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Post date: Jul 23, 2009 2:44:22 AM
Summer school is more than halfway over. Can you believe it? We've been working so hard this summer and having so much fun--the kids haven't even noticed how quickly the weeks have been passing! *Please let me know if your child will not be attending summer school for the last week. In order for your child to be eligible for a passing grade, I must assess him/her and compare the results to the pre-test given during week 1.
This week, we read several selections, such as Jackson Jones and the Puddle of Thorns, Celebrating Holidays (letters), A Statue Like No Other (non-fiction play), Dear Diary, Fireworks (poem), Those Terrific Tumblers (news story), and Powwow (poem). We have been focusing a lot on identifying the features of non-fiction (real) text. Some features include photographs (not illustrations), maps, graphs, captions under photographs, bold words, and facts. To help us identify text features and to relate to the stories we read, we have been using Comprehension Beach Balls--these are beach balls with questions that make children think about what they've just read. We have also been reviewing the parts of a friendly letter (heading, greeting, body, closing, signature) and practicing our letter writing skills.
This week, we've also been working on retelling stories using sequence or the orders that things occur. Start by telling who the characters are, what the setting is, and what the plot (problem) of the story is. Next, use sequencing words to retell 4 or more main events in the story. Finally, state the solution to the problem and how the story ended. When we retell stories, we use this graphic organizer as a reminder of what to include in a retelling:
You would not believe the wonderful writing we've done this week! One of our writing assignments was to retell the events that happened in Jackson Jones. The students each wrote 2-3 paragraphs while using an editing checklist.
Use this graphic to help your child edit his/her writing.
Check the boxes as you look for the specific items and correct them if needed.
Catch-up with our new weekly read-aloud book, Jackson Jones: Jackson Jones is 9 years old and has his 10th birthday coming up on April 10. He doesn't think he is much of a hero, and he wonders why authors only write books about people who have done something great. Jackson's story is a bit different. For his birthday, the only thing Jackson wants is a new basketball. His old b-ball is a dud that flops on the floor like lead. When he is given a "surprise" birthday party, he thinks it is certain that his mother will give him a basketball. When he is presented with an envelope from his mom, Jackson starts to wonder. When he opens the letter, he reads that his mother has given him a plot of land for gardening. Jackson is a bit unhappy with this gift but quickly realizes that he can use the garden to his advantage. Jackson's plan is to grow roses and zinnias and sell them to make money to buy a basketball--or 100 basketballs! He buys some rose bushes and seeds to plant in his garden and meets a bully, nicknamed "Blood," on the way. Blood makes fun of Jackson and calls him "Bouquet Jones." When Jackson and his best friend, Reuben, get the seeds planted, they wait... and wait... Finally on day 10, a green sprout emerges! After Jackson squishes the green sprout by accident, a friend tells him that it was only a weed anyway. A few days later, Jackson has a garden filled with weeds! Reuben and Jackson get into a fight, because they are frustrated with the garden and with each other. Jackson thinks that he can grow plants without Reuben's "slow" help, and we are left to wonder if the 2 friends will ever speak to each other again. Will Jackson actually be able to grow any plants in his garden? Stay tuned!
Check out the tickets* we've been earning using the reading comprehension program, Ticket to Read!
(*tickets as of 7/22/09)
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