Reading Instruction
This year in reading we will be combining whole group instruction with small group guided reading with the goal of having our readers become more metacognitive about their reading and learning. We have already spent a great deal of time this year discussing how reading is thinking and this will be the foundation for our learning this year. Students will learn how every comprehension strategy they learn this year can assist them in delving deeper into what they read, fiction or nonfiction.
In order to accomplish this they will be given plenty of time in school to practice these skills through the reading of novels and whole class instruction on weekly texts using close reading. In addition to what is done in class, they are expected to work on these skills at home by reading every week. This reading can be for school related activities such as a social studies chapter, helping out a younger sibling with their reading, or even a favorite magazine.
Additionally, we will be spending time each full week learning new vocabulary through the Wordly Wise program. Students will be expected to complete reinforcement activities at home nightly to ensure mastery of words by Friday and that they are ready to ask questions during the daily review time.
In order to accomplish this they will be given plenty of time in school to practice these skills through the reading of novels and whole class instruction on weekly texts using close reading. In addition to what is done in class, they are expected to work on these skills at home by reading every week. This reading can be for school related activities such as a social studies chapter, helping out a younger sibling with their reading, or even a favorite magazine.
Additionally, we will be spending time each full week learning new vocabulary through the Wordly Wise program. Students will be expected to complete reinforcement activities at home nightly to ensure mastery of words by Friday and that they are ready to ask questions during the daily review time.
40 Book Challenge
This year as we will embark on the 40 Book Challenge, this challenge is meant to expand students’ reading lives, not limit or define it.
Whether you read or not isn’t a choice, but what you read is YOUR choice.
- "The 40 Book Challenge is a personal challenge for each student, not a contest or competition between students or classes.
- If Alex read two books in 4th grade and reads 22 in 5th grade, I am celebrating with him. What an accomplishment! Look how much Alex grew. He didn’t grow because he read more books. He grew because he had 22 successful reading experiences.
- Conversely, when Hailey read 55 books in 4th grade, reading 40 books in 5th grade isn’t challenging her. Encouraging Hailey to read biographies and historical fiction, which she claims to detest, does more to stretch her than simply reading more books.
- Honestly, I don’t care if all of my students read 40 books or not. What matters is that students stretch themselves as readers and increase their competence, confidence, and reading motivation through their daily participation in our reading community." -Donalyn Miller, The Book Whisperer
Whether you read or not isn’t a choice, but what you read is YOUR choice.
Newsela
Roots, prefixes, and suffixes
greek-roots-chart.doc | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: | doc |
latin-roots-chart.doc | |
File Size: | 46 kb |
File Type: | doc |
prefixes-chart.doc | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: | doc |
suffixes-chart.doc | |
File Size: | 39 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Novels We Will Read this school year
If your student likes to have their own copy of a novel, please look into purchasing a copy so they can annotate, highlight, or dog ear pages as they see fit. Click on any of the titles below to be taken to the Amazon page to order a copy.
Save Me a Seat
Number the Stars
Esperanza Rising
Save Me a Seat
Number the Stars
Esperanza Rising
Grade Weights
Reading Assessments 50%
Vocabulary/Word Work Assessments 20%
Classwork and Assignments 30%
Vocabulary/Word Work Assessments 20%
Classwork and Assignments 30%
40 Book Challenge