Monday November 2nd, 2015

New book this week! Students finished reading "Mangoes and Bananas", by Nathan Kumar Scott, in our last class. We began reading "Magic Tree House: Night of the New Magicians", by Mary Pope Osborne, in class today. Have your student go over our first reading of "Night of the Magicians" with you tonight. They'll be able to explain the book setting and characters! 

Vocabulary

1. mysterious
2. legendary
3. prove
4. mission
5. dangled
6. sorcerer
7. magical
8. Camelot
9. defeat
10. discovered

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge

Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Henry: The Imaginary Friend". 

Class Reading

Began reading: "Magic Tree House: Night of the New Magicians" by Mary Pope Osborne

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "The Library"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are not the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

Class Writing Activity

• Write 5 complete sentences using beginning, middle, and end format. Include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words in your writing; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. Who are Jack and Annie, and what is the Magic Tree House? 
2. What is the Paris Wold's Fair, and why are Jack and Annie being sent there?  
3. Who are the 4 magicians? What are each magicians talents? 
4. What is the rhyme book, and how must it be used? Who gave it to Annie and Jack? 
5. What do you think will happen in this book? Why do you think the magicians need help? How do you imagine the World's Fair? The magicians? The evil sorcerer?  

Wednesday October 28th, 2015

Our class finished "Dog Days" today. We encourage parents to take a moment to discuss the book with their child and ask their favorite parts! Class voted last week to read "Magic Tree House: Night of the Magicians" as our next book. We'll begin that book next week. Please be sure your child has a copy of the book. There are a few copies at the local libraries. 

Vocabulary

1. patient
2. darted
3. minutes
4. watched
5. instant
6. opposite
7. protect
8. leftovers
9. accept
10. condition

Reading

Class Reading

• Reviewed and discussed last weeks reading and writing activity. 
• Continued reading "Dog Days" by David Lubar , Chapter 8.

Writing

Finish the Story Activity: "Dark, Dark House"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They read the beginning of a story and completed the story in their own words. This activity helped students strengthen their writing skills as well as their reading comprehension skills. 

Vocabulary Baseball

Baseball to strengthen writing skills and vocabulary comprehension!

Student sat at "home-base" with pencil and paper. 
Teacher "pitched" a vocabulary word to student. Student wrote a complete sentence using the "pitched" vocabulary word. A hit occurred when if the sentence was complete and the vocabulary word usage was correct; a strike occurred when the student did not use a complete sentence or the word was used incorrectly. Students were also thrown out on base if they were unable to use the thrown word correctly. 

Class Writing

Short sentences written describing the material read aloud in class. 

• Write 6 complete sentences with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your sentences. 
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words; please underline your vocabulary words. 
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following items (in complete sentences) in your essay: 

1. What did Larry realize the stray dog was doing once he thought about the word "dinnertime"? What did the dog wait on the same time everyday in the alley?
2. Why did Larry say the dog growled while in the alley, and what did Larry say the red spots were on the wall?
3. What was Larry's second part of the plan?
4. What did the owner offer Larry? What was the owner's condition for Larry?
5. What did Larry name the stay dog and who did he give the dog to? 

 Homework

• Similes Worksheet
• Word Contraction Worksheet 

Monday October 26th, 2015

Students were asked to bring a book next week to discuss. Once each students talks about their book, the class will vote on which book they would like to read in class next! 

Vocabulary

1. another
2. agreed
3. fair
4. rainforest
5. complained
6. scampered
7. delicious
8. hungry
9. admiring
10. disappeared

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge

Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Scaredy Cat and the Shadowy Monster". 

Class Reading

Began reading: "Mangoes and Bananas" by Nathan Kumar Scott

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Halloween Costume"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are not the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

"Mangoes and Bananas" Writing Activity

• Write 5 complete sentences using beginning, middle, and end format. Include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words in your writing; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. How do Kanchil and Monyet plan to get the fruit off the trees?
2. What happened to the plan? What happened that was not fair? 
3. What did Kanchil do to make things fair?
4. How would you solve the problem? 

Wednesday October 21st, 2015

Last two chapters of "Dog Days" this week and next! Class will begin a new book the week of November 4th. Students were asked again to bring a book they'd like to read in class next week; students will vote on their next class book next week. 

Vocabulary

1. promised
2. fault
3. figure
4. quickly 
5. patterns
6. realized
7. cycle
8. family
9. plan
10. dinnertime

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge

Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Halloween"  

Class Reading

• Reviewed and discussed last weeks reading and writing activity. 
• Continued reading "Dog Days" by David Lubar , Chapter 7.

Writing

Finish the Story Activity: "The Halloween Costume"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They read the beginning of a story and completed the story in their own words. This activity helped students strengthen their writing skills as well as their reading comprehension skills. 

Class Writing

Short sentences written describing the material read aloud in class. 

• Write 6 complete sentences with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your sentences. 
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words; please underline your vocabulary words. 
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following items (in complete sentences) in your essay: 

1. What was the bad news Carlos told Larry? Why was the news so bad for Larry, and how did he feel after he was told the news?
2. Though everyday seems different, what did Larry realize about dogs that was similar to his own life? 
3. Describe two of the cycles that Larry observed. 
4. What do you think Larry's plan is? 
5. Why do you think that everything came together for Larry when he thought about the word "dinnertime"? 

Homework

• Similes Worksheet
• Word Contraction Worksheet 

Monday October 19th, 2015

Students were able to complete last week's objectives as we had a full class today; we had to keep on task as we had a LOT to cover!

Vocabulary

1. another
2. agreed
3. fair
4. rainforest
5. complained
6. scampered
7. delicious
8. hungry
9. admiring
10. disappeared

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge

Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Sprinkles". 

Class Reading

Began reading: "Mangoes and Bananas" by Nathan Kumar Scott

Acting for Reading Activity

Students draw at random characters from well known books and act scenes out. Enhances students reading comprehension, teaches elements of a good story, and increases their visual interpretation skills!

• Book: "The Great Race", by Nathan Kumar Scott.
• Characters: Pelon, Kanchil, Kakatua

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "Cat and Dragon Share the Food"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are not the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

"Mangoes and Bananas" Writing Activity

• Write 5 complete sentences using beginning, middle, and end format. Include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words in your writing; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:

1. Who are the main characters of the story? Describe each character. 
2. What problem do the two friends have? 
3. What plan do Kanchil and Monyet come up with to solve their problem?
4. What types of food would you grow in your garden? 

Wednesday October 14th, 2015

We are closing in on the last few chapters of "Dog Days" by David Lubar. Students were asked what book they want to read next and encouraged to bring that book to class next week to discuss with the rest of the class. 

Vocabulary

1. deserved
2. surprising
3. worry
4. wondered
5. keeping
6. wrong
7. decided
8. figured
9. enough
10. single

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge
Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Sprinkles"  

Class Reading

• Reviewed and discussed last weeks reading and writing activity. 
• Continued reading "Dog Days" by David Lubar , Chapter 6 

Writing

Five Minute Writing Challenge: "Cat and Dragon Share the Food"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

Vocabulary Baseball

Baseball to strengthen writing skills and vocabulary comprehension!

Student sat at "home-base" with pencil and paper. 
Teacher "pitched" a vocabulary word to student. Student wrote a complete sentence using the "pitched" vocabulary word. A hit occurred when if the sentence was complete and the vocabulary word usage was correct; a strike occurred when the student did not use a complete sentence or the word was used incorrectly. Students were also thrown out on base if they were unable to use the thrown word correctly. 

Class Writing

Short sentences written describing the material read aloud in class. 

• Write 6 complete sentences with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your sentences. 
• Use 3 of the daily vocabulary words; please underline your vocabulary words. 
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following items (in complete sentences) in your essay: 

1. Why wasn't Larry going to play baseball on such a nice day?
2. Where did Larry go look for work? What businesses did he stop and ask to work at? Did Larry find work at any of the businesses? 
3. Why did Larry want Paul to come with him to play baseball? 
4. Why did Larry say that looking for the dog in the alley is like watching Paul? What was one of the differences? 
5. What do you think the bad news is from Carlos? 

Homework

• 
  

Monday October 12th, 2015

Extended class today! Class runs for an hour and a half today, to make up for our missed class September 28th. As most students did not show for class, we will wait to start our new book next week. 

Vocabulary

1. another
2. agreed
3. fair
4. rainforest
5. complained
6. scampered
7. delicious
8. hungry
9. admiring
10. disappeared

Reading

Five Minute Reading Challenge

Students listened to a passage Miss Adrienne read out loud in class for specific details, so they could illustrate what they heard. Students encouraged to use creativity while strengthening their listening and comprehension skills. 

Read passage from "Seven and Lost!". 

Drawing for Reading Activity
"Fall and Halloween" Theme

Students given a grid with questions. Students must read the sentence and draw what they read. 

Writing

Five Minute Creative Writing Challenge: "New Friends"

Students took 5 minutes in class to creatively write. They used an  image they selected off of https://storybird.com for their creative inspiration. Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization skills are not the focus of this challenge! Students have five minutes to dig deep into their creative minds and write about what they see! 

Vertical Vocabulary Challenge

Students picked a vocabulary word off the board and wrote it on the paper vertically. 
For each letter of the selected vocabulary words, the students wrote a word or phrase that related to their vocabulary word. Decoration of work encouraged! 

Vocabulary Baseball

Baseball to strengthen writing skills and vocabulary comprehension!

Student sat at "home-base" with pencil and paper. 
Teacher "pitched" a vocabulary word to student. Student wrote a complete sentence using the "pitched" vocabulary word. A hit occurred when if the sentence was complete and the vocabulary word usage was correct; a strike occurred when the student did not use a complete sentence or the word was used incorrectly. Students were also thrown out on base if they were unable to use the thrown word correctly.