The Weber Weekly

Glitches in technology have really put a damper on our CogATs this week.  We were only able to test on Tuesday since everything crashed on Wednesday morning.  This was a problem across the whole district and now testing has been postponed.  We cannot test next week because the Book Fair will be set up in the Media Center, so now our testing will take place the following week.  I will send you a reminder when I know our testing dates.    

Our shared reading focus this week was on summarizing and finding the main idea.  We read a nonfiction big book called The Remarkable, Adaptable Turtle.  I used the book to model taking notes on our reading and we then continued that strategy with some nonfiction books in guided reading.  The kids learned that it's okay to just write one word or a short phrase on the sticky note as opposed to everything in the text.  They then used the sticky notes to help retell the main idea of the book.  This is an ongoing strategy that we will continue throughout the school year. 

The kids also learned to use a Venn Diagram this week to compare and contrast information.  I first modeled this for the class by using myself and one of the students.  We then read two books about a dog named Marley written by the same author.  The kids listened for details in the texts that they could compare and contrast and then completed the Venn Diagram.  They did an awesome job!  We will keep working on comparing and contrasting in guided reading throughout the year.

We had a visitor from the Plainfield Public Library yesterday. Mrs. Murphy came out and shared some fall stories with our class. Everyone loved her visit!

Big thanks to our very first Mystery Reader, Mr. Gomez!  He lucked out and was able to be a Watch DOG on the same day.  He read a funny Halloween parody called Good Night, Goon.  Oh, funny story...As I was giving the clues to the class, the students were trying to guess the reader.  Two of the clues were, "I'm a 40 year old boy" and "I love to work out."  I told the kids to think about all the boys in their family...dad, unclues, big brothers, grandpas, etc.  Then I asked them why we were only thinking of boys and why the reader today couldn't be a mom.  The obvious answer was that the first clue said he was a 40 year old boy.  Instead, a little girl raised her hand and as serious as could be said, "It can't be a mom because moms don't like to work out."  Hahahahaha, that was the best answer I had heard all week!  :) :) 

I am sending home some very important information today regarding fall conferences.  Please read the letter, complete the form, and return the information at your earliest convenience.  I'm looking forward to meeting with all of you in a couple of weeks!