Mowry's Moments

Reading Logs!!!

I am graciously waiting until Sunday evening to tally reading goals!  (hint hint)  Those of you that haven't log yet, here is your chance.  Please remember to do so on YOUR class log!

9/1-9/4

9/1
E.Q.: How well do I remember what happened in "The School Play?"

Warm-up:  Study pairs for the quiz with questions to consider.

Students were given time to review with a peer in-class for the quiz over "The School Play."    Then we started working on a story map to practice identifying parts of a story.

H.W.:  Read!

FYI:  9/3 3rd book due (fiction) and log check  This is THURSDAY!

9/2
E.Q.:  How does analyzing the parts of a story help me to understand the story better?

Warm-up:  Partner review of story map

Agenda: Students work to create a story map and review the parts of a story's plot.  Students were given guided practice as well as extra independent practice identifying the parts of plot in a story.

9/3
E.Q.: How well do I remember what I read?

Warm:up:  Create a plot map based on the picture presented to the class.

Agenda:  Finish up with plot practice;  Begin Performance task for book #3.

No homework.

9/4
E.Q.: How well do I remember what I read?

Warm-up:  Evaluate your fiction book.

Agenda:  Complete the performance task for book #3;  Chart benchmark baseline scores.

H.W.: Read over the weekend.

FYI

• 9/7 No School
• 9/8 Media center book check for 4th book:  Historical Fiction
• 9/24 Historical Fiction book due and log check for 650 TOTAL pages read to date.

Monday, August 31, 2009

E.Q.: How does monitoring my reading help me to better comprehend a story?

Warm-up:  Quote #5:  "Everyone must row with the oars he has."--English Proverb

Today we did our quote warm-up and I created an example warm-up sheet to hang in the classroom because so many students are not following the proper format.  The format is set in place to help organize and teach following directions.  Just a heads up, you may see a warm-up check this week, so make sure you are organized when that surprise day arrives.  We also went over our homework, and reviewed for our quiz over "The School Play."  Your homework from Friday will serve as your study guide for the quiz tomorrow.  Students worked in groups to discuss their reading strategy organizer that was to be filled out while reading the story.  The following are questions that the students discussed:
                                          

 3 times the student stopped to monitor their reading and what the                                                     outcome/answer was.  They had to give the page number and the strategy                                             that they used

2 strategies that overall as a group they found most helpful.

1 strategy that they still needed extra practice incorporating into their reading.

Tomorrow after the quiz, we will begin working on our story maps and analyzing the plot of "The School Play."

H.W.

Read at least 30 min. daily. 
Quiz tomorrow

FYI:

Don't forget that you will need to have book #3 read by Friday 9/3.  The book will need to come to class with you!
You must have a minimum of 400 pages and at least the 3 books (2 summer reading, 1 fiction) read and logged on the online reading log (found under pages on this blog!) by Friday, September 3.

Friday, August 28, 2009

E.Q.: How can I identify and analyze plot elements, conflicts, and settings?

Warm-up: Time to organize notebook.

Today the students took the baseline benchmark test.  They also received vocabulary review and a story comprehension check for homework that will serve as a study guide.  They were afforded time in class to work on it if they finished their benchmark early and it should take a total of no more than 15 minutes to complete.  Today was also the last day to turn in summer reading.

H.W.: Complete vocabulary review and a story comprehension check.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING WAS TODAY!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

E.Q.: How can I identify and analyze plot elements, conflicts, and settings?

Warm-up: Time to organize notebook.

Today the students took the baseline benchmark test.  They also received vocabulary review and a story comprehension check for homework that will serve as a study guide.  They were afforded time in class to work on it if they finished their benchmark early and it should take a total of no more than 15 minutes to complete.  Today was also the last day to turn in summer reading.

H.W.: Complete vocabulary review and a story comprehension check.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING WAS TODAY!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

E.Q.: How can I identify and analyze plot elements, conflicts, and settings?

Warm-up: Summarize: What's going on in the story so far?

Today we continued reading"The School Play" by Gary Soto.  Our focus for this story is to practice identifying and analyzing the parts of plot found in a story and to practice our reading strategies.  The students finished reading the story today and working on their Monitoring Charts.  These charts will be  taken as a classwork grade.  We also reviewed our story vocabulary and was reminded that we will have a quiz over this story on 9/1. 

H.W.: Read 30 min., study story vocabulary.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING IS FRIDAY, 8/28!!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

E.Q.: How can I identify and analyze plot elements, conflicts, and settings?

Warm-up: Summarize: What's going on in the story so far?

Today we continued reading"The School Play" by Gary Soto.  Our focus for this story is to practice identifying and analyzing the parts of plot found in a story and to practice our reading strategies.  The students finished reading the story today and working on their Monitoring Charts.  These charts will be  taken as a classwork grade.  We also reviewed our story vocabulary and was reminded that we will have a quiz over this story on 9/1. 

H.W.: Read 30 min., study story vocabulary.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING IS FRIDAY, 8/28!!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

E.Q.: How can I identify and analyze plot elements, conflicts, and settings?

Warm-up: Quick write #2: "What are the 6 most important parts of a story?

Today we previewed the story "The School Play" by Gary Soto.  Our focus for this story is to practice identifying and analyzing the parts of plot found in a story and to practice our reading strategies.  The students began reading the story today and working on their Monitoring Charts.  These charts will be  taken as a classwork grade.  We also reviewed our story vocabulary and announced that we will have a quiz over this story on 9/1.  Tomorrow, we will continue reading the story while discussing plot and monitoring our reading comprehension.

H.W.: Read 30 min., study story vocabulary. (See last night's post.)

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING IS FRIDAY, 8/28!!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

Tueday, August 25, 2009

EQ: What is a narrative?

Warm-up: Quick write #1: What is your biggest fear?

Today, we discussed our big question: What is your biggest fear?, in preparation for the story we are about to read by Gary Soto.  We reviewed the parts of plot that the students learned in Ms. Searcy's class, and will learn to identify and analyze the parts of plot starting with "The School Play."  We reviewed the vocabulary today for the story (relentless, narrative, smirk, prop.)  These words will be on the quiz that we have over the story when we finish it. 

H.W.:  Students need to remember to bring their Narrative Elements flipchart (from Ms. Searcy's class) to our class tomorrow.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING IS FRIDAY, 8/28!!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

Tueday, August 25, 2009

EQ: What is a narrative?

Warm-up: Quick write #1: What is your biggest fear?

Today, we discussed our big question: What is your biggest fear?, in preparation for the story we are about to read by Gary Soto.  We reviewed the parts of plot that the students learned in Ms. Searcy's class, and will learn to identify and analyze the parts of plot starting with "The School Play."  We reviewed the vocabulary today for the story (relentless, narrative, smirk, prop.)  These words will be on the quiz that we have over the story when we finish it. 

H.W.:  Students need to remember to bring their Narrative Elements flipchart (from Ms. Searcy's class) to our class tomorrow.

FYI:

• LAST DAY TO TURNING IN SUMMER READING IS FRIDAY, 8/28!!!!
• September 3 will be our first reading log check.  Please make sure you have logged  at least the two summer reading books, and the 3rd book (fiction) AND at least a minimum of 400 pages total. 
• The 3rd book (fiction) must be read by 9/3.  You will need to bring this book to class with you on 9/3 in order to do your Performance task.  More details to come in class.

Monday, August 24, 2009

E.Q.: What are the active reading strategies I should use to comprehend text?

Warm-up: Talk to Me day

Today we finished up with the reading strategies flipbook and student's received a reading strategy  sheet of graphic organizers.  If you were absent, you need to see me to get one.

H.W.:
Summer reading  8/28 (Last day to turn in)

3rd book (fiction) due 9/3

August 19-21

E.Q.: What are the active reading strategies I should use to comprehend text?

Warm-ups:

8/19:

8/20: Reading Strategies word splash

8/21: Substitute Contract

Activities: 8/19: Rading Strategies Pre-test

8/20-8/21: Create flipbook and take reading strategy notes

H.W.: Read and don't forget--

Summer reading is due by 8/28 and a total of 400 pages should be logged on the reading log by 9/3.  General fiction is also due on 9/3.