I can't believe it will already be November this week! The year is already flying by!! You should have seen your students reading and language grades for the first nine weeks stapled in the planners last Wednesday. There is such a lag between the end of the nine weeks and when they actually get their report cards, I wanted them to know what they had earned the first nine weeks and to be aware that I was already collecting grades for the second nine weeks. I hope everyone had a nice three day weekend!
Reading
This week students will focus on predicting outcomes. This is when readers think about what they already know along with personal experience to make what I like to call an "educated guess" about what they think will happen in the story. This helps readers set a purpose and stay interested in what they are reading as well as show if they are understanding what is happening in the story. Our selection story this week is The Fear Place. Students will have vocabulary words along with the story. They will receive a study guide to study through the week. Students should also borrow a book through the week to read the story at home.
Language
This week students will think about what it takes to make stories interesting. We will work on creating suspense and interest in their writing. They will have to write a story about a time they were scared. Ask your child what they are writing their story about.
Spelling
We do have a spelling list this week. Look for the pretest to come home in their reading folder. Students should be studying their words throughout the week. I am very happy to say the spelling grades are coming up nicely!!
Dates to remember
Monday, November 12..................Veterans Day
Monday, November 19..................Spelling Bee Test
Tuesday, November 20..................Character Day Parade
Wednesday, November 21-Monday, November 26.........Thanksgiving Holiday
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Updates October 22-26 2012
Well this will mark the end of the 1st nine weeks already! I can't believe how time is flying! Students are rolling right along... I am very proud of them! Even though this is a short week we will still have our spelling, vocabulary and reading tests on Thursday.
Reading
This week our focus is story structure. Students will focus on the elements of a story: characters, setting, plot including problem and resolution. Our story is La Bamba in the reading textbook. Ask your child who is in the story, where and when the story takes place and what the problem is along with how the character solved the problem. Also look for reading logs coming home with activities for them to practice story structure.
Language
This week we will work on writing a good summary. Students will work on topic sentences through an IVF (identify the item, verb, finish the thought) statement and then add important details from the beginning, middle and end to complete their summary. Ask your child what story they chose to write their summary on.
Spelling
Look for their pretest on Monday. Our focus is the ow sound as in ounce, the o sound as in pause and the oi sound as in moist. Students should study their pretest through the week.
Dates to remember
Thursday........................Patrol Sponsored Halloween costume dance
Friday.............................Planning day No School
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Reading
This week our focus is story structure. Students will focus on the elements of a story: characters, setting, plot including problem and resolution. Our story is La Bamba in the reading textbook. Ask your child who is in the story, where and when the story takes place and what the problem is along with how the character solved the problem. Also look for reading logs coming home with activities for them to practice story structure.
Language
This week we will work on writing a good summary. Students will work on topic sentences through an IVF (identify the item, verb, finish the thought) statement and then add important details from the beginning, middle and end to complete their summary. Ask your child what story they chose to write their summary on.
Spelling
Look for their pretest on Monday. Our focus is the ow sound as in ounce, the o sound as in pause and the oi sound as in moist. Students should study their pretest through the week.
Dates to remember
Thursday........................Patrol Sponsored Halloween costume dance
Friday.............................Planning day No School
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Updates October 15-19, 2012
We have completed Theme 1 in our reading series. Students took their benchmark test Friday and will begin a new theme. This theme is "Give it All You've Got" Students will read about characters that face a challenge of some sort and have to overcome through endurance, problem solving, and determination. Ask your child each week what the story's challenge was all about.
Reading
This week in reading our focus will be fact and opinion. Students will be able to determine statements of fact and well as write them. Students will also be able to explain how facts and opinions in writing could influence the reader. This week's story is Michelle Kwan, Heart of a Champion. Students will read about Michelle Kwan and learn facts about her as well as some opinions.
Students do have vocabulary words this week. Look for their study guide in their reading log folder. Students should study the words throughout the week.
Language
This week students will write paragraphs using facts and opinions about people they read and learn about. Ask your child for facts about who they read about as well as some opinions.
Spelling
This week student's spelling words are compound words. You should see a pretest in their reading log folder to study throughout the week.
Date to remember
October 16.......................Early dismissal
October 26.......................Planning Day
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Reading
This week in reading our focus will be fact and opinion. Students will be able to determine statements of fact and well as write them. Students will also be able to explain how facts and opinions in writing could influence the reader. This week's story is Michelle Kwan, Heart of a Champion. Students will read about Michelle Kwan and learn facts about her as well as some opinions.
Students do have vocabulary words this week. Look for their study guide in their reading log folder. Students should study the words throughout the week.
Language
This week students will write paragraphs using facts and opinions about people they read and learn about. Ask your child for facts about who they read about as well as some opinions.
Spelling
This week student's spelling words are compound words. You should see a pretest in their reading log folder to study throughout the week.
Date to remember
October 16.......................Early dismissal
October 26.......................Planning Day
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Monday, October 8, 2012
Updates October 8-12, 2012
We have now completed Theme 1 in our reading series. This week we will have a week known as Monitoring Student Progress (MSP). We have for the most part completed our beginning year baseline assessments also :-) The students should be settling into the school routines and chugging right along. If you have questions please let me know through a note in the planner or voice mail. I will get back with you as quick as possible.
Reading
This week we will not have a story or vocabulary list. Students will complete an in class activity reviewing and using the skills we focused on in theme 1: sequence, text organization and categorize and classify. Ask your student what activity they worked on each day and what skill they were reviewing.
Language
This week students will continue to write their own Tall Tale. Ask your student what their story is about.
Spelling
Students will have a spelling list this week. Spelling grades are coming up however students should study their spelling words nightly through the week.
Dates to remember
October 26....................Planning day
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Reading
This week we will not have a story or vocabulary list. Students will complete an in class activity reviewing and using the skills we focused on in theme 1: sequence, text organization and categorize and classify. Ask your student what activity they worked on each day and what skill they were reviewing.
Language
This week students will continue to write their own Tall Tale. Ask your student what their story is about.
Spelling
Students will have a spelling list this week. Spelling grades are coming up however students should study their spelling words nightly through the week.
Dates to remember
October 26....................Planning day
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Monday, October 1, 2012
Updates October 1-5, 2012
Here we are already in the first week of October! We will be completing DRA's and taking the F.A.I.R. test on Tuesday this week. This should wrap up our beginning year assessments.
Reading
This week we will focus on the genre of Tall Tales. Students will read different tall tales and note the characters and characteristics of the genre. They will have vocabulary words and 2 different selections in the textbook to read for their test on Friday. One is Paul Bunyan and the second is Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind.
Language
In language this week students will try their hand at writing their own tale tall. Using what they have learned in Reader's workshop students will plan and write a tall tale of their own.
Students also have a spelling list with the focus of long to short vowels. They are studying words that change vowel sounds when the form of the word changes. For example; child to children or cave to cavity.
Homework
Reading logs will continue to be assigned this week Monday thru Thursday along with students studying their spelling and vocabulary study guides. You should see these in the front pocket of their reading log folder.
Dates to remember
October 3...................Early dismissal
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
Reading
This week we will focus on the genre of Tall Tales. Students will read different tall tales and note the characters and characteristics of the genre. They will have vocabulary words and 2 different selections in the textbook to read for their test on Friday. One is Paul Bunyan and the second is Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind.
Language
In language this week students will try their hand at writing their own tale tall. Using what they have learned in Reader's workshop students will plan and write a tall tale of their own.
Students also have a spelling list with the focus of long to short vowels. They are studying words that change vowel sounds when the form of the word changes. For example; child to children or cave to cavity.
Homework
Reading logs will continue to be assigned this week Monday thru Thursday along with students studying their spelling and vocabulary study guides. You should see these in the front pocket of their reading log folder.
Dates to remember
October 3...................Early dismissal
Until next time,
R. O'Steen
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