Today's Book Buddies Kick-Off Session

Today, Room 9 4th graders visited Ms. Keefe's kindergarten classroom, beginning our year-long Book Buddies program. Throughout the school year, 4th graders will read to their kindergarten book buddies once a week. At today's kick-off session, after being introduced to their kindergarten buddies, Room 9 students jumped right into reading to their new friends.

The excitement shown on the faces of the kindergarteners and 4th graders during their time together was energetic! If our first session is any indication, this year's Book Buddies will be rewarding for both kindergarteners and 4th graders alike.

New Members of Room 9's Community of Learners

I am pleased to announce new members to this year's Room 9 community. After spending the summer on holiday, Hershey and Caramel, our two adorable gerbils, have finally returned to Fox Hill. They appear to be having some difficulty in acclimating themselves back in Room 9 after spending the summer on holiday. Yet, I'm sure with their fluffy bed, scrumptious food, delicious spring water, and tender loving care by Room 9 students, Hershey and Caramel will soon realize the comforts of home! Welcome home, Caramel and Hershey...

Caramel (left) and Hershey enjoying their return home to Room 9!

Scholastic Reading Club Book Order ~ September 28

Dear Families,

This year in Room 9, students will have an opportunity to purchase books at affordable prices through the Scholastic Reading Club. With their own books, students will grow as readers, while helping Room 9 earn free books and resources throughout the year. Today, I will be sending the monthly Scholastic flyer home with your kids. Please discuss the opportunity to purchase books with your 4th grader. You can order books in two ways: (1) by completing the form in the flyer and returning the form to Room 9, or (2) by ordering online (https://clubs.scholastic.com). If the latter, please remember to include our class activation code. That way, Room 9 will get credit for purchases and will earn free books and more for the classroom.

The Room 9 Class Activation Code is: NB6B8.

I will be submitting our first order on September 28, so please return your completed form and payment by that date, or order online by then.

Thanks,
David

Whole School Assembly ~ September 7

This morning, Fox Hill School's new principal, Mr. Rosenblatt, led a whole-school assembly in the Fox Hill cafeteria. At the assembly, Mt. Rosenblatt introduced himself to the student body, and introduced a whole school signal we will be using at Fox Hill this year for getting students' attention to become quiet. The signal starts with a teacher saying, "Fox Hill Friends," then students respond with "Talking Ends." We practiced it a few times during the assembly with great success. Mr. Rosenblatt ended the assembly by asking the gathering, "Ready for some fun?" Then we danced....

Today's "Lunch Bag" Presentations

This year's first homework assignment for Room 9 students was for them to fill "Me" Lunch Bags with items meaningful to them. Today, students presented their lunch bag items to classmates. This activity gave students an opportunity to learn a little bit about their peers. I was very impressed with each student's presentation! (Note: I will add additional photos to this post when other Room 9 students present their "Me" bags.)

Boy, It Was Hot in Room 9 Today!!!

While today was exceedingly hot, uncomfortable, and sticky in Room 9, the kids hung in there like the troopers they are. We all kept hydrated which made the day somewhat bearable. This afternoon, the kids posed for two photos; one a sophisticated pose, the other a rather silly one.

Parents and grandparents, which photo do you prefer?

Room 9's "Sophisticated" Students

Room 9's "Silly" Students

Day 1 Down | 179 Days to Go!

I am pleased to report that Day 1 went off without a hitch in Room 9! The kids were attentive, focused, and excited to start their Grade 4 journey together.

As students arrived to class this morning, they each wrote an adjective on our white board describing "how you are feeling right now." Their responses at 8:00 indicated a number of anxious/nervous students.

However, just 5 hours later, when I repeated the exercise, student responses were vastly different, i.e., the butterflies had subsided. During Closing Circle, a number of students indicated they were "tired." It was a long, hot day in Room 9, but every student left Room 9 with a smile on his/her face!

September 4, 2018 (first day in 4th grade)