Reading Response Journal-

During Daily 5, the students are working on a "Reading Response Journal". Right now they are just working on writing the first paragraph of the journal which is a summary of what they have been reading. Eventually, they will also include paragraphs about their reading goals and strategies. The students will have one journal entry due each week. They have assigned due dates so they can plan ahead and have their journal done.

 Below are pictures of the students working on their journal.

College

This week is "College GO!" week. We will be discussing going to college throughout the week. Today we discussed the importance of college and having a plan. Even as fourth graders, it is important to have the goal of going to college. A few students had not only the goal, but knew where they wanted to go and what they wanted to be when they went to college!


Below is a  picture of the class holding signs saying, "Hello, my name is _______ and I am going to college!" 

Reader's Theater

I was so impressed with how the students did on their reader's theater. They did an amazing job!

Reader's theater- "Casey at Bat"










Reader's theater- "The Grass is Always Greener and Let Sleeping Dogs Lie"











Reader's theater- "Jackie Robinson- Breaking Baseballs Barriers"

Our Mystery Guest Reader.....

Principal Ms. Higgins!!!!!

Read to Someone

Buddy Reading

Reader's Theater

Today we will be practicing three different reader's theaters. Each student is assigned to one of the reader's theaters. The students have assigned reading parts that correspond with their reading levels. They are being graded on their corporation with their classmates, participation, fluency, and comprehension.

Read-a-Thon

It is a wonderful thing to ask your students what they would like to work towards earning for their good behavior and they say to read all day by having a read-a-thon! During a read-a-thon, we do only reading activities all day. I have my students bring in a beach towel or blanket to lay on, a special snack and drink, and their favorite books from home. Today my students will be buddy reading, reading to self, performing a reader's theater, having guest readers, and reading to the class.  I will be updating the blog throughout the day of our different activities!

Below we kicked off of our read-a-thon by reading to self!

Update on Daily 5

We now have four of our five Daily 5 activities in full swing. In addition, I have a rotation of SuccessMaker going during the 90 minute block. SuccessMaker is a computer program that works with your child at their level in reading and in math. We do reading SuccessMaker everyday during our 90 minute block and math SuccessMaker three times a week during our math rotations.


It amazes me that this spot is one of the "hotspots" in the room. It looks so uncomfortable!




SuccessMaker Reading




Billy getting comfortable during "Read to Self"




Jazmyn and Gavin doing "Read to Self"

Tests in Room 19

I have a policy that the students can sit wherever they want during tests. I have found that it makes the tests more enjoyable (or as enjoyable as tests can be) for the students. It is interesting to see the different preferences. Their preferences include laying or sitting on the ground using lapboards, sitting in the comfy seats,  and sitting at their desks.

Science Break

August 30
During writers' workshop today we were interrupted by an exciting experience! Seven deer were grazing outside our windows. We had to take a short science break and discuss!