ELA: Writer's Notebook Assignment

Me Collage / Writer’s Notebook

Since writing is a direct reflection of the author, everyone in my ELA class will be personalizing their writer’s notebooks with pictures, words, or other items that are special to each student.

Each writer’s notebook can include the following:

• pictures
• stickers
• flat awards (achievement certificates)
• drawings
• magazine/newspaper cut outs

The students are to glue or tape each item carefully so that the items do not fall off.  Make sure that these items are not valuable since they will not be returned to the original state it was once in.

If there are any questions, feel free to email me at jharlow@bpsk12.org

Welcome Back to School!

Hello everyone!

Happy first day of school!  I am so excited to start the school year off with such an amazing group of boys and girls.  Room 236 has so many bright and creative students, how did I get so lucky?  Today, students learned all about their new fourth grade classroom as well as some of the new expectations I have for my students.  A backpack folder will be sent home today (8/31) that will hold homework assignments, notifications, and other papers to go home.  For this first week, parents have homework to fill out the school forms and send them back in to school as soon as possible.  I post daily homework assignments and important information on my blog throughout the school year.  The address to my blog as well as the other fourth grade teachers is located on the front cover of the backpack folders.  I will post a copy of the cover to my blog for anyone that would like a copy.  I look forward to getting to know all of my students as well as the parents throughout the school year!

- Mrs. Harlow

So Many Forms...So Little Time!

Hi Everyone!

It's getting closer and closer to the end of the year and I know I have been sending a lot of forms home with the students.  Last week, I sent home three important notices about upcoming events for the fourth graders.
1.) A reminder for the State House field trip on May 22nd.
(That form was asking parents that have an active CORI if they would like to be a chaperon.)
2.) BRIDGES Permission Form to walk to the Burlington Senior Center for the end of program celebration.
3.) Camp Bourndale Permission Slip
        - There will be a parent information night later in May about the overnight camp for those of you who               would like to know more.

I hope everyone has been enjoying this beautiful weather!
Mrs. Harlow

Blizzard Bags

Hi Everyone,

I had a few questions about how to access the Burlington Blizzard Bag website.
Here is the direct link: BPS Blizzard Bag Link

Once you click on this link, make sure you choose grades 3-5. Click the Then scroll down until you see the directions for grade 4 for each subject.  Let me know if you have any questions, I will do my best to answer!

Thanks,
Jenna Harlow

Blizzard Bag Re-Post

Our Blizzard Bag Site Is Live

We are excited to have the opportunity to pilot learning projects for school day cancellations. We will be the first district in the state of Massachusetts to try this with the assigned “Blizzard Bag” work that is available on this BPS Blizzard Bag site. As with any pilot, we expect that there will be a lot of questions and that not everything will proceed exactly as planned. However, we are committed to offering multiple methods to support students so that they can complete their work successfully.

Questions will be answered live on our Blizzard Bag phone line at 1 (512) SNOWDAY (1-512-766-9329) on Tuesday, April 28 from 4-7 p.m. Voice messages and texts can also be sent to this number during the duration of the assignment and will be responded to daily. In the meantime, we have also created an e-mail address where you can send questions (blizzardbags@bpsk12.org). We will share all of the questions asked on a “Frequently Asked Questions” section that will be added on this Blizzard Bag site.

Of course, your student’s classroom teachers are also a great resource for questions and we will be adding support opportunities that are available at individual schools in the days ahead as well on the website. Teachers will be checking in with their students during the week of May 4, which is the midpoint of the projects, to make sure that students are making progress. It is our hope that at least half of the assignment will be completed at this time. If students have any questions about expectations or length of assignments, they should ask their teachers.

Our final due date for the assignments is June 1, 2015. If students complete their work prior to that date, they are welcome to turn them in early to their teachers. Since the work is meant to be substituted for two days of school, all students who do not complete the work will be marked absent for two days. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we work through this pilot. We look forward to your feedback along the way.

Please visit this site for information and details about student work that must be completed to ensure learning goals are met. Student assignments are posted by grade levels at the top of the Blizzard Bag Website. High school teachers will be giving students their assignments this week. 

Room 236's Chicks

Room 236's Chicks!

Room 236 had a successful chick hatching this past week with 8 total chicks.  So far, they have been a wonderful addition to our classroom.  On Thursday afternoon, I made sure they had plenty of food, water, and a clean base for the long weekend.  We cannot wait to return Monday morning to see how much they have grown!

Burlington PARCC Tech Night

Tomorrow night the Burlington Public Schools Tech Team will be hosting a PARCC tech parents night. Feel free to stop in and learn about the upcoming PARCC test that your children will be taking next week.

http://www.bpsedtech.org/2015/03/04/parent-tech-night-parcc/

Where: Marshall Simonds Middle School Library
When: Wednesday 3/18/15 @ 6PM

Engineer It! Lowell Mills

Field Trip

We learned a lot today at our Lowell Mills field trip! During the first portion of the trip, we took a look at how important engineering was to the development of the Lowell Mills. Our class became engineers and were challenged with the task of creating a cart that can transport materials to workers. I was very impressed with how well you all worked with little help from me or the tour guide. It was great seeing how everyone was given the same directions and materials, yet not one cart looked the same as the next. You are all so creative and I look forward to working on the inventions over the next couple of weeks! Here is a look at some of the fun we had today in Lowell!

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow is our field trip to the Lowell Mills.  Please remember to pack a "brown bag" lunch that way we won't have any forgotten lunch bags. We are going to be inside for the majority of the field trip, however you should still dress warm. Tomorrow looks like it will be in the mid 30's! It is very important that you come to school on time tomorrow since we are leaving at 8:30AM. I am looking forward to a fun class trip, see you all tomorrow! :)

<3
Mrs. Harlow