In reading this week...

We will be doing an author study of Patricia Polacco.  I don't want to give away too much (that would take away the fun from class!!!) but if you want to learn more about her and the books she has written, you can look at her website:  http://www.patriciapolacco.com/

We will read several of her books this week and analyze the characters, problems and solutions, and the wonderful sensory language she uses.  She has written a tons of books, so it will be impossible to get to them all, but I encourage a trip to the library to read some on your own!

March Reading Logs!!!

Just a friendly reminder that March reading logs are due on Thursday!  Each block needs to be filled in and an AR test needs to be taken to receive full credit!

This week in reading we are focusing on sending friendly letters and the correct way to write them.  We will also be reviewing capitalization and using complete sentences!

Reading Updates

I apologize for not getting the story posted this week.  However, we have read/listened to the story every day this week, and reviewed vocabulary words every day this week as well!  I think they will do fine on the test!

For the remainder of the year, we will not be doing a weekly story focus.  We will be reading short passages in class to practice the skills that we have covered this year.  We will also be working on writing for the remainder of the year.  I will be helping introduce skills that third grade teachers will work on at the beginning of the year to help ease student transition! 

March reading logs have been sent out.  They are to be returned Thursday, March 30.  Students need to read 10 books and take the AR test on them to receive full credit.

Henry's Freedom Box

Yellow and Orange Groups:

This week we will be reading Henry's Freedom Box and discussing the Underground Railroad.  We will also learn about some famous African Americans and their impact on our country.  For an online reading of the story, click here!

Red Group:

Continue guided reading groups, working on phonics skills, and learning new words.

Green Group:

We will finish the book The Chocolate Touch this week.

Looking at Lincoln

Orange and Yellow groups:

This week we will be using the story Looking at Lincoln to learn more about one of our famous Presidents.  If you would like to listen to it online, here is the link!

These are the vocabulary words that you will need to know for the test!

• battle:  a military fight
• memorial:  to honor someone that has passed on
• liberty:  the power to choose what you do
• plight:  a bad situation
• malice:  causing harm
• democracy:  a government that elects its leaders

Green Group:

We will be starting the chapter book The Chocolate Touch this week!

Red Group:

Guided reading groups and phonics and spelling practice.  Study spelling words from Mrs. Alvizo!

Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch

Yellow and Orange:

This week we will be reading the story Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Ellen Spinelli.  You can find an online version of the story here.  Students will be responsible for the following words:

• mend--to repair
• mysterious--strange and unknown
• recall--to remember
• recovered--to return to normal feeling again
• wondered--to thing about something with curiosity

Green: 

We will continue to use our Storyworks Jr. magazines to read texts.  This week we will be reading about Legos and Minecraft and how they changed the way kids play with toys.  We will also read about the legend of King Midas and practice reading script.

Red:

We will be doing our guided reading practice, reading about a class pet, and studying our phonics skills.

Each Kindness

Yellow and Orange Groups:

This week we are reading the book Each Kindness by Jacqueline Wilson.  We are talking about ways to be kind to one another.  We will also be looking at prefixes and suffixes and how they change the meaning of words.

Green Group:

We are working in our StoryWorks Jr. magazines and reading a non-fiction piece on Alcatraz!  The students have been very curious and have asked really great questions.  They are also working on vocabulary packets with time words.  These are due on Friday!

Week of January 23

Hello all!

This week we will be focusing our studies on penguins and polar bears!  We will be reading a text from our Journey's book called Penguin Chick and also read lots of informational texts.  Already I have noticed the kids having lots of questions, so I have encouraged them to do their own research! Mrs. Webb has several good books in the library, as does the public library. 

If you want to listen to the story online, click here for the link to YouTube!

Week of January 9

This week we will be catching up from our snow day and also working around our field trip on Wednesday.  We will be reading the story Luke Goes to Bat from our Journey's reading book in class.  We will focus on timelines and sequence of events.  Students will also be working on antonyms for their vocabulary skill.

Here is a youtube link to the story if you would like to listen to it at home.

Students were also given new reading logs for January.  They need to read a book each night and then take a test on it the following day.  They can record their score on their reading logs.  Books need to be on the students' independent reading level that is noted on the log!  I will have another special lunch club for those students that meet their 9 weeks points goal (found in their AR account) and have 90% or better comprehension.