be left at the bottom of the ocean. What is your opinion? Do you think the objects should have been left undisturbed or brought up? Why? Please explain.

Help your audience create a picture in their "mind's eye." Share one example of a sentence that uses personification. You can either make up your own sentence or copy a sentence from the book you are reading for Reading Record time.

Today, we practiced asking questions to expand thinking. Please blog about one or more of the following:

1. Share one (or preferably more than one) question that shows what you were wondering while Mrs. Shigemasa was reading the story.
2. Share one or more things that you learned from having listened to the story.
3. Walk in Ruby's shoes: If you were Ruby, how would you have felt about what was happening to you? What kinds of effects would her experience have upon you?

We learned about why meaning breaks down and what fix-up strategies to use when meaning does break down. Tonight, as you read, find a place in the story or article where meaning has broken down for you. Then, please blog the following:

1. Name of book or article
2. Explain why meaning broke down. (Was it fatigue, disinterest, distracting connection, too hard, etc?)
3. What fix-up strategy did you use? (Did you reread, read on, ask a question, use background knowlege, etc?)
4. Explain what you finally came to understand. Summarize the part that you had trouble comprehending.

Here is an example:

1. The name of my article is "Stealing Beauty."
2. I was reading about Buddhist sculptures when the word "Buddha" caused a distracting connection.
3. The fix-up strategy I used was to reread.
4. I finally came to understand that Buddhist sculptures that had been stolen from tombs are being used to decorate people's homes.

Beginning a new school year is exciting, but some children feel nervous and worried. It seems to me that we're off to a great start. Everyone has contributed and worked hard to complete assignments. Share one or two things we did in class that you either enjoyed or that you did for the very first time.