Poem of the Week ~ It Must Be Spring

Poem of the Week ~ Your Best

This week students are starting the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Be sure to get a good night's sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and always TRY YOUR BEST!  You will do GREAT!!

Your Best

by Barbara Vance

If you always try your best

Then you'll never have to wonder

About what you could have done

If you'd summoned all your thunder.

And if your best

Was not as good

As you hoped it would be,

You still could say,

"I gave today

All that I had in me."

Poem of the Week ~ Leprechaun Language

For St. Patrick's Day, we read a poem about a friendly leprechaun.  He taught us what "Erin Go Bragh" means.  Do you know?

Leprechaun Language

by Alice Knisley Matthias

I couldn't believe what I stumbled upon, 

There he was before me - a real leprechaun.

He said, "I just woke from my long morning nap."

Stretching his arms, he fixed his giant black cap.

"I didn't see you there when I first woke up,

I'm making some tea now, would you like a cup?"

He had bright blue eyes and a rather long nose

With emerald green shoes that turned up at the toes.

We chatted together while drinking our tea,

Just the two of us - the leprechaun and me.

He said, "Do you know that soon it will be St. Patrick's Day?

I'll share with you friend, something the Irish say.

They have a saying that is oh, so clever,

Erin Go Bragh means Ireland forever!"

Poem of the Week - Reader's Oath

In honor of Dr, Seuss's birthday, we read a Seuss-like poem that was written by Debra Angstead.

Reader's Oath

I promise to read each day and each night.

I know it's the key to growing up right.

I'll read to myself.

I'll read to a crowd.

It makes no difference if silent or loud.

I'll read at my desk, at home, and at school,

on my bean bag, or bed, by the fire or pool.

Each book that I read puts smarts in my head

'cause brains grow more thoughts the more they are fed.

Come rain or come shine, snow, wind, or sleet,

each day of the week, reading's a treat.

So I take this oath to make reading my way

of feeding my brain what it needs every day.

Fluency! Fluency! Fluency!

What is Fluency?

• Fluency is the effortless reading of words.  Fluent readers group words into meaningful phrases and use expression appropriately.

• Fluency involves both reading speed and accuracy of word identification.

• Fluency is critical for but not sufficient for comprehension.

Why is Fluency Critical?

• Fluent readers are able to focus their attention on understanding the text.  Fluency frees the reader's attention so the reader is better able to focus on constructing meaning and interpreting the text.

• Nonfluent readers focus their cognitive energies on decoding and accessing individual words.  There is little attention available for comprehension.

                                                                ~ Imagine It!


One way to practice fluency is to reread a short passage.  Each week I will pick out a passage or poem for the students to quickly read each day at the beginning of reading group.  On Fridays the students have the option of recording themselves reading the poem on Photo Booth using a fun effect. 

I Am So Proud of You!!

FANTASTIC! 

UNBELIEVABLE!

AMAZING!

CONGRATULATIONS to ALL of you for reaching your goal on the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA) test!  You have worked hard, and I am so very proud of you!

Look at Sheldon Now!

Look how much Sheldon has grown!!

The students have been hard at work reading many of 

Mrs. Minervini's books!

Great Job, Kids!