Real Readers!

We continued through the week working on visualization as a reading strategy. We drew pictures as we listened to Eric Carle's Mixed Up Chameleon as we listened to the story. We learned that visualizing helps us to remember the story.

We also began working on creating a lead to our stories that "hook" the reader....draws them in so the reader wants to continue. We learned one way was to begin was with an exclamation. We then tried it on our own.

In math we worked more on place value, making change, and working with money.

Here are a few REAL READERS you might enjoy listening to:

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Rockin' Readers!

Rockin' Readers LOVE to READ!!!! What do YOU Rock 'n Read to?????

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Be sure and stop in to check out our Hallway 3 Rockin' Reader bulletin board! Hallway 3 ROCKS along the TRACKS to SUCCESS!!! (Stop in....and you'll see what we mean!)

Real Readers!

Enjoy listening to Emily and Amal as they read to the class this week:

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We began working on visualization as a reading comprehension strategy this week. We have learned that our mental images are all different because our schema is different. We've also learned that our mental images change as we read.

In writing, we are learning that writers add details to their story by answering who, what, where, etc. questions as they write. We've also learned that writers write in different genre's and writers use "juicy" words to help the reader visualize the story as they read.

Our math focus this week has been on place value and number sense.

I hope every one is using their TenMarks log in information and exploring this wonderful math site to enhance math learning! And...don't forget to go to Xtramath.org to practice their math facts.

October 17-21

Another busy busy week. Are they ever anything else?

We continued to learn more about schema and how it helps us as readers. We also learned how we can take our learning and connect to existing schema and extend our learning. To help us, we first wrote what the book said, then, what it meant in our own words. Then we wrote what meant. The book says....I say....And so that means....

The students did a great job as they begin to dig deeper into text. We will continue with this as we move into visualization as a reading strategy.

In writing, we continued with our personal narratives, but we learned that writers anticipate questions their readers might have with their stories, and answered those questions as they wrote. Ali H. reminded us to SHOW, DON'T TELL!!!

In math we worked on problem solving and then Unit 3 where we began working on place value.

And...in the middle of all of this...we learned more about insects and went on a field trip to Naper Settlement as we began a unit of looking back into our past. I hope everyone enjoyed the slide show. Here are a few more pictures and videos from this week:

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Naper Settlement Field Trip

A trip back in time....

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All the news....

Just 4 days...and so much happened!

We continued to learn about schema and how it helps us understand our reading. We read Patches Lost and Found and wrote our connections to the story. Then we picked one connection and wrote what it helped us to understand in the book.

We also continued to write our personal narratives. We learned about seed stories. Ask your child if they remember what a seed story was. They each received "seed planners" to use in their writing this week. I'm looking forward to reading their stories over the weekend.

We finished up Chapter 2 in math. Next week we begin learning more about place value.

And...we learned more about insects. We continued our meal worm observations. Our caterpillars are now all in the next stage: chrysalis. We also got to observe a praying mantis that Mrs. Negele brought in to share.

I will be out of the building on Monday, but, I am excited about our substitute teacher: Mrs. Haseman. She is a retired teacher from Spring Trail Elementary, where both of my daughters went to school. In fact, she had both of my daughters when they were in 3rd grade! She is a FANTASTIC teacher. So much so, that when I was in school from my masters' degree about 15 years ago (that long!!!!) I did observations in her classroom. I learned a lot! When I was a substitute teacher, I also subbed for Mrs. Haseman. Tables are turned now! So I assure you....your children are in good hands and there will be no interruption in learning!!!

Enjoy listening to Samantha, Joseph, Jacob E., and Frank read:

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Thursday's Child of the Day Real Reader!

Enjoy Owen's reading of The Three Little Pigs!

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Jumpstart Read for the Record!

Thank you American Eagle for donating Llama Llama, Red Pajama to our classroom! And thank you Ashley Stringham (my daughter!) and store manager of the AE store in Charlestowne Mall for reading the book to the students!

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Nature Dan and the World of Insects!

Enjoy!

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Wonderful Wednesday!

Another whirlwind day! We made get well cards for Mr. Ortiz who is in the hospital. Then, Nature Dan from the Bartlett Nature center brought in his insects....wow...did we learn a lot!

Alyssa was our child of the day. Enjoy a video of her reading to the class:

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I will post pictures of Nature Dan this weekend. Ask your student about the Madagascar Hissing Roach!!!!

Tailspin Tuesday!

What a BUSY, BUSY, day!!!!

2 Mystery Readers
2 students reading to the class
1 trip to the library
mealworm observations
butterfly observations
reading workshop
math workshop
writers workshop

Enjoy!!!!

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Dr. Torres Visits our Classroom!

Dr. Torres promised on Friday that he would return with a surprise...and he did! He took time out of his busy schedule to read April and Esme Tooth Fairies by Bob Graham! It was a fantastic (and funny!) book. I wonder who in our class will be the first to read it tomorrow?!?!?



Enjoy! We did!!!

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Thank you, Dr. Torres! Please come back....anytime!