Blog Archives

THE ART OF THE SIX WORD STORY

8/31/2021

Ernest Hemingway once said, he wrote his best story in only six words. "For sale: baby shoes. Never worn." That certainly leaves a lot to the imagination. Maybe it's up to us to write the rest of the story. We followed his lead and wrote six words stories all about us. Check it out!

THE BEST PART OF ME

8/30/2021

This week we read this amazing book: The Best Part of Me. This is a collection of stories, essays, and poems written by students about the best parts of their bodies. Our bodies are pretty amazing and very unique. We're each able to do and appreciate different things. So, to start the year off, we got to know each other by celebrating the best parts of us and the amazing things we get to do in our fourth grade bodies. Can you guess whose hands and legs and brains are whose?

My legs. They take me on hikes, help me sprint, let me hike the peak, make me able to bike, help me ski, walk, and do.

My tongue. It works so hard. Without it, I wouldn't be able to eat pizza. I can role it and make it flat. So strong. My tongue the best part of me.

Balls of color we call eyes that allow you to see the outer world. Eyes you do math, science, sports, read, write, art, wash your hands, type, and play. Our eyes are amazing!

My arms help me play baseball. If I did not run as fast, when I pump my arms I run faster. They also help me swing the bat and throw. My arms help me hug my mom, dad, and brother. I love my arms!

My arms and hands hold me up when I am doing handstands and cartwheels. I can write, draw pictures, and eat food. My arms help me reach things that are far away from me. When my hand touches my fluffy puppy there is no better feeling in the world. I love my arms and hands.

My brain. It helps me build. It helps me do hard math. It helps me code on the computer. It helps me problem solve. It helps me learn to write different prints. It helps me stay alive. My brain makes me, me!

My hands help me with writing and reading and holding a book. I can do gymnastics. Also, I can do so many things. I can hold my silverware. My hands support me when I do handstands and cartwheels. Also, I can pick up paper and other stuff and I can move them around. I love my hands!

My legs are the best part of me. They help me play hockey, soccer, lacrosse, bike, ski, scooter, run. My legs are strong.

My feet roll the ball to the right hand side. The goal is 18 yards out. Pow! The ball swerves and curves into the top corner (top bin). I practice everyday to get better at running, dribbling, and shooting. This is why I love my feet.

I love my legs. They help me ice skate and play soccer. My legs bend! I kick the ball! And she scores! I lift my leg on my ice skates. I put it down and I jump!

The best part of me is my legs. My legs help me walk, run, and play goalie in soccer. They help me kick the soccer ball and pedal my bike. I love my legs.

My spine is the very best part of me. It helps me with gymnastics. It helps me move and walk. It helps me do stuff I love to do like climb, bike, ski, write, and hike. It helps me with seeing the sights.

My calves. My calves give me power when I bat in baseball because they push my arms and the ball goes flying. I sprint towards first, then second, then third, and last but not least, fourth. Then the referee yells SAFE! Without my calves I could not run. That's why I think my calves are cool.

Eyes. They help me find cool stuff and valuable stuff like shark teeth, orca teeth, pirate treasure, the bottom half of a Junonia, and Indian tools. My eyes are bigger than average. They are bright/dark blue with yellow/brown/greenish color on the inside. Occasionally they change color on the inside.

I love my arms because I can play baseball, football, and basketball. I love my arms. They help me throw and catch and run fast!

My hands. They support me when I do a handstand. Without my hands it would be hard to hold a hockey stick, don't you think so? If I didn't have hands, I would look like a dog when I eat. Oh I forgot, how would I do a cartwheel without hands. Hands help me with reading, writing, and art. They help you hold a book and they helped me write this.

My legs let me ski fast, bike up and down mountains, kick soccer balls, break boards, run fast, and walk around. I love my legs.

I think my legs are the best part of me. If I didn't have my legs, I wouldn't be able to: 1 - walk, 2 - snowboard, 3 - skateboard, 4 - play baseball, and last but not least 6 - play piano.

My legs help me do everything I love. I love skiing, biking, soccer, running, walking. At recess my legs help me play with my friends. After school they help me ride home. They help me rock climb.

My feet. I love to play soccer. I can't play without my feet. I can't run with no feet. My feet help me balance when I run and walk with my feet. My feet help me dance. I love my feet.

My hands because I love to draw, write, and hug. It's fun to do the monkey bars. I love to eat with my hands. I couldn't help my mom make breakfast without my hands. I couldn't turn the pages in books. I love my hands.

I love my arms because they help me hold my lacrosse stick. They help me whip the ball into the net. I love my arms because they help me hold my hockey stick. They help me slap the puck into the goal.

My back because it helps me do all the sports I do. When I am mountain biking, my back bends and helps me go fast on the downhill and power uphill. My back helps me play soccer because when you shoot, you need to lean backwards to make the ball go up. Also, my back holds me up for everything I do. If I did not have a back, I wouldn't move. It also protects all my organs.

SUDOKU

8/27/2021

Today our math interventionist, Mrs. Block, came to teach us how to do Sudoku. These are fun number logic puzzles that stretch our brains in different ways than traditional math.

ZENTANGLES

8/27/2021

Do you know what a Zentangle is? It's pretty cool. The Zentangle art form is a way to turn everyday doodling into a form of relaxation and focus with detailed repeating designs. Today we started a class art project; though we used the Zentangle to create artwork, this technique is a great way to calm down, give yourself a break, and relax. Check out some of our designs.

THE POWER OF FOUR

8/26/2021

Today we explored math operations with the number 4...for fourth grade of course!
Can you make all of the whole numbers, 0 through 20, using ONLY the number 4?

GOOD BOOKS

8/24/2021

We're taking time to explore our classroom library and select just right books.
Nothing better than some quality quiet time with a good story.

FIRST DAY OF FOURTH GRADE!

8/23/2021

This year is all about team work. We're working together to get back into the school routine, learn the new procedures and protocols, and build a strong fourth grade classroom community. We started the year off with a STEM activity. The challenge: can you work together to build a six cup pyramid? Here's the catch, you can't touch the cups! Each group member must help place each cup using only a rubber band and a piece of ribbon.

WELCOME TO FOURTH GRADE

8/16/2021

I am so excited that you are here. My name is Kylie Collins and I'll be your child's fourth grade teacher this year. I am originally from Connecticut, but I moved to Colorado in 2010. I studied Environmental Science and Music at Bard College and then received my Masters in Education from Western. I taught first grade in Aspen for four years before moving to Crested Butte in 2016. I worked with the reading intervention and special education teams for two years here and now I am thrilled to be embarking on my third year in fourth grade. I live with my husband Matt and two dogs. In my free time I enjoy trail running, skiing, and everything outside.

My name is Katie Jo Tilton and I will be student teaching with Ms. Kylie this year while attending Western Colorado University’s Elementary Education Teacher Residency Program. I discovered my passion for education while working at CBCS as a Special Education Assistant and am excited to be back to school in my new role as a student teacher. I have lived in the Gunnison Valley for the past 4 years, and in my free time I love to bike, ski, hike, and get outside to enjoy the beautiful place we call home.

Take a look at our classroom website. You'll notice pictures from first grade and fourth grade years past, but this will give you an idea of how I like to keep families up to date on our classroom happenings throughout the school year.

Please don't ever hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions or concerns.
kcollins@gunnisonschools.net
970 . 641 . 7720 x6200

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