Reading Counts Rewards for Winter Break

READ, READ, READ!!!

Reading Counts Over Winter Break

between December 20-January 4

If you read and earn at least…. You Earn…

5 points	A Caught Being Good Slip
6-15 points	A piece of candy plus A Caught Being Good Slip
16-30 points	A piece of candy, Caught Being Good Slip, & a Sit in a Spinny Chair for the class Pass
More than 31 points	A piece of candy, Caught Being Good Slip, Sit in a Spinny Chair for the class Pass, & a Free Responsibility Pass

Holiday parties

Stagel posters

Will posters

Tyrrell posters

Skeels posters

Reading Update 12-16

Our historical fiction novels have ended....the students seem to enjoy them.  Packets are due tomorrow on the books.  Today and tomorrow we are making projects about them.  I will post pictures on here when they are completed.  Tomorrow students will finish the posters plus have to create some sort of presentation to persuade us to read their book.  It should be interesting and fun...

There is no reading log this week due to winter break.  To try and motivate kids to read over break and take Reading Counts quizzes, there will be some rewards if kids earn points over break.  Ask your child about it.

*As a reminder, goals are due by January 13.  (It's hard to believe, but that is when 2nd quarter ends)

Holiday parties are this Friday.  Hopefully everyone is recovering from the flu going around-we have been disinfecting frequently to try to get rid of the germs.

Enjoy the holidays!

Reading Update 12-8

We are halfway finished with our historical fiction books.  The kids seem to be enjoying them!  I hope they are having conversations about them at home too... Today we read a poem related to war that students had some very insightful comments on.  Feel free to read it below:

                                                      

            Can You Take It?

It's easy to be nice, boys   When everything's O.K. It's easy to be cheerful,   When your having things your way. But can you hold your head up   And take it on the chin. When your heart is breaking   And you feel like giving in? It was easy back in England,   Among the friends and folks. But now you miss the friendly hand,   The joys, and songs, and jokes. The road ahead is stormy.   And unless you're strong in mind, You'll find it isn't long before   You're dragging far behind. You've got to climb the hill, boys;   It's no use turning back. There's only one way home, boys,   And it's off the beaten track. Remember you're American,   And when you reach the crest, You'll see a valley cool and green,   Our country at its best. You know there is a saying   That sunshine follows rain, And sure enough you'll realize   That joy will follow pain. Let courage be your password,   Make fortitude your guide; And then instead of grousing,   Just remember those who died.

We will be doing in class projects next week over the books too.

Our skill focus continues to be on fiction-
*plot (problem and resolution)
*setting
*characters
*theme
*summarizing
*point of view

Please remember that Reading Counts points are due by January 13th-I remind kids daily of this and keep encouraging them to read books and take quizzes over them.

*We are going to start a bi-quarterly reward for the students who are showing responsibility in completing homework, having supplies, and arriving to class on time.  This week, students will receive a yellow slip that details for them the number of excuses, excuses they have received this quarter (for not having homework done on time) and tardy slips (when arriving late from specials or being unprepared for class).  It should be taken home and shared with you.  If students don't receive one, it means they showed true responsibility in all areas!

*A reminder that reading logs are due each Monday with a parent signature.   There will not be a reading log next week, but students still need to be reading at least 20 minutes a night (which should equal at least 10-15 pages).