Stone Fox & Word Study

           We continue to work on our Building a Reading Life unit. Stone Fox is the mentor text. As I read this book to the class teaching points are made. Students are then able to apply these skills in their independent reading. It is an engaging novel about a ten year old boy, Willy. He lives on a potato farm in Wyoming with his grandfather. When his grandfather falls ill, Willy is determined to save their potato farm. The story takes place at an indeterminate time in the American Old West. Through this engaging story we are learning how to read for understanding and enjoyment. And, boy do the students enjoy it!

          Students have begun their word study work. We use a program called Words Their Way. Based on pre-assessment results, I have grouped the students. They work on daily activities using their assigned word list. Activities include spelling words with tiles, sorting, writing sentences, technology based activities and finally a spell check.

Our First Few Days Together

  

      We had a great first week in Room 32! As you can imagine there are many routines to learn as we begin a new school year. Your children really made an effort to listen and get to know each other. Rules and routines are so very important to a well run classroom. This will help to maximize learning.

      To help us create our rules and understand why they are important we read an interesting story, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. The main character, Max is acting WILD. Students laughed at his experiences with the wild things. Max thought it would be fun to be with those wild things because they allowed him to do what ever he wanted. He soon learned that he was lonely and wanted to be back with his family where he felt safe and loved.

        Our learning has begun! Students have already shown their enthusiasm for learning. In reading and writing we begin the year with creating a strong foundation for confident, independent upper elementary readers and writers. 

Our goal is to instill a love for both reading and writing that will become lifelong habits.

        In reading students will learn to choose just right books, set reading goals, make predictions as well as other comprehension strategies. Listening and speaking skills will continue to improve through reading and talking with each other about their books.

       In writing students will be continuing their work from previous grades and write their own personal narratives. They will generate ideas then focus and elaborate on small moments. They will edit, revise and write long and strong!

      We begin math with a unit focused on addition and subtraction fact patterns and strategies. This serves as a nice review of second grade skills. Students will also work with problem solving and practice their skills with multi-digit addition and subtraction.

   

      I look forward to a great year! Please feel free to contact me with questions.