Welcome Back to Ms. Arcenas' Class!

Inspire. Challenge. Succeed. 

Every Student... Every Heart... Every Mind... Happy 2018 Grade 4! Welcome back parents and students to an exciting second semester in Grade 4! Together, we will create many more wonderful learning experiences in Grade 4!

Ms. Arcenas' Christmas Card Tree!

As the first week of school fast approaches, let's take the time to reflect on our learning journey thus far! In what ways have we demonstrated intellectual curiosity, perseverance, respect, integrity and kindness? How have we been inspired, challenged and able to succeed?

I wonder, could you connect your experiences during your holiday to our Graded Mission Statement and Core Values? In what ways could your experiences help you grow as a learner?

Growing in our learning about each other!

Taking risks will continue to be part of our classroom actions... In doing so, we will learn to support each other, persevere and reach our goals, both as individuals and as a group.

During the first few days of school, we will spend some time building our classroom community and learning about each other's holidays. Using the thinking routine, SPW (Sentence-Phrase-Word), we will have the chance to summarize what made our holidays so special. 

I wonder, in what ways did your experiences inspire, challenge or help you to succeed, either personally or as a learner?

Parents, please feel free to create your own Holiday SPW! Make your thinking visible by sharing your interpretations with your child...

Use the SPW template to share what you have learned during your holiday.

Ms. Arcenas explores the Amazon!

Inspirational, challenging, and most definitely, successful... I am just back from the Amazon...truly beautiful and mesmerizing! Sharing this wonderful experience with my cousin made my time in the Amazon even more so special. Without a doubt, I have been inspired, challenged, and although difficult at times, I was able to succeed with the support of my family and new found friends...

Collaborate with your family and create your own Holiday SPW... Use Ms. Arcenas' example to guide your discussions with your family as you work together to create your Holiday SPW presentation. Teach your family the steps to the thinking routine, SPW. We will share your Holiday SPW's in class next week before we go to Carroção.

As you review Ms. Arcenas' SPW, consider the following questions:

• What do you notice about the writing and images?
• What connections could you make to the Writing App? What tools could have been used to help write the reflection?
• What examples of text features and/or text structures do you see?
• I wonder, what writing tools, images, text features and text structures could you use to teach others about your holiday?

Ms. Arcenas' Holiday Reading Challenge!

Vacation Reading! Grade 4, did you read loads of books on TumbleBooks, look up countries you have visited on Culturegrams, and/or World Book? Or did you look up information in BrainPop for some educational viewing? Or did you read your just right books? Remember to use Destiny Discover to access the online library resources!

Complete your holiday challenge! I wonder, did you and your family succeed at the holiday reading challenge? I look forward to reviewing your reading log on Biblionasium! 

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who have completed the holiday reading challenge: Madalena, Ana Claudia, Luiza and Gabi! An honourable mention goes to Grant for completing 898/1000 minutes.

While you read... Use the reading strategies bookmark to help make sense of the words and understand the text more clearly and deeply! Copy this image and create your own reading strategies bookmark to use when you read over the holiday!