The Corner Office

I'm practicing my girly voice.

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Holmes Elementary has gone high-tech! 

We are very pleased to announce the arrival of our Mobile Lab.  With a set of 24 wireless NetBooks, our ability to incorporate more technology into classroom learning is no longer a future concept.  Today several of our students were able to use these great tools to record their Fluency Books for future use!

A fluent reader sounds like someone is telling a story!

Remember to pause at punctuation...

How’s my intonation?

I know I'm working, but I can't help smiling!Historical fiction is right up my fluency alley!

Historical fiction is right up my alley.

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

As we begin November and work our way to Thanksgiving Break, our fourth graders are closing chapters of study and gearing up for new learning opportunities.

Since the beginning of October, our class has been working diligently on completing our first personal narrative, learning key information in the study of geography, and cramming their brain-sponges with geometry.  This month we will begin with a challenge in writing: to write an even better personal narrative!  We are also switching from Social Studies to Science and will be studying “The Sun, Moon, and Earth.”  Make sure to take some time in the coming days to look at the night sky and talk about the beauty of our moon.  Finally, we will be moving from Geometry to study properties of Equality.

Continue to make sure you are working closely with your lovely child in completing his or her Reading Tickets, and as always ask what they learned in school today.  Please don’t believe them if they say, “Um… nothing much.”

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Did you know that if you’re not thinking while you read, you are really not reading?  It’s the truth.  Many of us find our mind drifting every now and then while reading, and there is a reason for that.  Something you read triggered a memory from your own life.  It is necessary that all readers respond to these thoughts by examining them and understanding how they apply to the story. 

We have been practicing showing our thoughts by leaving reader’s tracks.  Reader’s tracks are our thoughts written on sticky notes.  There are several types of tracks that help build better understanding of the story.  Some of these special tracks include likes/dislikes of the book, predictions, questions, connections, themes, etc.

Take a look at work in action!

I have a great prediction!

When I read this I thought of this question.

This character reminds me of my little brother because...

I like the part about planting flowers!

Reader's Tracks

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Our first unit of social studies is upon us and already our kids areworking hard to master “Thinking Like a Geographer”.  As our focus in fourth grade is the United States, our students have discussed the relative location and absolute location of our country.  We are currently working on physical characteristics of our land!  Be sure to ask them about it!

I think I found another gulf: The Gulf of Alaska!

The largest river system is the Mississippi River System!

Most deserts are in the Southwest. Hey, that's a relative location!

The Great Canyon? No, the Grand Canyon!

Can you find a plain? Do you mean a low-lying stretch of flat or gently rolling land or a vehichle in the sky?

The largest mountain range in the United States is the Rocky Mountains!

My favorite desert is chocolate cake! It's desert, not dessert silly.

Welcome Fourth Grade Families,

Our third and final field trip to study the importance of our natural resources was held by Construction Aggregates of Ferrysburg.  It was a wonderful day of hands-on learning and experiences.  Again, I would like to thank the parents who volunteered to drive and chaperone groups! 

Celebrating a Wonderful Experience of Learning!

In contrast to P.J. Hoffmaster, Construction Aggregates discussed the necessity for using some of are natural resources for filtration units to provide clean drinking water, automobile manufacturing, as well as, using in ornaments ands jewelry.  The students learned about reclaiming the land to help reduce the amount of erosion and how to mine for precious gems!

Finding Precious Gemstones!

Learning Does Have Its Moments!

Enjoying the Mining Process!

Reclaiming The Land!

After ten moving Student Council speeches and a secret ballot box election, our Student Council Representatives from Mr. Overway’s class are Gray, Miah, Eric and Meggie.  Congratulations to everyone who participated!

Student Council Candidates!

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

Was it possible that our second field trip was more exhilarating than Dune Day?  Check for yourself!

Holmes Elementary Rocks The Sand Dunes

First, let me thank all the parents who volunteered to drive to P.J. Hoffmaster State Park.  The experience for the students to visit these beautiful areas and learn hands-on information is precious.  Mrs. Tillman, a park naturalist at Hoffmaster, did an incredible job teaching the students about the formation of sand dunes, the materials within the dunes, the animals who inhabitat this fragile ecosystem, and finally that sand can jump!  Yes you heard me correctly; check this out!

Jumping Sand

Upon return to schooling, the class discussed reasons for the preservation of this unique natural landscape:

1. Protect Wildlife Habitats
2. Plantlife Provides Oxygen
3. Construction Would Destroy The Land
4. Hey!  It’s Beautiful!
5. Well Duh… You Can Have Lots of Fun There!
6. So Future Generations Can Enjoy

Which One Is The Ant Lion?

An Animal in Captivity and a Captivated Audience!

I'm Nuts if I Think I Can Teach These Ones!

Investigating Properties of Magnetite!

Climbing to the TOP!

Dear Fourth Grade Parents,

It was nice to see you all last night.  I can tell we are going to have a great year.  I also wanted to let you know that my blog is not set up to send you emails yet.  I hope to have this taken care of over the weekend and then you will be able to sign up.

Thank you,

Mr. Overway

Welcome to Our Corner Office in Room 13,

August and these first few days in September have been very busy!  While you have been reading great books, traveling with family and friends, staying up late, and having all around fun, I have been working hard in our classroom. 

I am so excited about our room this year!  We now have a new reading and writing area, complete with our new Citizen Chair and the Big Deal Chair, our class mascot Samalie (she never leaves and a bunch of empty book shelves?  We’ll talk about that soon…

I can’t wait to meet you.

Love Your Favorite Teacher,

Mr. Overway