Language Arts
The main teacher’s guide for language, reading, and composition is Guided Readers and Writers by Fountas and Pinnell. A number of interesting guides specific to each area are also used. An important goal is to integrate the various literacy areas throughout the day to include social studies, science, and math.
Read Aloud
Read Aloud time reinforces the current emphasis in reading. Books are selected that reinforce the genre and skills taught during the current Literature Circle unit. When possible the books also integrate with concepts being taught in the current social studies or science unit. Also, many picture books are read aloud as a part of mini-lessons related to all subject areas.
Handwriting
The year begins with a review of upper and lower case manuscript letters with the goal that students apply this careful handwriting to their daily writing. Cursive writing is taught using the handwriting program called Handwriting Without Tears.
Keyboarding
The Burrowing Owl class will learn basic keyboarding skills using the online program Keyboarding Without Tears. Students are able to access this program at school and at home. Students will apply these skills when completing assigned writing projects, such as nonfiction reports and narrative pieces.
Writing Conventions
Writing Conventions are covered in several ways. Students practice writing capital letters during handwriting class. Specific lessons on these skills are taught several times a week. Finally, these skills are covered as students proofread their daily work.
Spelling
The Words Their Way spelling program is used to teach spelling. Students are assessed and placed in an appropriate leveled spelling group. Students are expected to correct misspelled words in daily writing being published as a final copy. Students record the correct spelling of words in their Word Study packets.
Reading
Readers' Workshop occurs for an hour each day. After a placement test students are work in leveled guided reading groups where they will read books for Literature Circle. This type of assessment is ongoing, so that students may change assigned groups. Each day during a Literature Circle, students will read a trade book; respond in writing using reading strategies, such as making connections and summarizing; or meet with their groups to discuss one section of the book.
Readers’ Workshop also includes time for individual conferences with each student, during which comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary development are checked. Individual goals are set for students in these areas.
Each month a few days of the reading workshop time will be devoted to reading nonfiction books related to the current topic in social studies or science. The mini-lessons at that time are related to comprehending nonfiction books.
Another important aspect of reading is to help students become lifelong readers. To this end students are allowed to choose their own books for assigned reading homework. They are also given time to read books of their choice in class when daily work is complete. Every book read is recorded on a reading chart, which gives the students a visual way of indicating the great work they are doing.
Composition
Writers’ Workshop runs for 45 to 60 minutes a day. Each workshop begins with a mini-lesson related to composition. These lessons are organized in the 7 areas outlined in the book 6 + 1 Writing Traits. Students are given an extended time for writing. During conferences students learn about each stage of writing—prewriting, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing. Students are encouraged to have an audience in mind as they compose, so that writing becomes a meaningful process to them. Students also share their writing with peers for praise and questions.
Each month a few days of the Writers’ Workshop is devoted to writing nonfiction essays and reports related to the current topic in social studies or science. Students will be expected to read a nonfiction print source, take notes on note cards, organize those notes, and finally use the notes to write a report. This final draft is created using word processing and includes nonfiction text features. Students will be guided through the process in class with mini-lessons, guided writing, and student/teacher conferences .
Editing written work for capitalization and punctuation is very important, however not every written piece goes to publication. When a piece is selected, it is important to have handwriting, capitalization, and punctuation perfect. A goal is that students' daily writing will improve in those areas as the rules are discussed on a daily basis.
Speaking
Students work with partners and small groups in all subject areas to practice expressing their thoughts. Students also do a number of classroom large group presentations of content area reports, creative writing, and poetry. They are also given the opportunity to do some all-school presentations, such as the Authors’ Cocoa. Students grow in their confidence to express their opinions about problems that arise in our classroom or elsewhere in the building during all-school and classroom Group Discussions.
The main teacher’s guide for language, reading, and composition is Guided Readers and Writers by Fountas and Pinnell. A number of interesting guides specific to each area are also used. An important goal is to integrate the various literacy areas throughout the day to include social studies, science, and math.
Read Aloud
Read Aloud time reinforces the current emphasis in reading. Books are selected that reinforce the genre and skills taught during the current Literature Circle unit. When possible the books also integrate with concepts being taught in the current social studies or science unit. Also, many picture books are read aloud as a part of mini-lessons related to all subject areas.
Handwriting
The year begins with a review of upper and lower case manuscript letters with the goal that students apply this careful handwriting to their daily writing. Cursive writing is taught using the handwriting program called Handwriting Without Tears.
Keyboarding
The Burrowing Owl class will learn basic keyboarding skills using the online program Keyboarding Without Tears. Students are able to access this program at school and at home. Students will apply these skills when completing assigned writing projects, such as nonfiction reports and narrative pieces.
Writing Conventions
Writing Conventions are covered in several ways. Students practice writing capital letters during handwriting class. Specific lessons on these skills are taught several times a week. Finally, these skills are covered as students proofread their daily work.
Spelling
The Words Their Way spelling program is used to teach spelling. Students are assessed and placed in an appropriate leveled spelling group. Students are expected to correct misspelled words in daily writing being published as a final copy. Students record the correct spelling of words in their Word Study packets.
Reading
Readers' Workshop occurs for an hour each day. After a placement test students are work in leveled guided reading groups where they will read books for Literature Circle. This type of assessment is ongoing, so that students may change assigned groups. Each day during a Literature Circle, students will read a trade book; respond in writing using reading strategies, such as making connections and summarizing; or meet with their groups to discuss one section of the book.
Readers’ Workshop also includes time for individual conferences with each student, during which comprehension, accuracy, fluency, and vocabulary development are checked. Individual goals are set for students in these areas.
Each month a few days of the reading workshop time will be devoted to reading nonfiction books related to the current topic in social studies or science. The mini-lessons at that time are related to comprehending nonfiction books.
Another important aspect of reading is to help students become lifelong readers. To this end students are allowed to choose their own books for assigned reading homework. They are also given time to read books of their choice in class when daily work is complete. Every book read is recorded on a reading chart, which gives the students a visual way of indicating the great work they are doing.
Composition
Writers’ Workshop runs for 45 to 60 minutes a day. Each workshop begins with a mini-lesson related to composition. These lessons are organized in the 7 areas outlined in the book 6 + 1 Writing Traits. Students are given an extended time for writing. During conferences students learn about each stage of writing—prewriting, drafting, revision, editing, and publishing. Students are encouraged to have an audience in mind as they compose, so that writing becomes a meaningful process to them. Students also share their writing with peers for praise and questions.
Each month a few days of the Writers’ Workshop is devoted to writing nonfiction essays and reports related to the current topic in social studies or science. Students will be expected to read a nonfiction print source, take notes on note cards, organize those notes, and finally use the notes to write a report. This final draft is created using word processing and includes nonfiction text features. Students will be guided through the process in class with mini-lessons, guided writing, and student/teacher conferences .
Editing written work for capitalization and punctuation is very important, however not every written piece goes to publication. When a piece is selected, it is important to have handwriting, capitalization, and punctuation perfect. A goal is that students' daily writing will improve in those areas as the rules are discussed on a daily basis.
Speaking
Students work with partners and small groups in all subject areas to practice expressing their thoughts. Students also do a number of classroom large group presentations of content area reports, creative writing, and poetry. They are also given the opportunity to do some all-school presentations, such as the Authors’ Cocoa. Students grow in their confidence to express their opinions about problems that arise in our classroom or elsewhere in the building during all-school and classroom Group Discussions.