March 4, 2013

A note from Ms. Poteet…

Last week we reviewed reading strategies proficient readers use to decode unknown words.  To help your child become a better reader, encourage them to use the following strategies:

Strategy #1: Look at the picture.

-         Good readers look carefully at the pictures in the story.

-         Look at the pictures before reading to predict what might happen in the story.

-         Look at the pictures while reading to help you better understand the story.

-         Look at the pictures for clues when stuck on a tricky word.

-         Look at the pictures after you have finished reading to help you retell the story.

Strategy #2: Get your mouth ready.

-         Good readers get their mouth ready to make the sounds in a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready for the beginning sound of a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready for the ending sound of a tricky word.

-         Get your mouth ready to blend all the sounds in the word.

Strategy # 3: Look for chunks.

-         Good readers look for chunks they know in a tricky word.

-         Look for chunks you know in words.  Words are like puzzles, they are made of many different pieces.  Many times you will find pieces in a tricky word that you already know like…parts of word wall words, word families, endings, etc.

Strategy # 4: Reread

-         Good readers reread the part of the story with the tricky word.

-         Good readers reread difficult parts.

-         Good readers reread to decide on a word that would fit in the story.

-         Good readers reread to better understand the story.

-         Good readers reread to build fluency

Strategy #5: Ask yourself- Does it make sense?  Does it look right?  Does it sound right?

-         Good readers ask themselves, “Does it make sense?” when they are trying to figure out a tricky word.

-         Ask yourself, “Does the word make sense in the story?”

-         Ask yourself, “Does it sound right in this sentence?”

-         Ask yourself, “Does it look right – like the word on the page?”

-         If the answer is no, then try another word until it makes sense in the story.

Strategy #6: Ask a Friend

-         Good readers ask a friend to help them with a tricky word when nothing else works.

-         Ask a friend for help when you have tried all the strategies and you still can’t figure out the tricky word.

-         Ask a friend for help when you feel frustrated with the tricky word.

-         The “Ask a Friend” strategy should only be used as a last resort.

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Dates to Remember

·         March 6^th: Progress Reports Go Home

·         March 7^th: Picture Day - Individual and Class pictures

·         March 12^th: Field Trip to see The Three Little Pigs

What are we learning?

Reading Workshop

This week we are working on asking questions while reading.  We will focusing on asking who, what, when, where, and why questions.

                     

Writing Workshop

We are continuing to write our All About Books.  We will write in our Family Journals on Friday.

Word Study

This week, we will explore r-blends: pr, tr, dr, cr, fr, gr.  We will also learn how to read and write these words that will be added to our Word Wall: make, here, before.  Have your child sing you the songs for these words.

Math

We are working on place value of numbers 11-19.  

Social Studies

We are learning about American Symbols and Celebrations.  This week we are focusing on the Mt. Rushmore and the Statue of Liberty.  

Related Arts Schedule

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
PE	Art	Art	Art	Art