Reading Comprehension

When we return from vacation I will begin adding a new component to homework. Each Monday I’ll send home a reading comprehension passage along with questions to be answered. It will be due at the end of the week. There is a certain process that I will teach the students, and we continually use for answering comprehension questions. Students will be asked to use this process at home, so I want to be sure to share it with you.

Here’s how we’ll approach reading comprehension questions:

1. Read the passage
2. Read all the questions
3. Reread the passage, keeping the questions in your head.
4. Do question one, looking back at the passage to be sure it’s the right answer.
5. Underline the answer in the passage.
6. Write the paragraph number where you found the answer next to the question.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for each question.

This process will ensure that students closely examine the text, and use text evidence, to answer questions about it. If you have any questions, please be sure to drop me a note.

Weekly Wrap Up

It was wonderful to meet with all of you this week at conferences! Since we have all just spoken, there’s not much I can put in t!he newsletter this week. So, I thought I’d let a few kids who wanted to share their thoughts with you do so.

• Rhiana- Today we learned how to read two passages on the same topic, take notes, and then we had to write a paragraph on what we took notes about. 
• Elizabeth - Today we learned about main idea and details when we are reading non-fiction books.
• Chloe - This week we learned division. 
• Hailey - Please check out our class on Twitter. 
• Ethan - We played 4-Square in Wellness this week.
• Jared - Remember to practice your recorder every week.
• Jacob - We are learning how to find certain books in the school library.
• Shannon - We finished painting our Picasso heads in art, and now we’re doing pottery.
• Mary - We’re learning how to play volleyball in gym.

One of the things that I do on an almost daily basis is place extra copies of worksheets and papers in our "extra copies" box. This way there's always an extra copy in case something gets lost. At the end of each trimester I let the children who like to play school take home any of these papers. So, if you see a lot of papers come today don't think it's work your child needs to catch up on, it's just for fun. :)

Here's what we'll be learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Reading for information and main idea/supporting details
• Writer’s Workshop: Information Writing
• Math: Division

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Weekly Wrap Up

Did you hear we’re learning how to keyboard, and your child can practice with the same program at home? Generally we take about half an hour on Fridays to build our keyboarding skills. Sometimes we sneak in a few extra minutes other days if we finish something early, but not very often. We’re using the website, Typing Club. If your child logs into the Chrome browser at home with her/her district Google account information, and then accesses the site through the district apps link in the browser (I call it the “waffle”), they can pick up where they left off at school. Once they login again in school, they won’t have to repeat the section they did at home. The key is to make sure they login with their district Google account. We’ve done this in school before, so your child should be comfortable doing it at home.

If you’re following us on Twitter you’ve seen the links to the Native American project presentations. The projects and the presentations are incredible! Your children worked so hard, and I’m so very proud of them! The projects will be on display in the hallway during conferences, and QR codes will be available so you can also view their presentations. If you don’t have a QR code reader on your device, you might want to get one before conferences.

If you’re not following our class on Twitter you’re missing out on all the great things we do each day! You can find us sharing our learning at: @MrsCarnevale3rd. Follow us! You’ll know something that went on in our room each day, and hopefully never hear “nothing” when you ask your child what they did in school that day!  :)

Conference appointments went home early this week. If you didn’t get yours please let me know ASAP.  Also, if your schedule has changed since you returned the sign up form, and now you need to reschedule, please contact me ASAP.

Here's what we'll be learning about next week:

• Reader’s Workshop: Reading for information and main idea/supporting details
• Writer’s Workshop: Information Writing
• Math: Topic 6 test and begin Topic 7 - meanings of division
• Science: Habitats

Please remember that my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns. I also check email frequently. Together we are partners in your child’s education!

Northeast Woodlands Native American Villages

Our Northeast Woodlands Native American Village Educreations are finished!  Enjoy!