Classroom Happenings

**WOW!  We had a wonderful American Revolutionary Starburst Act experience in 4^th grade!  Thank you so much for supporting this event.  As expected, we had some very worried and frustrated 4^th graders.  By the end of the experience, they all were able to make the connection with what our Founding Fathers and Colonists felt as they declared their independence from Great Britain.  They started the event with 10 starburst being given to them with the understanding that they would be used as a consequence/reward system for behavior.  Students were then told that they were to pay a starburst each time they did certain things such as: using paper (Stamp Act), eating a snack (Sugar Act), getting water not during lunch time (Tea Act), letting their book buddies sit in their desks and share starbursts and snacks with them (Quartering Act), talking in the halls, talking out of turn, leaving and entering the classroom, missing out on recess (Intolerable Acts!!!!t), etc.  Each was added as the days went on until the kids finally had had enough because of the “intolerable” events that were occurring.  They chose to meet with other classes (just as the colonies did participating in the 1^st and 2nd Continental Congresses), creating signs, petitions and banners, and finally meeting with the Principal and Assistant Principal of the school to declare their independence from the Starburst rules.  Dr. Scholl and Mrs. Williams were extremely supportive and helpful during this lessons for our 4^th graders.  I really appreciate all they offered!  Ultimately, it was an even that won’t be forgotten and hopefully helped students to connect a bit of their American Heritage to themselves.  Feel free to ask your child about the details.  If there is a particular question you have about the experience, I am also always here to explain.  Learning is exciting in 4^th grade!!!

**Congratulation to Kennedy Edwards for being our Spelling Bee class representative!

**I wanted to thank my WONDERFUL parents for all you shared with me for Christmas!  Wow, I really felt appreciated by each of you through your kind notes and goodies.  Thank you so much for your continued support.  This has been a most successful school year thus far, and I look forward to the remaining portion of 4^th grade being even better! 

**We had to say goodbye to Virginia Miller before the holidays and now we also have to say good bye and good luck to Seth Gaiefsky who is moving to Florida. Ask the kids about the rock rituals that our class has when we have to say good bye to a friend.

**Mark you calendar, important dates are also on our class calendar.

**School will be closed on Monday, January 20^th for MLK Day.

**Our wonderful music teacher Mrs. Gray would like to invite parents to see our 4th grade program. It will be February 11th at 9 a.m. in the lunchroom. Come and see the instruments your children have been learning to play! 

Have a wonderful week!