Mrs. Shigemasa's Class Blog

Go to the Aesop's Fables online Web site and read a selection of fables at: http://www.umass.edu/aesop/ 

You will share your ideas about one fable by summarizing it and telling what the moral of the story.

Choose to blog about a fable that none of your classmates has chosen. Number and type the following information:

Miss Grumm read Around the House, the Fox Chased the Mouse, an entertaining story that has helped us to understand prepositions. Now it is time to have fun sharing your knowledge of prepositions by posting your playful prepositions story. I wonder what character and setting you came up with.

Did you read the Baldwin Stocker Talker? If you did, you probably saw "Room 23's ABCs." We came up with many, many ideas, so we wanted to share them through our blog.

What are your thoughts about Karana taking the wild fledglings from their parents, caging them, and clipping their wings? Please communicate with precision and clarity.

My big brother, Hank, used to tease me that girls couldn't be farmers. But he sure changed his tune the day the Heat Wave hit.

--From "Heat Wave" by Helen Ketteman

In class, we discussed some ETHICS and MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES issues related to the quote above. Share your thoughts. Here are some ideas you may respond to:

• Are girls less capable than boys? Explain.
• Are there jobs better suited for boys than for girls? Explain
• What events in history show that girls were treated differently than boys?
• Discuss the ethics involved in the quote.

I realize that many of you are eager to share what you did over winter break, and we simply did not have time today to talk about the last two weeks. Take this opportunity to:

• Share one or two memorable experiences.
• Talk about something new you learned

If you had already written a journal entry, go ahead and take home your writing booklet and copy what you wrote in your journal. :o)

This month, our school is focusing on RESPECT, a very important character trait. Please think about and then respond to the following:

1. What does it mean to be respectful?
2. Give one or two examples of how you have demonstrated respect here in room 23.
3. How does respectful behavior among classmates help with learning?

For many people, the holiday season is a time of giving, but "gifts" do not have to be purchased in a store. Sometimes, the best gifts come from the heart or are personal creations.

For example, one student said she wants to give her little sister the gift of more time and attention by helping the first grader to do math homework. Another student talked about donating clothes that no longer fit. Still another youngster said his mom would like it if he started his homework right after school without having to be reminded and that he planned to make a card that shared this promise to her. These examples show that "gifts" do not have to be purchased.

Think about a unique, special gift that you can give without having to purchase it. What kind of "gift" would this be? Who would you give your gift to? Why would it be a special, appreciated gift? How would it make you feel? Explain.

You had set several goals to reach by the end of this trimester. Discuss one or two goals.

• What, specifically, is the goal or goals you will be blogging about.
• Do you feel that you were successful in reaching the goal? Do you need more time? Perhaps you feel that you are almost there. Explain.
• If you reached your goal(s), tell us how you managed to succeed. What actions did you take to progress and/or succeed?
• If you did not reach your goal(s), what plans do you have to help you attain the goal by next trimester?

Please be sure to communicate with clarity and precision.

This is the perfect time of year to think about what you are thankful for. Please share your thoughts about what you are thankful for and be sure to explain, with clarity and precision, just why these things make you thankful.

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.