In Reading Workshop the students have been writing
their most profound and thought-provoking Response to Reading entries to date.
Since we finished reading From the
Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, we’ve been asking ourselves
some big questions about what the story is really about. We realized that it isn't enough to say, “The story is
about two kids running away from home.” We know a number of stories about
running away and they all have very different messages. We needed to ask, “What
is this story really about? What is the significance the
author wanted to highlight?” Then, we noticed the craft choices the author made
and thought, “How does the author’s decision to repeat this idea throughout the
story, to start at this point or elaborate this section, convey a meaning that
resonates? How can we find evidence of the author’s purpose in the choices she
made as a writer? How can we back up our ideas with examples form the text?”
Here are some samples. I've highlighted the students' use
of the sentence starters I've taught them to help push their thinking.
The Mixed-Up Files is really about never giving up
once you start something. I think this
because they found the mystery about Angel and they never gave up on
solving it, even when it seemed impossible.
The Mixed-Up Files is really about never giving up. I think this because Claudia and Jamie
were about to get train tickets to go back home, but Claudia changed them to go
to Mrs. Frankweiler’s house. Another
example is when later in the book Mrs. Frankweiler said, “You have one hour
to find the folder.” There were millions of files and Claudia was going to give
up, but Jamie convinced her to keep looking and they found the file under
“Bologna.”
The Mixed-Up Files is really about getting along with
your sibling. I think this because
in the beginning Jamie and Claudia fight a lot and disagree. Claudia always
makes fun of Jamie’s grammar. Through the days they got better and better and
in the end they had a big adventure together that made them be more like
friends.
The Mixed-Up Files is really about wanting to feel
different and special. I think this
because Claudia wants to go back home after she feels changes and different. The secret
about Angel is one way that she is different because having a secret inside of
you makes you feel special and like the only one that has something.
This morning the students used their growing understanding of theme and writer’s purpose to develop the conclusions of their own personal narratives. In the picture above, the students are interviewing one another, asking:
- What is your story really about?
- What do you want your readers to understand about your journey?
- How did this experience…
- solve a problem?
- teach you a lesson?
- change your feelings?
The class is really cruising in math. The third graders just wrapped up a cumulative assessment of the chapters on place value. Next, they’ll dig deeper into multi-digit addition and subtraction skills, really asking themselves, “What is happening I borrow from the tens? Hundreds?” After that unit, we will begin working with multiplication!
The fourth graders are working with factors and multiples, finding the greatest common factor and least common multiple as groundwork for working with fractions later in the year. They are realizing just how important it is to have fluency with the multiplication facts as they move forward. Thanks for supporting the kids at home by practicing the math facts together! Next, we will start multiplying one digit by multi- digit numbers using area models.
Here's a sneak peek into music class!
Sweet smiles, great friends!
