In preparation for our upcoming author visit, we have been reading Spaceheadz, by Jon Scieszka.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Summarizing
We worked on summarizing this week. Together we talked about what makes a good summary. I modeled writing a summary with a familiar picture book, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Then the kids wrote their own summary of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. As we re-read the book, students shared their summary of each portion of the book. We will continue to work on summarization as a reading comprehension skill.
Spelling
Spelling will start Monday. The whole class will have the same words next week. This allows me to teach the students how to figure out the spelling patterns, how to do the different word sorts, how to do the spelling activities, and the homework expectations.
Spelling tests will be every two weeks. Ten words off the spelling list will be on the test. Students will be graded on the spelling of the word and their ability to place the work in the correct spelling pattern category.
After this first set of words, students will receive words based on their spelling level. Spelling levels are determined through a spelling assessment.
We worked on summarizing this week. Together we talked about what makes a good summary. I modeled writing a summary with a familiar picture book, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Then the kids wrote their own summary of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. As we re-read the book, students shared their summary of each portion of the book. We will continue to work on summarization as a reading comprehension skill.
Spelling
Spelling will start Monday. The whole class will have the same words next week. This allows me to teach the students how to figure out the spelling patterns, how to do the different word sorts, how to do the spelling activities, and the homework expectations.
Spelling tests will be every two weeks. Ten words off the spelling list will be on the test. Students will be graded on the spelling of the word and their ability to place the work in the correct spelling pattern category.
After this first set of words, students will receive words based on their spelling level. Spelling levels are determined through a spelling assessment.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Developmental Reading Assessment
Over the next couple weeks, students will complete the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). This will assess each child's current reading level. It will also help identify reading strengths and weaknesses. I will use this information to place students in reading groups and to make decisions about what skills to focus on in the each group. The information gathered from the DRA helps make reading instruction more individualized to each child.
Writing
We are continuing to write stories from our lives. In Ralph Fletcher's How to Write Your Life Story, we read brainstorming a list of possible events, people and things we could write about. We have also learned what makes a good story.
Time for Kids
Students have been reading Time for Kids (TFK). We reviewed the text features of TFK, such as headlines and power words. We also learned about each section - News Now, Top 5, Cover Story, Kid Central, and You've Got Skills. Although the articles change, the structure of TFK is the same every issue. Students received a Get to Know Time for Kids handout, which is in the reading section of their binders.
Students are working to complete comprehension questions about TFK.
Texas Regions
We are continuing to learn about the regions in Texas. Students are learning the climate, landforms, products, resources, crops, cities, and sub-regions of each of the four Texas Regions.
Over the next couple weeks, students will complete the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA). This will assess each child's current reading level. It will also help identify reading strengths and weaknesses. I will use this information to place students in reading groups and to make decisions about what skills to focus on in the each group. The information gathered from the DRA helps make reading instruction more individualized to each child.
Writing
We are continuing to write stories from our lives. In Ralph Fletcher's How to Write Your Life Story, we read brainstorming a list of possible events, people and things we could write about. We have also learned what makes a good story.
Time for Kids
Students have been reading Time for Kids (TFK). We reviewed the text features of TFK, such as headlines and power words. We also learned about each section - News Now, Top 5, Cover Story, Kid Central, and You've Got Skills. Although the articles change, the structure of TFK is the same every issue. Students received a Get to Know Time for Kids handout, which is in the reading section of their binders.
Students are working to complete comprehension questions about TFK.
Texas Regions
We are continuing to learn about the regions in Texas. Students are learning the climate, landforms, products, resources, crops, cities, and sub-regions of each of the four Texas Regions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)