Ms. Beaudreau's Reading Class

This week, we have a modified schedule due to Benchmark testing occuring throughout the week. After resource, students will test with their homeroom teacher, and then they will rotate to their different classes for a short period of time.

Our focus this week will be on our in-class and at-home Reading Logs, setting the standard for students' daily, independent reading time, and using the Reader's Notebook as a place to reflect about our reading and the strategies we're learning in class.

Students will spend time working on their Reading Bingo goals to meet our standard of reading and responding to at least six(6) chapter books each nine weeks. Their first reading response is due this Wednesday, September 8th. When students finish reading their self-selected books, they will work on Reading Bingo response activities during their independent work time. Throughout the week, I will conference with students to discuss their reading goals and the book they are reading.

Chets Creek 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders are participating in a reading competition called Battle of the Books. The purpose of the Battle of the Books is to encourage students to read quality literature, promote critical thinking, and to enhance book discussions! These high-interest books are part of the Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award Program and are included in our classroom and school library. Many students already selected one of the books, and we are currently reading one together called The Gollywopper Games. Please consider purchasing one of these wonderful books for our classroom library so that we have enough for all of our eager readers.

Starting soon, students may take comprehension tests to measure their knowledge of the individual Battle books. If students pass the tests, they will receive credit on their Reading Bingo cards, which go toward their reading goals each nine weeks. Additionally, the students who read and pass the most tests will also be eligible to be on our own Battle Teams that will compete against other classes.

Please check out the link blow to read a description of each of the 15 titles for this year's Battle of the Books.

Click here: Battle of the Books

Reading Homework -read for 20-30 minutes and log it on your At-Home Reading Log
At-Home Reading Logs will be assigned EVERY MONDAY and due the following MONDAY, unless there is a holiday.

Weekly Language & Vocabulary Skills:

Language & Vocabulary - Due to Benchmark testing, we will not cover new skills and vocabulary during the skills block. Next week, we will begin our first vocabulary unit covering prefixes.

We are also learning new words from our read aloud. Just ask your kids!

If you're looking for some extra practice, please try some of the fun, interactive games to reinforce the vocabulary skills we'll learn this year.
Online Practice Activities
Antonyms 1
Antonyms 2
Antonyms - Try the intermediate and advanced levels.
Synonyms 1
Synonyms 2
Synonyms - Try the intermediate and advanced levels.
Finding the Right Word
Prefixes
Roots & Their Families 1
Roots & Their Families 2
Prefixes, Roots & Suffixes
Context Clues 1
Context Clues 2

Weekly Homework:

read for at least 20 - 30 minutes each night and log it on the nightly, At-Home Reading Log
work on Reading Bingo book response

At - Home Reading Log due on Tuesday, September 7th & Monday, September 13th
1st Reading Bingo Book Response is due on Wednesday, September 8th. 2nd Reading Bingo Book Response is due on Friday, September 17th.

Parents' Corner:

Please check out our website often as we may update the information as needed throughout the week. If you haven't already done so, please join our amazing PTA. Your $5 gift can make a BIG difference. Also, please consider purchasing a subscription to Weekly Reader. For just $5, your child can enjoy an enriching, weekly magazine filled with current events.

Please be sure your child is reading each and every night. Daily reading is the single most important thing your child can do to improve his or her reading skills. As your child works on his/her reading goal for this nine weeks, please help me monitor your child's progress by asking them about what they're reading and how they're progressing towards their goal.

Please review all tests and papers that come home each week in your child's red folder. You only need to sign and return the tests if your child scores below a 70%. Spend some time with your child discussing his or her performance, especially on the weekly assessments.

If you'd like to donate a "wish list" item to our classroom, I would truly appreciate the support. Gift cards are most valued, so I can select the exact items needed for our classroom. Thanks for helping our garden grow!

    * Books-a-Million or Barnes & Noble giftcards(classroom books)
    * Target, Office Max, Wal-mart giftcards (classroom supplies)
    * basketballs and volleyballs for recess
    * Avery labels size 8867(tiny return address) and/or 8163(large mailing size)
    * an electric pencil sharpener (Heavy duty for all these pencils!)
    * colored cardstock
    * extra disinfecting wipes

Thanks a million for your support!!!

Upcoming Events:

Next Wednesday, September 8th - Students first Reading Bingo book response is due!
Next Wednesday, September 8th is Early Dismisal at 2:00pm.
On Friday, Flag Raising is held at 9:05 in the Community Courtyard.
On Friday, Team Spirit Day is held. Everyone is encouraged to wear their team colors! All classes are invited to meet the Coaches at the track immediately following their lunchtime to round the track and kick off the Fuel Up to Play program.

Scholastic Book Clubs Online

Great news! You can now place your Scholastic Book Club orders online!

Online Ordering Information
Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: GMRR6

Now it's easier than ever to find the right books for your child and help us earn FREE books for our classroom library at the same time!

With new online ordering from Scholastic Book Clubs, you can choose from a much wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card.

Best of all, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent places their order online.

It's so simple! Here's how it works:

•   SIGN UP at www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Don't have a User Name and Password?" link, then register for your own username and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code: GMRR6
This code ensures that your order is sent to me.

•   SELECT the books you'd like to order from over 500 titles available online...and take advantage of online-only specials and discounts.

•   SEND your order to me ONLINE by the due date. Books will be delivered directly to our classroom, as always.

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure. Plus our whole class benefits thanks to the FREE books we'll earn with every parent online order.

Go to www.Scholastic.com/bookclubs now to get started. Class Activation Code: GMRR6

Book Club Order Due Date : September 24

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks for your support!

Reading Bingo

Are you a computer whiz?
Try these technology options for your Reading Bingo. All of these computer responses must be printed and turned in to receive credit!

Reading Bingo - Students have the option of completing Reading Bingo response activities at home after they finish a book. All students must complete a reading response after they finish a book, so I want to include options for students wanting to work on the activities after class time.

1. Write a book review and send it in to get published. Go to:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/swyar/write.asp
Click on “preview” before you send it in.
Print the page so that you get credit on your BINGO card.

2. Complete an online Story Map using:
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/lit-elements/
Print the story map so that you get credit on your BINGO card.

3. Make a book report sandwich at:
http://www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/sandwich.asp
Print the completed book report.

4. Make a character scrapbook online. You will need to take notes about your character as you read.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/scrapbook
Print the scrapbook.

5. Character Trading Cards - Write a character analysis about a character from your book.
http://readwritethink.org/materials/trading_cards/
Print the trading cards.

6. Letter Generator - Write a note to or from a character. Put yourself in his or her shoes and take on their role in the book. For nonfiction, write a letter to a friend or family member telling them about what you learned. You can also make up your own idea.
http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/
Print the letter.

7. Literary Elements Map - Make a character map, conflict map, resolution map, setting map about your story.
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/lit-elements/
Print the literary map.

8. Post Card Creator - Create a postcard to or from a character in the book. Write a note to the author or for nonfiction, write a note about the special person, place or thing that you’re learning about.
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/postcard/
Print the postcard.

9. Stapleless Book - Create your own vocabulary book, picture or fact book for your fiction or nonfiction book.
http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/stapleless/
Print the stapleless book.

10. Students can take a comprehension test about their book. Please print the test to receive credit.
http://www.allquizzes.net
Please see Ms. Beaudreau for the username & password information.

***All of these computer responses must be printed and turned in to receive credit!***