Learning about Growth Mindset and Famous Failures

       We continued to work this week on understanding what growth mindset is.  We have talked about how it is important to challenge ourselves each day.  We have also talked about how failing is okay because it is a way for us to learn.  

     At the beginning of each subject we remind each other to have  a growth mindset.   For example, as a class we have discussed how people aren't "bad" at math.  Some of us struggle in math, but that just means that we need to keep practicing and challenge ourselves so that we can succeed. 

      We have also discussed the value of making mistakes.  The kids are really starting to have a deeper understanding of this.  

     I will share some of this information at our Open House on October 2nd, but wanted you  to have this information to help support what is going on in the classroom at home.  

     Below is a great visual to go along with having a growth mindset.

     When I first introduced Growth Mindset, I showed the kids this video.  It is only a 90 second video, but it is very powerful.  

Growth Mindset

https://www.khanacademy.org/youcanlearnanything

     Often times kids will think that their favorite sports star, singer, or musician was "just born that way."  We spent time this week learning about "famous failures."  We watched a great video on Michael Jordan and how he had to put a lot of extra work into becoming one of the best basketball players. Jordan talked about how he was in the gym before anyone else practicing every day, and that he made many mistakes along the way.  Also, he spoke about how even though he was one of the best, he still had to challenge himself to become better.  Below is a quick video on some other famous failures.

Famous Failures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dT4Fu-XDygw
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     We will continue to talk about Growth Mindset this year.  I have found that the kids are really putting the effort in when a problem becomes difficult.  I am hoping this growth mindset foundation will continue to build as we move through fourth grade!

A Great First Week!

          Thanks for checking in with our classroom blog!  I will typically post once a week.  I will let you know about what is going in our classroom.  I will share what the students did during that week and what we are going to be working on the next week.  If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at my school email.  I typically don't check my google email account.

    

A Great First Week...

     There was lots of nervous energy in the air as the kids came into school on Tuesday along with a lot of excitement!  We spent a lot of time this week getting to know one another.  We played a true and false game, worked on a class scavenger hunt, and created and shared our heart maps.  We also started to learn the routines of our classroom. 

     We focused A LOT on the idea of growth mindset this week!  We watched a lot of videos and did some activities around this.  We learned that our brains are always growing.  In fact, when things get difficult we are actually "growing" or strengthening the neurons in our brain.  We talked a lot about failing, but not giving up.  To go along with this, we completed a poster with an inspirational quote on it in art integration on Friday.  Mr. Martinez helped us create these posters which will eventually be hanging around the school to help inspire others to not give up and have a growth mindset!

     We started reading workshop on Wednesday with a reading interest survey.  I was able to get to learn about the kids as readers. I loved learning about the different genres that they are interested in, names of their favorite authors, as well as some of the hobbies or interests outside of school.  Knowing their hobbies/interests can help me point them in the direction of some great books! 

   We really focused on having a growth mindset in math this week.  We are using a new program this year called Engage New York.  It is a new program across the district.  The program has us starting with multiplying by 10 on the place value chart.  A lot of the vocabulary was a different than we were used to in the past.  We will continue to work on this new vocabulary and "strengthen" our neurons in the process!  :)

     Overall it was a great week!  It was so fun to see the excitement in the classroom this week.  I know we are going to have a great year of fun and learning!

Have a great weekend!

~Jen

One of my favorite growth mindset quotes:

If you think you can’t, you are right.  If you think you can, you are right!

Welcome Fourth Grade Class of 2014-2015....Supply List

Here are the supplies that are needed for our classroom:

1   -Wide Ruled One Subject Notebooks

1   -Five Subject Notebook
2  - 1 ½” binders with the clear plastic on the front

 1   -package of 3-hole punched, lined filler paper
 1   -Two pocket plastic folder
 Small personal pencil sharpener
 Pencil box
Dry erase markers

Additional Supplies your 4^th Grader will need:

(This list was handed out at the end of last year with report cards.)

• Lots of pencils
• Pens
• Highlighters
• Sticky notes
• Markers (thick and/or thin)
• Disinfectant wipes (optional donation for whole class use)
• Tissues  (optional donation for whole class use)
• Hand sanitizer  (optional donation for whole class use)

Please make sure that you label each item with your child’s name.  

Meet Mrs. Lewis....

     I love teaching fourth grade!  I have been teaching for twelve years.  I graduated from Rivier College in 2002 with a dual degree in Elementary and Special Education.  I also have my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education.  I have been teaching at Farley School for 12 years.  I started out teaching in a special education classroom and then moved into fourth grade. 
     I live in Townsend with my husband, two boys Kyle and Caden, and my black lab, Soxie.   You will  hear lots of stories about Kyle and Caden who certainly keep me busy and always make me laugh.  
     I also enjoy running and spending time with my family and friends.  I love to be outside and being active.  I like to go hiking with my family and play with my kids.  If you walk into our classroom you might notice that I also love Boston sports!  

     Let’s have a great year!

State Fair Movie Trailers

     As I mentioned at the state fair this morning, some of the kids were able to create an iMovie for their state if they finished their research early.  I am attaching the link for the iMovies.  Enjoy!

http://farleycomputerlab.weebly.com/4th-grade-state-commercials.html

Amazing State Fair Day!

     I am so proud of how well the kids did today at Success Day....their State Fair!  Each student put a lot of hard work and effort into their projects.  They did a great deal of research about the state that they were most interested in.  They really have a good understanding of their state.
     We hope you were able to see (and hear) all of the great learning that went into this fair.  I have attached some pictures from the state fair.  Enjoy!

Field Trip Permission Slip Reminder!

End of Year

Walk Across the US
Wednesday, June 10th

 

          As part of the fourth grade math/social studies curriculum, we will be visiting the Hudson Public Library and Wood Park in downtown Hudson to have a bagged lunch. We will be walking to the library to have students sign-up for the Summer Reading Program, getting a library card if they need it and possibly selecting a book to begin their Summer Reading.