Thursday June 25th, 2015

Thursday June 25th, 2015

Review

• Dialectical journal
• Plot Pyramid
• Discuss reading from Tuesday

Vocabulary

1. warehouse
2. recovering
3. lavender
4. glamour
5. unforgettable
6. furious
7. embarrassed
8. European
9. undercurrent
10. galleries

Reading
Continue reading "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett while our class waits for "Dog Days" to arrive; complete chapters 2 and read chapters 3 through 4. 

Writing

Write a 12 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.

• Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:
• Describe Petra's favorite place.
• Why were Petra and Calder following Miss Hussey and what did Miss Hussey have?
• Describe Petra's home and family; what did she like and not like? 
• Describe Calder's home and family; are there any similarities between Calder and Petra's home? 
• What did Miss Hussey say art showed people?
• What did Calder see in the gallery and what happened to him while he was in the gallery?

Tuesday June 23rd, 2015

Tuesday June 23rd, 2015

Review

• Class structure
• Survey responses
• Dialectical journal
• Plot Pyramid

Update
Last week, the class selected "Dog Days" by David Lubar as our class book. The book was ordered and is being shipped to arrive in the next week. Our class will us another book with our lessons until the book arrives.
Dialectical Journal

• Begin working on our Dialectical Journal in class as we begin reading our book. 
• Students will see example of dialectical journal to get inspiration for their own journal. 
• Students will need to write one entry this evening in their journal to go over in class Wednesday June 25th. 

Vocabulary

1. pentominoes
2. stationary
3. Chicago
4. investigate
5. coincidences
6. warning
7. mathematics
8. pretentious
9. mismatched
10. labyrinth

Reading
Begin "Chasing Vermeer" by Blue Balliett, chapters 1 and 2, while our class waits for "Dog Days" to arrive. 

Writing

Write a 10 sentence essay with beginning, middle, and end format and include correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. Please make sure I can read your essay.

• Use 5 of the daily vocabulary words in your essay; please underline your vocabulary words.
• Tell me what happened in the story with your own words. Be sure to include the following answers (in complete sentences) in your essay:
• Describe what a pentominoes are and how they work.
• How does the author connect pentominoes patters to the story?
• How many deliveries were made in Chicago? Who received the deliveries and why?
• What are your thoughts about the mysterious documents?
• Describe Ms. Hussey and why Petra and Calder were interested in her.

Thursday June 18th, 2015

Thursday June 18th, 2015

First week of class! No class Tuesday June 15th. Class runs Tuesday and Thursdays, between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. 

Our first day in class covered introduction, expectations, structure, what book we will read, and how we will write.

Introduce Class Structure

• Select class book to read based on LISD Summer Reading List (6th Grade, 8th grade)

Class Expectations

• What students should expect from instructor, and what instructor inspects from students

Class survey handout and Discussion

• Students provide their thoughts on reading and writing. Discussion to follow.

Journal and plot pyramid discussion

• Go over dialectical journal information, its importance, and the instruction handouts.
• Our class is expected to complete one journal entry on Monday night, and one journal entry on Wednesday night for homework.
• Plot pyramid, correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar required in journal.

Review books to read and make selection as class

• Went over LISD book list
• Students selected "Dog Days" by David Lubar

What to expect next week

• Go over agenda for next week
• I am researching best way to get class books in by next week and will have them come class time.

Reading and Writing

Curriculum Outline

Objective

Students will learn skills and tools to strengthen their writing and reading abilities. Class focus is on reading phonics, strategies, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development  writing process, text, conventions, handwriting, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and research.  

Vocabulary

Students learn 10 new vocabulary words each class. Vocabulary words are  incorporated new into the student’s reading and writing lessons to help strengthen context, identification, spelling, meaning, and pronunciation skills.

Reading

Students select from a variety of short stories and books to read aloud during class. Focus on reading comprehension, pronunciation, and frequency. Student will answer questions about material read to work on comprehension skills.

Writing

Students write short essay, utilizing beginning, middle, and end formation, summarizing the story they've read in class. Various questions about the story must be answered to increase reading comprehension skills. Writing focus on spelling, punctuation, spacing, and form. Student must use vocabulary words learned in class in their writing.   

Timeline

Class Schedule (60 minute Class Monday and Wednesday)

• Icebreaker and review (10 minutes)  
• Class Reading (30 minutes)
• Individual Writing (20 minutes)

Outline

Week 1

Class introduction and survey. Students will select reading material for the upcoming weeks. A few of the books students are able to select from are titled; Chasing Vermeera, May Bird and the Ever After, The Calder Game, and The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Short reading and writing exercise.

Week 2

Begin reading exercises aloud for 30 minutes; writing and vocabulary exercise 20 minutes.

Week 3

Continue reading reading exercises aloud for 30 minutes; writing and vocabulary exercise 20 minutes.

Week 4

Continue reading reading exercises aloud for 30 minutes; writing and vocabulary exercise 20 minutes.

Week 5

Continue reading reading exercises aloud for 30 minutes; writing and vocabulary exercise 20 minutes.

Class Materials

3-ring binder to keep all writing material

Notebook (spiral or composition)

Pens and pencils

Dividers with folders and tabs

Sheet protectors

Copy of class book (selected in first week of class by students)

Summer 2015 Reading and Writing Programs Have Begun at IQuest!

Summer 2015 Reading and Writing Programs Have Begun at IQuest! 

For summer 2015, I am teaching reading and writing for all grades K - 8th at IQuest. 
The summer reading schedule is:

• 2nd - 3rd Grade Monday and Wednesday 4:30pm - 5:30pm 
• 4th - 5th Grade Monday and Wednesday 5:30pm - 6:30pm
• K - 1st Grade Tuesday and Thursday 4:30pm - 5:30pm 
• 6th - 8th Grade Tuesday and Thursday 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Be sure to share our class meet ups with other families looking to enhance their reading and writing skills this summer! Sign up for classes at IQuest using this link: http://app.mainstreetsites.com/dmn2043/vlt58007.htm