Hawker-Shipley Newsletter
February 18, 2016
Reading...It's Complicated
Reading/Language Arts
The goal of guided reading is to give your child the tools to become independent readers. The main way you do this is by teaching them strategies. Strategies are the key to guided reading! These strategies help them when they get to a word they don't know and when they've read a word incorrectly. I think of those as accuracy strategies. There are also strategies to improve comprehension. We work on these strategies at school and you can work on them at home with your child.
What is it?
Comprehension of a text and decoding words happens in your head. We, as teachers, do Think-Alouds to vocalize to our students our thoughts and explaining the thinking process. We use words, that the students will understand, to communicate strategies good readers use while reading. This strategy is one of the most important things a teacher can do. You can do this at home too. Simply read aloud with your child from a text and stop frequently to make predictions, connections, clarify meaning, ask a question, summarize and decode words.
How Else Can I Use These Strategies at Home?
To guide your child in this process, there are questions and phrases you can teach them.
- Decoding/Accuracy:
- "That didn't make sense. I better go back and reread."
- "I'm not sure what that word is. I'm going to cover this part of the word and read a small chunk first. s-p...sp. Now I'm going to read the rest of the word, i-ll..ill. sp-ill...spill."
- "I've tried sounding out and chunking that word, so I'm going to skip it, read the rest of the sentence and go back. (model this)
- Connecting:
- "This reminds me of..."
- "That was like the time when..."
- Predicting:
- "On the next page, I think..."
- "I predict that..."
- "I think I know what might happen next"
- "This page makes me think that _______ will happen next"
- Visualizing:
- "I can picture..."
- "I like the way the author described that. I'm going to stop and try to picture that in my head. I see..."
- Questioning:
- "I wonder..."
- "Why did..."
- "I don't understand why..."
- "How did..."
- "Is this because..."
- "Where was..."
- "Could this mean..."
- Check in/Clarify:
- "I'm confused about..."
- "I'm not sure about..."
- "I think this happened because..."
- "I think this character did _______ because ________"
- "I'll keep reading and check back to see if..."
- "I'll reread this to make sure I understand"
- "I didn't expect..."
- Summarize/retell:
- "Right now the character is..."
- "So far..."
- "On this page.."
- "What just happened here..."
- "I think this is mainly about..."
- "The big idea is..."
When I am planning my guided reading instruction, I often look for opportunities for students to apply these strategies. For example, if there is a page where I know my students can all make a connection, I put a sticky note there and make a point to guide my students to stop and make that connection.
Being able to monitor their thinking and articulate these thoughts is a pretty advanced skill, but that is what we want our kids to be able to do.
What's Up in the Classroom?
Reading
This week we learned that the THEME of a story / poem is THE MESSAGE that the author wants us to learn. Often times it's not stated clearly in the text, it is implied. (See anchor chart below!) We talked about how good readers should always be looking for themes in their texts!
Writing
We are wrapping up our persuasive unit! Your child has learned all about the writing moves of this genre and how an essay is structured. Your child will share his/her drafts with you! Students continue to work on persuasive essays. Students have been working on editing and revising their pieces and working together to make their writing better! Final copy is due Monday! We have also been putting some writing on our blogs. Ask your child to see them!
Spelling
New sorts next week! Is your child coming home each night and practicing his her spelling patterns? If not, please help them remember.
Math
All students are working on learning metric, customary and time conversions. You can support this learning by asking to see your child's notes from class, and also by asking them to practice using their "Splash Math" app on their iPads. There is a "Measurement" category.
Ex: 5m = ___ cm or 5 ft = ___ in.
Students must be able to complete word problems involving the conversion process.
Next week, we will be moving onto fractions. Students will be expected to:
- add and subtract fractions
- solve story problems involving fractions
- show knowledge of equivalent fractions
- decompose a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same denominator in more than one way.
Science
Just think - without motion, everything would be stuck in the same place. Earth wouldn't travel around the sun. Even the hands of the clock would stand still. In fact, nothing would ever change. You can tell if something is moving or not, but can you explain just HOW you know. That is exactly what we are learning to do in class. We are learning with the really cool technology called Spheros.
Notes From The Teacher
Kwik Trip Order Form Due Next Friday!
If you would like to place an order, forms and payment are due by Friday, February 26. Click here for a form!
Orders will be sent home or available for pick up approximately on March 9.
Order your Forest Glen Apparel Today!
Order forms were sent home with your child last week. You can access the order form here or on the PTO web site. Order forms with payment are due on Friday, February 26.
Seroogy Candy sale runs through Wednesday, February 24. Product will be available for pick up on Tuesday, March 15 from 3pm-6pm. Need an order form? Click here!
Items available consist of gift boxes of assorted chocolates, meltaways and caramels. Easter products of butter fudge eggs and solid milk chocolate bunnies or lambs and of course signature coffees! Questions or to volunteer for sorting on March 15, please contact Kathy Schommer at 434-8871.
Forest Glen Spring Carnival
Friday, March 11
5:30pm-8:30pm
Volunteers needed! If you are able to help, please use the link below to volunteer! If you have any questions, please contact Paula Prokash, Volunteer Coordinator atpaulprok@hssd.k12.wi.us
Click to volunteer here!
If you have donations, you can drop them off at the school office.
District Art Show at Bay Port
March 9, 2016 from 6:00pm-7:30pm
Come join other community members for the 2016 District Art Show! The evening will feature K-12 art and Bay Port High School Orchestra as well as An Empty Bowls Project. The events takes place in the new Bay Port High School Union and Commons.An Empty Bowls Project event allows visitors to purchase (through donation) pieces of pottery and a meal. All proceeds from Empty Bowls will be donated to a local charity.
Mark Your Calendars for Summer School!
Online Registration Begins Tuesday, April 12 at 4:30 pm.
Walk-in registration is available at Lineville Intermediate School 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm. Computers will be available. First come, first serve. Assistance will be available with summer school staff. Cash, check, Visa or MasterCard accepted at registration. Classes close when they are full.
2016 Summer School Booklet not available at this time.
Click here to find out more information about 2016 Summer School and to access online registration on April 12!
Summer School Dates
Session 1: June 13 - July 1
Session 2: July 5 - July 22
Class times for both sessions
Period A 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Period B 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Period C 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
If you have or will be taking pictures of events happening at Forest Glen, please email them to forestglenptohistorian@gmail.com and include grade, teacher and description of event along with your pictures! Pictures will be considered for printing in our annual school memory book. Any questions? Please contact Tammy Colassacco, colassacco@yahoo.com