Homework Party!!

Sometimes we forget to reward those who are hard workers. Of course their straight A report card is a bonus, but isn't it nice to get a treat once in a while just for being awesome?!?

This year we have had a homework party at the end of every month to reward those who have done all of their homework every night. In invite them to our classroom where they can eat picnic-style and watch the Smurfs!! (I love that cartoon) I usually give them a small treat like popcorn and we just hang out. I know they like it and I enjoy spoiling those who work hard for me :)

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A Rite of Passage

Back in October was the infamous CA mission project! Oh what fun! I got to bring in the report I wrote about my mission in 4th grade and got to see all of these beautiful projects.

I gave the class a choice of building a mission, writing a report, doing a powerpoint or anything else as long as they cleared it with me. 98% of the class ended up building missions so our room was FULL of awesome projects.

Notes for next year: be more clear on expections for actually building the mission (have them label it). Let them choose their own partners? Have everyone make a powerpoint for their presentation of the missions.

All in all, they were awesome!

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4th grade Sci-Fi

There is an astounding lack of material in this category. I am extremely depressed because I'd REALLY like to teach a Science Fiction novel next year (I'm trying to do one from every genre). Among the approximately ten books the librarian had on her list, there was the classic A Wrinkle in Time and a newer Newberry Award winner When you Reach Me.

I read When you Reach Me in 2 days and it was fantastic. It is a mystery that is inspired by A Wrinkle in Time but has no time travel until the very end of the book. It doesn't read like a Sci-fi novel, but is very intriguing and easy to read. I think it would be a good begining book for my fourth graders, but it kind of gives away spoilers to A Wrinkle in Time. This is tragic, because A Wrinkle in Time is one of my all time favorite books (and drips with sci-fi qualities).

So, my dear friends... I have a dilemma. Which book do I choose? Contemporary and easy to read or a classic that is more sci-fi??

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