Week #4: September 2-September 6

Another other awesome week with these wonderful students! We are learning how to close read through the lens of Notice and Note. It's a lot of fun to practice--ask your student for details! 

So, we are the Gold Team. Each student received a gold LRIS shirt. However, we did run out of sizes. I have let the office know and they'll be putting in another order soon. If your student wants a different size of shirt, have them bring back their original shirt and I'll swap it. Just know there might be a wait while the shirts print.

Extra Credit: Each day we practice Notice and Note your students are receiving a worksheet where they can find an example of the signpost in their own novel. If they find one and tell me why on the paper, they'll get extra credit. Very few students have taken this opportunity--I'd encourage them to so they can increase their grade! 

So...as stated below, if your child isn't handing in reading logs (check PowerSchool)...your child and I will be calling you to see why not and ask for your support:)

• Reading Logs (white paper) Students should be reading at home (time reading in school counts too) 30 mins. a day, 5 days a week. This is CRITICAL to improving reading and will be the only "homework" they'll have from me. Please remind them to hand it in. If a student goes 2 weeks without handing in a reading log, I'll call home and speak to a parent/guardian and see what's going on. Reading Logs are due each MONDAY, unless there is a holiday:) 
• iRead Program Sponsors: Our reading program is amazing (see link on right hand side of the blog) and provides rewards for reading throughout the school year. However, it's 100% community funded and we need your help. If you'd like to donate as an individual, with either cash or candy, we'd appreciate it. Even better, if you have (or work for ) a business, a donation buys you sponsorship on our iRead Club t-shirts to promote your business. Please help us out so your child can reap the rewards of reading. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YsadT10z6S-TUJf63RFpxYep8WQw2bQina4GKA9i42k/edit

Week 4

September 2-September 6

Monday, September 2nd

Labor Day: No School

Tuesday, September 3rd 
New Class Jobs Available
Words of the Wiser: Escape Room
Tough Questions: Escape Room
*phone calls home if you didn't turn in a reading log
Week #3 Reading Log DUE

Wednesday, September 4th 

Free Reading/Book Check-off
Notice & Note Contrast and Contradictions
(notes/videos/model in class novel)

Thursday, September 5th

All Summer in a Day
Notice and Note Identification Practice

Friday, September 6th

Free Reading/Book Check-Off
Make Team Flags/Receive Team Folders

CODE PHRASE: Tell me an example of a Notice and Note you saw in your reading for 2 Robins Rewards!!!

The Many Benefits of Reading

Cognitive Improves Memory: Reading activates the parts of your brain that create new synapses for memory. Lengthens Life: One study shows that those who read as little as 30 minutes a day live on average 2 years longer than non-readers. Makes You Smarter: Reading has been shown to enhance vocabulary, improve articulation, and increase creativity.

Physical Relieves Stress & Lowers Blood Pressure: Just 6 minutes of reading has been shown to lower heart rate and muscle tension. Improves Sleep: Incorporating a reading routine into your bedtime ritual tells your body it's time to wind down and get some sleep.

Emotional Makes You More Empathetic:Reading literary fiction, in particular, has been shown to improve one's understanding of others' beliefs and views.

Do something for your health and happiness.

Week #3: August 26-August 30

It's been a wonderful week with these kids! I'm so happy to be their teacher and look forward to a lot of learning to come throughout the school year.

Important information:

• Book Orders came home this week. You can order online through my blog: http://theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com/p/scholastic-book-orders.html OR send a check (made out to Scholastic) or cash and I'll place the order for you.
• We've been working on Reading and Writing Benchmarks. These will be on your student's grade, but will NOT count as part of their grade. It's just to let you know, as a parent, where your student stands. Reading will be entered as a grade level... for example, "5" is a 5th grade level. Writing will be a percentage. Please do not be discouraged--we are coming off the "summer slump". Not every child is naturally good at reading and writing. Trust me, if they do their home reading and attend class with me, we'll see levels grow throughout the year. I'll test them again in November and chart progress.
• Reading Logs (white paper) are due on Monday. Students should be reading at home (time at school counts too) 30 mins. a day, 5 days a week. This is CRITICAL to improving reading and will be the only "homework" they'll have from me. Please remind them to hand it in. If a student goes 2 weeks without handing in a reading log, I'll call home and speak to a parent/guardian and see what's going on.
• iRead Program Sponsors: Our reading program is amazing (see link on right hand side of the blog) and provides rewards for reading throughout the school year. However, it's 100% community funded and we need your help. If you'd like to donate as an individual, with either cash or candy, we'd appreciate it. Even better, if you have (or work for ) a business, a donation buys you sponsorship on our iRead Club t-shirts to promote your business. Please help us out so your child can reap the rewards of reading. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YsadT10z6S-TUJf63RFpxYep8WQw2bQina4GKA9i42k/edit

Many thanks for the parent letters introducing your child to me! I appreciate the ongoing support and encouragement. Please email me with any questions/concerns. Have a wonderful weekend!

Week 3

August 26-August 30

Monday, August 26

New Class Jobs
Class Novel
Text Structure Notes
Text Structure Hunt
Week #2 Reading Log DUE

Tuesday, August 27

Free Reading/Book Check-Off
Introduction to Literature Notice & Note
Memory Moment (notes/video/model)

Wednesday, August 28

Library Day: meet upstairs in the library!
Free Reading/Book Check-Off

Thursday, August 29

Notice & Note
A Ha Moment
(notes/video/model)

Friday, August 30

Free Reading/Book Check Off
Notice & Note
Again & Again (notes/video/model)
MONTHLY DRAWING!!!!!!!
Book Orders DUE

Code Phrase (tell me this for a Robins Reward Ticket): Reading Rocks!

Congrats to the students who successfully "escaped" from our digital classroom!!!

 Teamwork pays off:)

Escape Room Link

For Thursday, August 22nd, we are doing a fun Escape Room activity!! Here is the link to get started:)

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN

Week #2: August 19-August 23

WOW!! It's been a busy first week, but a great one. I'm already loving my time with these students. We worked on getting to know each other (I think I have all the names down!) and understanding class procedures.
I really appreciate the great attitudes, big smiles and kindness towards me and each other that I've observed. These are wonderful kids.

Please refer to the handout on our reading program (it's green) and accessible here: http://theb7robinsnest.blogspot.com/p/iread-program-information.html to understand reading expectations and rewards.

Students need to read at home 5 days a week, at least 30 mins a day and record it on the white paper they were given. It's a quick way to verify they are reading. This will make-up their reading grade in class. When they finish a book they need to record it on their tracking form as explained today. Please email me with any questions.

Again, we desperately need community sponsors to fund our awesome iRead program. If you are a business owner, know a business owner or want to contribute as an individual, please visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YsadT10z6S-TUJf63RFpxYep8WQw2bQina4GKA9i42k/edit

Thank you for the parent letters introducing your child to me. It goes along way to help me get to know your student faster. I appreciate the ongoing support and look forward to an amazing year! Please email me or call after school hours with any questions.

Week 2

August 19-August 23

*I'll be doing a class re-aloud book for a few minutes each day. We'll we reading "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling. This will count as a book on the Bingo Card when we finish.

Monday, August 19

New Seats (Seating Chart for Trimester 1)

Fill out Student Spotlight Form

Multiple Intelligence Lesson

"How Am I Smart?"

Tuesday, August 20

READING BENCHMARK

This will be administered each trimester to track reading levels

Wednesday, August 21

Book Genre Day!

Genre Glue-In

Book "Tasting"

Book Orders home

Thursday, August 22

Free Reading/Book Check-off

Introduce Trimester 1 Teams

Escape Room Group Activity

Friday, August 23

Finish Reading Benchmark as needed
Writing Benchmark
Free Reading/Book Check-off
*Assembly Schedule


Code Phrase: If students tell me: "I read the blog!" they'll receive a Robins Reward ticket into our big monthly drawing;)

I'm passionate about reading and what it does to your brain is a BIG reason. Take a look at this!

Week #1: 2019-2020 School Year!!

Monday is the day!! Ready to go?? I am, and I'm very excited to be your Language Arts teacher this year!

I'll email each weekend just to let you know the blog is updated and give you a preview of our weekly schedule. I always embed some type of reward for students who look at the blog, so be sure to read to the end:)

There's always a lot to learn at the beginning, so we'll start slow and go from there!

Week #1

August 12-August 16

Monday, August 12th

Introduction to class seating (flexible seating)

Name Tents (while I take roll)

Papers home: text blasts/disclosures/letter to parents

Procedures

Getting to know Mrs. Robins

Tuesday, August 13th

Lines and Blobs Game

Blog/reading/procedures

Student Survey (due at the end of class)

Wednesday, August 14th

Roll-the-dice game

Class jobs/class library/procedures

Personality Corners Game

Thursday, August 15th

Disclosures Due Today: first class with 100% gets donuts!!

Chrome cart/student numbers/CHAMPS procedures

Survey: Top Choices for Seating

Circle Time (getting to know you)

Friday, August 16th

iRead Program Kick-off in Little Theater!!

Code Phrase: Tell me "it's going to be a great year" for a Robins Reward ticket into our monthly drawing!!