We shall read one of my favourite books when I was a child:

Superfudge by Judy Blume

Well done everyone on a great day in Literacy!

Students completed their Kenning poems describing a teacher that is special to them. We will be reading the poems in this week’s Grade 3-5 assembly. It would be great if you could join us on Friday morning in the playroom.

During our second literacy session the students continued exploring the Highwayman poem, looking at the authors use of metaphors and similes.

I have included the power point of our scheme of lessons below:

The_Highwayman-Kimberpprx

braille_investigation

In literacy we began looking at narrative poetry and started to explore the Highwayman poem written by Alfred Noyes. I will post more information about our narrative poetry and the Highwayman tomorrow.

Here are links to the resources we were using in class today. Please have a think about how we could present the poem:

Animation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYUmP-Nk0-U&feature=related

Lego: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_pMq7eeHXU&feature=related

Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsUM7V6Ku_8

Please note the videos are from YouTube so you might have trouble accessing them.

Over the last few weeks I have been writing reports for all students which will be sent home shortly. Please take the time to read the reports carefully and feel free to contact me if you would like to chat about anything.

Love

Matt

Reading – Literature Circles

Last week, Grade 5K (non-ESL) began completing Literature Circles within our reading classes. Before the winter break students had been completing a more guided or teacher directed approach during reading. Literature circles allow students a greater degree of independence and ownership providing a more interactive forum for students whilst discussing books and completing reading activities.

Overviews of literature circles can be found at the following sites:

http://www.litcircles.org/Overview/overview.html#what

http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/literaturecircles/index.html

Further reading is available:

http://www.litcircles.org/research.html

Within 5K students self assign roles

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR. Your job is to lead the discussion, keep the group on task and keep order. You need at least one FAT question for each group member. (FAT questions cannot be answered with just a yes or a no).

SUMMARIZER. Your job is to summarize the selection. A summary is a brief statement with the main events of the chapter(s). Make sure you use your own words. Remember you are only doing a small part of the story. At the end of your summary, include a prediction of what you think will happen next.

PASSAGE PICKER. Your job is to select passages from the text that catch your attention. Make sure you choose passages for different reasons such as, a great description, wonderful vocabulary, a particularly fun or sad event or one that contains important information.

WORD WIZARD. Your job is to select 6 words from the text. The purpose is for us to study vocabulary and expand our knowledge. Record each word below including the page number you found it on and use a dictionary to find its definition. Be sure to pick challenging and interesting words!

CONNECTOR. Your job is to ‘connect’ any part of the reading to another piece of literature, a past experience of your own or a movie or something else in the world.

ILLUSTRATOR. Your job is to visualize what the author has verbalized. That’s the great thing about literature is it leaves a lot to the imagination. Recreate a favorite event from the reading and share it.

The following document includes descriptors and posters for each role.

Lit Circle Templates

Students enjoyed completing extended reading sessions, discussions, book reviews, character analysis and creating their own Roald Dahl inspired characters.

A few extension activities that are available include:

• Complete  activities on the Roald Dahl website: www.roalddahl.com
• Visit Michael Morpurgo’s website: www.michaelmorpurgo.com
• Write book reviews and post them on the Guardian children’s book website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site

Happy Roald Dahl Day!

Taken from the Guardian website: http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/sep/13/happy-roald-dahl-day-roundup

It’s Roald Dahl Day today and we’re celebrating with a Dahly takeover of the site in honour of the great storyteller.
Join in the fun, from listening to the great man himself read from the BFG and testing your knowledge of his books in a quiz to sharing your favourite Roald Dahl character

Roald Dahl, author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG, The Twits and many many more fantastic books. Photograph: ITV / Rex Features

There are lots of ways you can celebrate Roald Dahl Day on the site today – discover the Dahly delights in store:

Explore a gallery of pictures of Roald Dahl and his family, explained by Michael Rosen

Listen to Roald Dahl reading from the BFG

Discuss your favourite Roald Dahl character!

Read the first chapter of a new biography, Fantastic Mr Dahl by Michael Rosen, all about his childhood and what life was like for him at home and at school

And find out what other kids think of the biography by reading their reviews of it

Test your knowledge of Roald Dahl’s books and characters in a quiz

Get tips for the best costumes for Dahlicious Dress Up Day and tell everyone which character you’re going to go to school as on 28 September and how you’ll make your costume

Discover the Roald Dahl Museum through a google interactive – walk through the museum!

Happy Roald Dahl Day!

Red Scarf Girl – Isabel, Joanna, Hyun Ji and Daniela

Year of Impossible Goodbyes – Benny, Jun Ik, Hye Won and Max

Sing to the Dawn – Andy, Sabastian and Violette

We have additional copies of all the books if any parents would like to read the books at home. If you would like a copy of any of the texts please email me or send in a note.

Matt Kimber