Good morning!
This week we are continuing to review for the STAAR.
Students have vocabulary homework page 111 that will be due on Wednesday.
They also will have passage homework entitled Hurricanes p34-39 which will be given out Wednesday and will be due on Friday.
As part of our review students will be building their fluency to become better readers through a reading activity called Break the Record.
Students will be practicing question comprehension through an activity called Genre Sort.
Students will be making connections between previously read text through and activity called Connect the Dots.
We will also be completing practice passage throughout the week to prepare for STAAR.
The vocabulary words this week are all different names for people using the suffixes -er or -or.
There will be a vocabulary quiz on Friday.
As we draw closer to the STAAR test please encourage your student to practice listening well in class and practice their thinking about reading any change they get. Encourage them to talk about the books they are reading with you at home. Explore new vocabulary they find in their library books and have them keep a list of new words they discover and their meanings. Vocabulary plays an important role in reading and there will be words they may not have experience with on the STAAR test. Exposure to new vocabulary is one of the most important things fourth graders can experience to become better readers.
Thanks for all you do!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
January 12- 16
Good morning!
We have and awards assembly this morning at 9:45, hope to see you there!
This week we are working on TEKS 4.10A, Author's Purpose. Students must be able to explain the difference between stated and implied purpose for and author to write a test.
Stated purpose- the author tells you why they are writing
Implied purpose- the author makes you use evidence and clues to figure out their purpose
We work with three reasons author's write in fourth grade: PIE
Persuade- to make you do, think, or believe something
Inform- to provide factual information about a topic
Entertain- to make you laugh, cry, or be amused by their writing
Students are working on Food Chain vocabulary and have homework tonight that will be due on Wednesday: Food Chain p. 81
We will have early release for students on Thursday at 12:45 for UIL competition which our school is hosting.
Thanks for all you do!
We have and awards assembly this morning at 9:45, hope to see you there!
This week we are working on TEKS 4.10A, Author's Purpose. Students must be able to explain the difference between stated and implied purpose for and author to write a test.
Stated purpose- the author tells you why they are writing
Implied purpose- the author makes you use evidence and clues to figure out their purpose
We work with three reasons author's write in fourth grade: PIE
Persuade- to make you do, think, or believe something
Inform- to provide factual information about a topic
Entertain- to make you laugh, cry, or be amused by their writing
Students are working on Food Chain vocabulary and have homework tonight that will be due on Wednesday: Food Chain p. 81
We will have early release for students on Thursday at 12:45 for UIL competition which our school is hosting.
Thanks for all you do!
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Happy New Year!
Hello all!
A little late on updating you this week...
We are mid-year DRA testing this week checking student's progress on their reading levels. I've gotten quite a few done already and I must say most of the one's I have completed students have shown a lot of progress!
While I am individually testing each student the ones not being tested are working on review packets. These involve not only reading application and practice but Writing practice as well since that writing STAAR is coming up quickly.
The third six weeks test students took before the break will be posted on the fourth six weeks grades.
Students are to read 20 minutes a night but I have not yet gotten together a new reading log. These won't be due until the end of the month so they can write down what they read each night on a piece of paper until I get the official logs out please.
Students will have homework coming home tomorrow that goes with the review packets they've been completing in class. It is two-sided and will be due on Friday.
Thanks for all you do! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break! :)
A little late on updating you this week...
We are mid-year DRA testing this week checking student's progress on their reading levels. I've gotten quite a few done already and I must say most of the one's I have completed students have shown a lot of progress!
While I am individually testing each student the ones not being tested are working on review packets. These involve not only reading application and practice but Writing practice as well since that writing STAAR is coming up quickly.
The third six weeks test students took before the break will be posted on the fourth six weeks grades.
Students are to read 20 minutes a night but I have not yet gotten together a new reading log. These won't be due until the end of the month so they can write down what they read each night on a piece of paper until I get the official logs out please.
Students will have homework coming home tomorrow that goes with the review packets they've been completing in class. It is two-sided and will be due on Friday.
Thanks for all you do! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break! :)
Monday, December 15, 2014
Review for Third Six Weeks Test Tomorrow!!!
The first selection of he test will be a poem.
It will NOT be a Narrative Poem. This means students need to know the difference between a lyric poem and a free verse poem.
The SPEAKER of the poem is the person talking in the poem.
Figurative Language often compares two Unlike things.
The second and third selections of the test are paired passages. The first is a person's fictional diary entry. The second is non-fiction over Juneteenth.
When we see paired passages the questions are going to involve some comparing and contrasting.
For this section students should review: SUMMARY (which kicked their tail ends on the last test), MAIN IDEA, FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE, CONCLUSIONS, COMPARE and CONTRAST, and THEME!
There will be TWO questions on this test over THEME so reviewing it would be a good idea!
The fourth selection is non-fiction in the form of an Internet webpage. Students should know when you click on the tabs at the top of a web page it takes you to information about that topic.
Students should review the way non-fiction can be organized by headings. Students should review text features and how they can help them understand a text.
Students need to understand dictionary entries.
The final selection of the test is a Drama.
Students needs to be familiar with the elements of drama.
The drama includes standard fiction questions about characters, setting, and plot. There is also a LONG summary question so please encourage students to read carefully, take their time, and search for a beginning, middle, and end as well as a problem and solution.
Students will also have a difficult question regarding the DENOUEMENT, or FALLING ACTION of the play. This occurs after the problem has been solved and right before the end of the story.
Students should pay close attention to vocabulary and using context clues.
Make sure they sleep well and eat breakfast in the morning!
Hopefully this will help a little with knowing what to study. All of this information can be found in the blog.
Thanks for all you do!
It will NOT be a Narrative Poem. This means students need to know the difference between a lyric poem and a free verse poem.
The SPEAKER of the poem is the person talking in the poem.
Figurative Language often compares two Unlike things.
The second and third selections of the test are paired passages. The first is a person's fictional diary entry. The second is non-fiction over Juneteenth.
When we see paired passages the questions are going to involve some comparing and contrasting.
For this section students should review: SUMMARY (which kicked their tail ends on the last test), MAIN IDEA, FIGURATIVE LANGAUGE, CONCLUSIONS, COMPARE and CONTRAST, and THEME!
There will be TWO questions on this test over THEME so reviewing it would be a good idea!
The fourth selection is non-fiction in the form of an Internet webpage. Students should know when you click on the tabs at the top of a web page it takes you to information about that topic.
Students should review the way non-fiction can be organized by headings. Students should review text features and how they can help them understand a text.
Students need to understand dictionary entries.
The final selection of the test is a Drama.
Students needs to be familiar with the elements of drama.
The drama includes standard fiction questions about characters, setting, and plot. There is also a LONG summary question so please encourage students to read carefully, take their time, and search for a beginning, middle, and end as well as a problem and solution.
Students will also have a difficult question regarding the DENOUEMENT, or FALLING ACTION of the play. This occurs after the problem has been solved and right before the end of the story.
Students should pay close attention to vocabulary and using context clues.
Make sure they sleep well and eat breakfast in the morning!
Hopefully this will help a little with knowing what to study. All of this information can be found in the blog.
Thanks for all you do!
This week December 15-19
Good morning!
Just a few things today...
Yellow conduct folders and graded papers did go home Friday so make sure you ask to see these.
Also this week will be review and a third six weeks test tomorrow including poetry and drama.
Thursday is Early Release at 11:30 so everyone can go to that STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
We will not have school on Friday!
In my homeroom class on Thursday we will be having a Christmas party! I am going to allow students to bring something to drink and their favorite treat (enough to share with the class). This will not be anything huge, just snacking and watching Christmas movies. There are 23 students in my homeroom if you choose to send snacks! If you have questions give me a message, email, or call.
Thanks for all you do for our students!
Just a few things today...
Yellow conduct folders and graded papers did go home Friday so make sure you ask to see these.
Also this week will be review and a third six weeks test tomorrow including poetry and drama.
Thursday is Early Release at 11:30 so everyone can go to that STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
We will not have school on Friday!
In my homeroom class on Thursday we will be having a Christmas party! I am going to allow students to bring something to drink and their favorite treat (enough to share with the class). This will not be anything huge, just snacking and watching Christmas movies. There are 23 students in my homeroom if you choose to send snacks! If you have questions give me a message, email, or call.
Thanks for all you do for our students!
Thursday, December 11, 2014
All About Drama
What students need to know about Drama...
Drama is also referred to as a Play.
When a Drama is written out it is called a SCRIPT.
The SETTING, CHARACTER'S ACTIONS and how the actors should SAY and DO things when they are acting are all included in the drama's STAGE DIRECTIONS. STAGE DIRECTIONS are always written inside parentheses ( ) and are written in italics.
Dramas include a CAST of CHARACTERS at the beginning of the script which indicates how many actors are needed for the play.
Dramas are written in lines as follows:
CARL: (with excitement) Let's go to the zoo!
The character's name is in bold print. It is followed by a colon (:) and then any stage directions the playwright wishes the actor to know. The last thing in the line are the character's exact words. No quotation marks are necessary in a drama because of this special form.
The author of a drama is called the PLAYWRIGHT.
Drama is divided into sections. The larger sections of a drama are called ACTS. Inside ACTS are smaller sections that require a change in set called SCENES.
Sets are the background of the play that gives the audience the idea of another place such as a park or school. This is also called SCENERY.
PROPS are the items the actors use in the play to help act out their scenes.
DIALOUGE is the conversations of the play.
The NARRATOR of the play is not an acting character but someone who fills in the gaps for things the actors cannot act out, such as a passage of time or background information.
Drama is also referred to as a Play.
When a Drama is written out it is called a SCRIPT.
The SETTING, CHARACTER'S ACTIONS and how the actors should SAY and DO things when they are acting are all included in the drama's STAGE DIRECTIONS. STAGE DIRECTIONS are always written inside parentheses ( ) and are written in italics.
Dramas include a CAST of CHARACTERS at the beginning of the script which indicates how many actors are needed for the play.
Dramas are written in lines as follows:
CARL: (with excitement) Let's go to the zoo!
The character's name is in bold print. It is followed by a colon (:) and then any stage directions the playwright wishes the actor to know. The last thing in the line are the character's exact words. No quotation marks are necessary in a drama because of this special form.
The author of a drama is called the PLAYWRIGHT.
Drama is divided into sections. The larger sections of a drama are called ACTS. Inside ACTS are smaller sections that require a change in set called SCENES.
Sets are the background of the play that gives the audience the idea of another place such as a park or school. This is also called SCENERY.
PROPS are the items the actors use in the play to help act out their scenes.
DIALOUGE is the conversations of the play.
The NARRATOR of the play is not an acting character but someone who fills in the gaps for things the actors cannot act out, such as a passage of time or background information.
All About Poetry
Poetry terms and information students should know...
Three forms of poetry:
1. Narrative: tells a story and has characters, setting, and plot complete with a problem and solution.
2. Lyrical: has a specific rhyming patter and rhythm. Lyrical poetry is what we hear in the songs we like.
3 Free verse: free verse poem breaks all writing rules! It does not require a specific rhythm pattern, rhyming words, punctuation, or capitalization.
Other poetry terms:
Poems have LINES not sentences.
Poems are made up of STANZAS (which are similar to paragraphs).
Poetry has METER (the beat) and it can have a musical quality created by the meter.
Poetry often have various RHYME schemes.
REPETITION is a popular technique used in poetry. Repetition of an entire stanza or the last lines of stanzas is referred to as REFRAIN which is like a CHORUS we hear in songs.
REPETITION is also seen through ALLITERATION which is the repetition of beginning sounds of words such as Sally Sells Seashells by he Seashore.
Three forms of poetry:
1. Narrative: tells a story and has characters, setting, and plot complete with a problem and solution.
2. Lyrical: has a specific rhyming patter and rhythm. Lyrical poetry is what we hear in the songs we like.
3 Free verse: free verse poem breaks all writing rules! It does not require a specific rhythm pattern, rhyming words, punctuation, or capitalization.
Other poetry terms:
Poems have LINES not sentences.
Poems are made up of STANZAS (which are similar to paragraphs).
Poetry has METER (the beat) and it can have a musical quality created by the meter.
Poetry often have various RHYME schemes.
REPETITION is a popular technique used in poetry. Repetition of an entire stanza or the last lines of stanzas is referred to as REFRAIN which is like a CHORUS we hear in songs.
REPETITION is also seen through ALLITERATION which is the repetition of beginning sounds of words such as Sally Sells Seashells by he Seashore.
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