Mrs. Anderson's Blog

Nov.  Reading Log is due December 2.

Each student is required to read one 2009-2010 Mark Twain or Truman nominated book by Dec. 11.  There will be one more opportunity to do a report on Dec. 11.  

Since the last 2 weeks have been focused on writing, we’ll spend the next few weeks focusing on reading skills.  This week’s focus will be using inferring to understand poems.

 READING for Monday and Tuesday:

 *The pyramid poem may be redone and handed in tomorrow if a higher grade is desired.

 *Use a poem in Storyworks to assess inferring with poetry.

Nov.  Reading Log is due December 2.

Each student is required to read one 2009-2010 Mark Twain or Truman nominated book by Dec. 11.   There will be one more opportunity to do a final report on Dec. 11.  

Since the last 2 weeks has been focused on writing, we’ll spend the next couple of weeks focusing on reading skills.  This week’s focus will be using inferring to understand poems.

LANGUAGE: 

Monday-

*We went over the grades for the personal narrative and the pyramid poem.  The pyramid poem may be redone and handed in again if the student would like to get a better grade.

READING

Tuesday-

*Inferring using a poem by Langston Hughes

Wednesday-  I will be out of the building for an all day meeting

*Library

*Use poems in the Literature book to practice inferring

Thursday-

*Continue with yesterday’s assignment

*RRJ- Why is inferring useful when analyzing poems?

Friday-

*Use poem in Storyworks to assess students’ ability to use inferring with poetry

Nov.  Reading Log is due December 2.

Each student is required to read one 2009-2010 Mark Twain or Truman nominated book by Dec. 11. The 2nd report for a Mark Twain or Truman nominated book will take place on Friday.  There will be one more opportunity to do a final report on Dec. 11.   

 LANGUAGE: 

Monday-

*read personal narratives

Wednesday-

*read pyramid poems.

READING

Tuesday-

*2 poems in the Storyworks magazine

Thursday-

*”Deadly Bites” nonfiction story in the Storyworks magazine

*write questions in RRG

Friday-

*Report for a Mark Twain or Truman nominated  book

*finish Storyworks reading magazine

October Reading Log is due November 3.

Book Orders are due Nov. 6.

2^nd test/report for Mark Twain or Truman Reader nominated books will be Nov. 13.  This report will be completed in class.  A student may fill out the “May be used” worksheet before the test/report.  The worksheet can be used to help get the details clearly in the students’ minds, but it may not be used during the test/report.

Most of this week will be dedicated to completing and reading our personal narratives.

LANGUAGE: 

Monday-

*Finish changing nouns and verbs to be more precise and vivid.

*Edit personal narrative for spelling and correct use of paragraphs.

Tuesday-

*Type personal narratives in the computer lab.

*Write a pyramid poem when finished.

Wednesday-

*Library

*Finish typing personal narratives and pyramid poems.

Thursday-

*Read personal narratives to the class.

Friday-

*Storyworks reading magazine.  We’ll explore the text features and the layout of the magazine and probably have time to read the nonfiction story.

Book talks are over and they were a great success!  I was very impressed with most of the kids.  I’ll have the props and visuals that were used displayed during conferences.  Come by and check them out.

October Reading Log is due November 3.

Book Orders due Nov.

Reading: 

Monday-

*Read Baseball Saved Us to ask questions as a class.  Write questions in RRJ using IDR book.

*IDR

Wednesday-

*Read the second half of Baseball Saved Us and continue questioning.

*IDR

LANGUAGE: 

Tuesday-

*Book Fair

*Partner share the 3 good beginnings from last Thursday. 

*Write 3 good endings in Writing Journal

Thursday-

*Diagramming adjectives

*Begin editing personal narratives

Book talks are over and they were a great success!  I was very impressed with most of the kids.  I’ll have the props and visuals that were used displayed during conferences.  Come by and check them out.

October Reading Log is due November 3.

Reading: 

Monday-

*We will have a bit of cake and punch to celebrate the success of book talks today.  We’ll also spend some time doing some self-evaluation and looking forward to 2^nd quarter’s book talks.

*IDR

Wednesday-

*Library

*Reading Response Journal:  How is the main character in your book trying to solve the main problem?

*IDR

Friday-

*“Baseball Saved Us” personal narrative story to analyze using a Problem and Solution Diagram.  Concentrate on how the main character is solving the problem.

*IDR 

LANGUAGE: 

Tuesday-

*Diagramming compound predicates

*Writing Journal:  My Life in Years

*start a different story than the one that has already been written

Thursday-

*Diagramming adjectives

*Writing a good beginning

Oct. 2:  September Reading Log is due October 2^nd.

I’ve decided to try updating the blog at the end of the day because it is a rare week that I actually get through everything that is planned.  I’ll start next week.

Oct. 12:  Book Talks begin

Reading: 

Monday-

*Book talks will begin Tuesday due to a death in the school family.

*RRJ- How has the main character in your book tried to solve the main problem.  

What mistakes has your character made in trying to solve the main problem.

*Diagramming Compound Predicates

*IDR (Individualized Daily Reading)

Tuesday-

*Book Talks

*IDR

Wednesday-  

*Book Talks

*IDR

Thursday-

*Book Talks

*IDR

Friday-

I’ll be out of the class doing MRI training.

Friday’s assignments will depends on what we get covered on Thursday.

*“Baseball Saved Us” personal narrative story to analyze using a Problem and Solution Diagram.

*Continue working on Personal Narrative.

Monday:  We corrected “How I Maybe Saved the World Last Tuesday Before Breakfast” and finished reading The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker .

Tuesday: Diagrammed Compound Subjects and continued or started a new personal narrative.

Wednesday: Library and Book Talk.  A student gave a Book Talk and we completed the information for a book talk for The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker .

Thursday:  Writing a personal narrative.

Friday:  Use the information created Wednesday to practice Book Talk with a partner.

Oct. 9:  Book order due

Oct. 12:  Book Talks begin

I’ll be doing another Book Talk for the kids this week so they can see what will be expected on them starting next Monday.  I also have a student who is prepared to give her book talk early, so the kids can see another good example. 

 I stay after school on Tuesdays to help kids with whatever they need.  If your child would like to stay this Tuesday, I will help them as they continue to prepare for the Book Talk. 

 The most common problem with Book Talk is not having enough information prepared.  It is extremely helpful for the kids to time themselves several times to get a feel for how much they will need to talk in front of the class.

 This blog will be undated on a daily basis after the school day ends, starting Oct. 5, to more accurately present what has happened in class that day.

Monday general information-

*Each student will receive a little piece of paper to be taped into the agenda that will list any missing assignments.  If the paper is blank, your child has everything handed in for me.  Yea!!  Any assignment listed on the little piece of paper hasn’t been handed in.  I will initial any assignment that is handed in on Monday.   Please check your child’s agenda to see if any work is owed.

 *I updated the on-line grade book on 10-4 to reflect everything that has been handed in as of Friday, October 2.

Oct. 2:  September Reading Log is due October 2^nd.

Oct. 9:  Book order due

Oct. 12:  Book Talks begin

I’ve decided to try updating the blog at the end of the day because it is a rare week that I actually get through everything that is planned.  I’ll start next week.

 Reading: 

Monday-

*Each student will receive a little piece of paper to be taped into the agenda.  Please check your child’s agenda to see if anything is late.

*review “Destroying Ecosystem” worksheet

*Reading Response Journal:   What will happen next in The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker.  Topic sentence and 2 details

*IDR (Individualized Daily Reading)

Wednesday-  

*RRJ entry:  add 1 detail to Monday’s topic sentence- due Friday

*Use “How I Maybe Saved the World Last Tuesday” personal narrative story to analyze using a Problem and Solution Diagram.

*IDR

Friday-

RRJ: to be handed in

*Finish Wednesday work or begin “Baseball Saved Us” personal narrative story to analyze using a Problem and Solution Diagram.

*IDR

Language:

Tuesday-

*Finish reading Pink and Say

*Time will be given to continue writing a personal narrative.

*Diagramming compound subjects.  

Thursday-

*diagramming continues

*discuss Personal Narratives and glue page into Communication Arts Notebook (C.A.N.)

Apply personal narrative information to “How I Maybe Saved the World Last Tuesday.”