At the beginning of the week, I finsihed administering reading assessments to the Sages. We then dove into our literacy curriculum. Sages have been honing their skill at writing book reviews. We read a story called "The Leaf Men and the Brave Good Bugs," and students wrote a book review about it. Everyone got their first sticker on the Book Review chart.
They have also been learning about storyline (the elements of a story and the order they occur in the text) and, in a whole group lesson, completed a storyline for the book. Then they practiced by reading the story Sun Stones and, working with a partner or individually, completed a storyline.
On Friday, I taught the reading strategy summarizing using a specific format called In Ago, Somebody Wanted Because But So. The storyline for any tale can fit into this format, although complex stories often require the summarizer to go through the process more than once. Here is an example of a summary of Cinderella using the In Ago, SWBBS format.
"In a small village long ago, Cinderella wanted to go to the ball because she wanted to meet the prince. But she didn't have the proper clothes. Plus her evil step-mother and step-sisters prevented her from going by demanding all of her time. So Cinderella's fairy god mother saved the day by working her magic. She provided Cinderella with a fancy dress and a coach for transportation. Cinderella went to the ball and met the prince. After a mishap with the time, her pumpkin coach, and a missing glass slipper, they lived happily ever after." This is a very detailed summary. Some students write with this level of detail naturally. Others are working up to it.
On another note, all students have begun their spelling programs and are progressing well. Whenever, your child begins a new set of words, I'll put it in your box. It is your choice whether you want your child to work with them at home as homework.
As always, if you have anything you'd like to discuss, check in with me and we'll set up a time to sit down together.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Omega World News
Reading
Last week in reading, I administered reading assessments and got my first glimpse at the specifics of the students' reading abilities. Some students will continue to participate in assessments this week.
Omegas learned how to write an informative and interesting book review and received their first sticker on the Book Review Chart. We talked about including enough information about the story so that someone can figure out if it would be interesting to him/her while not giving away the ending. Students volunteered that important information to include would be the main characters, setting, and problem. They also said that it is good to end a book review with a question related to the problem.
From here on out, I expect students to complete reviews on the books they read. Not all students have to write a review for every book they read as some kids read a book a day. When students write a review, they show it to me for comments and suggestions. Then they receive a sticker on the chart.
Writing
We have begun lessons on paragraphs. For the Omega Ones, this means recognizing where paragraphs begin and end (indenting) and understanding that related information can be grouped together in paragraphs. This week they will practice figuring out where new paragraphs can be created. Omega Twos are focusing on recognizing and writing topic sentences, supporting details, and conclusion sentences. They are also working with finding the main idea and supporting details.
Spelling
All students have begun their spelling programs. I use the Words Their Way program which is based on similar spelling patterns. It requires students to participate actively in constructing their own knowledge through various activities such as sorting words, crossword puzzles, word scrambles, silly sentences (stories and poems are options, too), word hunts (or brainstorms), and playing memory (matching words with the same spelling pattern).
Whenever your child begins a new set of words, I will put a copy of the words in your mailbox. You may choose to work with your child at home or not depending. Some activities you can do together are sorting the words, playing memory or go fish, and reading around the house or around town (while doing errands) for words that follow the patterns. Get creative! Can you and your child make up any new games?
Penmanship
This year I am using a new penmanship program (thanks, Calvin) called Handwriting Without Tears. There are not so many funny loopty-loops for the children's little fingers to have to make. Yes, it is still cursive. The program begins by teaching students the basic shapes that form cursive letters. The first letter it teaches is Cc because it is the easiest to form. Each subsequent letter builds on the shape of the one before it. Students are enjoying the program and are working hard.
Science
We started science on Friday by watching a short (15 minutes) videp of rocks and minerals. The video talked about the three different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and how each is formed. It also addressed some common minerals and the work of geologists. This week we will continue learning about the types of rocks.
Community Building
Last week, as part of Personal Safety and the Omega social curriculum, students worked with how someone's behavior can affect other's feelings. They shared experiences from their own lives, completed a cause and effect graphic organizer*, and worked cooperatively with classmates to create and perform a skit. In their skit, students had to show a problem caused by someone's behavior and how they could work out a solution. Students were very engaged and created skits based on realistic experiences.
Last week in reading, I administered reading assessments and got my first glimpse at the specifics of the students' reading abilities. Some students will continue to participate in assessments this week.
Omegas learned how to write an informative and interesting book review and received their first sticker on the Book Review Chart. We talked about including enough information about the story so that someone can figure out if it would be interesting to him/her while not giving away the ending. Students volunteered that important information to include would be the main characters, setting, and problem. They also said that it is good to end a book review with a question related to the problem.
From here on out, I expect students to complete reviews on the books they read. Not all students have to write a review for every book they read as some kids read a book a day. When students write a review, they show it to me for comments and suggestions. Then they receive a sticker on the chart.
Writing
We have begun lessons on paragraphs. For the Omega Ones, this means recognizing where paragraphs begin and end (indenting) and understanding that related information can be grouped together in paragraphs. This week they will practice figuring out where new paragraphs can be created. Omega Twos are focusing on recognizing and writing topic sentences, supporting details, and conclusion sentences. They are also working with finding the main idea and supporting details.
Spelling
All students have begun their spelling programs. I use the Words Their Way program which is based on similar spelling patterns. It requires students to participate actively in constructing their own knowledge through various activities such as sorting words, crossword puzzles, word scrambles, silly sentences (stories and poems are options, too), word hunts (or brainstorms), and playing memory (matching words with the same spelling pattern).
Whenever your child begins a new set of words, I will put a copy of the words in your mailbox. You may choose to work with your child at home or not depending. Some activities you can do together are sorting the words, playing memory or go fish, and reading around the house or around town (while doing errands) for words that follow the patterns. Get creative! Can you and your child make up any new games?
Penmanship
This year I am using a new penmanship program (thanks, Calvin) called Handwriting Without Tears. There are not so many funny loopty-loops for the children's little fingers to have to make. Yes, it is still cursive. The program begins by teaching students the basic shapes that form cursive letters. The first letter it teaches is Cc because it is the easiest to form. Each subsequent letter builds on the shape of the one before it. Students are enjoying the program and are working hard.
Science
We started science on Friday by watching a short (15 minutes) videp of rocks and minerals. The video talked about the three different types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) and how each is formed. It also addressed some common minerals and the work of geologists. This week we will continue learning about the types of rocks.
Community Building
Last week, as part of Personal Safety and the Omega social curriculum, students worked with how someone's behavior can affect other's feelings. They shared experiences from their own lives, completed a cause and effect graphic organizer*, and worked cooperatively with classmates to create and perform a skit. In their skit, students had to show a problem caused by someone's behavior and how they could work out a solution. Students were very engaged and created skits based on realistic experiences.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sage Literacy Lounge
Hello Sage Parents,
Welcome. The Sages and I had a couple of sessions this year. We talked about reading calendars, book reviews, and reading around the genres. What is a genre anyway? The kids can now tell you. They should also be able to name quite a few. One of my goals for the Sages and Sagers this year is to encourage them to try out books other than the kind they usually read. So we will have a chart in the room and kids can earn stickers for each genre they read. When a student reads around all the genres, they will earn....something...I haven't gotte that far, yet...maybe a copy of their favorite book or a gift certificate to a book store...any ideas?
The students also took their first reading assessment. I have a couple more rounds left to administer before we start intruction. I am doing that differently with the students now that they are older. All students are taking the assessments silently rather than one-on-one with me. It will make the process go a whole lot quicker. Also, Sages and Sagers read mostly to themselves, so a silent reading assessment seems like it will give me more acurate information about what they are getting out of their independent reading and where the gaps in their reading comprehension lie. If you'd like me to conduct further assessments with your child, I can. Just let me know.
I also administered the first spelling assessment. I need to do a few (hopefully) short pre-tests with the kids to find out exactly where to start them in the spelling program. My goal is to begin spelling in earnest Tuesday or Wednesday. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please speak to me.
Thanks and Happy New School Year!
Rachel
Welcome. The Sages and I had a couple of sessions this year. We talked about reading calendars, book reviews, and reading around the genres. What is a genre anyway? The kids can now tell you. They should also be able to name quite a few. One of my goals for the Sages and Sagers this year is to encourage them to try out books other than the kind they usually read. So we will have a chart in the room and kids can earn stickers for each genre they read. When a student reads around all the genres, they will earn....something...I haven't gotte that far, yet...maybe a copy of their favorite book or a gift certificate to a book store...any ideas?
The students also took their first reading assessment. I have a couple more rounds left to administer before we start intruction. I am doing that differently with the students now that they are older. All students are taking the assessments silently rather than one-on-one with me. It will make the process go a whole lot quicker. Also, Sages and Sagers read mostly to themselves, so a silent reading assessment seems like it will give me more acurate information about what they are getting out of their independent reading and where the gaps in their reading comprehension lie. If you'd like me to conduct further assessments with your child, I can. Just let me know.
I also administered the first spelling assessment. I need to do a few (hopefully) short pre-tests with the kids to find out exactly where to start them in the spelling program. My goal is to begin spelling in earnest Tuesday or Wednesday. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please speak to me.
Thanks and Happy New School Year!
Rachel
Monday, September 8, 2008
New School Year '08
Hello to all the Omega parents! This blog is how I will pass along information about what we have done in the classroom and what is coming up. We can also have a discussion on the blog if people post comments. All you have to do is create an account. It's pretty easy and only requires your email address and a password. It doesn't have to be a gmail address. Please let me know if this format doesn't work for you (you can't get online to read it), and I can print you a hard copy.
The first week of school went smoothly. We are working on building our classroom community and have had a discussion about what that means to us. Our ideas will be up on the classroom wall. We played cooperative elbow tag, in which the goal is to get everyone an equal number of turns. We also played Two Truths and a Trick. Each student wrote three things about him or herself (only two that were true though), and the class had to figure out which were true and which one was not. On Friday, the students participated in a human knot acitivity. In groups of varying numbers, students crossed their arms and held hands with their teammates in the form of a circle. Then they had to untangle themselves safely. The goal was communicating to effectively solve a problem. The kids did well and had fun. Then they wrote in their journals about the experience...their first journal writing assignment.
On a more academic note...I administered the first spelling assessment, and instruction will begin tomorrow. Students have also had their first exposure to the new cursive handwriting program that I am using this year called Handwriting Without Tears. I will start reading assessments this week, also.
Charley and I are trying to set the date for our class potluck for Thursday, September 25. Does this work for everyone? We are thinking of having the potluck at school and securing childcare so that we can have adult conversations. Please contact Charley if you have not touched base with him already.
Last year I took my class to the UVM Ropes Course. I'd like to do so again, as it was a powerful learning experience for everyone. I was thinking of sometime in October before the weather gets too chilly and after we have had some time to work on our classroom commuity. The cost of the Course is around $30 per child. Please check in with me or Charley and let us know if this is something that works for you/something you'd like your child to do.
Have a great week!
Rachel
The first week of school went smoothly. We are working on building our classroom community and have had a discussion about what that means to us. Our ideas will be up on the classroom wall. We played cooperative elbow tag, in which the goal is to get everyone an equal number of turns. We also played Two Truths and a Trick. Each student wrote three things about him or herself (only two that were true though), and the class had to figure out which were true and which one was not. On Friday, the students participated in a human knot acitivity. In groups of varying numbers, students crossed their arms and held hands with their teammates in the form of a circle. Then they had to untangle themselves safely. The goal was communicating to effectively solve a problem. The kids did well and had fun. Then they wrote in their journals about the experience...their first journal writing assignment.
On a more academic note...I administered the first spelling assessment, and instruction will begin tomorrow. Students have also had their first exposure to the new cursive handwriting program that I am using this year called Handwriting Without Tears. I will start reading assessments this week, also.
Charley and I are trying to set the date for our class potluck for Thursday, September 25. Does this work for everyone? We are thinking of having the potluck at school and securing childcare so that we can have adult conversations. Please contact Charley if you have not touched base with him already.
Last year I took my class to the UVM Ropes Course. I'd like to do so again, as it was a powerful learning experience for everyone. I was thinking of sometime in October before the weather gets too chilly and after we have had some time to work on our classroom commuity. The cost of the Course is around $30 per child. Please check in with me or Charley and let us know if this is something that works for you/something you'd like your child to do.
Have a great week!
Rachel
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