Thursday, January 27, 2011
Swasey School
6:30-8:00pm.
The Swasey School, in Brentwood, will host a meeting for parents and other interested persons. Larry Chambers, School Program Coordinator for Nature's Classroom at Sargent Center, will discuss the enviornmental program and respond to any questions you may have.
The fifth grade students from Kensington, East Kingston, Brentwood, and Newfields are scheduled to attend Sargent Camp from April 11- 15th. They will participate in a program designed to teach them about our environment and how to work together to achieve success with challenging adventure activities.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Feature Articles
We have begun an extensive study of Feature Articles. In reading, students will learn about text features in nonfiction information (specifically, feature articles). They will learn to use titles, photos, section headings, illustrations, captions, text boxes, etc. to gather relevant information before reading the text. They should ask themselves:
- What do I see on the page?
- What information can I learn from the features?
- How do I think this information might help me as I read the article?
After studying the text features and before reading the text, students should synthesize pre-reading information into a larger understanding or "big idea" of the feature article that will guide their reading. They should ask:
- Why do I think the author or editor chose to include these features and this information?
- What do I think the author wants me to understand about this topic?
- What can I expect as I read the article?
In writing, students have self selected a topic that is familiar to them but will prove new to their audience. They asked themselves the following questions as they chose their topics:
- Is the topic familiar?
- Is it interesting?
- Do I have a unique understanding of the topic?
- What do I want my readers to understand about the topic?
- What is the "big idea?"
Students will spend ample time researching and taking notes on their topics. They will find and use two different types of sources. Below are the various types of sources/ information will have to choose from:
- Examples or stories
- Quotes from everyday people
- Expert opinions and quotes
- Facts, laws, and statistics
Students will have a packet where they will record their feature article topic, their two sources, their types of sources, and their notes.
- What do I see on the page?
- What information can I learn from the features?
- How do I think this information might help me as I read the article?
After studying the text features and before reading the text, students should synthesize pre-reading information into a larger understanding or "big idea" of the feature article that will guide their reading. They should ask:
- Why do I think the author or editor chose to include these features and this information?
- What do I think the author wants me to understand about this topic?
- What can I expect as I read the article?
In writing, students have self selected a topic that is familiar to them but will prove new to their audience. They asked themselves the following questions as they chose their topics:
- Is the topic familiar?
- Is it interesting?
- Do I have a unique understanding of the topic?
- What do I want my readers to understand about the topic?
- What is the "big idea?"
Students will spend ample time researching and taking notes on their topics. They will find and use two different types of sources. Below are the various types of sources/ information will have to choose from:
- Examples or stories
- Quotes from everyday people
- Expert opinions and quotes
- Facts, laws, and statistics
Students will have a packet where they will record their feature article topic, their two sources, their types of sources, and their notes.
Students will type their Feature Articles using Open Office. They will learn how to create text features on this program, which can be quite difficult. They should bring their thumb drive to and from school everyday.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Making Connections: New Reading Comprehension Strategy
Good readers use schema (background knowledge) to help them understand what they're reading. They connect what they're reading to their own lives, to books they've previously read, and to the world itself.
Most students can easily make connections to themselves whiles reading. Currently we are working on making connections to other books we have read. We will start working on making connections that extend beyond life experience and immediate text next week.
Most students can easily make connections to themselves whiles reading. Currently we are working on making connections to other books we have read. We will start working on making connections that extend beyond life experience and immediate text next week.
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