Odds and Ends for Reading and Social Studies

Tomorrow is our Chapter 3 social studies test.  The students will be tested on the 5 ethnic groups that settled in the U.S.  We've spent the entire week reviewing in class - going over main ideas, writing songs, playing jeopardy and reviewing vocab.  Yesterday their packet for the chapter with review questions went home.  I realize tonight is a busy night for many families so we did more review in class than usual this week as I know that homework time for tonight is at a minimum. 

Book reports for October at due tomorrow.  I will pass out the new assignment for November tomorrow after they present and I'll also have it posted on here for you to reference if needed.  Be ready for some nonfiction :) 

Finally, we are starting the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes in class today.  The book is a biography of a young girl who lived in Hiroshima right after the atom bomb was dropped.  She develops leukemia as a result of the atom bomb.  The idea of the atom bomb can be a very mature topic.  Sadako was written in a 4th grade appropriate manner with minimal details of the atom bomb and of leukemia, however, it does elicit a lot of emotion towards the end as she loses her battle with leukemia.  I shared with the students today some of the background on the atom bomb but I do not go very in depth.  If your child is interested in learning more, I directed them to you.  I realize it's a sensitive topic and would hate to have them just searching on the internet without your knowledge.  Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Chapter 2 Social Studies Test

Another chapter done, which means some more study tips for preparing for the test.  The test is the same format as the previous one just with new information on it. 

Here are a few ways to study/prepare for the test: 

1.  Verbally go over the review sheet.  As we completed it in class, we talked about the answers and how we came to the answers.  Rereading it doesn't help them study.

2. Play the Jeopardy game.  I am emailing this out to you.  If you don't get it, please email me and I will email it to you.  The students have the answers for the questions.  The kids seem to really enjoy this way of studying and the questions relate to main ideas in the chapter (hint:  test questions). 

3.  Create the ABC Brainstorming list (like we did in Chapter 1).  Have your child try to brainstorm a word for each letter.  The words should relate to concepts in this chapter. 

4.  Talk about the 5 regions and see if they can tell you something they learned about each one.  They can show you the 5 regions (as talked about in the text book) since they have colored them in on their Chapter 2 Social Studies packet. 

5.  Ask your child to draw out the different landforms and terms that are part of our vocabulary study for this chapter:  coastal plain, plateau, basin, inland, line of latitude, line of longitude, map key, special-purpose map, scale, global grid, levee

September Book Celebration

Wow!  I wish that you were all able to see the kids as they shared their book reports.  They were so proud to share their hard work.  My favorite part is hearing them complement each other and encourage others to read the books that they read.  Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Streling and Mrs. Henson for bringing in treats for the class!  They were super yummy!

Mr. S's class ... ready to share! 

Check out all this hard work! 

Wow! So much to see!

Mrs. Hansen's class ... round 2 of sharing

We're inspired to read this book!

Preparing for the MEAP and our MEAP schedule

It's here!  The MEAP test is here at Blue Star and ready to be started tomorrow.  We've been working hard to review the material to help the students be on the best tomorrow but there are a couple of things that we talked about that we need your help with. 

1.  Make sure your child is well rested.  We will do our best to minimize homework during the next two weeks, and we ask that you do your best to help get the students in bed at a reasonable time.  Rested brains are best! 

2.  We will be making times for 2 snack breaks on the days we have MEAP.  One of the times will be right when we get to school and the second will be after the first testing part.  Your child should bring in 2 healthy snacks for testing days.  We will not allow them to eat candy bars or other food like that prior to taking the test.  Treats like that can be saved for lunch time. 

3. On that same note, make sure your child has a healthy breakfast before coming to school.  We talked about how our brain is a muscle too and needs healthy food in order to perform at its best. 

4.  Stay positive!  The kids are prepared and the test is a review.  They will do spectacular on it! 

Thanks so much for your help! 

I'm also including time schedules for the MEAP...

Oct. 8 8:50-9:50 and 10:15 - 11:00 (reading)
Oct. 9 8:50-10:10 (reading)
Oct. 10 8:50-9:50 and 10:15 - 11:30 (writing)

Oct. 15 8:50-9:40 and 10:15-10:50 (math)
Oct.16 8:50-9:50 and 10:15-10:35 and 1:00-2:00 (our LONG writing day!)

October Book Report

Here it is ... our newest Book Report Assignment

October Project

“Cereal Box Books”

Type of book:  A book from a series

Directions:

         *Find a book that you are really interested in reading.  Make sure that you get the book “okayed” with your teacher before you begin this project.  Your report will not be graded if you do not have your book checked by the teacher first.

         *Cover a cereal box with paper.  On the front, write the title and create a new cover for the book that you read.  On the back create a summary of the book.  If your book already has a summary, please create another one.  On one side of the box, list the characters in the book.  On the other side of the box, rate your book using whatever method you choose.

       *On the very top of the box, write the title, author and copyright date of the book.  

         *Be creative!  When you go to the store to buy cereal, you want to buy cereal with “cool” boxes so make sure that you create a “cool” book report box.

         *Be neat!  This is your chance to show the class your best work!

Materials Needed:  A book of your choice, cereal box (if you are unable to get one, see your teacher), markers and/or crayons, etc.

DUE DATE:   November 1

How do I help my child become a life-long reader?

This is compliments of Mrs. Newhouse our Reading Specialist....

How do I Help My Child Become a Life-Long Reader?

3 Tried and True Ways to Help Older Elementary Students to Love Reading!

#1—READ TO THEM!!!—You must “Capture” them in a good story or a non-fiction book that has a topic that interests them: sports, outdoors, wildlife, fantasy, science fiction, history, whatever their passion is.  Then…read to them almost every night!  Make it a priority, a special time with your child (you can have all your children listening!). Make sure you bring the passion to it because they will pick up on that passion!  Don’t make it work for them. You must show them the wonders of just reading for pure enjoyment!

Here are some resources for finding great books:

1.     Your child’s teacher(s).  

2.     Your local library (talk to a librarian!).  

3.     Websites: Scholastic Books Parent Resources (www.scholastic.com/parents/), Random House Children’s Books (www.randomhousekids.com), The Best Children’s Books (www.the-best-childrens-books.org). 

#2—LISTEN TO THEM READ!—Have it be a book of their choice. Within that book, do some shared reading:  They read a page, you read a page.  If they need to work on their fluency, have them read that page (or even a paragraph) again until it is read smoothly and effortlessly. Throw in some comprehension questions. Have them give you a retell.  Say, “Now, tell me all about the story that you just read.”  Listen for them to state the main idea and give 3 or more details in a meaningful sequence. If you are reading non-fiction, have them list important facts they have learned.  Go deeper and ask them who, what, why, when, where, how, I wonder questions.

#3-LISTENING AND READING TO BOOKS ON TAPE/CD—Your local library has many books on CD.   Have your child choose one that they would like to listen to and/or read along with. A great time to do this is in the car on short or long trips.  In addition to listening to the book, have a copy of the book so your child can read along.  Having them read aloud will help them hear and practice good fluency. 

For all 3 of these, make the reading process an enjoyable experience.  Push them to do their best (read the exact words that are on the page!) and think beyond the text.  Do not make “Not reading” an option.  Make it a part of your everyday life!  Set the example by reading yourself and sharing with them what you are reading.  Take your books, magazines, newspapers, etc. with you when you go to appointments, ballgames, the beach, and more!!