We are already well into our second theme in Reading. Most students are doing very well. I am very proud of them! Just remember to ask your child what their spelling and vocabulary words are weekly.
Reading
This week's focus is Main Idea and Supporting Details. Main idea is the most important idea in a passage and supporting details are examples and bits of information that support the main ideas.
This is one of the more challenging skills for students to grasp. We will be using the story Dancing Rainbows in the textbook to practice determining main idea and details within the story.
Due to the holiday Wednesday, I have moved the reading tests to Tuesday, November 17. However spelling and vocabulary tests will still be on Friday, November 13. Students will have this noted in their planners too.
Beginning next week we will have completed the narrative standard in Writer's Workshop and will be moving on to the Informational Standard or report writing. This will give students another opportunity to work with main idea and details when writing their report. Their first report will be completed in class. Look for information for the second report to come later.
Vocabulary
Students are assigned the words on page 234 to know for the test on Friday. Study definitions from the glossary in textbook.
Spelling
The spelling focus this week is long i vowel patterns. Students will have their pretest Monday so they can focus their study to the words on their pretest that they missed.
Language
We have been focusing on the differences between common nouns, proper nouns, and pronouns. We will continue to have practice this week with a test on common nouns and proper nouns on Friday the 13th. Students have examples of this focus in their Language notebook that they can bring home to study and review throughout the week. Another way to study with your child is to ask them for examples of common nouns and proper nouns from their chapter book, reading textbook...anything they have read.
Reading Logs
Students are doing a GREAT job keeping up with their reading logs!!! I am so happy to see this as this is their time to practice their strategies and skills they have been introduced to in reader's workshop. It is also the way they will move their reading level throughout the year.
Please continue to monitor your child's reading logs, spelling words and vocabulary words. You should also see your child answering the questions at the end of the textbook story during the week. Look for homework reminders for exact assignment dates in their agenda planners daily.
Important Dates
Wednesday, November 11...no school in honor of Veteran's Day
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Reading Week of October 19
Due to scheduled county assessments...our classroom schedule has gotten a little off our usual Monday introductions and Friday tests.
This week we will finish up our focus on Author's Viewpoint. Vocabulary and comprehension tests on The Keeping Quilt will be on Tuesday. Along with skills test and grammar test on compound words.
Students will receive Spelling words on Monday as usual and test on Friday.
Wednesday we will begin our new story, Grandma's Records with a focus on categorizing and classifying. Vocabulary, skills and selections tests on Grandama's Records and vocabulary will be on Thursday October 29.
Please continue to monitor your child's reading at home. They are assigned to read and log in everyday including the weekend. This is part of their reading grade.
Important Dates to remember:
October 21 Early Dismissal
October 23 End of the 1st nine weeks
October 26 Planning Day no school for students
October 30 Character Parade Day and report cards go home
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
This week we will finish up our focus on Author's Viewpoint. Vocabulary and comprehension tests on The Keeping Quilt will be on Tuesday. Along with skills test and grammar test on compound words.
Students will receive Spelling words on Monday as usual and test on Friday.
Wednesday we will begin our new story, Grandma's Records with a focus on categorizing and classifying. Vocabulary, skills and selections tests on Grandama's Records and vocabulary will be on Thursday October 29.
Please continue to monitor your child's reading at home. They are assigned to read and log in everyday including the weekend. This is part of their reading grade.
Important Dates to remember:
October 21 Early Dismissal
October 23 End of the 1st nine weeks
October 26 Planning Day no school for students
October 30 Character Parade Day and report cards go home
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Reading Week of October 4th
Reading
We are ending theme 1 this week. I can't believe how fast the nine weeks are flying by! Since we are ending our theme we do not have a specific focus. I use this week to reteach skills that the class did not do as well on throughout the unit. We will be reviewing sequence during this week. We will also be practicing comparing and contrasting characters and stories.
Students will have a selection test on Radio Rescue and Midnight Ride on Thursday. On Friday students will complete their first Theme test. The theme test will be different than their weekly tests. First of all there will be two passages they will read completely on their own. I call these a cold read because they have never seen the passage before and no one will read it to them or with them. Also the theme test is 20 questions long instead of 5 like the skills tests or 10 like the week selection tests.
Vocabulary
There will be no focused vocabulary words this week or weekly vocabulary test.
Spelling
There will be no focused spelling list or test this week due to the end of the theme.
Reading Logs
Don't forget to make sure your child is completing their reading logs each night. I grade them every Friday as part of their reading grade. The way to become a better reader is to read!
Dates to remember:
Fall fundraiser began Friday October 2
Early Dismissal Wednesday October 7
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
We are ending theme 1 this week. I can't believe how fast the nine weeks are flying by! Since we are ending our theme we do not have a specific focus. I use this week to reteach skills that the class did not do as well on throughout the unit. We will be reviewing sequence during this week. We will also be practicing comparing and contrasting characters and stories.
Students will have a selection test on Radio Rescue and Midnight Ride on Thursday. On Friday students will complete their first Theme test. The theme test will be different than their weekly tests. First of all there will be two passages they will read completely on their own. I call these a cold read because they have never seen the passage before and no one will read it to them or with them. Also the theme test is 20 questions long instead of 5 like the skills tests or 10 like the week selection tests.
Vocabulary
There will be no focused vocabulary words this week or weekly vocabulary test.
Spelling
There will be no focused spelling list or test this week due to the end of the theme.
Reading Logs
Don't forget to make sure your child is completing their reading logs each night. I grade them every Friday as part of their reading grade. The way to become a better reader is to read!
Dates to remember:
Fall fundraiser began Friday October 2
Early Dismissal Wednesday October 7
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Reading Week of September 28
I am sooo pleased with the students' progress so far this year!! Here is an outline of what we will be focused on this week in Reader's and Writer's Workshop:
Reading focus this week: students will practice using sequence in a story...throughout the week they will find words that show sequence such as first, next, after that, finally and also use those words to put story events in the correct order that they happened.
Our story this week is The Lost and Found. Read the story with your child and ask question such as what happened after...___________(give an event in the story) Or ask what happened before __________ in the story. You can use any of the books they are reading for practice. Students are also assigned the question on pg 116 # 2-5 to complete for comprehension practice.
Students are also assigned vocabulary words on page 90. They should define them in their readers notebooks and study them throughout the week..test on Friday.
Language focus this week: students will practice identifying the 4 kinds of sentences...statement, question, exclamation and command. You should find activities that they have completed in class in their language notebook...test will be on Friday.
Spelling focus this week: students are studying words with the long vowel sounds spelled with the vowel-consonant-vowel pattern...specifically the silent e...such as hope. Test will be on Friday.
Writer's Workshop: students will choose a piece of their writing..a story...that they want to take through the writing process. They will chose a piece of writing from their writers notebook, revise, edit and publish their story using the chart that we create in the classroom as their guide.
This piece of writing will be scored and added as a grade toward their Language grade.
Final Thoughts:
Please continue to monitor your child to make sure they are completing their reading logs daily. These are a part of their reading grade and zeros can begin to hurt their grade if they get too many. I collect the folders every Friday and grade them. If they are behind they can complete the log over the weekend and still earn their points.
Many times parents ask me how can I help my child do better in reading? My answer...have them read...with you or independently...the way to become a better reader is to read!!!
Until next time,
R.O'Steen
Reading focus this week: students will practice using sequence in a story...throughout the week they will find words that show sequence such as first, next, after that, finally and also use those words to put story events in the correct order that they happened.
Our story this week is The Lost and Found. Read the story with your child and ask question such as what happened after...___________(give an event in the story) Or ask what happened before __________ in the story. You can use any of the books they are reading for practice. Students are also assigned the question on pg 116 # 2-5 to complete for comprehension practice.
Students are also assigned vocabulary words on page 90. They should define them in their readers notebooks and study them throughout the week..test on Friday.
Language focus this week: students will practice identifying the 4 kinds of sentences...statement, question, exclamation and command. You should find activities that they have completed in class in their language notebook...test will be on Friday.
Spelling focus this week: students are studying words with the long vowel sounds spelled with the vowel-consonant-vowel pattern...specifically the silent e...such as hope. Test will be on Friday.
Writer's Workshop: students will choose a piece of their writing..a story...that they want to take through the writing process. They will chose a piece of writing from their writers notebook, revise, edit and publish their story using the chart that we create in the classroom as their guide.
This piece of writing will be scored and added as a grade toward their Language grade.
Final Thoughts:
Please continue to monitor your child to make sure they are completing their reading logs daily. These are a part of their reading grade and zeros can begin to hurt their grade if they get too many. I collect the folders every Friday and grade them. If they are behind they can complete the log over the weekend and still earn their points.
Many times parents ask me how can I help my child do better in reading? My answer...have them read...with you or independently...the way to become a better reader is to read!!!
Until next time,
R.O'Steen
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Reading Week of Sept. 22
Curriculum Notes for this week:
Spelling
This week our Spelling focus will continue to be short vowel stand alone with our list using the o and u. Words will be in the planner.
Language
This week we will focus on types of sentences: statement, question, command, exclamation.
We will also continue to focus on the narrative standard and write our own stories in writer's workshop.
Reading
Our reading focus this week is making inferences. This is when students have to use text clues and what they know from real life to figure out something in the story. This skill along with main idea will be one of the hardest we work on this year.
Our story is Mulan. Students will be assigned the vocabulary words on page 52 and questions at the end of the story.
Students should be bringing home their reader's notebook, reading textbook and reading log to complete assignments and study throughout the week.
If you have any questions please let me know. A note in the planner is the quickest.
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Spelling
This week our Spelling focus will continue to be short vowel stand alone with our list using the o and u. Words will be in the planner.
Language
This week we will focus on types of sentences: statement, question, command, exclamation.
We will also continue to focus on the narrative standard and write our own stories in writer's workshop.
Reading
Our reading focus this week is making inferences. This is when students have to use text clues and what they know from real life to figure out something in the story. This skill along with main idea will be one of the hardest we work on this year.
Our story is Mulan. Students will be assigned the vocabulary words on page 52 and questions at the end of the story.
Students should be bringing home their reader's notebook, reading textbook and reading log to complete assignments and study throughout the week.
If you have any questions please let me know. A note in the planner is the quickest.
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
1st Midterm Update
What a great start to the year!!
We have now completed the first story in the reading textbook. You should have seen your child defining vocabulary words, studying spelling, reading the story Cliff Hanger and answering the questions at the end of the story. We took our first Reading, vocabulary and Spelling tests Friday. I was very pleased with the scores! If the students continue to read and practice as they have so far, they should continue to do well.
We will now be on track with Spelling and vocabulary word introduction on Mondays. Students need to study and learn the words through the week. Students will also get their reading focus and story for the week on Mondays. We will work with the story and skill all week and have our tests on Fridays. They will have a Spelling, Vocabulary, Reading Skills test and Reading comprehension test every Friday.
I encourage students to read the story many times through the week so they do well on the test on Friday.
Just some friendly reminders:
Please make sure your child is reading every day and logging in their weekly reading log. Some students have time in class to finish their daily log however as we add to our workshop more and more of the logs will have to be completed at home for homework. This reading log is also part of their reading grade.
Progress reports go home on Tuesday the 22nd. Please review, sign and return within three days.
Early dismissal on Wednesday.
Thank you for checking your child's planner nightly and signing the Friday folders. So much important information goes home this way!
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
We have now completed the first story in the reading textbook. You should have seen your child defining vocabulary words, studying spelling, reading the story Cliff Hanger and answering the questions at the end of the story. We took our first Reading, vocabulary and Spelling tests Friday. I was very pleased with the scores! If the students continue to read and practice as they have so far, they should continue to do well.
We will now be on track with Spelling and vocabulary word introduction on Mondays. Students need to study and learn the words through the week. Students will also get their reading focus and story for the week on Mondays. We will work with the story and skill all week and have our tests on Fridays. They will have a Spelling, Vocabulary, Reading Skills test and Reading comprehension test every Friday.
I encourage students to read the story many times through the week so they do well on the test on Friday.
Just some friendly reminders:
Please make sure your child is reading every day and logging in their weekly reading log. Some students have time in class to finish their daily log however as we add to our workshop more and more of the logs will have to be completed at home for homework. This reading log is also part of their reading grade.
Progress reports go home on Tuesday the 22nd. Please review, sign and return within three days.
Early dismissal on Wednesday.
Thank you for checking your child's planner nightly and signing the Friday folders. So much important information goes home this way!
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Monday, August 24, 2009
First Day of School!
We had a wonderful first day! The children were great listeners and followed directions well! You should see their planners coming home tonight for the first time. Please review each night and sign.
Thanks to all the parents who brought in supplies today!! We appreciate all you do!
Students received a code of conduct book today. There is a page in the back that needs to be signed and returned to school. Also please don't forget about the information packet sent home in the dolphin folder.
Here are a few pictures of the classroom for those who might not have been able to come in yet!
Until next time...keep treasure hunting!
R. O'Steen
Thanks to all the parents who brought in supplies today!! We appreciate all you do!
Students received a code of conduct book today. There is a page in the back that needs to be signed and returned to school. Also please don't forget about the information packet sent home in the dolphin folder.
Here are a few pictures of the classroom for those who might not have been able to come in yet!
Until next time...keep treasure hunting!
R. O'Steen
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