Today I asked you to fill in the blank:  "It's the last day of school and I feel _____!"

Some answers included:
1.  Free to sleep in and play video games
2.  Happy
3.  Excited
4.  Sad
5.  Boooooness and
6.  Mixed emotions. 

I am feeling the last one!  I'm very happy to start vacation (like most of you are) and I know everyone who comes back this fall is going to love their fifth grade teacher because they are both smart, fun, and amazing teachers.  However, I'm also very sad to say goodbye to 3 students who will be going to different schools for fifth grade, even though I know they will love those schools.  Although we will miss them, they get to look forward to some beautiful places and unique learning opportunities.

I feel like we had a wonderful year, learning and laughing a lot and I hope you think so too.

I have decided to keep this blog here at the same address for as long as Weebly will let me, but since I'll be starting a new blog for next year's class, there will be just a few changes:

1. The link from the McCarthy website will not link to this blog anymore; it will link to the new one.
2. Now that your fourth grade year is over, comments are closed.  This is so new students can't get onto our old blog and make the comment lists so long that you can't find your old ones.
3. If you want to leave a comment after comments are closed on these posts, please comment on the Guestbook!  I will leave that available for all your comments from now on. 

Comments will be open on all the posts until the end of August, so keep playing those math games to help you remember everything you learned, and leave a comment so I know you're still doing your best.  I hope you have a wonderful summer and keep in touch on here. 

Have fun and stay safe!

--Mrs. Thomas 

After everyone wrote about a routine, you each got to write more for the guide book; an answer to the following open ended prompt:

"Oh, and here's something else you should know about Mrs. Thomas's class!"

• You will learn lots of things in Mrs. Thomas's Class!
• There are lots of good books.
  
• She does something called "Mystery People," where she chooses two people and they need to be good or they don't get a prize.
• Close to the end of the year we do "Mystery Person."
• Mrs. Thomas is a funny teacher.
  
• You should know she is funny and likes to play games, such as Zip Zap, Elf, and math games.
• She is awesome.
• You will learn decimals, fractions, and angles, so good luck.
  
• You get to do math groups.
  
• We are funny, humorous, and love outside!
• There are so many fun activities to do, like drawing flags.
• She is the best teacher ever.  She's helped me with a lot of things.
  
• At Morning Meeting at the end of the year, everyone gets to be the leader.
• Mrs. Thomas is a nice person.  She is fun and is great at drawing.  She let us listen to learning music videos.  This class is awesome.
  
• As long as you follow the rules and do what she says, a lot of funny things will happen.  Like don't be surprised if she starts singing "Diamonds."  You also get to hear songs to help you study. 
  

Today we created a guidebook for those kids who will be in fourth grade next year.  Each of you wrote about a routine that is important to know and adhere to.  One of you was curious to see what others wrote and asked me to post it on our blog, so here it is!

This is how we line up for the hallway.
...

This is how we get organized in the morning.
We come in the room, then we put our chair down.  Then we unpack our bags.  Then we do our Morning Work.

This is how we write a heading.
1.  Kevin Kidd                2.  6/25/13
                                         3.  Math
4.  Write!

This is how we get organized to go home.
We write down our homework.  Then we put it in our backpack and line up. 

This is how we find out how we did on our homework.
We find out how we did on our homework.  I learned decimals.

This is how we order lunch.
...

This is how we learn new information.
Sometimes we learn information in different ways.  One way is we read headings.  Another way is we read captions.  Also we check our work and work it out.  Also we ask our groups for help if we are allowed to. 

This is how we get books to read.
There are two ways to get books to read.  One way is go to the library and get your books.  Or you can go to the class library which has all kinds of books, from fantasy to mystery. 

This is how we stand up for a classmate.
When someone is being bullied, well tell the person to stop doing it.

This is how we work together on a math activity.
The way we work together on a math game is we listen to directions.  Then we play the game.  Whoever wins, it doesn't matter.  We say good job, because either way, you don't get a prize. 

This is how we get a partner to share ideas with.
...

This is what we do when we need to borrow school materials.
First, we raise our hands to get the materials.  Then we get them.  Then when we're done with them we put them back where they belong.  Which means NOT in your desk.

This is what we do when we want to share an answer.
You raise your hand and say, "I have an answer!" 

This is what we do when we want to go get some water.
First you sign out and put the pass on your desk.  Then you walk down the hall.  Third, you will see Ms. Moore's room, and there's the bubbler.

This is how we start and finish a difficult math problem.
We start by reading the question.  Next we do a part of the question.

This is how we do our best to answer reading MCAS questions.
We reread our questions and read the story.

This is how we organize our desks.
I put hard cover books on the left and put the soft books on the right.

This is how we practice social skills in Morning Meeting.
These are somethings that tell you how we practice social skills in Morning Meeting.  One thing we do is play Elephant, Monkey, Giraffe to work on encouraging others.

This is how we avoid collisions in the hallway.
Stay in line and keep your eyes in front of you.

Do you have any other tips (for the blank ones above, or your own ideas) for next year's fourth graders?

Here at McCarthy we feel lucky to have a safe school to go to.  We wish the same for children everywhere.

Your goal for earning Student of the Month for March is to practice responsibility.  Responsible students do what they are supposed to do.

Responsibility means a lot of things, because when you are in fourth grade, you have lots of different responsibilities.  They include:

1. Doing your homework
2. Bringing your homework to school
3. Doing your classwork
4. Bringing home your homework to do
5. Organizing your papers into the correct folders
6. Following classroom rules
7. Reading your notes to study for tests
8. Wearing sneakers on gym day
9. Bringing your recorder on music day
   
10. Bringing your lunch or money and coat with you at lunch time
11. Bringing pencils to school
12. Getting a paper to start your morning work
13. Treating everyone with respect all the time

Responsible students do all of those things. 

The secret is, before they leave home, the classroom, or school, they stop and think, "What do I need to bring with me?"  When they get papers or other materials they stop and think, "Where should I put these?"  Before they say or do something to someone they stop and think, "Should I really say that?"

If you want to be more responsible, all you need to do is stop and think, and make a good choice. 

This month, our Student of the Month goal is assertion.  Assertion is about standing up for what is right.

We learned that assertion is not about being bossy or mean.  It is not about bugging someone to do something you want. 

To be assertive, when you see someone doing something that makes you uncomfortable, and you know is wrong, here is what to do:

1.  Ask them, "Did you know that what you're doing is going to hurt ____?"  If they say, "Oh, I didn't know!  I'm sorry!" Then you solved the problem.
2.  Tell them, "Stop doing that.  It's bothering me (or someone else)."  Only say this once.
3.  If they don't stop, say, "Stop or I'll tell."  Only say this once.
4.  If they don't stop, tell an adult.

Of course, if you ever feel unsafe or think someone else is unsafe, you should tell right away without confronting the other person.

This sign is hanging on our classroom door.

Which scenario demonstrates a positive attitude about the same situation?

We are playing Sparkle. 

1.  We are spelling "gratitude," and after Kim says "e," Kevin is supposed to say, "sparkle" and is out.  He folds his arm, sulks, and yells, "It's not FAIR!"  He stomps off and almost steps on Karen's hand as he leaves the rug area.

2.  We are spelling "serenity," and after Keri says "y," Kristie is supposed to say, "sparkle," and is out.  She shrugs, leaves the circle, gets her snack, thinks, "yay, chocolate chip cookies, my favorite" and checks over her Morning Work to make sure it's complete.

This month we talked about another way to build character, and that was to cooperate.  Cooperation means to work together, usually to acheive a common goal.

There are many ways to cooperate with other people:

1. Take turns.
   
2. Be patient and listen.
3. Help someone if they ask for help.
   
4. Share with others if they need something. 

Can you think of a time when you took turns or shared something with someone this year? 

Can you think of an activity in school that requires taking turns?

Before our holiday party, we took the time to write to each classmate.  We let them know why we appreciate them, and why we are glad they are in our class.  It seemed like a lot of work before we started, but at the end, you each ended up with a whole page of nice things written about you that you got to keep.

Happy Holidays, kids! 

This month we talked about another way to build character, and that was to have school spirit.  School spirit means that you show that you are proud to belong to your school community. 

You can show that you have pride in your school by taking care of it. Picking up trash in the classroom or hanging thing that have fallen off bulletin boards are examples of taking care of your school.

Another way to show school spirit is to participate in School Spirit Days!  On Wednesday, everyone in the school will do something together to strengthen our sense of belonging to a group.  If you like your school, you should participate in school spirit days!

The student government has planned a School Spirit Day to build school spirit as well as raise funds for families in need during the holidays.  All you need to do is wear a sports shirt, and if you can, bring in a $1 donation.

What team shirt will you wear for Spirit Day? 

[Update]

We decided that another great way to show school spirit was to contribute to our Cultural Foods Event!  Thank you to everyone who brought something for the event.