March
30
March
22
Wonder Words
We have added a new feature in our classroom. When children read just right books, they should know almost all of the words in their book choices. However, if they come across a word they don’t know, they may add it to our “Wonder Words”. We define the words together. They are very enthusiastic about this activity and their vocabulary is growing! I have a hunch that I’ll start to see these words in their written assignments.
During reading today, we defined gawked, cinch, instantaneous, unravel, and feeble.
November
20
Perspective
In reading, I have introduced the literary term perspective. We practiced this concept by thinking of items for which someone or something else may be thankful. Look at some of the examples below:
George said, “If I were a football player, I would be thankful for the touchdown zone, my football, my pads, my mouthpiece, my eyes, and my feet.”
Cailin stated, “If I were a horse, I would be thankful for hay, grass, water, trainers, riders, and friends.”
Makena said, “If I were a rock star, I would be thankful for music, microphones, the stage, my fans, my voice, and radios.”
Aaron wrote, “If I were Olly, my guinea pig, I would be thankful for hay, Aaron, water, a cage, bedding, fur, oxygen, and a lock.”
Hudson explained, “If I were a policeman, I would be thankful for my gun, my police car, my partner, my chief, and my computer.”
October
22
Book Parade
October
4
Our First Book Reports
August
31
Independent Reading
We spend a part of every day reading self-selected books. Reading, like any skill, improves with practice.
We are anxiously awaiting the opening of our classroom library. We have been learning how to choose a book on our reading level- a just right book. Yesterday, I read the folktale, Cinderella, and explained that choosing a book is like trying to find a shoe that fits. A shoe that is too small is like a book that is too easy. It was a just right book when they were younger, but now they have grown and it is time to find a better fit. I also ran around in a shoe that was too large for me and the children immediately recognized that it was like choosing a book that was too hard. One day, the book will be a just right book, but they need to wait until they are ready. We also discussed that we don’t wear the same size shoes, so the books we read will probably not be the same either. Just like the prince tried to find the maiden that was a perfect fit for the shoe, we need to find a book that is a perfect fit for us!
May
12
State Book Reports
April
29
Book Parade
This year my class really enjoyed the humorous books by Dav Pilkey, so he was an easy choice when we had to choose an author for the Book Parade.
Visit Dav Pilkey’s site for information about his books and lots of fun games.
March
30
Time Lines
Today my reading class went to the computer lab and used a time line generator to create time lines from our interview sheets.
March
29
