Friday, February 21, 2014

Have you read at home today?

Reading Calendar Data...

Every month the kids are supposed to record how much they are reading at home.  Our goal is that we will each read at least 420 minutes a month.  This is really important.  Research shows us that students who read more outside of school do better on achievement tests.  
So How Are We Doing...

If you take a look at the graph, each number across the bottom represents a student.  Along the left had side we have the number of minutes read.  The yellow line in the middle represents the goal line (420 minutes).  We have been collecting this data for 5 months now.  Each student should have 5 dots above their number.  The numbers are kept private so the kids only know their number.  Have them tell you what their number is.

So...if we take a look at January (purple dots), only 56% of our class turned in their reading logs.  44% of our class meet the goal of 420 minutes in January.  

Let's see if we can increase the amount of reading we are doing at home.  Don't forget that the February Reading Log is due on February 28th.  

If you have misplaced yours please click on this link to print a new one.   
February Reading Log

Monday, February 10, 2014

Student Treasure Books

Calling 
All Writers...
As you know, we are working on completing our Student Treasure Books.  I am sure that you have seen some of these papers come home...if not be on the look out for them.  This is an exciting program that allows our students to publish their writing into a hard bound book.  The kids have been working hard on them and I am excited to see the finished products.  

Here are just a few reminders:

  • Edited and Revised Draft is due 2-12-14
  • Final Draft Written in the Book is due 2-14-14
  • Illustrations and Book Cover is due 2-19-14
  • Completed Book is due 2-20-14
Order forms are coming home today.  Remember...everyone gets ONE FREE COPY!  The order form is only if you want more than one copy.  IMPORTANT...even if you don't want an extra copy you need to return the order form.  Just simply put a check mark in the box that says "No" and sign the bottom of the form.  You don't need to fill in any of the other information unless you are ordering another copy.  

Thank you for all of your support with this at home.  With all of the snow days and delays we would never have completed this project on time.  

Thursday, February 6, 2014

What's Important?

"Reading is all about thinking"...is one of my favorite sayings.  I am sure my class does not love it as much as I do.  It's true though, as we read we are thinking about the information in a story or text.  We may not realize that we are doing it, but that's what reading is all about.

We have been working on paying attention to our thinking as we read all year.  This past week though we have added a new twist.  Readers also need to determine what information is important to remember and what information is just interesting.  We did the following demonstration to help us understand...

Before Reading...

A Book

This represents a book.
We talked about how a book has a lot of information inside it. (aka..the water and the noodles)

Our Brain 

This strainer represents our brain.
As we read, all of the information in the book goes
through our brain.

As we read, the information from the story or text (the water and noodles) passes through our brain (the strainer).  This is what it looks like after we are done reading the story or text. 

After Reading... 

The book

After we read the story or text, only the interesting information from the book is left.

Our Brain

All of the important information from the story or text sticks to our brain.  That is the information that is going to help us understand what we have read.

This is the anchor chart that we created to help us remember.

So...as you read together at home, ask your child to tell you what is the interesting information and what is the important information.  Happy Reading!