Social Issues Celebration

For the past month, we've read with a focus on social issues. We grew the chart below as we read across many books this year, identifying in clubs or whole class conversations the issues, ideas, and concepts hidden in the text we read.

Our work during social issues focused largely on determining what each text taught us about the issues and then pushing ourselves to be the kind of readers who change our own ideas as a result of reading the text.

During this unit, in addition to returning to favorite read alouds and rereading them (many we know by heart, practically), we read Wonder by RJ Palacio. (We're sure you know this already, as it's been a favorite in our class and most likely mentioned at home by now.)

In Wonder, one of Auggie's teachers, Mr. Browne, has precepts for each month. Similar to our class agreement - our precept - If you work really hard and are kind, amazing things will happen - Mr. Browne's September precept was "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind."

To celebrate our work for the past month on social issues, each student chose an issue, idea or concept from our chart and wrote his own precept. This felt like an appropriate way to end our time together. We share them with you in the video below.

The Closet by Arabella

Please enjoy Arabella reading aloud her picture book The Closet, an independent project of hers during writing this year. Arabella is both the author and illustrator of The Closet. 

The Flying Bird by William

"Clunk" the window goes as everyone sees a bird fall to the ground. Our teacher goes out, grabs the bird, and puts it in a tissue box on our window sill.

Beating fast, the bird's heart beats. The bird stands up and flies away. Everyone is happy for the bird that visited Room 101 that day.

artwork by Aloka, showing the bird in the tissue box on our window sill

Poems in the Making by Mac

Poems, Poems in the making. In class we were recently making poetry books. The whole class was working really  hard. So was I. It was very hard work, too.

The video above contains photos of our class's poetry anthology covers taken by Mac. It's set to Some Nights by FUN, a song chosen by Mac for the video.

Handball by Andrew

A bunch of fourth graders at recess started to play a new game called Handball.

The things you need are a ball, a net, and friends. There is a goalie in the net and as many friends on the field as you want. You need one pass before you shoot. Every time the goalie makes a save or a team scores a goal, the goalie throws the ball out. And that is how you play Handball.

Book Reviews

Room 101 published book reviews a few weeks ago. You can find our published reviews on our book review blog, Room 101's Must Reads: http://fourthgrade101bookreviews.blogspot.com/. Maybe your next read is hiding in one of our reviews!

The Amazing Book Fair by William

Every year Knollwood has a book fair from sports to cooking to comics and much, much more.

The kids at Knollwood and sometimes Sickles love the books a the Knollwood Book Fair, especially the toys.

There is a big night called Family night. Family Night is when your whole family can come and buy books.

Have fun and keep reading!

Note from the teachers: Thanks for the books you donated to our class library! They've already been snatched up to be read :).