Ms. Larkin

READING week of October 22-26th

This week students are setting goals for quarter two.

Students should be finishing up their October AR books.  Rough drafts for Oct. book cards, October book cards (to the math teacher this month), and AR tests are due Wed. October 31st.

Halloween fluency projects are due October 30th and 31st. (Due 100 points- see rubric on previous blog) Students should be practicing, practicing, practicing reading their story aloud so they can get the MOST points for this storytelling project.

Students continue to work daily on comprehension and vocabulary (no vocabulary test for 2 weeks)

They are working on 'team fluency'= new ways to help each other become more fluent readers.

Current events continue to be due every Thursday-we've been working more with the AJC newspaper, so students should be getting better at navigating thorough the paper- have them find something for you!

Reading Due by 10/19

All students have a vocabulary test  FRIDAY on words from this week's Time For Kids news magazine.   They each have a typed vocabulary sheet to study.  The test is matching, and students need to be able to use the words correctly in sentences as well.

All students should be 1/2 way completed with their October Reading book by now, if not, READ!!!! 

Two assignments are due on October 31st= A rough draft of the book card (on yellow sheet) is due to Mrs. Larkin, and the finished product of the monthly book card is due to the Math teacher. Students will also be taking an AR test on their October book.

Students who did not pass last month's AR test (they know who they are)are to be keeping a (green) chapter summary sheet.  This should help retention and result in better AR test grades.  These are checked each Friday (for points), along with the reading log.

Question????   What is the 'Supreme Almighty Word Wirzard' ????

100 pt. Halloween Fluency Project 6th,7th,8th

By Wednesday, October 17th, all Reading students should have chosen a Halloween related story to read to the class.  This project is to promote fluency, and is worth 100 points.  Students are to practice, practice practice reading this story orally.  This is the rubric the students will be graded on :      

                           10 pts                      15 pts.                     20 pts.                         25 pts.

A. Expression and Volume	Reads with little expression or enthusiasm in voice. Reads words as if simply to get them out. Little sense of trying to make text sound like natural language. Tends to read in a quiet voice.	Some expression. Begins to use voice to make text sound like natural language in some areas of the text, but not others. Focus remains largely on saying the words. Still reads in a quiet voice.	Sounds like natural language throughout the better part of the passage. Occasionally slips into expressionless reading. Voice volume is generally appropriate throughout the text.	Reads with good expression and enthusiasm throughout the text. Sounds like natural language. The reader is able to vary expression and volume to match his/her interpretation of the passage.
B. Phrasing	Monotonic with little sense of phrase boundaries, frequent word-by-word reading.	Frequent two- and three-word phrases giving the impression of choppy reading; improper stress and intonation that fail to mark ends of sentences and clauses.	Mixture of run-ons, mid-sentence pauses for breath, and possibly some choppiness; reasonable stress/intonation.	Generally well phrased, mostly in clause and sentence units, with adequate attention to expression.
C. Smoothness	Frequent extended pauses, hesitations, false starts, sound-outs, repetitions, and/or multiple attempts.	Several “rough spots” in text where extended pauses, hesitations, etc., are more frequent and disruptive.	Occasional breaks in smoothness caused by difficulties with specific words and/or structures.	Generally smooth reading with some breaks, but word and structure difficulties are resolved quickly, usually through self-correction.
D. Pace (during sections of minimal disruption)	Slow and laborious.	Moderately slow.	Uneven mixture of fast and slow reading.	Consistently conversational.

The projects will be presented on October 30th and 31st.

Students are to be reading each evening for 30 minutes.

I still have many students losing points because they are not reading and/or are not keeping a reading log.  I encourage parents to check the agenda each evening for notes from teachers and missing assignments. 

This week we are reading about and discussing September 11th, 2001.   

We are working with the newspaper. locating information and practicing an in class current event.

ALL students (6th grade this means YOU too) are expected to have a summary of a current event ready to turn in on Thursday.

ALL STUDENTS ARE TO HAVE CHOSEN (and be reading) THEIR SEPTEMBER BOOK.  The rough draft and book card for this book is due September 28th

September 5, 2007

Hopefully NOW all the problems with this blog are corrected!

We are finishing up performance tests and completing the Academy Cloze test on the computer.  These tests will generate more information to identify specific areas of reading we need to work on.  By Thursday, all students should have taken AR tests on the three summer reading books.

7th & 8th grades have current event due on Thursday.

Sixth grade will complete a current event in class on Thursday and Friday.  Next week, 6th grade will be expected to complete a current event for homework.

By Wednesday, all students should have chosen an AR book to do for their September book card.

Students are to come to class each day with this book.  They are also to be reading this book each evening and recording it on their reading log. 

Come to school tomorrow and tell me what SHEEPISHLY means.........

Is anybody there?

Hello, It has come to my attention that my Blog was not accessible - due to the name change??

Anyway, let's hope it is up and running now...........

7th & 8th grades, your current events are due tomorrow and every other Thursday. 

6th grade we'll do more work on current events (in class) before you complete one on your own at home. 

6,7 & 8 = Test on vocabulary and story : Seventh Grade is Friday

Make sure you are reading daily for 30 minutes and recording this on your reading log.

(Today's Blog vocabulary word ....... scowl)

Parents, please email me if you are accessing this.  If I get no responses, I'll know there is still a problem.

Please review weekly requirements

There were a large number of students who did not have their agendas signed by their parents.

An even larger percentage of students did not have their daily reading logs filled out or signed. :(

(This is worth 20 points every week!!!!)

This weekend you are to read 90 minutes- I will check reading logs again on Monday for bonus points!

Make sure you have completed your parent interview by Monday.

Sixth graders are to bring in a complete newspaper by Wednesday of next week(8/29).  We are 'getting to know' the newspaper and practicing writing current events in class.

Have a great weekend, thanks again to all parents who came for open house this week.

READ, READ, READ, READ, READ!!!!!

6th Grade Reading

Thanks to all those parents who attended Tuesday's open house.  I didn't get to meet everyone but I appreciated the turn out!  PLEASE let me know if you have questions or concerns about the reading program.

Mrs. Larkin's Reading Class Reminders

Friday

We've survived the first week of school!  Yea!!!

I can already tell, this is going to be a WONDERFUL year!  I have the BEST students!

Reminders:   All Students are to bring a silent reading book to class every day.

You are to be reading 30 minutes every day. (Every day you eat you have to read, because reading is food for your brain!!!)  You are to record your time read on your reading log.

Parents are to sign agendas and reading logs every Thursday evening. (for points)

All students are expected to read at least one book each month and complete a reading card.

Current events are due each Thursday.  Info on HOW to complete a current event to follow.....

Have a great weekend!

Lisa Schaefer Larkin

Welcome to Reading! I am happy you are here!

We have lots of learning and fun ahead of us. This is going to be a GREAT year!