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Blog Posts: Tips, Tricks, and Nonsense
Welcome to Fifth grade! I'm so happy to be your teacher. Please take a moment to fill out a short info form about your student here: https://forms.gle/HATWhThk22aB74ws7
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Mon, Aug. 19th
Sign up for Classdojo!
We'll be using ClassDojo for classroom interactions this year. We'll be uploading photos, videos, projects, and more! This will allow you to be a part of our classroom! Connect your student's account by clicking here: Click Here to Signup!
These Science & social studies books are hard to read!
Reading Non-Fiction text can be hard! The one way to read it well and understand it is to know strategies! We discuss these when we take notes and read, but when at home reviewing, or rereading a section, here are some tips that can help at home!
★ Decide the PURPOSE of reading a particular text.
- research, writing a report, textbook assignment, personal interest, etc.
Knowing the PURPOSE will help you decide what information and ideas are the most important to remember and learn.
★ Think about what you already KNOW and feel.
This will get your brain activated and ready to learn about a particular topic. It will allow your brain to connect new information to information that you already have stored in your brain.
★ PREVIEW the text.
- Pictures, graphs, bold font, heading, captions, etc.
This will also help activate your brain and get it ready for learning. The previewing will allow your brain to prepare for specific types of information that you are about to read.
★ Break the text into small chunks, slow down, re-read.
There are many facts and ideas that are presented in non-fiction text. Trying to learn from such text can be difficult or overwhelming at times. These strategies will help minimize the overload of information you are taking in at one time and will dramatically increase your understanding and comprehension.
★ Other Strategies you can use to understand, organize and remember what you read:
Picture it
Make connections
Keep notes
Make predictions
Ask questions
Monday, November 20th
Reading at home put in perspective
Here is a link to an excellent PDF that puts why students should read at least 20 minutes a night at home:
Why Can't I Skip My 20 Minutes of Reading Tonight?
It’s a proven fact that one of the single best ways to help a child become a better reader is for them simply to just READ! Newspapers, books, comics, graphic novels; Read, read, read is the key! The second problem is motivation. I myself was a struggling reader when I was younger. I didn’t like to read period. Even today I still struggle to get myself to read. The one thing that has helped me greatly with this problem though, is setting up a time every night to read. When 9:00 pm hits, BOOM! Book is open. Once I begin, it’s hard to stop! It’s that initial step that is hard to do.
Try this for a week and see if it has any effect. Set aside a time every night for a week, that the TV, computer, video games, cell phones, all turn off. Sit together as a family and just read. Read a book together, or read something separate. If you are excited about reading, your students will buy into that. Pick out a popular kids book such as a Harry Potter or other, and take turns reading it as a family. I guarantee after a week it will make a difference!
If you’re looking for ideas or guidance, try this site! It has some ideas!
Happy reading!