Posts By: Jon Moss
September 9, 2014
September 9, 2014
Tuesday’s morning work
Good morning! As you come in, I’d like to you get a partner and take an iPad. (One iPad PER partnership, please.) Below this paragraph, you will find a link to a video I made about comparing numbers. Please tap that link and watch the video. Make sure it’s loud enough for you to hear, but don’t make it so loud that it distracts other groups. And go!
https://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/comparing-numbers/10712834/
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
September 4, 2014
Many Names for Numbers (when using Place Value)
OC Lesson 16
CC.4.NBT.1
Posted in Learning Resources, Math, Unit 1|By Jon Moss
September 3, 2014
Developing Life-Long Readers
Our reading curriculum outlines the wide variety of skills that students are expected to master in fourth grade. But my overall goal is much more succinct: to develop talented, life-long readers. A 2013 Huffington Post poll found that 28% of U.S. adults hadn’t read a book in at least a year, which is a statistic that I hope to help change. Much of my reading instruction comes from an approach called Readers’ Workshop. In Readers’ Workshop, the focus is on explicit instruction, followed by small-group practice and then independent application. By transitioning from teacher-led to student-led learning, students are better able to develop and sharpen their skills, and I’m better able to work with students during small-group and independent time. Another pillar of Readers’ Workshop is the use of mini-lessons. Instead of spending an hour working on a broad skill, lessons tend to be shorter and focus on more discrete skills. This, too, allows students to focus their learning and gives them a better opportunity to more immediately apply (and reinforce) their new skills.
Because all the skills in the gr. 4 reading curriculum are based in the actual act of reading texts, our reading instruction, this week, has started with some basics. Our first minilesson focused on how to read independently (what independent reading should look like and sound like) so that readers can best think about what they are reading. Today’s lesson focused on how readers choose books (look for our exhaustive list tomorrow evening), and tomorrow we will answer a more general question: Why do we read? All of these help students to build strong fundamental skills that will make them more successful as we kick in with the more advanced skills down the road.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
August 28, 2014
Welcome to a new year!
What a great start to a new year! I really enjoyed getting to know the kids on this first day of school. We got a bit of a late start due to the lengthy bus arrival process, but that actually allowed the students who arrived earlier to have more time to get settled before we dove in to start the day’s activities. Our first stop was the cafeteria to review lunchroom routines with Mr. Giannini, our principal. Next, we came upstairs and started an activity called Good News (more on that in an upcoming post) before heading back down to the gym for our new Wellness program (replacing Physical Education and Health as separate classes). Ours was Mrs. LeFevre’s second elementary-level class ever (She’d been a terrific middle school and high school health teacher for many decades before joining us at PGS.) and the class earned a terrific report! Back upstairs, we were able to sort through some of the supplies before talking more about our classroom routines. Lunch was at 12:30, and the kids did a great job walking quietly through the hallway without disrupting any classes. (Now to KEEP that going all year! That’s the challenge, sometimes.)
Following lunch, the kids went out to recess and then came back upstairs, where we finally finished sorting classroom supplies. (It’s really hard to get much done until the supplies are properly put away.) Now that we’ve finished that, we can get to more of the fun stuff!) At 2:00, we went down to the bell ringing ceremony and then returned upstairs to prepare for homework. Before we knew it, it was 3:15, and the kids slowly shuffled out for dismissal. (Hopefully the dismissal process will speed up in the coming days.) Please remember, if you are picking up your fourth grader, we need a written note that morning. If you’re going to pick up your child daily or on a set schedule (such as every Monday and Thursday), one note can be sent in for the whole year.
Hopefully your fourth grader came home with some fun stories to share and a smile on their face. It all gets better from here. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always email me!
Here are a few photos from the day. This is based on last year’s list of website restrictions (since I haven’t received an updated list). If your child should be added to that list, please make sure that you’ve completed that form (electronically, I believe) and email me so I can remove the photo.
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
August 28, 2014
Getting started!
This afternoon, once we FINALLY finished sorting all the supplies that families generously sent in, we were able to “get to work” for the first time – just in time to copy down the night’s homework! I hope it isn’t too much for the first night! (The worksheet “The Big Day” will help us with an activity tomorrow.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
August 28, 2014
Bell Ringing
We enjoyed starting off the new school year with the traditional bell ringing ceremony in our courtyard. Our old school bell is sounded each year on the first day by members of each grade. We were excited to have one of our own students participate as Community Council chairperson this year! Well done, HR!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
August 28, 2014
Student Technology Survey
We use a lot of educational technology in Room 209 to further student learning, and there are times when homework assignments might also involve the use of technology. To help me better plan activities, I am asking all families to complete this student technology survey. Plus, this is the best way for me to collect your email addresses so that I can best keep you informed about class news and activities. (Click more if it doesn’t appear below.)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
August 10, 2014
Welcome new fourth graders!
Hello! Welcome to the online home of PGS Room 209. During the school year, I will update this web site regularly with information about activities happening in Room 209, bulletins and news items, current events related to what we’re studying in social studies, online assignments, and much more.
About Me
I graduated from the University of Rhode Island summa cum laude in 2004 and have a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology. I also have a Masters Degree in Educational Technology at Central Connecticut State University‘s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Technology. In addition to my teaching role at Pine Grove School, I am our school’s lead educational technology teacher and work to help teachers integrate technology into their teaching in meaningful and valuable ways.
This will be my eleventh year teaching at Pine Grove School. I taught third grade at PGS for five years before moving to fourth grade. While at URI, I taught grades 3, 4, and 5. I have also taught kindergarten, first, and second grade summer school, and I have interned with an elementary school principal in East Hartford. I have a background in experimental research in the field of social psychology, so you’ll probably see my interest in research and statistics come through this year during math lessons!
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss
July 21, 2014
Thank you!
Hello, room 209 alumni and families! I hope your summer is off to a wonderful start! After school ended on the last day, I had the bittersweet job of packing up the rest of our classroom for the summer. It gave me a wonderful opportunity to look back on the wonderful year we had and to remember some of the special moments we shared. Each year is unique for me, and each group of students leaves me with a terrific set of memories that I can revisit, from time to time. I’ll always remember creating Lucy the Elephant, proudly proclaiming “Huzzah”, using the iPads for amazing work, an outstanding collection of TUSS projects, creating our Humphrey video (here it is), and so much more! You were such a kind group of students and I want to thank you so much, not only for your thoughtful end-of-year gifts, but also for the enthusiasm, dedication, and effort that you showed all year long.
After I finished working in our classroom that day, I was excited to attend the Avon High School graduation to watch my very first class (from PGS) graduate. It was a remarkable experience, and I enjoyed seeing how much my first group of students had grown (both in height and in knowledge and skill). Like my first class, you, too, are bound for great things! I know that you’ll continue to do well as you continue your journey, whether at Thompson Brook School or another school, near or far. In only eight short years, in 2022, I hope you’ll keep an eye out for me at your graduation. I’ll probably be sitting in the back of the audience, and I hope you’ll come by to say hello!
Thank you for a wonderful 10th year at PGS! Enjoy your summer, and please stay in touch! (Be sure to enjoy a good book over the summer! Remember, like younger PGS students, you can log your summer reading at www.pgsreads.org!) Photos from our class graduation are available, below. (Click “More”)
Posted in Class Updates|By Jon Moss