Saturday, September 19, 2009
Communication Domination
Hi students and parents! I am so excited to try blogging with my class this year. This will be an easy way for you to see what we are doing within the classroom. I will be able to upload links, pictures and homework on this site. Isn't that awesome?!?! Please let me know of anything you would like to see on here to help you out at home. Just write me a quick message and I will get back with you as soon as I can. Thank you and enjoy!!!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Gazette Memo Sept 14-18
Reading group stations are almost up and running. This week will be a practice round, so next week guided reading will begin.
Remember that Open House is on Thursday starting at 7 pm. Students whose parents attend, will not have to do math homework that night!!!
We took a reading assessment last week and many students were not comfortable reading a page-long story and answering questions about it. There were many low grades, so please work on reading comprehension at home. If you would like questions you can ask before, during or after reading any book or story, please let me know and I will send some for you to use at home.
In math this week, we will continue working on place value and will begin introducing two-dimensional shapes. Be on the lookout for a study guide going home this week.
In Social Studies, we are continuing our study of qualities of a good citizen and people who make differences in our communities and communities around the world.
In writing, we will be creating a book to have in the classroom. The class has picked a problem (large or small) that we face daily throughout the world. They have brainstormed solutions to these problems and will be writing their essays this week. They are SOOOOOO creative!!! I am very impressed with their global mindedness.
If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to register online at our school in order to come into the classroom. We are tightening up on the safety and security of our students.
Remember that Open House is on Thursday starting at 7 pm. Students whose parents attend, will not have to do math homework that night!!!
We took a reading assessment last week and many students were not comfortable reading a page-long story and answering questions about it. There were many low grades, so please work on reading comprehension at home. If you would like questions you can ask before, during or after reading any book or story, please let me know and I will send some for you to use at home.
In math this week, we will continue working on place value and will begin introducing two-dimensional shapes. Be on the lookout for a study guide going home this week.
In Social Studies, we are continuing our study of qualities of a good citizen and people who make differences in our communities and communities around the world.
In writing, we will be creating a book to have in the classroom. The class has picked a problem (large or small) that we face daily throughout the world. They have brainstormed solutions to these problems and will be writing their essays this week. They are SOOOOOO creative!!! I am very impressed with their global mindedness.
If you are interested in volunteering, you will need to register online at our school in order to come into the classroom. We are tightening up on the safety and security of our students.
Spelling Words Sept 14-18
SHORT VOWELS
1. fence
2. crunchy
3. witch
4. wedge
5. crust
6. shock
7. ridge
8. knob
9. crumb
10. patch
11. connection
12. prediction
13. reaction
14. question
15. title
BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. surprised
2. investigate
3. distance
4. unusual
5. companion
1. fence
2. crunchy
3. witch
4. wedge
5. crust
6. shock
7. ridge
8. knob
9. crumb
10. patch
11. connection
12. prediction
13. reaction
14. question
15. title
BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. surprised
2. investigate
3. distance
4. unusual
5. companion
Literacy Menu Sept 14-18
Literacy Objectives:
1. Develop fluency through oral reading and rereading
2. Spell words with short vowel sounds
3. Make connections, predictions and visualize before and during reading
4. Learn vocabulary related to The Ballad of Mulan
Required and Optional Activities:
○ Vocabulary Foldable (words, pictures, definitions)
○ Spelling Letter to Mrs. Buchanan (5 of your spelling words)
○ CROP-QVS- use your leveled reader
○ Listen to Ballad of Mulan (pg. 54) on CD (track 3)
○ SSR- Read at least one short book (library book) and take an AR test.
□ Word Hunt- Look through a story you are reading this week and find all the words on the list.
□ Story Board- Using your leveled reader, complete a story board. Make sure to recognize whether your book is Fiction (fake) or Nonfiction (true).
□ Spelling Practice- Go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ (smithbee) and practice spelling your words this week.
□ Poetry Choice- Take a poem. Glue it in your Station Notebook. Using a dictionary, find the synonyms for the underlined words and rewrite the poem on the next page.
□ Story Element File Folder Activity- put the cards under the correct headings. Write the answers in your Station Notebook.
1. Develop fluency through oral reading and rereading
2. Spell words with short vowel sounds
3. Make connections, predictions and visualize before and during reading
4. Learn vocabulary related to The Ballad of Mulan
Required and Optional Activities:
○ Vocabulary Foldable (words, pictures, definitions)
○ Spelling Letter to Mrs. Buchanan (5 of your spelling words)
○ CROP-QVS- use your leveled reader
○ Listen to Ballad of Mulan (pg. 54) on CD (track 3)
○ SSR- Read at least one short book (library book) and take an AR test.
□ Word Hunt- Look through a story you are reading this week and find all the words on the list.
□ Story Board- Using your leveled reader, complete a story board. Make sure to recognize whether your book is Fiction (fake) or Nonfiction (true).
□ Spelling Practice- Go to http://www.spellingcity.com/ (smithbee) and practice spelling your words this week.
□ Poetry Choice- Take a poem. Glue it in your Station Notebook. Using a dictionary, find the synonyms for the underlined words and rewrite the poem on the next page.
□ Story Element File Folder Activity- put the cards under the correct headings. Write the answers in your Station Notebook.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Gazette Memo Sept 7-11
We have been very busy during our first two weeks of school. It is a tiring process to learn and practice the routines of the classroom. Now that I have finished will all of the beginning of the year reading assessments, we will begin to practice our classroom centers and will begin gearing up for reading groups. It will be very helpful if all parents would revisit the classroom expectations with their child. I will be firm in holding them responsible for these classroom expectations as we begin to work in independent work stations.
Spelling Words Sept 7-11
LONG VOWELS
1. paint
2. clay
3. feel
4. leave
5. neighbor
6. eight
7. seem
8. speak
9. paid
10. need
11. expanded
12. standard
13. place value
14. hundred
15. thousand
BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. Savory
2. Belated
3. Revitalized
4. Belabor
5. Ingenious
1. paint
2. clay
3. feel
4. leave
5. neighbor
6. eight
7. seem
8. speak
9. paid
10. need
11. expanded
12. standard
13. place value
14. hundred
15. thousand
BLUE RIBBON Words (optional)
1. Savory
2. Belated
3. Revitalized
4. Belabor
5. Ingenious
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Word Study Parent Letter
Dear Parent(s),
Word Study lists will come home in your child’s Homework folder each week of school.
*The first 10 words relate to the current goals for the quarter.
*The next 5 words are related to a current theme that we are studying in class.
*The Blue Ribbon words at the bottom of the page are optional and are used by those who master the pre-test given on Mondays.
All students are allowed the opportunity to learn the meaning/spelling of the Blue Ribbon words. Students can earn tickets for each Blue Ribbon word that is correctly written in a sentence on the post-test (1 ticket per sentence). These tickets will give them a chance to win a prize on Fridays.
Each Monday I will give a pre-test to those who want to try to compact out of the assigned words/assignments for the current week. Those who correctly spell the first 15 words may compact out for the week.
Students who do not want to take the pre-test may begin working on their assignments from the “WORD STUDY Think-Tac-Toe Menu.” The Think-Tac-Toe Menu is kept in the homework folder and changes each quarter. Four assignments are to be completed during the week. Students need to put their name, # and title of assignment at the top of each assignment. It will be expected that one assignment be turned in each day (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). If your child chooses to complete all of the four assignments the first day, that is his/her choice. Just make sure to turn in only one per day. Illegible assignments will have to be re-done. One of the first quarter convention goals is: 5.08 Students will create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript). Please encourage your child to take time and put effort into the assignments. Post-tests will be given on Fridays.
Those students who compact out for the week will be expected to learn the definition and spelling of the 5 BLUE RIBBON words for the week. On Fridays, they will be asked to write five sentences using the Blue Ribbon words (spelling and context of word will be evaluated). Again, tickets may be earned for each sentence that is correctly written. During the week these students only have to do the 4 assignments from the Think-Tac-Toe Menu for the Blue Ribbon words.
I am trying to differentiate the Word Study lists to meet the needs of each student. Students will have different amounts of spelling words each week depending on how they do on the pretest. I will highlight words that need to be studied for the week.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child and his/her progress with WORD STUDY.
Thank you for your support!
Mrs. Buchanan
Word Study lists will come home in your child’s Homework folder each week of school.
*The first 10 words relate to the current goals for the quarter.
*The next 5 words are related to a current theme that we are studying in class.
*The Blue Ribbon words at the bottom of the page are optional and are used by those who master the pre-test given on Mondays.
All students are allowed the opportunity to learn the meaning/spelling of the Blue Ribbon words. Students can earn tickets for each Blue Ribbon word that is correctly written in a sentence on the post-test (1 ticket per sentence). These tickets will give them a chance to win a prize on Fridays.
Each Monday I will give a pre-test to those who want to try to compact out of the assigned words/assignments for the current week. Those who correctly spell the first 15 words may compact out for the week.
Students who do not want to take the pre-test may begin working on their assignments from the “WORD STUDY Think-Tac-Toe Menu.” The Think-Tac-Toe Menu is kept in the homework folder and changes each quarter. Four assignments are to be completed during the week. Students need to put their name, # and title of assignment at the top of each assignment. It will be expected that one assignment be turned in each day (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday). If your child chooses to complete all of the four assignments the first day, that is his/her choice. Just make sure to turn in only one per day. Illegible assignments will have to be re-done. One of the first quarter convention goals is: 5.08 Students will create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript). Please encourage your child to take time and put effort into the assignments. Post-tests will be given on Fridays.
Those students who compact out for the week will be expected to learn the definition and spelling of the 5 BLUE RIBBON words for the week. On Fridays, they will be asked to write five sentences using the Blue Ribbon words (spelling and context of word will be evaluated). Again, tickets may be earned for each sentence that is correctly written. During the week these students only have to do the 4 assignments from the Think-Tac-Toe Menu for the Blue Ribbon words.
I am trying to differentiate the Word Study lists to meet the needs of each student. Students will have different amounts of spelling words each week depending on how they do on the pretest. I will highlight words that need to be studied for the week.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your child and his/her progress with WORD STUDY.
Thank you for your support!
Mrs. Buchanan
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