Test Glog

I have been a horrible blogger!!!!

WOW!!! It has been since October that I last posted. So much has gone on since then between literacy week, book fair, and TESTING. Between the last 2 it has been awhile since I have been able to delve into my world of books with the kiddos (I am going to do a seperate post on Literacy Week).

Now that my book fair is all packed up I am ready to READ with the students again. I have started the FRA (Florida Reading Association) books with the Kindergarteners through Second graders. This week we are reading Blackout by John Rocco and discussing how the illustrations help support the text. In the case of this book, the illustrations give you a lot more information than the text does. I am reading the book to them first without showing them the pictures. When I read it the second time we are discussing the details in the pictures to help them better understand the story. It is interesting to see how some of them interpret the pictures differently!!

Third grade is starting on a Non-Fiction Text Features book. We are focusing on a new feature every week. This week they are learning about Tables of Contents and how they help them become better researchers.

Fourth and fifth grades are being read The Cats of Krasinski Square which is a story about two brave sisters and a square full of cats who help smuggle food into a Jewish Ghetto. They are learning some background into the Haulocaust and exploring the theme of bravery/courage.

Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! 2013

At Pride, we take literacy very seriously, and sometimes that can get a little goofy. The week of January 14^th was a strange one around campus. You would see some crazy socks (Reading rocks, wear some funky socks), mismatched clothes (We’re Crazy for Books), hats (Hats off to Books), and favorite team jerseys (Score with Books).  Doors across campus were decorated to support and encourage reading. Classes were in fierce competition to win the Reading Counts contest. The best part of the week, though, was the last day, Character Day. The students and teachers dressed up as their favorite book character and paraded around school for all to see. Characters visited classrooms to read their books to the students. Pride Elementary is definitely a school to visit during Literacy Week!

Reading Counts Store

My absolute favorite week of the quarter, especially the first quarter. I only have my lower level prizes out because MOST kids don't have more than 25 points at this point. But, I do have one that is at almost 400 and another that has made it over 100. I love the first store because those kids that have not yet been motivated to take RC tests now have a little push when they see their friends getting prizes.
I have bins with each points levels (5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100, and as the year gets on I have 200, 300, 400, and 500 too). The kids get to spend their points just like at a real store. I mark the points as used in SAM and that is that. I make the lowest point value 5 because I want them to have put a little itty bit of effort in before getting a prize. They like this because they get to choose the prizes the like instead of having one handed to them.

Book 12 of 15

As I was reading this book I could put in the voice of most 5th grade girls I know. There is nothing Brianna Justice wants to do more than follow in her hero's footsteps. Miss Delicious attended the same elementary school as Brianna and attributes it to her success owning her own cupcake business and having a TV show. Brianna is now running to be the 5th grade class president and has her plans thwarted when a new girl, Jasmine Moon, enters the race. Will she push the limits to win the election? Will she be able to stay herself in order to win?

Book 11 of 15

This book takes place during the Vietnam War and Space Race. It is about a little girl, Tamara, who is mostly misunderstood by the adults in her neighborhood. Muscle Man McGinty has moved into her best friends house and she cannot forgive him for it. But, does Muscle Man have reasons for being the way he is? Will Tamara bother to take the time to find out?

Book 10 of 15

This book may just have my vote. Isabelle lives in a town that has not seen sunshine since the day she was dropped on a doorstep in Runny Cove (formerly known as Sunny Cove). All the citizens of Runny Cove are dependant on Mr. Supreme's umbrella factory to live and they are working in horrible conditions.
One day she has a chance to leave Runny Cove and meet the family that she has been yearning for for 10 years. Her plan is to meet them and have them help her find a way to save her friends. Will it work? Will her family go for it? Read on to find out :)