Mrs. Anderson's Blog

Sept. 25:  No school due to teacher work day.

Sept. 28:  A book needs to be chosen for the 1^st quarter book talk by September 28.

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

Oct. 9:  Book order due

Reading: 

Monday-

*Review genre test.

*Review “The Black Plague” and get a different story to complete.

*Establish rules for Class Meeting.

*Reading Response Journal entry: topic sentence for a text to self connection to The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker.

*IDR (Individualized Daily Reading)

Wednesday-  

*RRJ entry:  Add 2 details to Monday’s topic sentence.

*Class meeting discussion using “Think, Pair, Share.”

*IDR

 Language:

Tuesday-

*Writing: Responding to one of three writing prompts.

*Add to writing ideas in writing journal.

*Simple subject and simple predicate diagramming.

 Thursday-

*Diagramming continues.

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

*Read “Eleven,” a personal narrative story.

Sept. 16:  Genre test for all who missed more than one on last week’s test.

Sept. 17:  Retake homophone test.

Sept. 28:  A book needs to be chosen for the 1^st quarter book talk by September 28.

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

Oct. 9:  Book order due.

Reading: 

Monday- reading survey, complete Who Am I? worksheet

Watch 2 book talks recorded from students last school year.

 Wednesday-  Retest of reading genres for those who missed more than one on last week’s test.

Discuss Reading Response Journal entry from last week so students know and understand expectations.

RRJ entry:  Do a text to self connection using the book the student is currently reading.

Class meeting discussion using “Think, Pair, Share.”

IDR (Individualized Daily Reading)

Friday- DRAs, a reading test the district uses to assess reading level, will be given all day long.  Students will stay in the homeroom class and be given assignments from each teacher to complete in the room.

IDR

Language:

Tuesday-  The writing process illustrated with play dough.

Thursday- Homophone test

My Territories page and Love and Hate page to be completed in the writing comp book.

Dates to remember:

Sept. 10:  Homophone test

Sept. 11:  Book orders are due Sept. 11.  Parents can now order books on-line!  Your child received an information letter regarding the sign in and password.  I just gave the information to students who thought their parents would be interested in ordering on-line.  If your child didn’t get one for you and you would like that info, just let me know.

Sept. 14:  Genre test for all who missed more than one on last week’s test.

Sept. 28:  A book needs to  be chosen for the 1^st quarter book talk by September 28.

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

Reading: 

Wednesday- glue genre info into the reading side of the Communication Arts Notebook (C.A.N.).  Next test on genre Monday, September 14. 

Write expectations for Reading Response Journal in C.A.N.

Respond to The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker in Reading Response Journal

Second reading of And Still the Turtle Watched

Begin IDR (Individualized Daily Reading)

Friday- Share predictions to The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker.

Setting ground rules for class meeting.

Write connections in C.A.N.: text to text, text to self, text to world.

If time: Read Chato’s Kitchen and make connection.

IDR

Language:

Tuesday-  Introduce diagramming sentences: subject and predicate

Go over writing expectations.

First writing assignment for writing journal:  What did you do over summer vacation (with a twist)?

Homophone test Thursday

Thursday- Homophone test

Continue diagramming: subject and predicate

Finish writing about summer.   Begin editing process.

I usually get out a week’s plans at a time, so this is a strange week for me.  I’ll try to do better next week!

Wednesday: Reading-We continued building community while reading Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears .  While building community may not sound important, it is necessary!   More active learning can take place if the kids can communicate effectively and appropropriately with each other .  The reading strategies that will be learned this year incorporate active thinking and discussing.   

Thursday: Language- Personalizing the Writing notebook and learning how to find writing prompts from other sources than the teacher.

Friday: Reading- Using the book And Still the Turtle Watched students will practice procedure for a read-aloud.  They will hear and discuss a story using active listening.

Tuesday:  Writing

The kids will read their cartoon connections aloud.  They will also organize the 1″ binder for Comm. Arts by making dividers to separate Language from Reading and creating a section for graded work.  I ask students to keep graded papers until I give them progress reports.  Once the progress reports are handed out they should check each paper to verify that I have entered their grades correctly.

T-shirt money is due Sept. 1.

August Reading Log is due Sept. 2.

Book orders are due Sept. 11.  Parents can now order books on-line!  Your child received an information letter regarding the sign in and password.  I just gave the information to students who thought their parents would be interested in ordering on-line.  If your child didn’t get one for you and you would like that info, just let me know.

Reading:  This week we’ll start Making Meaning after doing one lesson on genre.

MONDAY: Genre pretest and genre Power Point presentation. 

After genre we’ll start Making Meaning with a Power Point  explaining what Making Meaning is and what the behavior expectaion is.  If time allows I’ll read the first book to the kids.

Sorry to not get the whole week typed up Sunday night.  I’ll get the rest of the week’s plans on the blog on Monday. My eyes started closing earlier Sunday night than I thought they would!

We will finish putting information about Book Talks and discussing in detail what is information is required.  The first Book Talk book needs to be chosen by Monday, September 28, 2009.  The books need to be chosen by then so that the students will have time to read their chosen books and prepare. 

I’m doing something new with Book Talks this year.  Students will have the opportunity to record their Book Talk and I will show the recording to the class and grade it then.  I’m sure that some students will jump at this chance.

August Reading Log is due September 2, 2009.  I will continue filling my own log out so the students can view what is expected of them.

Monday:  Reading-Students will finish putting information in the Communication Arts Notebook and completing a survey about themselves for me.

Tuesday: Language- Students will complete a writing survey for me.  Then they will identify a cartoon that represents their lives and write about it.

Wednesday:  Library

Students will take a reading survey.  I will begin conferencing with each student.

Thursday:  Lesson one for writing.  Students will begin to get comfortable with the structure that we will follow all year long.

Friday:  9 different genres will be reintroduced to the kids through a power point presentation.

Aug. 18-21

Welcome to the 2009-2010 School Year!!

I teach Communication Arts, which is grammar, writing, and reading. 

 I’ll teach reading Mon., Wed., and Fri. and grammar and writing on Tues. and Thursday.  This schedule is not set in stone; it’ll be flexible.

Each student needs a 3 ring binder for my class.  Your child will also need a Communication Arts notebook to be used for both grammar notes and reading notes.  This can by a spiral notebook, a composition notebook or a folder with paper.  A spiral notebook, comp book or folder with paper is also needed for a Reading Response Journal.

This first week of school will be setting up procedures and talking about expectations.  The only assignment my students need to be doing outside of school right now is reading and completing the information for the August Reading Log. 

I am filling out my August Reading Log each day so that the kids can see what theirs is supposed to look like.  150 minutes are required for August, and they can start filling in the days starting with Aug. 18.  I have given some information about how to notate different reading materials on the back of the log.  This list can’t cover all different types of material, so I have told the kids to ask about anything else that they may read. 

The one important aspect of the reading logs that I am stressing is that if the students have any questions they need to ask me before the day the reading log is due.  I will help them in any way needed before the day the reading log is due, but if they ask for help on the day the log is due I will not assist them. 

The reading logs will need to be signed by a parent or guardian.  This verifies that the parent or guardian knows that the minutes listed are acurate.

***REMINDERS***

**Book Talks will be Thursday and Friday, the 14th and 15th.

**May reading log is due Friday the 15th.

**Mark Twain or Truman book report is due Friday the 15th.

**Permission form for the pond is due Friday the 15th.

Monday, May 11: finish The Lightning Thief

Tuesday, May 12: Reading Progress Reports sent home

                          work on onomatopoeias

Wednesday, May 13:  transition day and Social Studies film

Thursday and Friday, May 14 and 15: Book Talks

Monday, May 18: onomatopoeia and put creative writing books together

Tuesday, May 19:  creative hillbilly language

Wednesday, May 20: field trip to the pond

Thursday, May 21: field trip to the Ralph Foster Museum at the College of the Ozarks

Friday, May 22: assembly, school dismisses at 12:30

May 6th we’ll be going to the High School to watch a drama performance.  Permission slips went home with the kids on Friday.

April Reading Logs are due Tuesday.

Book Talks start May 13th.

Mark Twain or Truman 2008-2009 nominated book has to be read and a book report filled out by May 15th.

Monday: About 20 minutes will be spent to make sure students understand the questions and follow up activity that are due Tuesday for The Lightning Thief chapters 16-18.  

All writing fair entries will be returned and creative writing book covers will be started.

Tuesday:  Finish cover for creative writing books; finish 26 onomatopoeia words and begin sentences.

The Lightning Thief   questions and follow-up activity for Chapters 16-18 due.  Chapters 19-22 need to be read by Friday.  The books will be handed in at that time.

Wednesday:  Field trip to the High School for drama program.

Write sentences for onomatopoeia words;  students will begin creating their books as soon as the sentences are approved.

Thursday:  Continue on Wednesday’s assignment.

Friday:  Discuss The Lightning Thief chapters 16-18 and 19-22.