We have now begun our second science unit - Watery Earth. What are some of your water wonderings? Why do you think we study water?

When you are old enough to drive a car, you need a license to make sure that you are safe and know what to do. Being on the internet is a little like driving. It is also important to be safe and know what to do. Get your Digital Driver's License here. http://moourl.com/DigitalLicense

This week we learned about the very first people of America. Share what you have learned about immigration to the Americas.

Dear Fourth Grade students,

As a way to learn more about data and understandi it, we are researching CSE fourth graders' favorites. Please take each  of the surveys below.Each one is only one question. Thank you!!

Look outside our classroom and on our wiki for some graphs, charts, and conclusions. We hope to expand our data collection to include other states, and maybe even 4th graders in other countries! Thanks again!!

Sport Survey:http://moourl.com/g8ie4

Ice Cream Survey: http://moourl.com/xjy23

Lunchroom favorites: http://moourl.com/a0w0y

This week we began learning about matter and that it comes in different states. What are the states of matter? What do you know about the different properties of each state? Tell some more about your observations and learning.

We have started our first read aloud for the year. We are reading Judy Blum's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. During this book we will be working on self-questioning, making connections, and summarizing the main idea. What do you think about read aloud? What has been your favorite read aloud so far in school or at home?

School rocks!! But, Mrs. Griffin rocks more (That is according to PC and the whole class according to JB.) We think that blogging will be fun. We can write about what we are doing. People from all over the world can see it and tell us what they think, We hope you enjoy reading what we write.

I can hardly believe that we are halfway through our break. I have been very busy but still have lots I want to do. I had a great time in Washington, DC at the NECC conference meeting people, learning new things, and hearing others' ideas. I also had the chance to see two Smithsonian Museums for the firat time - The Native American and the the Botanical Gardens. Both were inspiring. I also got to see a real life pitcher plant and strangler fig like in the Great Kapok Tree.

Finally, I spent 4 days at the Jersey shore and met a student from our class next door. We saw each other on the beach every day. I hope you are all having a fantastic summer and I look forward to hearing from you.

While most people in America celebrate a new year in January, teachers are on a different schedule. The "year" ends in  June and  begins in August/September. What then is summer? Summer is a time for relaxing and renewing, reflecting on the just completed year - what went well, what needs to be changed. Students too have a chance to relax and reflect. What went well for YOU in fourth grade? What would you like to be different next year? Let us know how your summer is going.

I am off to Maryland today for three days of fun and learning with the Discovery Network. Then on Sunday I am visiting Sidwell Friends (where the Obama girls go to school) for a day. Monday begins three more days of fun and learning at the National Educational Computing Conference where I will be on a panel discussion about teachers learning together. Talk with you soon.

I am curious about the book you are reading, or one you have just finished. Please read below about a book I just finished and then write a comment telling about your book.

I have just finished reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It is a historical fiction book set in England right after World War estruction from the war and she wants to find something happy and light to write about. She accidentally becomes connected to some people who live on the island of Guernsey off of the coast of England. They begin writing letters back and forth and Juliet becomes intrigued by their stories. She travels to the island and becomes part of their community. Eventually, she falls in love in Guernsey and decides to write a book about the people who make up the literary society.

I enjoyed reading this book because I learned more about World War II and the German occupation of Guernsey. It seems that the people of Guernsey suffered terribly during World War II.