Mrs. Flores’ Web Blog

Have I told you about what an exciting year this?  Mod III rocks!  Ms. Lori and I have revisited our initial plans to coordinate our spelling across the whole Mod.  After looking at our students, their strengths and needs, we have opted to focus our Friday lessons on the 6 Traits of Writing.  Last week and this week, we are discussing the  Trait of Ideas.  We have started our lessons with the picture books, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco.  These books are such great books and offer so many teachable moments.  It’s one of the reasons I love teaching….I get to read books to kids and talk about them.

On Monday, my ELA classes developed their spelling lists and the words to choose from.  I hope this format is as exciting for your students as it is for me.  For the lists we have generated, see:  spelling Sep 14 2009-Flores.

Today, I sent home a small paperback guided reading booklet.  Your child should be reading the booklet at home.  On Thursday, a worksheet will be send home that will supplement your child’s reading.  In class, students are working on a station assignment sheet.  This is the 1st week that I’ve implemented the station assignments.  To get an idea of what your child is doing during stations, see this link:  station assignments sept 14-18

Just a little update on our spelling lessons.  On Friday,  Mod III met by grade level.  Mrs. Lori reviewed with the students some basic grammar rules.  We talked about subjects and predicates, and then we identified nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and even an adverb!  Then we enjoyed the story Nouns and Verbs have a Field Day!    In lieu of spelling this  next week,  we decided to focus on some of our grammar rules for homework.  Since it was a short week and after reviewing several writing samples, we decided that as a Mod we needed to address some of the grammar basics.   We will be addressing this in class all week.  Spelling will return next week. 

NO SPELLING LABOR DAY WEEK!    SENTENCES & GRAMMAR INSTEAD!  See the following link…dlr-HW 9-7 wk

Today, Mrs. Hernandez and I combined our classes to create grade level spelling lists.  I will say that the 4th graders left my class with words rolling around in my head and banging against my brain!  Wait til you see what they’ve done.  Please see the attached link to access our spelling possibilities for next week.  spelling Aug 28 09 Students should notice that I’ve included a reference in this blog to a phrase that is noted in another piece of literature.  Do you recognize it?  Comment and let me know what you think.   

Today and through the weekend, Barnes & Noble will be sponsoring a book fair for Seashore.  Any purchases you make will earn extra bucks for the school.  See the attached voucher. flyer-with-voucher I’ll be doing a storytime with kids tomorrow at 10:30 AM in the children’s area of the store.

The dust has starting settling now that we have been in school one week!  Can you believe it?  Just to let you know, I welcome any comments to my blog.  My blog is not quite like a chat room, sometimes it may hours or even a day before I get online to update my blog.  I’ve had kids write me messages like ”Where are you? I left my homework at school.”  Sometimes I may be at school, sometimes the grocery store, or even washing the laundry.   There are days that I just have to make myself leave cyberspace and enter into the world of reality! 

My ELA classes have begun to explore the 6 traits of Writing and have started listening to the read-aloud There’s a Boy in the Girls Bathroom by Louis Sachar.  Today we will be taking our reading benchmark and guided reading will be following suit thereafter.

I’m looking forward to a great year.  Students are encouraged to enjoy any of the activity links on the right side of this blog.  Any of the activities target various skills.  As I find more educational links,  I will add them.  Feel free to visit anytime and drop a comment or questions below.

School is right around the corner.  Next week, teachers start back to school.  Oh me! Oh my! Sweet potato Pie!  I’m looking forward to a fun school year.  Mark your calendars for Aug. 29 & 30.  Some of Seashore’s  Scribble Scrabble Storytellers will host a storytime at Barnes & Noble.  Also, we will have a book fair at the store!  Woo-Hoo!

We finished reading the second book in the On the Run series.  I have ordered Book 3 so we should have it in our hands by next Friday!  Yeah!

Antoher great day at the Storybook Cafe.  The Preschool storytime featured The Cow who went Oink.  All the preschoolers that came today had read at least 10 books and earned a special treat.  If you are looking for the reading log, click on the Summer Reading Challenge page above and find the link to the reading program.

The Storyteller’s Club played charades today and had a few belly laughs.  Those Storytellers getting ready for the Barnes & Noble event.  Keep practicing your stories. 

The On the Run book club is really revving up, and we are starting our second book.  Our new goal is to read within 1 week!  3 chapters a day help you meet your goal.  Also, find a buddy to read along with you.  It helps make the laughs funnier and the suspense greater when it is shared.

The Scribble Scrabble Club met yesterday.  35 kids attended .  I’m putting the challenge out there!   I have plenty of prizes to give away…  a slushy to Stripes, an item from Sonic’s dollar menu or even an ice cream from Padre Pizzeria.  All you have to do is read 10 books! 

The Scribble Scrabble Storytellers have selected their stories to tell at our upcoming storytelling event at Barnes and Noble at the end of August.   See more info about the SSS by clicking on the page link above.

The On the Run Book club is challenged to finish the book by the time we meet on Friday, July 10.  Also go to the On the Run page and post a blog!

KEEP READING!

I’ve heard through the grapevine that Ms. Lori’s Scrapbook Journaling is a smashing hit!  I believe the actual words were “AWESOME!”  I’m looking forward to Friday’s storytime and club meetings.  See you there!

Seashore Storybook Cafe.  Today, we hosted our first Scribble Scrabble Club meeting at the Storybook Cafe.  Our special guest for today’s storytime was Madeline!  We appreciate Barnes and Noble coming to read for us and bringing the book character Madeline with them.  If you missed the storytime today, Madeline will be hosting a storytime on Saturday at 3 pm at Barnes & Noble. 

Our summer reading program is off to a great start.   I would like to congratulate Nicolai O. for reading the first ten books of the summer.  I hope he enjoyed his trip to the treasure chest.  I’m looking forward to congratulating many more readers this summer.  For an update on the Scribble Scrabble Storytellers click on the link above.  Also if your participating in the “On the Run” reading club, check out the link “On the Run” link and we can have some book discussions online too! 

 I’m so exciting about READING!  I hope  your up to the Summer Reading Challenge