Sail America: Social Studies and Literacy

Note-Taking Strategies

• Use short phrases, not complete sentences
• Use your own words
• Jot down only the most important ideas
• Don’t be overly concerned about handwriting, spelling, and punctuation
• Use initials and abbreviations
  

The purpose of Sail America is to learn:

• about Colonial America (the 13 Colonies)
• how to research (find information from the internet and books)
• how to use search engines
• how to cite sources
• how to highlight important information
• how to put information into your own words
• how to take notes
• how to make a power point presentation
• how to present

Monitoring for Meaning

Below is what we have been working on in reading this week. It applies to ALL readers!

When we get confused we need to:

Monitor for Meaning

1. Stop and think.

2. Go back and reread

3. Read ahead

Our comprehension breaks down because:

1. Our mind wanders

2. The text is difficult to understand

When we go back to reread, we go to the place where our comprehension stopped:

1. The last sentence

2. The last paragraph

3. The last page

4. The last chapter

5. The entire book

Reading....

Below are the posters we've made from some of our Reading Workshops. You can help your child become a better reader by using the same vocabulary and strategies at home that we use in school. Such as reading is thinking. Metacognition is thinking about your thinking. We read "just right" books. There are many ways we choose books. Also, it's okay to abandon books (within reason).

Studies show that fifth graders should read fifty books a year. It is also a fifth grade standard that students read various genres. I will be working with your child individually to set up a plan in order for him/her to be successful with reading about 50 books in various genres this year. Larger books count for more than one. (I don't want your child to select small books just for the count.) Magazines, newspapers, and reading online count towards books as well. I totally understand that every student is different and I want to work with you and your child to make him/her successful in pleasantly becoming a better reading. Please call, email, or come in with questions, comments, and concerns.

Reading is thinking!

Metacognition=

Thinking about your thinking

Choosing “Just Right” Books

Too easy:

• Not feeling challenged
• Don’t have to think
• Flying through the book
• You know every single word

Just Right:

• Not flying through it (reading too quickly)
• Not reading the book too slowly
• Read it at a good pace
• There are about 5 unknown words on each page
• It’s fun, you like it, it’s a good book
• You understand the sentences
• You have to stop and think once in awhile
• You make mind pictures
• The print isn’t too small or too big
• Not too many or too few pages—it’s a good length

Too difficult:

• You don’t understand it
• There are too many words you don’t know
• The print is too small
• Reading it very slowly
• You have to go back and reread too often
• You skip sentences too often
• You can’t focus—eyes skim through the words
• It’s too long
• Too many words
• Not interested

  Ways to Choose Books:

  · Look at the cover/inside jacket

  · Read the teaser/back of book

  · Read the first page or so

  · Read some of the middle

  · Browsed through the chapters

  · Make sure it’s “just right”

  · Favorite author

  · Part of a series

  · Sequel to a book we’ve read

  · Favorite genre

  · A friend recommends it

  · Interesting title

  · Great illustrations

  · New/popular book

  · Award winning

  · Read it before and loved it

  · Heard it read aloud

  · Watched the movie

  · Look at the Table of Contents

Why Readers Abandon Books

· It’s too difficult- you don’t understand it

· The book is boring

· You don’t like the genre

· The print is too small…too hard to read

· Too similar to another book

· It’s too repetitive

· Too much filler

· The book is too long

· It’s too easy

· It takes too long to get to the action

· Disappointing sequel

· It’s not fun to read

· It’s not what you though it would be

· It’s too short

· It’s too sad

· It’s too scary

· It keeps rambling on

· Expected something else from this author

· Don’t like the point of view

o 1^st person (I….)

o 2^nd person (you…)

o 3^rd person (he/she….)

· Found a better book

· Plot is too confusing

· Too many characters

· Not good for now but might go back to it

Math Homework

We started Unit 1 in Math today. Today I'm sending home a Study Link packet for the first unit. It will be due on the day of the Unit 1 math test which is yet to be determined. I recommend that students complete each study link on the day I teach the corresponding lesson; however, I understand all students have various schedules and this might not be practical. I don't want your child to complete all of the homework right away because I haven't taught most of the lessons. I also really don't want your child to complete all of the homework on the night before the test because that defeats the purpose of the homework as well. (The purpose being to enforce and practice the concepts and skills learned in school).

I will post the days we complete each math lesson in class on my Moodle Website. (See previous blog for more information on this. If you need help, please come into school and I will help you.)

All families should have a Family Letter packet which includes each unit we will cover this year. These Family Letters include the answer key for each Study Link. I highly recommend that you check your child's answers after he/she completes each Study Link. (Your child can do this independently if you feel as though he/she is really doing the math and not just copying down the answers). This way you and your child can see if he/she is understanding the mathematical concepts being taught. You and your child can use the Student Reference Book for help or your child can come get help from me at school.

Students are to keep their math homework in their binders under the "math" section (number 4). I will periodically check students' binders in order to ensure their work is being done in a timely manner.

Parent Access for Moodle

Parents can check out our class Moodle page. You will be able to access the homework assignments and due dates.

Directions to access Moodle:

• Go to the KES website: http://kes.sau16.org/
• Click on: “Moodle”
• Click on: “Ms. Small” (on the 2^nd page)
• Enter the Enrollment Key: rachelsmall
• Click on: “Enroll me in this course”

5Sm Rules

During these early days of school, we have been talking a lot about our hopes and dreams for this school year. Seven students want to become a better writer, four want to become a better scientist, three want to become a better mathematician, two want to become a better reader, and one wants to become a better historian.

To create a climate where all students can achieve their goals, we have created the following rules for our classroom:
-Try hard
-Stay focused
-The Golden Rule
-Be independent
-Have fun!

Since students are human, rules will be broken at times. The following are the consequences for our classroom:
-Making reparations: "You break it, you fix it"
-Mishandling responsibility: more limits set
-Jeopardizing any one's safety or function (emotionally or physically): time-out

We are working together to create a safe and caring community of learners. I appreciate your support. Please feel free to call me if you have questions about these rules or my approach to classroom discipline.

Best,
Rachel