Congratulations to 4LB on assembly, Terry fox run and links

CONGRATULTIONS 4LB!


A HUGE congratulations to all the boys and girls in 4LB for their fantastic perfomance in the assembly this morning. I am especially proud of them for remaining calm whilst we were having all those technical difficulties backstage which was a real pity.


However, they did a spectacular job! Many of the children had very long and complicated lines to learn and there a quite a few shy children in the class who find it very difficult to speak up in front of such a large audience. The sign language was a real challenge for us to learn but, once again, the children rose to the challenge and did a super duper job! (I heard that there were a very teary eyes in the audience...)

We will try and upload some photos and hopefully even a video ASAP. If any parents managed to get a good recording of the assembly could you perhaps burn me a copy please?


Well done 4LB - I am very proud of you!


We look forward to our buddy class - 4D's sharing next week! I wonder if they are going to do the same thing a different way?!


TERRY FOX RUN!


We really hope to see you and your families at this special event tomorrow to raise money for cancer.


Please click on the link below for more information about Terry's legacy!


http://www.terryfox.org/


Where? Parque das Nações, Pavilhão de Portugal, Lisbon (where the aquarium is and the Vasco da Gama shoppin centre)
When? TOMORROW! 8th May. Registration starts at 9.30am but Miss D and I will be there around 10ish. The actual 'run' starts at 11am.
How much money should I bring? We hope you can bring a minimum of 1 euro but there is no limit to how much you can donate
Who can come? This event is open to all people of all ages. The distance is between 1.5 to 5km and you don't have to run. Most people who come in families will be walking. The more the merrier!
What should I wear? Comfortable walking shoes, sun cream and a hat!


It would be really great to see St Dominic's (especially Year 4) well represented at this event. Come on guys!


LINKS TO OTHER SCHOOL BLOGS


Finally - we have added links to the other blogs relating to the Year 4 curriculum. (Thank you Mrs Balazs!) You should see them if you scroll down on the right hand side of the page.


Have a lovely weekend and I REALLY hope to see some of you tomorrow!


Miss Lamb

4D/4LB Presentation Differences

Just as our unit is entitled "Same thing different way" the presentations in both of the classes will also be conveying the same messages but in a slightly different.

4LB has decided to work on their presentations entirely in an oral fashion and so will not use power points, posters, etc.

4D students have created some different visual components to their presentations and so will be allowed to use those, be they posters, diagrams, or power point presentations. If students do choose to create a poster or power point they are NOT to use any full sentences as it would be likely that the oral presentation would turn into simply reading a report.

But remember, the most important thing about these presentations (with OR without visuals) is that you ORALLY communicate your information in a clear and understandable manner.

Good luck!!

Summative assessment - oral presentations!

Apologies for the fact that I put up the incorrect MONTH for 4LB's presentation dates. They are obviously in May not April... (silly me!)

The children should now have all the information they need to finish their 'speeches' on the special need they have been researching. Apart from a very small number of children - the majority have already finished their oral presentations which they can now edit, add interesting facts (optional) and a short closing paragraph/sentence. The children need to make sure that they have addressed all the criteria on the rubric - which has been uploaded.

This rubric is what the children will be assessed on so PLEASE make sure they keep referring back to it!

Please could you also assist your children in preparing note-cards with short notes (they should not read what they have written directly from a piece of paper or card - this will make for a poor presentation). Engaging with the audience is of the utmost importance: looking up, standing up straight, speaking clearly and with expression. Another good technique to engage the audience is to ask some questions to the audience. Practicing in front of a mirror is a great way to check how the audience will 'see' you during the presentation.

As was mentioned previously, the children may change or alter the presentations they have written at school as long as they still meet the criteria on the rubric and no props, Powerpoint presentations etc should be used please. We are trying to concentrate directly on the children's communication skills, using their voices expressively and engaging the audience with an interesting presentation.

Support will continued to be given to the EAL children and a few other children, within class next week to finish off their work.

We really feel that this has been a challenging but very worthwhile activity for the children to do. Their research skills have hugely improved as has their confidence in speaking in front of an audience.

This unit we have been focusing a lot on the concept of RESPONSIBILITY! It is YOUR responsibility to learn your lines for your presentation. Do it paragraph by paragraph and you will definitely make lots of mistakes at first but you'll get there!

Please come to see your class teacher if you have any concerns about your presentation and we will make sure to help you out! However, the only thing we can't do is learn your lines and do the actual speech for you ; )

We are really looking forward to hearing your presentations! Please remember to stick to the time limit of between 2 to 4 minutes.

Rubric for Special Needs Unit

Rubric for Same Thing

4LB homework for this week

Dear children and parents,


As you all know 4LB's assembly is coming up on Friday and we have A LOT of preparation left to do. The dress code for the assembly is blue jeans and a plain white T-shirt. Children may come to school and stay in these clothes all day. It is not a fashion show so please do not go out and buy new clothes for the occasion. If your child does not have a plain white T-shirt, the white school (veritas) T-shirt is perfect!


Children should have all been given scripts today so PLEASE could you make sure you have learnt your words OFF BY HEART by Thursday. You need to know who you will be speaking after so you know when to say your lines and you must bring these scripts into school with you every day!


ALSO - PLEASE make sure you learn the sign language for 'Imagine' by Thursday too.


This homework will replace any Unit of Inquiry homework or language homework you have this week and even though there is nothing that you will be required to 'hand in' as such - if you do not learn your lines or the sign language it will affect the whole classes assembly on Friday.


So, please be considerate and responsible and make sure you learn your lines, the song and the sign language.


Click here to learn the sign language

Click here to learn the lyrics
By the end of this week we will also have finished our preparation/notes for the oral presentations (please see Miss D's post on this). 4LB, however, will not be allowed to use any props, pictures or posters for their oral presentations. They will only be allowed note cards on which they should have short (Tarzan-talk) notes. They will all have their speeches written out and ready to take home by Friday as well as their rubric which clearly states what criteria they will be assessed on. They may make some changes to their speech if they feel after reading the rubric that they have not fully met the criteria or cut it down if it is too long. 

Presentation dates are as follows:

Monday 10/5 - Carla, Afonso, Laura, Miguel

Wednesday 12/5 - Rita, Sofia, Zé, Amrit

Thursday 13/5 - Daniella, Inês, Aya, Charlene

Friday 14/5 - Leonor, Sonia, Marta, Chiara, Luis, Andrea*

Monday 17/5 - Francisco, Rodrigo, Gonçalo, Khalid

NB - Please could you support your children in learning their words for their oral presentation, making note-cards and ensuring that they meet the criteria on the rubric.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or queries.

Thank you,

Miss Lamb

PS. Please remember to come and support your children in their class assembly on Friday! You´ll make their day.

PPS: PLEASE do not forget the Terry Fox Charity run this Saturday (May 8th). Registration starts at 9:30 am and the fun run will take place at 11:00am.

For more info on Terry Fox run click here!

4D Language Homework

This week our friends in 4LB will be doing their assembly (Friday May 7th) so their Language Arts homework will be associated with their assembly preparation.

4D's Language Homework is related to our exploration of the accessibility of buildings to people with special needs. Students are given either wheelchair access, visual impairment, or hearing impairment. They must create a t-chart with the special need they are assigned to written at the top of the page and underlined. The two sides of the t-chart must say What we have and What we need pertaining to St. Dominic's. The students need to list the various things we DO have here to provide accessibility to people with special needs and things that we still NEED to have to make our school more accessible. This ties into our key concepts of perspective and responsibility.

This homework is due Friday May 7th.