Reading Block

I love reading block.  We are figuring out our time and will be adjusting it as we learn our new schedule (which starts on Monday).  During our block, we do a myriad of things.  Kids read, use the chrome book for RAZ Kids, meet with me for reading groups, and work on vocabulary words learning about root words, or on Making Connections, which focuses on 4 vocabulary words at a time.  We spend time discussing the books we are reading out loud and talk about our thoughts and questions in order to be able to write about it.  We keep track

Have a reluctant reader at home?  Try one of these.  Seriously.  

Reading groups have begun and we are reading great books in every group.  Reading groups are one of my favorite things Of.  All.  Time.  I love working with kids on how they read (we often talk about what they love about hearing ME read, and why!), why we read (so many great answers for this one!), and how to become better readers.  We look at ways to break down words to make them easier to read.  We talk about how the sentence can help you figure out a tricky word, and we acknowledge how difficult the English language truly is.  We will read fiction and nonfiction.  We will read short books and long books.  We will read funny books and serious books.  We will read.  Reading must be a part of their home life too.  It just has to be.  Every day.  There will be days they won’t read a TON, and I get that.  But there shouldn’t be DAYS of them reading nothing.  Trust me, it really is that important.  Read with them too!  You won’t regret it.  It’s something I look forward to every day I get to be with them.  They love reading a book with me so much, and I love it more than I can possibly ever tell them! 

Finishing our book…The Wild Robot

These aren't necessarily pretty, but they sure are packed with a ton of information.  We highlight things, write things in different colors, and discuss our book a LOT.  Kids can RESPECTFULLY BLURT (it's hard to write with my back to them, so they get to blurt things out as I write, but must be respectful) and everyone gets a chance to say something.  

This was a great book and kids LOVED it.  What a great read.  The idea of a robot being the main character in a survival story is pretty cool.  The things that Roz, or favorite robot, learns and how she changes throughout the book is pretty wonderful.  She forms meaningful relationships and you are rooting for her up until the last word of the book.  The last paragraph of the book leaves it open for a sequel.  We aren’t very patient, so we’ve started to write our own.  Everyone is writing what THEY think will happen in the next book.  It’s been really fun to hear their ideas.  More on that later!!  WoooOoOT!

Reading Picture Books in Class

Coming soon:  OUR OWN MONSTER MAKING

I tend to read a lot of PICTURE BOOKS too.  Don’t forget to check them out when you go to the library (have you been to the new Westgate library yet!?) look at the picture books too.  There are SO many great lessons to be learned in these wonderful pieces of art.  They are gorgeous and complex – despite their picture book simplicity.