Wild Ocean Educators' Guide

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Reading Response: Week of December 5

Characters!

My favorite character of all time comes from my favorite book, Stone Fox. To me, Little Willy is a dynamic character. He is diligent in earning money to save his grandfather's farm. He is nurturing towards his sick grandfather. He is kind and respectful to his competitor, Stone Fox.

A strong character and story can teach a lesson that you can apply to your own life. After I read Stone Fox, I tried to be a little more like Little Willy in my own life. If I have a problem and am facing obstacles, I try not to give up. If I am in a challenge or race, I treat the others in the competition with respect. A character like Little Willy taught me how important those things are in life.

For this week's reading response, I'd like you to think about characters.

Answer the following questions.

1. Of all the stories you have read, name a character that has really inspired you. What story did the character come from?

2. What did that character do in the story to inspire you?

3. What lesson did you learn from this character? How have you used this in your own life?

Reading Response: Week of November 28th

I hope everyone had a restful, relaxing Thanksgiving break. We are moving into December and I am pretty sure 2012 will be here before we know it!

Our first Wordmasters Challenge is on December 8. Have you been trying to incorporate some of the words in your conversation or writing? When Miss Schaech does practice in the classroom, do you feel that you are understanding the meanings of the words? Between now and the challenge, we will be doing lots of practice in the classroom. I know you'll do great. Keep looking at your Wordmaster packets for review.

Assignment for the week.

Take 3 of your favorite Wordmaster words (that we have discussed so far). Use each of them in a descriptive sentence and share them on the blog. After you write and post your sentences, take the time to read some postings of your classmates. Reading other people's work will give you even more experience with these words. (Plus, isn't it fun to read what our friends write?!)

I am excited to read your thoughts!!!

Miss Schaech

Reading Response: Week of November 11

Advertisements are a classic form of persuasive writing. The author of an advertisement is usually trying to CONVINCE you to spend money on their product.

Directions: Look for an advertisement. It can come from any PRINT source (newspaper, magazine, internet, mailing).

Questions about the ad you found:

1. Where did you find the ad?

2. Who is responsible for the ad? (Hint: Look for a logo—a symbol used by companies

to identify their products.)

3. What is the ad trying to get you to buy, do, or think?

4. Who is the ad meant for (the target audience)? What makes you think so?

5. Is there anything in the ad that you feel is untrue or misleading? If so, what is it?

SEE MISS SCHAECH'S EXAMPLE POSTING ABOUT THE CRAYON ADVERTISEMENT. DO NOT BASE YOUR RESPONSE ON THE CRAYON ADVERTISEMENT.

Reading Reponse Week of October 31- Reading a Graph

Oh my, more graphics to read! Yes! Good readers can read charts. Good readers can read maps. Good readers can also read and interpret, or understand, GRAPHS. I found this bar graph recently and thought it was interesting. Take the time to look at it and answer the following questions:

1. I don't really like the title of this graph. What would be a better title for this graph?





2. How do you think the author of this graph got the data (information) for this graph?





3. If I have a scarcity of money, where is the best place for me to buy my candy bar?





4.Why might candy bars be so expensive at a pro-sports event?





5. Who might be interested in the data on this graph?





6. If Miss Stolle asked you a math question about this graph, what might she ask you?





7. What is your favorite candy bar?




Next week, we will look at and discuss (through our blog) a line graph. FUN!!!

Reading Response Week of October 24: Reading a Map

Last week, Miss Schaech told you that good readers can interpret, or understand, information on a chart. Well, guess what? Good readers also need to be able to look at various types of maps and think about the information given to them.

I found this map about temperatures across the world. Study the map and answer the following questions:
1. What information am I getting from this map?

2. Why is it important that I see a colored version of this map?

3. I am going on a trip. How would this map help me?

4. Tell me about the area of the map that you live on. Do you agree with the information?

5. The word "mean" has multiple meanings. What definition of the word "mean" is being used in this map title?

Maps are everywhere and one of Miss Scheach's favorite things to study. Next time you see a map, think to yourself...what information is this map giving me?

Reading Response Week of October 17th

This is a chart displaying the Fujita Scale. It sorts tornadoes into categories (F0-F5).


Reading comes in all shapes, sizes, forms, and fashions. One of my favorite ways to read information and write information is using CHARTS. Charts help organize information. Please read the information in the chart above, think about what it means, and answer the following questions:

1. Charts have titles. What title would you give this chart?

2. Where would I find a chart like this?

3. Who would find this chart's information useful?

4. What powerful WORDS on this chart do you find very descriptive, precise, and descriptive?

5. If I wanted more information on tornadoes, where would I look (Be specific!)?

6. Which part of this chart did you find MOST interesting?

7. What questions do you still have after looking at this chart?

8. Do you agree with Miss Schaech that charts are easy to read and organize information well? Explain your answer.

Reading Response: Week of October 10th

Hello, Boys and Girls!

Happy October! I love the season of Autumn. The leaves are changing colors. I see pumpkins on doorsteps. The air is getting cooler. It's a perfect time to curl up with a blanket and read poetry. In my opinion, poetry is a wonderful format to read. Poetry can give us information. Poetry can give description. Poetry can tell a story. Sometimes poetry rhymes, sometimes it does not rhyme. Some poets are serious, some are silly. Some poems are very short, some are very long. I encourage you to try out reading different types of poetry. You might find that you share my love of poetry. Some of you might even enjoy writing your own poetry.

For this week's reading response, read the poem "Leaves" and answer the following questions.

1. What does this poem remind you of? (Make a Connection)

2. What word or phrase from the poem did you like?

3. How does this poem make you feel?

4. Why do you think the poet (author) wrote this poem? (Entertain, Inform, Instruct, Describe)

5. If YOU were the writer of this poem and I asked you to give it another title, what you entitle it?

Two of my favorite children's poets are Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein. I know some of you love these poets because I have seen you checking out their books at the library. Here are their websites, check them out!

http://shelsilverstein.com/indexSite.html

http://www.jackprelutsky.com/

Reading Response Week of September 26: Word Collecting

For the last few weeks, we have been collecting words through reading. We know that the more we read, the larger our vocabulary grows. I have been trying to convince you to always have a book with you. I am always in the middle of a book. I read whenever I get a free moment. Sometimes it's waiting at the bank, sometimes it's on a car trip, much of the time it is curled up on the couch with Tuna. :)
I hope that you paid attention to Mrs. Spreder's book talks this week in the library. I hope that you have discovered a great read somewhere. Was it at the library? Was it at the bookstore? Was it something you already had at home? Maybe it was something you borrowed from a friend or my classroom?

Response Question:
What book are you currently reading? Share THREE new or interesting words that you have come across in your reading.

Continue to keep reading and logging in your minutes. Brag Tag Reading Logs are due October 5th.

Week of September 19 Reading Response: Four Types of Sentences

Good writers use a variety of sentences when they write. There are FOUR different types of sentences that writers can use: declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamatory. To understand each type of sentence, look at the graphic above OR look in your class notes. You have a quiz on types of sentences on Friday September 23rd. On the quiz, you will have to identify types of sentences and you will have to read sentences and determine the correct ending punctuation mark. (? ! . ) On Monday, I will give you a practice packet to complete to help you prepare for the quiz.

These websites will help you practice the four types of sentences:
http://www.quia.com/quiz/106467.html

http://www.quia.com/pop/35934.html

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/clubhouse/index_pre.html



Reading Response:
Take a book hunt. Look at how authors use the different types of sentences in their writing. Find an example of each type of sentence.

At the end of your response, please cite your source. Tell me what book your sentences came from. (It is fine to use more than one book.)

To see a good example posting, please see Miss Schaech's posting.

Genres! Reading Response: Week of September 12

We talked genres last week. We dicussed book genres, movie genres, and music genres. In the fourth grade, we are going to read many different book genres. Good readers try out different genres. Good readers realize that different genres have different styles and features. In your future years of school, you are going to have to read many different genres. It is important that we get experience reading those genres now, so that we are prepared for the future!

Here are some genres we'll be reading this year:

• Fiction (Realistic, Fantasy, Historical, Fables, Folktales)





• Non-Fiction (Informational, Functional, Biography, Autobiography, Reference)





• Poetry





• Plays

I'd like you to look closely at this list. How many of these genres look familiar to you? Are there any genres that you don't recognize?

Response questions of the week:

1. Which genre are your especially interested in?

2. Name a title of this genre that you have read and would recommend to others.

3. Which genre would you like to learn more about?

4. In your opinion, why should good readers have experience reading many genres?

Pie in the Face

Many of you mentioned that you wanted me to post the picture of Mr. D getting a pie in his face. This student got 600 (perfect score) on all of his SOL tests. Try hard this year--and this might get to be you next year!!!
Have a GREAT weekend!

Reading Response: Week of September 6

Welcome!


I thought we would start this year's reading response homework with some introductions and questions about reading.


In your response this week, I'd like you to answer the follwing questions:


1. How many hours would you estimate that you spent reading this summer?


2. When you go to the library, what GENRE of books are you drawn to? (Non-Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, poetry, etc.)

3. What author or series do you enjoy reading?

4. Where is your favorite place to read?

5. Do you prefer reading to yourself or being read to?

6. What is your favorite reading strategy? (Predicting, Making Connections, Visualizing, Summarizing, Inferring, Other?)


Reading your responses will give me a good idea of you as a reader. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

A Bad Case of Stripes: Reading Response

First Reading Response of the Year:

We read A Bad Case of Stripes today in class. Make a connection to a piece of the story.

• Text to Self



• Text to Text



• Text to World

Please set your response up in this format:

"In the story, when ___________________________, it reminded me of...."

First Day Paperwork

We are so excited to see all of the students on Tuesday. When they come home on Tuesday afternoon, they will have a stack of papers for parents to read. Please take your time reading it. Much of it is very important information.
All of the papers will come home together. There will be a list on top of the REQUIRED paperwork to return. Please try to get those back to school as soon as possible.
Thanks!

Open House

Hi, Fourth Graders!
I am so excited to see everyone next week as the beginning of our Fourth Grade journey begins. Miss Stolle, Mrs. Davis, and I have been working hard to prepare our classrooms for your arrival. Tomorrow is Open House at 6:00 in the Kagan Room. Are you coming? If you would like to bring your supplies, we'd be happy to let you put them in your new desk.
Mr. B is going to post our Open House power point to the Creeds website. If you need any reminders of what was discussed, please refer to it.

I hope everyone has a super, fun Labor Day weekend. Stay safe and I'll see you tomorrow and Tuesday!