Thoughts on Week 2
Hey Guys,
I'm heading out the door to go to the beach for the weekend! I can't wait to put my chair on the water's edge and soak up some sun!
We broke a lot of ground today in class, hitting things like:
PLEASE, please we want to be respectful to everyone in class and allow everyone to share their thoughts and ideas so try and contain yourself while someone else is holding Freytag. : )
Below is a reminder about the letter you will write to me next week. Keep jotting down your thoughts in your notebook and like Caroline noticed in my book: WRITE, underline, highlight things in your book. It's also a great way to remember stuff you're reading.
See you next Thursday. Beach, HERE I COME!!
Peace to you all,
Mrs. Foster
I'm heading out the door to go to the beach for the weekend! I can't wait to put my chair on the water's edge and soak up some sun!
We broke a lot of ground today in class, hitting things like:
- Genre (I posted a slideshow on our Class Notes page for you to go over)
- How to LOOK at books (preview before you read: Front cover, back, and inside)
- How to THINK about books (As a reader, As a writer and As a Christian)
- WHY we THINK about what we are reading (Because our world NEEDS Thinkers!!! I want you to be one of them!)
- Reviewed story elements
- Dug into Raiders of the Sea and focused our discussion on characters and their traits and actions. We also touched on setting and why the author makes certain choices about her characters and setting.
- We also met Freytag (Tell your parents about him at dinner tonight. If the conversation gets out of control at your house and you need some order, instate your own Freytag!)
- We watched a couple short videos on Vikings and their aggressive ways! I posted these on the Class Notes page, as well)
PLEASE, please we want to be respectful to everyone in class and allow everyone to share their thoughts and ideas so try and contain yourself while someone else is holding Freytag. : )
Below is a reminder about the letter you will write to me next week. Keep jotting down your thoughts in your notebook and like Caroline noticed in my book: WRITE, underline, highlight things in your book. It's also a great way to remember stuff you're reading.
See you next Thursday. Beach, HERE I COME!!
Peace to you all,
Mrs. Foster
Writing About Your Reading
Below is a sample of an actual letter that a student wrote to his teacher about what he was thinking one week while he was reading part of his book. You also get a sample of what the teacher wrote back to him! Isn't this exciting?!
I'm giving you these in case you are thinking, "OMG, I have NO idea what Mrs. Foster wants me to write in my journal."
Remember, your journal is YOUR personal thoughts on what you think about the book. (Secretly, these reading responses are just my sneaky way to get inside of your brains so I can gather information and take over the world one day! But don't tell your parents. They might take you out of my class.) See you Thursday!
*****NOTE: Your first letter to me is due NEXT Thursday, August 23rd. Keep jotting down your thoughts to yourself in your notebook this week. (thanks, Rae!)
Sample Letters:
September 28
Dear Miss Won,
The only reason they wring pigeons is because it cost money to shoot them and all the money goes to the park so they can fix it up. But still don't you think that it is really bad to do that to get money for the park because there are thousands of ways to get money for the park that do not involve killing anything.
I could tell that Palmer was so nervous because when Farquar (the boy who makes people become a wringer) came to Palmer, Palmer ran and ran until Farquar was totally out of site. And when Palmer stopped running he said he was nervous because if he went home Farquar might be there.
If I were Palmer I would do exactly what Palmer did because I just realized me and Palmer are sort of alike! Palmer and me think that wringing a pigeon is mean and cruel. We both would never want to be a wringer and we both like to smuggle and hide things.
from,
Adam
Dear Adam,
Isn't it amazing when you begin to realize that you are a lot like a character in a book and the more you read, the more similarities you come across? It helps you to understand the character more and even helps you think about why you do the things you do.
If there are thousands of other ways for the park to save money or raise money, why do you think they continue to kill the pigeons? Do you think Palmer is the only one who thinks it's cruel deep down inside? Why do you think Palmer is the only one who tries to get out of it somehow? Why is everyone else quiet? What do you think?
Wondering why,
Ms. Won
P.S. I do agree with you that it is bad that they do not save money by doing things that do not involve killing.
Source: Guiding Readers and Writers. Fountas and Pinnell. Figures 10-2 and 10-3. p.173
I'm giving you these in case you are thinking, "OMG, I have NO idea what Mrs. Foster wants me to write in my journal."
Remember, your journal is YOUR personal thoughts on what you think about the book. (Secretly, these reading responses are just my sneaky way to get inside of your brains so I can gather information and take over the world one day! But don't tell your parents. They might take you out of my class.) See you Thursday!
*****NOTE: Your first letter to me is due NEXT Thursday, August 23rd. Keep jotting down your thoughts to yourself in your notebook this week. (thanks, Rae!)
Sample Letters:
September 28
Dear Miss Won,
The only reason they wring pigeons is because it cost money to shoot them and all the money goes to the park so they can fix it up. But still don't you think that it is really bad to do that to get money for the park because there are thousands of ways to get money for the park that do not involve killing anything.
I could tell that Palmer was so nervous because when Farquar (the boy who makes people become a wringer) came to Palmer, Palmer ran and ran until Farquar was totally out of site. And when Palmer stopped running he said he was nervous because if he went home Farquar might be there.
If I were Palmer I would do exactly what Palmer did because I just realized me and Palmer are sort of alike! Palmer and me think that wringing a pigeon is mean and cruel. We both would never want to be a wringer and we both like to smuggle and hide things.
from,
Adam
Dear Adam,
Isn't it amazing when you begin to realize that you are a lot like a character in a book and the more you read, the more similarities you come across? It helps you to understand the character more and even helps you think about why you do the things you do.
If there are thousands of other ways for the park to save money or raise money, why do you think they continue to kill the pigeons? Do you think Palmer is the only one who thinks it's cruel deep down inside? Why do you think Palmer is the only one who tries to get out of it somehow? Why is everyone else quiet? What do you think?
Wondering why,
Ms. Won
P.S. I do agree with you that it is bad that they do not save money by doing things that do not involve killing.
Source: Guiding Readers and Writers. Fountas and Pinnell. Figures 10-2 and 10-3. p.173