Reading Coach 4 P Report
Progress~Plans~Praise~Problems
Week of April 5th - 8th
Progress
- The week of March 21st to March 24th, I worked in our 5th grade teacher's classroom to begin our inquiry project.
- On Monday, I introduced an introductory lesson to get across the idea of "Wonder Questions" I incorporated and art element to stimulate their thinking. We watched a short video that featured waves. The students were asked the science question, "How are waves created?" They were given the choice of going to a station and use an art medium to illustrate how they believe waves are created. The kids shared their ideas and then I guided them through an article on Readworks.org about how waves were created. The kids were given the choice to read the article on-line or from a paper copy provided. They were asked to make notes on how waves are created with their partner. After reading and discussing their new learning, they returned to their art representation to "create/illustrate" their new learning.
- On Tuesday, I discussed the upcoming topics coming up in their Science Unit. I introduced the topics in the Science Book, added texts from the library as well as as illustrated landforms they would need to learn. I introduced the idea of narrowing a topic that provided them with interest and choice. We called them "Brainstorm Brackets" that were patterned after one side of the March Madness Bracket that we discovered in our District Reading Coach Meeting. The students explored the books for topic ideas and filled out their brackets. Then I guided them to narrow the topic.
- On Wednesday, I introduced the project expectations by first demonstrating an "ocean wave" in a bottle. I asked them what they "wondered" about the bottle and oceans. Then we looked at landforms by using picture cards. I guided them through a "toothpick art activity" where the students built landform representations to demonstrate what they learned about the landforms we discussed. I introduced that they would be researching their topic and writing an expository paragraph that answers a question they have about the topic. Once the paragraph is written they have to do an artistic representation to show what they learned. Elements of John Collins were included in this process. Students were given time to research. They had to find and paraphrase notes from two sources.
- On Thursday, they took their notes and wrote their rough draft for their expository paragraph. Once their paragraph was checked and all their notes turned in, the students were allowed to create using various forms of art medium to illustrate their learning.
- On
Plans
- I have graded the students' drafts over Spring Break and have planned with the teacher to conference with them during Focus Time. Organization of information is the main topic for the conferences.
- I will work to finish the inquiry project this week with Carol.
- I plan to work on a third grade project this week.
Praise
A shout out to how hard my teachers work. They have embraced strategies to help their students achieve academic growth. They are open to new ideas and are receptive to help.