Please visit our new class website at

http://www.edvantaged.com/room209

(Please update your bookmarks/favorites.)

This website (the one you're at now) will remain available for the forseen future for those who want to access old news items, photos, and resources.

Dear Students and Families,

I often like to wait a few weeks to post an end of the year message, as the break gives me an opportunity to reflect on the recent 180 school days.  I want to take this opportunity to thank you for a wonderful school year.  I have been at school a lot over the past few weeks to teach my summer courses and, of course, to tackle the daunting task of moving classrooms.  (I finally emptied out Room 201 today.  It looks much bigger right now!)  Packing up the classroom has been, in all candor, an emotional experience for me, as it's been my daytime home for five years.  I stumbled upon various things from the past few years that brought back a lot of pleasant memories, particularly from this past year.  I was so impressed with how well this class worked as a single community, and I love that each student brought his or her own unique characteristics to to the group.  As I write this, I'm thinking of several fun activities, class discussions, and events from the past year.

I think the kids made a great deal of progress this year, and as the kids packed up their portfolios, I enjoyed looking at some old pieces of work that highlighted their growth.  These students were some of the hardest-working third graders with whom I have ever had in class.

To those students and families who are continuing with me to fourth grade, I look forward to continuing a great working and learning relationship with you next year.  Fourth grade will be full of new activities and challenges, and I am eager to have another great year.  To those students and families who are moving on to new teachers and even newer experiences next year, I wish you the best of luck and thank you for the great work (students) and support (parents) that you gave me last year.

Thank you also for the wonderful end-of-year gifts.  I look forward to seeing the personalized brick included in the path to the new, much-needed playground.  I'm still excited to have the fezel decoupage that you purchased for me, and while I can't guarantee that there will be room for it in the new classroom, I'll be sure to enjoy it wherever its new home will be.

This will probably be the last post on our class blog.  After five years, I decided that changing grades and classrooms was a perfect time to also redesign the class website.  You'll find a new site launching for the new school year.

I hope you have a wonderful summer!  Be sure to relax, but I would be remiss if I didn't remind all the kids to read, read, read this summer!  Be sure to keep track of what books, magazines, or other pieces of writing you read for the Governor's Reading Challenge.  (You don't need to keep track on the official form - any paper is fine!)

See you in September,

Jon Moss

P.S. - Be sure to check out the photos from this year's Alaskan Olympics!

We're on a mission!  Our class is trying to see how many verbs we can find that have an irregular ending.  (These are verbs that DON'T end in the usual -ed or -ied endings when in past tense forms.)  Our goal is to fill up a piece of chart paper with lots and lots of examples.  I've challenged students to see how many they can find on their own.  There's only one rule:  Kids may not go onto the internet to search for lists of irregular past tense verbs.  (Too easy!)  They may ask parents, friends, or other people.  They may look through the dictionary.  My recommendation was to look through books for examples of irregular past tense verbs.

We already have lots of examples.  For a list (in case you're curious), click MORE.  (Kids can also use this list to see if we already have the words they find during their quest!)

 (More)

While cleaning out some old display materials, some of us on the third grade teaching team found a cut out drawing of a cat tail plant growing in the wild.  We looked at it and agreed that the brown puffy part looked more like a corn dog than a plant.  We laughed at the notion of a corn dog plant, and then realized that we had perfect material for a fun expository writing activity!

This morning, I asked the students where corn dogs come from.  They gave a variety of answers, including:

• From the midwest (where corn is grown in large quantities)
• From the supermarket
• From cows and pigs
• From factories

Our next step is to finish organizing/planning the articles and to write the articles.  I hope to publish the articles in our own scientific periodical.  This activity is a great way to practice expository writing - as essential skill for fourth grade.  (Oh yeah - and the kids are having a fun time with it too!  That always helps! ) 

Students are asked to arrive to PGS tomorrow morning at 8:15 for our trip to Old Sturbridge Village.  We will be outside for most of the day, so students are encouraged to wear and/or bring bug spray and sunblock.  For health reasons, students may not share each other's bottles of sunblock or bug spray.  Everyone should bring lunch (in an unbreakable container) and an extra bottle of water.  Students may bring no more than $5 to spend in the general store.  Cameras are permitted, but I STRONGLY discourage students from bringing valuable electronics that might get lost or broken.  Bring them at your own risk.  (Consider a disposable camera instead of a regular, valuable camera.)

Most people think Sturbridge is the REAL destination.  But the truth is that the kids are REALLY looking forward to riding in the coach bus!  :-)  In all seriousness, the coach bus will have TVs with a DVD player.  If you would like to send in any G-Rated movies (with your name on them), we welcome the choices.

We have one remaining spot for a chaperone because of a cancellation.  If you would like to chaperone, please email me ASAP.  The cost is $7, and I'm sure I can find someone for you to drive up with.

A few news items to share today!

• The score sheets for the recent book report are going home today. Great job, everyone!
• Unit 8 Math assessment coming up tomorrow.
• Assessments are being graded as quickly as possible.  Some of the assessments are graded by two teachers (to ensure consistent evaluations), which causes them to take longer to evaluate before scores go home.
• I will be out for most of the day tomorrow for a training workshop.
• Pajama day has been rescheduled for this Friday.
• The budget vote is tomorrow.  Please consider voting at the budget referendum!
• In fourth grade, students will use their planners exclusively for keeping track of homework.  To help prepare them, we will resume using our planners for homework assignments for the rest of the year.  Don't worry, although the Weekly Report is being discontinued, I will continue to communicate with you if I have concerns about behavior or homework completion.
• Please save consider saving your soda cans and redeemable bottles for your child to bring to school.  We are collecting cans and will donate all the money to Gifts of Love in Avon.  Students may bring in their cans any time.  We will have a big box in the front of the school, but for now, students can bring them to the classroom.