Ms. Finley

9/01/11

Dear parents and students.

I am slowly grading the vocabulary and book summary assignments, please be patient.

Today we read Maximum Ride and worked on the concepts of tone and mood. we will continue with that on Friday.

I won't be there tomorrow due to an inservice. The children read "Maximum Ride" today and will do more tomorrow. I have left vocabulary words that go along with Maximum Ride for them to start as well.

Please remember that Thursday night you sign the reading log for me to check on Friday.

8/30/11

Today we spent most of our time in the media center.The students created their "Destiny" log ins, checked out books or renewed them. I promised they would have ample time tomorrow to read "Maximum Ride".

Keep up with your reading.

Good evening,

Today the students turned in their summer reading notecards/  or papers. Many did not turn theirs in, this was posted on my blog for a week. I will take ten points if recieved by tomorrow, otherwise the children who don't turn it in will get a zero.

We did a little review over plot, introduced setting , theme and mood. We finally began reading Maximum Ride and I think ,based on the comments I got, that everyone should enjoy it.

We will be going to the media center tomorrow to check out books, take AR tests( if the students have finished a book), and  then they'll have a discussion with the media specialist. We will then return to class and read Maximum Ride.

Remember the only homework is to read 30 minutes per night!!!!!

 

8/26/11

Good afternoon,

I'd first like to start out by saying that the students who didn't get their reading logs signed recieved a zero. That being said, I will replace the zero with a 50 on Monday ( which will substantially improve their grade)if the reading log is signed. I am trying to emphasis that it is the childrens responsibility to get a parent to sign every week.

Today in class the students finished their vocabulary activity and  turned it in , I will grade them and get them back by Tuesday.

Monday we will begin a lesson over tone, mood, and setting. We will also begin reading " Maximum  Ride". The student's will be able to take an AR tests at the end of the grading period. This book is worth 11 points.

The last item on the list of items to cover is that the summer reading is due on Monday. Please refer to Monday's BLOG for the guidelines. 

 

8/25/11

Please get your reading logs signed tonight for homework.

Summer reading is due Monday 8/29/11 , please see last nights BLOG for the required information.

8/24/11

Dear parents,

today in class we worked on plot diagrams and read two short stories.

In tomorrow's class we will be viewing a power point over the elements of reading and working on some vocabulary.

Please make sure that the reading logs are being logged every night. Tomorrow night a parent or guardian will be verifying the weekly reading minutes and signing the blog.

The summer reading card/ paper is due on Monday I am looking for :

Title

Author

Main Characters

Your favorite character and why.

A brief summary one- half to three fourths of a page will do.

8/22/11

Good afternoon,

today  each student received a consumable workbook for Reading. This is for them to write in throughout the year. I gave them a scavenger hunt to familiarize them with the book and to see how well they follow instructions.

I also gave each of my students their reading range and had them write it in their agendas. I didn't do this with first period and will do so tomorrow. I want each individual child to stay with in their zones so that they are being challenged or  not trying to read something too difficult for them.

At the end of the nine week grading period all students need 20 AR points to achieve an A for the AR portion of class. They will all receive a grade for points earned, but only 19-20 point range will be an A. 

Lastly, tomorrow I will be giving all the students a pretest, this is to check for prior knowledge and to see what concepts need to be reinforced or introduced. This will not count for a grade.

 

P.S.

Tomorrow night is open house, this is for parents only, please keep your children home so that we may discuss curriculum and rules with out distraction

 

 

8/18/11

Good afternoon,

today we wet to the media center to get reacquainted with The Destiny system. The students then were able to check out books.

I  have asked every student to bring a book to class tomorrow so that we may read during class..

 We will be taking the STAR test as well. This is only to give me your child's current reading range. I would like them to stay within their reading range throughout the year and will test them three time once at the beginning, one again around December and finally towards the end of school. My hope is that they children will show continual growth .

This isn't anything that can be prepared for any nothing to get stressed over. I will let each child know their reading range on Monday.

8/17/11

Dear parents,

thank you for getting the parent letter back in a timely fashion.

Today we did a getting to know you activity ,as well as ,writing details about a Paul Gaugin painting and then creating a ficticious story. I am looking for creativity as apposed to correct grammar. I will give everyone a 100 for participation as long as they complete the assignment. We will work on it in class tomorrow.

The only homework is to read at least thirty minutes in a book, magazine or newspaper.

8/15/11

Good afternoon, It was a pleasure getting to meet all of my students and I look forward to a great year.

We reviewed the rules and talked about this years expectations.

It is very important that the two sheets in the Cobb County folder get returned as soon as possible; those that don't bring in the signed forms by Friday will not be given a locker until they do so.

 I wrote a list of supplies I'd like all the students to have:

 1. a single subject notebook/ binder is acceptable.

2. Colored pencils or markers.

3. Glue stick

4. pens and pencils.