Student Reporter: Fractions & Imagine Learning

Our Student Reporter reports:

I like math because fractions are easy for me. We're learning about decomposing fractions. Decomposing means to split the number up. We did addition and subtraction with fractions yesterday. I think math is cool.

I do Imagine Learning in computer lab mostly all the days. Imagine Learning is for teaching you how to learn English better. In Imagine Learning we do reading books and we answer questions after we read the books. And we get Booster Bits, and if you get a full line of them you get to play a game. I think Imagine Learning is excellent.

Student Reporter: Mrs. Horney & Math

Our Student Reporter reports:

Mrs. Horney is our school counselor and she helps people when they need it. She comes into our room and she does lessons about how to keep us safe from dangerous people. When Mrs. Horney comes in, she teaches about what we should do and not do. Last time, she talked about what's a small problem and what's a big problem. The small problems are that if someone just pushes you, that's a minor problem. You can solve the problem, just walk away. If the game's not fair, just walk away and play another game. And what's a big problem is when someone threatens you and says they don't like you and want to bully you a lot. And then you tell the teacher. And if he doesn't stop you go to the principal.

Math is fun, because you get to learn about new things. Yesterday, we learned about fractions and we learned how to do fractions. We did comparing fractions. I also like division because division is more fun when it's hard. You sort of can make fun with it when it's hard and you can do it on a piece of paper and when you understand it, it's fun. And that's why I like math.

Student Reporter: Volcano Art & Science Center Day

Our Student Reporter reports:

We are doing art about volcanoes. I painted a volcano. I used the colors red, orange, and black. And I'm still gonna paint a little bit more and use the color purple. We learned about volcanoes in social studies.

On Friday the Pacific Science Center came. We had an assembly and we listened about space. We went into this thing filled with air and it was cool. (It was a planetarium.) It taught us about stars and constellations and the stories about Greek gods and how they made stuff go into space. It was fantastic!

Student Reporter: Peacemakers and Fractions

Our Student Reporter reports:

I am a Peacemaker. I get to help people when they're fighting at recess. I help solve the problems. I give out PAWS at recess to kids that are being nice and playing fair. I like being a Peacemaker.

In math, we're learning fractions. And I'm an expert. That means I get to help people with fractions. I think fractions are fun. I love math. And I can't wait for math to start every day.

Student Reporter: Panther Plus, Dr. Seuss Week, Writing, Peacemakers

Our Student Reporter reports: 

I go to Panther Plus. Panther Plus is an after-school program for students that need a little push to succeed at the 4th grade level. Panther Plus is where you go to a class for reading and math. In math, at Panther Plus, we play math games about multiplication facts. I'm really good at it because I know all my multiplication facts. I learned my 0-12's in 3rd grade. In reading, our Panther Plus teacher gives us a piece of paper and she reads us a story - like half of it - and then we get a piece of paper and write what we think is gonna happen next. I think it's kind-of fun, because we're thinking and writing at the same time.

This is Dr. Seuss Week.  Dr. Seuss Week is where you dress up as Wacky Wednesday, Thing 1 & Thing 2, and a mustache. Today is Thing 1 & Thing 2 Day. On Top Hat Day, everyone was wearing Dr. Seuss hats, and just normal hats, like cowboy hats. After school at 6 pm today is Dr. Seuss Night in the gym. You can dress up as Dr. Seuss characters and in the gym you play fun games, and win prizes, and take pictures, and do fun crafts. 

In writing, I'm writing about wolves. They are powerful and mysterious creatures. They hunt animals and eat 3-4 times a day. I'm writing about wolves because they are just like dogs and dogs are fun to play with (but not wolves, because they can scratch and bite you, and stuff.) Writing is fun. It's my favorite thing to do in school. Writing is fun because you can write for like 45 minutes, and you write about your favorite animals. That's why I like wolves, because they look cool and they look fun to play with. 

I am a Peacemaker because Miss Luiten chose me to be a Peacemaker. A Peacemaker is where you go outside and help little kids with problems if they need help, or something. My Peacemaker days are on Tuesday. I walk around the playground, giving people PAWS if they're being good - and not fighting or anything. I think being a Peacemaker is awesome. Even though it's not fun losing your recess, it's fun helping kids. I'd rather be a Peacemaker than have recess because you help kids with the rules and help them be safe.

Student Reporter: Wacky Wednesday & Math

Our Student Reporter reports:

Today is Dr. Seuss Wacky Wednesday. I'm wearing wacky socks. They're pink, white, blue, and fuzzy. And they're warm. My favorite Dr. Seuss book is Green Eggs and Ham. I like that the egg is green and the ham is green - it's so funny.

I like math, because math is fun. I like lattice, because lattice is fun. You use lattice to answer multiplication problems. We're starting to work on fractions. Fractions are fun. They can be hard, but sometimes they're easy. 

Student Reporter: Dr. Seuss Week & Writing

Our Student Reporter reports: 

This week is Dr. Seuss week. Today is Top Hat Day. I like Dr. Seuss because I can read my favorite Dr. Seuss book: Green Eggs and Ham. I think that book is kind-of funny and it teaches kids to try new things.

In writing, we're writing about animals. My animal is a leopard. One day I searched how many leopards there are in the world. I found out that there are only 30 Amur leopards left in the world. And if you want to find them, you have to go to far-east Russia, Korea, or north China.

Student Reporter: Peacemaker & Seating Arrangement

Our Student Reporter reports:

My favorite thing in math is long division, but it is hard at the same time. 

I also like being a Peacemaker at school. A Peacemaker is what helps others. I have to help other kids when they have conflicts and problems at recess. For example, when people were fighting I helped them solve their problem. It is fun helping kids.

I like sitting with my friend during class, because we don't talk anymore and we get our work done.

Student Reporter: Writing &Typing Pal

Our Student Reporter reports:

In writing we write paragraphs about our animal. I chose tigers because they're really fast and they're black and orange and they're my favorite colors. I really like writing because you get to learn a lot.

In Typing Pal and Club we learn how to type. In Typing Club it shows you the right fingers to type with. I like Typing Pal more because it makes the letters red when you type it wrong and then you move on. When you finish it shows how you did and how many mistakes and how fast you did it.

Student Reporter: Rockin' Reading, Typing Club, Math, & Writing

Our Student Reporter reports:

In Rockin' Reading, we're doing a lot of rereading and going back in the paragraph and looking at what the author said.

We do Typing Pal or Typing Club. I like Typing Club more because it tells you when to type the keys, and how much you got, and you earn stars.

In math we're doing division word problems. We get in groups so we can help people, and those people help us. And if we need help, Miss Luiten helps us.

In writing, we're getting on to typing our essay. I like to type my essay about Sand Cats and what they eat, what they do, and what they are.

Student Reporter: DLA & Typing Pal

Our Student Reporter reports:

Typing Pal is our typing app that we use to get better at our typing. For Typing Pal we either pick Typing Club or Typing Pal. With either one we pick, we go and put our fingers in the correct spaces and then we type the letters we are learning to type. Once we are all done, we should have paragraphs on each that we are typing and when we type the paragraphs, when we make a mistake, it makes it red and then we go on to the next one. Once we are done with it, it shows us our score, how many mistakes, and how fast we did it. I think Typing Pal/Club is good for learning to type because they take you slow and if you mess up they just let us redo it and we don't have to move on.

DLA (Daily Language Activity) is our grammar that we do in the morning. For DLA, the teacher gives us a sentence that has some errors and we correct it. After we do some other things, we go over it. Usually there are four, or under, mistakes and we have to use our grammar skills to figure out where the problems are. And when we go over it, we get all the questions and all the mistakes and sometimes we don't get all of them, but in the end we go over it on the board with the teacher. I think DLA is good for learning grammar. So far, I have been pretty good at it.

Student Reporter: Fractions & Animals Essays

Our Student Reporter reports:

Last week in math, we were adding and subtracting fractions. I thought it was pretty good. Our teacher helped us with it. And then we did it with a partner. And then we gave it to our teacher and she would correct it. Then we moved on to our math word problems. And our teacher had us read each sentence and go through the picture graphs that showed fractions, like water bottles, fences, and baseball cards.

In writing we're doing our animal essays with our teacher. We would put it in a sentence and then give it to our teacher. Then we go back and write a paragraph about our animal in our own words. And then we turned it in after 15 minutes. The animal I'm writing about is pandas. I think pandas are pretty cute. I learned that pandas are mammals, which means they are warm blooded. I like pandas because they are fluffy.

Our Student Reporter's Graphic Organizer for our Animal Explanatory Essay

Student Reporter: Valentine's Day & Long Division

Our Student Reporter reports:

For our Valentine's Day party, first we made folders to hold our valentines. We tore paper to make hearts and I made mine with red and purple stripes. Then we passed out valentines and went to recess. When we came back inside, we opened the valentines and ate candy. I thought the Valentine's party was outstanding.

In math we're working on long division. I think it's hard, but I'm working hard to figure it out.

Valentine's Day

Explanatory Essays

We have been working on our animal explanatory essays. An explanatory essay explains something and gives factual information about a topic. Students have been researching facts about their favorite wild animal. We have been writing explanatory paragraphs together as a class, and then students write their own paragraph. Here is our paragraph about where African elephants live. We are working on using strong descriptive words.

Classroom Spelling Bee

We held our classroom spelling bee today. 

Our spelling bee begins. The whole class is lined up. Our vacuum cleaner became our official microphone.

I am so proud of all of my students for their bravery and courage as they spelled words in front of the whole class. The competition was fierce, and we congratulate our top three spellers!

Welcome to Miss Luiten's 4th Grade Class!

We're going to have a Fabulous year!

Meet the Teacher...

My name is Elizabeth Luiten.  This is my first year teaching, and I’m tickled pink that I get to spend my first year with YOU!  We’re both starting out on a brand new adventure, and it’s going to be a wild, wacky ride filled with exploration, wonder, discovery, and excitement!

I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts from Central Washington University in 2000.  I graduated with a Master’s Degree in Teaching Elementary Education (K-8) from Western Governors University in May 2017.  I did my student teaching at Peninsula in a 4th grade classroom last fall, and I spent the rest of the year substitute teaching at Peninsula.

My first career was working with children and youth (preschool to college, and everyone in-between) in a church setting for 15+ years.

Teaching children has been my life-long passion.  I can’t wait to meet you, get to know you, and learn about what you love!

My Family

This is my family.  

Mr. Watson is getting his teaching degree from WGU (Go Night Owls!), and is a driver’s instructor at CWDS.  He’ll come into our classroom to help with special projects and fun events!

Derit (a.k.a. Buzzy) is almost 16 and a sophomore at MLHS.  He might come in our room sometimes to help us too!

Blazer (11) is a 6th grader at Frontier Middle School.  He was a Peninsula Panther for six years!

Dash (8) is a 3rd grader at Peninsula.  You'll probably see him walking down the breezeway this year!

Finley (6) is a 1st grader at Peninsula.  She loves to help out in our room and get things ready for all of you! (So does the rest of my family too!)

I can’t wait to meet your family and get to know them!

Our Class Blog

Our Class Blog is a team effort.  The 4th graders and I will post pictures, stories, and projects that we’re doing at school.  It’s a way for our families to be a part of our classroom on a regular basis.

      

Another way to be a part of our classroom is by volunteering.  Whether you’re interested in coming in on a regular basis, a few times this year, or even just once - we’d love to have you!  (Regular volunteers will need to complete a background check in the office.)  If you have any special gifts/talents/hobbies/abilities you’d be able to share with the class, please let me know!  I look forward to close communication with every family.  I want to work with you to provide the best learning environment for your child.