Kinds of Sentences

After learning about the four kinds of sentences we practiced them.  I put students into groups of four.  They each got a different color sticky note.  Each color represented a type of sentence.  Together they had to write an example for each of the four different kinds of sentences and put them into the correct spot.

Cubby Covers

       Every year my students make a cover for their cubby.  This helps to keep some of their items secure and private.  It also provides an attractive art display for our room.
       We used white paper, folded it so there would be sixteen squares.  We then wrote our names, using one letter per square and repeating the name until we ran out of squares.  To finish it we painted each square with water color.

Cliff Hanger

As a class we read Cliff Hanger by Jean Craighead George.  We had Mr. Ian McRae come in and teach us about rock climbing gear.  It helped us learn vocabulary from the story.  Thanks Mr. McRae!

A New School Year

August is here and the wheels are turning towards the first day of school.  The dreams have started and the plans are under way.  The excitement as the days close in is high.  I look forward to getting to know my new class and the days ahead of learning and adventure!  I sent out this welcome letter to introduce myself to my students.

 View Class Introduction letter here:

Multiplication Flashcards

We are working on memorizing our multiplication facts.  Here is how we are organizing the facts we know, from the ones we need to learn.

Raven's Day

Story telling for culturally responsive literacy.  Two years ago Brett Dillingham, a wonderful story teller from Juneau, came to my class.  He helped me learn an excellent process to help students write and tell their very own stories.  We started off by watching a video of B. Dillingham telling a story and analyzing what makes him a great story teller.

Here is Brett Dillingham's telling of Raven's Day.

Reading Journals - YAY!

Today I introduced Reading Journals to help silent reading be a little more directed.   When students come into class, there will be a picture projected on the promethean board with a reading strategy and questions to answer in their journal.  After they're done responding to the questions, they will have 15 minutes of silent reading time.  They will then have five minutes to respond in their journals connecting their personal reading choice to the strategy they wrote about earlier.

  Here is an example:

REALISM & FANTASY: When you look at this image, think about what could actually happen in a real life setting, and what would only happen in a fantasy setting. List your ideas in a T-chart in your reading journal.

After their 15 min. of silent reading, I would follow up with a question about their book, whether it is realism or fantasy, and have them give an example.  

I have a wonderful source for these reading skill photos and questions.  You can follow her board on pinterest:  Suzy Brook's Reading Skills and Strategies