Monday, February 28, 2011

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Welcome to the students coming from Miss Gadd's class!

Make sure you have a thumb drive to bring to class each time. 


1. Bell-Ringer:  Individual Reading Time and Filling out your reading log for today.

2. Introduction to this classroom:
What we'll do this term:
Preview the term assignment -- PowerPoints/WebSite Evaluations
http://afcelebritywebquest.blogspot.com/


Where we see what we're doing today.
Where we find our folders.
Where we find handouts.
Where we hand in papers.  
Where we get back papers.
Where we can check out books.

3.  Being aware of our inner voices as we read. 

4. Conversational Voice or Waste-of-Time Voice
    Students read passages from a biography of Pearl S. Buck, and filled out a Graphic Organizer for Inner Voices.
    What you can do to read more actively?   
  1.            Talk to the author
  2.            Put your finger (or a pen)  on the page 
  3.            Use your peripheral vision
  4.             Read in chunks

_________________________________
Next time:  Why do we read? 
        Why?

Use this log if you miss class to make-up your missed reading time: Reading Log 7 Make-Up Log

Website evaluations are due March 21.
Your PowerPoints are due March 29.
 


Strategy handouts with fix-ups
 Fluency 
Reading Logs
Reading Minute 
Reasons why
wiki

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

     On Wednesday, go to Mrs. Fugal's classroom.  It is time to rotate.  You will have Mrs.  Fugal for this next rotation, then Miss Gadd after that.

February 28, 2011

Bell-Ringer: Individual reading and reading log

Finish stories.  

If you haven't done the End of Rotation Reflection, see me.

Fluency

See other student's suggestions for PowerPoints.

Share book suggestions.   Think -Write - Share    (sticky notes pass?)

On Wednesday, go to Ms. Fugal's classroom.

For B2 --
http://a2cavereading2011.pbworks.com

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Parent-Teacher Conference

Welcome, Parents! 
If you haven't used this blog before, take a few minutes to get acquainted with it.  The tab above about Navigating might be helpful. 
Ask me any questions you still have.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

No Cave Time on Friday due to Mock Trial competition.
If you need help, see me during  Cave Time Intervention on Tuesday, or during class.

Parent-Teacher Conference tonight.

February 28 is the last day of the first rotation.  On March 2 you will be moving to Ms. Fugal's class.

Feb 22 = 338 
_____________________________________________________________ 

Bell-Ringer:  Individual reading and filling out your reading log.

Fluency practice 

Reading Stories with Twists  -- Using Reading Strategies
 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

No Cave Time on Friday due to Mock Trial competition.
If you need help, see me during  Cave Time Intervention on Tuesday, or during class.

Bell-Ringer:  Individual reading and filling out your reading log.

Fluency practice

Computer Lab:
Go to http://a2cavereading2011.pbworks.com
Follow the directions for today, completing the End of Rotation Reflection.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

No Cave Time next Friday, February 25.

Bell-Ringer: Individual Reading Time
Students had time to complete and set up their presentations.

Students presented their Celebrity PowerPoints.  Thanks!  I enjoyed learning about your celebrities, and was very pleased with the overall quality of the presentations.

If you left your thumb drive with me, please don't forget to pick it up.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Reading on a Computer Vs. Reading a Hard Copy

ScreenPaper

100 wpm 110 wpm

200 wpm 240 wpm

300 wpm 400 wpm

700 wpm 1000 wpm

Research shows that reading is around 25% slower from a computer screen than from paper. This difference generally increases with increasing reading speed. 

Typical reading results  from an advertisement for FR READER software from ReadingSoft.com    http://www.readingsoft.com/index.html#results  This page was last modified in Oct. 2000.  Ordering in 2010.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

February 15, 2011

Bell-Ringer:   Individual reading time and reading log

Fluency Practice

Computer Terms Crossword

Inner Voices and Reading on the computer (See the post above.)  Metacognition!


Have your PowerPoints ready to share next time. All students will be showing their PowerPoint Presentations on February 17. 

Happy Valentines' Day!

from NPR at http://www.npr.org/2011/02/13/133693403/double-take-toons-valentines-day-2011?sc=fb&cc=fp
Reading and writing can be fun!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

Bell-ringer: Individual reading and reading log.


More on Computer reading strategie: using external text features --  PowerPoint Pointers.
Computer time  Website Evaluations  and PowerPoint: This is our last day in the lab before you present.
Link to our wiki: For B2 --
http://a2cavereading2011.pbworks.com
Link to the website with much more information on doing the project:
http://afcelebritywebquest.blogspot.com/


February 11, 2011 -- Today is our last day in the lab before you present.  On the day we present you will have ten to fifteen minutes to set up, then your PowerPoint will be viewed by all members of the class.

If you finish early, you may quietly read, work on your English wiki if you are in my English class, or go learn much more about computers at either
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/course/ 
or
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/   
by working through their tutorials.
____________________________________________________________
PowerPoint Pointers.

Guildelines
Here are a few PowerPoint guidelines I would like you to follow.
  • Background. Keep the background simple. Don't try to make it too complex. It is there to highlight your text, not distract from it. It doesn't count as one of your pictures.
  • Fonts. Use easy-to-read fonts that stay consistent throughout your presentation. Some of the fancier fonts are difficult to read and are distracting.
  • Colors. Make sure the color of your font contrasts with your background so that it is easy to read.
  • Pictures. When copying pictures from the Internet, be sure to copy the full-sized image, not the thumbnail. Thumbnails have lower resolution and get blurry and pixilated when you resize them.
  • Resizing. When you resize images, only stretch from the corners. This will prevent you from skewing your image. Never drag from the sides or bottom. If you need to change the shape of your picture, use the cropping tool.
  • Transitions. If you choose to insert transitions, keep them simple. Flying, looping text is obnoxious, and it detracts from the content of your presentation.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Monday, February 7, 2011

Bell-Ringer:  Independent Reading Time and Reading Log
Hand in your website evaluations if you hadn't already.
We will be in the computer lab next time to work on your PowerPoint Presentations and to find more information, if needed.

2. Fluency Practice.

3. External Text Features
Practice with sight and sound.
http://quizlet.com/285777/external-text-features-flash-cards/ 
Create and practice with flashcards
http://quizlet.com/285777/flashcards/ 
Play a game for practice
 http://quizlet.com/285777/scatter/
or
http://quizlet.com/285777/spacerace/

Three main types of text features:
Handout and quiz: types of external text features.doc
See http://cavemanenglish.blogspot.com/2009/03/external-text-features.html

Practice at 
http://www.utah.com/
and
http://online.culturegrams.com/index.php



Minimal Day Bell Schedule
Time
Period
Minutes
8:15 – 9:15
1st Period
60 minutes
9:20 – 10:20
2nd Period/Announcements
60 minutes
10:20 – 10:45
First Lunch
25 minutes
10:50 – 11:50
3rd Period
60 minutes
10:25 – 11:25
3rd Period
60 minutes
11:25 – 11:50
Second Lunch
25 minutes
11:55 – 12:55
4th Period
60 minutes

Teacher notes:
sort for fluency practice 
finish fluency testing
check on SRI completion