Session 1

1. Explain to students that they are going to make reading journals. Demonstrate the procedure for making the journals by making a sample, then write the needs list for making the journals on the board for student reference.
   
2. Have students make and decorate their own journals. Write "Reading Journal" on the board for students to copy as a title.

Literature Circles w/ Primary Students Using Self-Selected Reading

Overview
For self-paced literature circles, students choose their own reading material, respond to reading in a journal, and talk about their books daily in small groups. The teacher guides the work through structured prompts and by rotating participation with the groups. Students read at their individual levels, while heterogeneous grouping provides peer support. This lesson is a structured guideline for helping students learn to think about the books they read, and to ask questions about books shared by other students. It is especially appropriate for mixed-age and upper primary classes, or for cross-grade buddy work. From Theory to Practice
Talking about books supports written responses to reading.
Sharing books orally can help students recall main plot points and details in the stories they read.
Working in heterogeneous groups provides support and modeling for students who need assistance.
Choosing their own reading materials helps students learn to read for pleasure.
Sharing thoughts about reading introduces students to a wide variety of books.Further ReadingDaniels, Harvey, and Marilyn Bizar. 1998. Methods That Matter: Six Structures for Best Practice Classrooms. York, ME: Stenhouse.Fountas, Irene C., and Gay Su Pinnell. 2001. Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6): Teaching Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

The Students Will:

• read independently for an extended time.
• write personal thoughts about stories they read.
• talk about stories in small groups, responding to given prompts.
• ask questions about shared stories.
• use details about stories they read to respond in writing to specific prompts.

Instructional Plan Resources
General classroom supplies (blank 8x11 paper for journal pages; 12x18 construction paper for covers; mimeographed directions and questions list; access to the classroom library; chart paper; markers).
A read-aloud story that has an interesting character and a clear problem and solution. Two possibilities are Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola, or Miss Nelson Is Missing by Harry Allard.

Keyboarding

Mrs. Harrell graciously searched the internet and discovered these wonderful sites to help your child with Keyboarding. I would highly recommend that your child spend some time during the week to help improve his / her typing skills!

Free Typing Game

Keyboarding Games

Typing Games

Hyper Typer

Keyboarding Games w/ Links

State Reports Research

General Internet searches:
Fifty States information at http://www.50states.com
Info Please at http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
General State Information at http://www.netstate.com/
Library Resources Information:
Start at http://www.springbranchisd.com
Look for Library Resources
Encyclopedia Britannica
User Name: springbranch
Password: libraries
ABClio (State Geography)
User Name: spring
Ebsco - Searchasaurus
User Name: springbranch
Password: libraries
Discovery Education
User Name: springbranch
Password: libraries

Casey At The Bat

This morning, we were entertained as we watched a motivational production of Casey At the Bat. The kids learned about humility and cooperation.

Fiction Lesson

Today, we had a library lesson on Fiction books. Here is what was learned:

Everybody Books Are / Have...

Made Up Stories
Characters
Illustrations (color)
Title Page w/ Author
Setting
Beginning, Middle & End (Plot)
Cover
Usually 32 Pages
Spine that States the Title
Call Number (Author's Last Name)

Fiction Books Are / Have...

Historical Fiction
Adventure
REaslistict Fiction
Fatasy - Science Fiction
Mysteries
Chapters
Table of Contents

After the lesson, the kids were given the oppotunity to select a Fiction book to check out! Please encourage your child to always use the 5 finger rule (Select a page and read it. If you come to 5 words on that page that one doesn't recognize or know, then that book is too hard!) when selecting a book!

Balance & Motion

This nine weeks, we are studying Balance and Motion. Yesterday (and today for some), we concentrated on what makes things balance. I opened the lesson by brainstorming a list of things that balanced. We spoke of Counterweights and how humans use their arms to help them counterweight their bodies. I then showed them this clip of how gymnist balance:

The class then got to make a mobile to take home and share. On the mobile, there should be 3 vocabulary words written:

Balance: when an object stays in position on its own without being held there.
Stable: it's steady - it's not falling over.
Mobile: is a system of balanced beams and objects.

Next, I poked their curiosity as we tried to figure out how rollercoasters balance and use counterweights. I have to admit, I'm a little partial to The Texas Cyclone that used to be at Astroworld!


Questions to ponder over dinner:
What do you have to do to get a mobile to balance?
What kinds of things could you use besides pictures to make a mobile?