We’ve had a great start to the new school year! Once our DRAs were over with, we began working within our leveled reading groups. We each have a novel that is at our approximate reading level, and we are selecting how we want to comprehend at different points in the novel. Our novels of choice are Maniac Magee, Hidden Talents, Al Capone Does My Shirts, The Thief Lord, Coraline, and Freaky Green Eyes.
As we dig in to the new novels, we are focusing primarily on pre-reading strategies. We’re activating our prior knowledge, or schema, predicting, and getting to know the settings, purpose, and genre. We are given five or more choices for how to respond to our reading through graphic organizers, discussions, journal writing, and other organizing worksheets. As we read each chapter, we reflect on what we are reading so that we can retain what is read from day to day. Since we do not see each other every day, it is critical that we retain what we read.
Through the next few weeks, we will be exploring character development, vocabulary, and other key comprehension areas as we read our novels. Make sure you continue to read thirty minutes daily and respond with three sentences. Don’t forget that parent signature!! : )
We will all be writing a short essay that students can submit for the writing contest at www.studentessaycontest.com. Make sure the topic explores something or someone you could not live without. Students cannot write more than 250 words, and they can submit the essay directly on the essay contest website. Mrs. Swords does need a copy for herself of the essays. Happy writing!
Attached to this blog are some organizational tools we use. Enjoy!
Warmest regards,
Mrs. Swords
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