Student Bloggers Made My Day

How would you feel if you had seven students that wrote on the weekend?  This wasn't an assignment, and they didn't get extra credit.  This was just students taking pride in their work and writing on their blog.  I can tell you this teacher is proud of the effort!

If you want to check out some good examples of students' blogs, here is a good place to start!

Holden's Home

Jaili's la la Blog

Emily's Extras

Kami's Place

Kirsten's Blog

Kylie's Rockin Blog

Colt's Chat Zone

Reading Workshop Book Talk

Want a fun activity in Reading Workshop where you do a lot of work and don't get any credit and you have to do it on your own time?  If so, maybe you can do a book talk.  The only reward is fame.  This is a book talk on Drive-by written by Lynne Ewing done by former Reading Workshop student, Kennedy.

Fantastic Commenters

After all of the talk about blog comments, I thought I would share a couple of good examples from Reading Workshop students.

On a student's post about the book Chasing the Falconers, Chloe said:

    That book sounds like a book I read. But this one is a little different. I love books that makes me close to falling out of my chair because it has me on the edge on my seat. Don't you? I mean who doesn't? 

     It sounds like to me that the book is one from a series. Is there a series? It sounds pretty exciting and adventurous. How would you describe it?  

     I think you did a really good job on your post. When you get the time please comment back and answer my questions. I might want to read the series because it sounds like a good book.

On a student's post about Manga Comic books, Cole said:

     I think your post is really cool. But you said manga [I think that is a cool book type name] are Japanese based comic books. I just want to know if they are comic books or regular books. How long are the books becuase comic books you can read about 6 in an hour or are they really long?  

     I think your blog is really good. You do a really good job on your blog.

On a post about music, Jaili said:

     WOW!!!!!!!!!! This post is really good! I love to sing too! But anyways your post shows how you love to sing and how you interact with your personality. 

     Most of all no matter what you’ll never give up on it! I have heard you sing and you are really good! Here’s a note NEVER GIVE UP ON WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO! 

On The Reading Workshop blog I have seen some excellent comments this year.

Sarah said:

     I am reading The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins. I picked this book because all of my friends have read and said they loved the book. So I decided to give it a try.

     Right when I started reading it I was attached. I couldn't believe how good it was. What really dragged me into it was the beginning because I liked when Effie Trinket was picking the names out of the bucket because Katniss's little sister Prim gets chosen to go to the Hunger Games. But Katniss didn't want her sister to get killed. So Katniss steps up and goes to the Hunger Games. 

     That's why I this book is one of the best books I have ever read. So don't fake read, just find a book that you really like!!

And on a post about hard work, Kirsten said:

     It is very important to work hard because if you work hard and take your time, you know that you tried your best, and you made a effort to get a good grade. Sometimes even when you try your hardest you will not get an A but that's okay because you gave it all you got.

     I admit I don't always take my time to do something because I want to hurry up and rush through it. I've worked really hard on projects and work before too. I think it is so important to check over your work because it does make a difference to go over all the questions.

As the writer for The Reading Workshop blog, I appreciate it when someone takes the time to comment. Every student wants comments for their blog too. What makes it even better is when the comment is well thought out, well written, and meaningful. Thanks to all of the Reading Workshop students for making an effort to write excellent comments.  Keep up the good work and maybe you can get a Fantastic Commenter badge on your blog!

Have You Checked Your Homophones Lately?

Is your writing more like 1 or 2?

1.  Due ewe no you're homophones?  Win u our threw righting, due yew no if there write?.  

or

2.  Do you know your homophones?  When you are through writing, do you know if they're right?

Reading Workshop students, please give your readers a break.  Check your homophones and get it right!

For more information see Your Homophone is Out of Order.

Thanks to Gineriella for allowing this edited version of her video to be used in the classroom.

Caps Cause We Care

This is being reposted from Megan's Thoughts. 

 Hello again, its Megan! I just wanted to remind everyone that Friday, October 13th  Saltcreek Intermediate School  is going to have a hat day!

All you have to do is bring in 25 cents or more to wear your hat all day long! All the money that student council raises is going toward a special girl in the sixth grade who has leukemia. We will donate the money toward whatever her family needs, to help her get better.

Just remember to bring in a hat and a quarter to help her. Your classes student council representative will collect the money in each class. Thank you for reading!

This is a great cause so please bring in money on Friday to help the Student Council help one of our students and her family.

A How-to For Blog Comments

Students in Reading Workshop are building their blogs, post by post.  In addition, many are taking the time to comment on their peers' blogs.  Here is some information about commenting to help with this.

Everyone that blogs wants comments.  We want every single person that visits our blog to comment.  In fact, almost any comment is better than none.  So if you visit a blog, the most important rule for blog comments is to comment.  Take a minute and let us know you were here and what you think.

You need to know though, that commenting is a competition. You are vying for the reader's attention. You are trying to make others agree with you.  You want the reader to listen to you over other commenters, and you want to sound better than others. If you care enough to write, then you care enough to want to sound intelligent. 

If you agree, say so.  If you disagree, or have a different opinion, say so.  But whatever you do, be assured, bloggers love comments. All comments are appreciated. However, nothing beats a comment from someone that is intelligent and makes a great point.

Here are the Reading Workshop rules for Blog Comments.

1.  No personal abuse or name-calling, please. A positive tone wins over the reader, a negative tone drives readers away.

2.  Your content is just as important as the bloggers.  The first sentence MUST grab the reader. The first paragraph should give the reader an idea what the comment discusses. Keep on topic.  Don't write a comment that has little or nothing to do with the subject of the article.

3.  Opposing opinions are welcome, as long as they are respectful of the views of others.  If you disagree with the opinions of the author, express it politely.

4.  Mistakes, especially in grammar and spelling cause the reader to move on to the next comment. Readers assume if you can't write correctly you are not intelligent enough to be worth reading.

5.  Avoid repeating yourself.  If many people have already said something, please don’t say it again.  Once you make a point, support it, but don't keep saying the same thing over, and over, and over.

6.  Don’t make comments like “Great post.” If you read it, say why it was great.  Add some­thing to the con­ver­sa­tion.   Add your own view, or thoughts to the topic. Throwing out a statement without telling why it matters, or how it impacts others, or what significance it has to the reader is worthless.

If you are going to take the time to comment, take the time to do it right. Win the comment contest by writing a fabulous comment that makes readers think, or wonder, or smile, or cry, or agree, or disagree.  Write a comment with meaning.

Bloggers love comments. All comments are appreciated. However, nothing beats a comment from someone that is intelligent and makes a great point.

The Easy Way to Get a Good Grade

Students weekly Read at Home assignment rewards extra effort. Students choose a book that they want to read from home, the library, or the book room. The only requirement is that they log the title, time read, and pages.

As a teacher, I reward the students that make the most effort. Although grades are not entirely tied to how hard a student works, poor grades are reflective of a lack of work ethic.  If a student wants a better grade, just read a little more.  I even give extra credit for students that read more than 180 minutes.



A =    180 + Minutes
B =    120 - 179 Minutes
C =    60 - 119 Minutes
F =    0-59 Minutes

Although students have no direct assignments associated with Read at Home many of the activities and projects in class are based on the book they are reading. When students write about their book, it is easy to monitor comprehension and see if students are "getting it." The fact that students can pick their book to read helps because they can find a book that interests them.

The emphasis on reading is largely based on the research from Richard Allington. Allington cites four "background factors" associated with why students have difficulty with reading. According to the author:

1. the amount of reading that students do in and out of school was related to reading achievement;
2. children who spend more time on workbook activities versus reading text are more likely to have difficulty reading;
3. children who come from homes where reading is not modeled have difficulty reading; and,
4. students who have difficulty providing details and arguments to support interpretations of what they read have difficulty with reading.

According to the author, time on task is the best predictor for reading success in students. Put simply, more reading is equal to greater academic achievement.

The bottom line--if students read more, their grade improves and they become better students.

Grading Student Blog Posts

The students in Reading Workshop just completed an interdisciplinary project for social studies and language arts.  They had to research about a place they had visited, list five facts, and then write a story about their trip.  In addition, for their blog, they had to write an introduction, find relevant links, and post pictures that supported their writing.

The project was graded using this rubric.

A 

• Follows project guidelines
• Has an introduction that explains the project telling W's (who, what, when, where, why)    
• Interesting/draws in the reader
• Writing has a sense of style
• Provides relative and interesting facts
• Writes a narrative that is detailed, exciting, and complete
• Has numerous links to relevant websites
• Correct PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling)
• Does not plagiarize

B

• Follows project guidelines
• Has an introduction that explains the project telling W's    
• Provides relative and interesting facts
• Writes a narrative that is detailed and complete
• Has links to relevant websites
• Correct PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling)
• Does not plagiarize

C 

• Follows guidelines
• Has an introduction that explains the project
• Provides facts
• Writes a narrative that is complete
• Has links to websites
• Two - Four mistakes with PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling)
• Does not plagiarize

D 

• Does not follow guidelines
• Incomplete introduction
• Provides some facts
• Incomplete narrative
• Errors with PUGS (Punctuation, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling)
• Does not plagiarize

F 

• Plagiarizes
• Little sign of effort
• Did not publish post on blog

Is That Book Exciting?

OK, so you are sitting here in Reading Workshop during SSR (Sustained Silent Reading).  I look up from my book and I see you fidgeting in your chair.  You are squirming like your seat is on fire.  You turn the page without even reading the whole page.  You look around the room, but you can't find anyone to join you in your boredom.  Uh oh, are you like the Queen of Fake Reading?

If your book isn't drawing you in, you need to get a better book.  There are 12,000 books with several thousand titles in the book room.  Find one that you can be a part of and read.  Don't read a book that isn't exciting.

The guy beside you is staring at his book so intensely you think he might stare a hole in the page.  What is going on with him?  Why is he looking at his book like that?  He won't even look your way.  He is pulling the book closer and closer to his face.  He has a death grip on it.

Guess what?  Some books are exciting and he found a great one.  He found a book with action and adventure, that he understands.  He has become a part of his book.  He is living in it and with every twist and turn in the plot, he is drawn more and more into the story.  

What book are you reading?  How does the author draw you into the book?  What makes the book you are reading exciting?

Finish First and You Will Do the Worst

Most everyone has heard the saying, hard work will pay off in the end.  Yesterday, students took the Study Island Benchmark Test, and it was a perfect example.  This test evaluates students reading on a variety of reading skills.  Students that took their time, went back in the passages, and found answers scored well, and mostly passed.  Students that rushed through their work had the lowest scores.

This one assignment is a message to all students about what they can expect this year in Reading Workshop.  Those with a good work ethic, that do their best, will do well.  Those that don't give their best and don't work hard are going to struggle.  And it's not just here.  No matter what students do with their life, hard work will pay off in the end.

The column on the left is minutes spent taking the test.  The columns on the right shows students' total percent and score.  A score of 400 is passing.

Compare those to students that took more time.

Taking more time does not guarantee a passing score, but it made a huge difference.  There was no time limit on this assignment.  So for students that didn't pass, I wonder why they didn't take more time.

The Excitement of a New Book

I am so excited.  We got in some books that we ordered two weeks ago.  And the best part is one of the books is the newest from one of my favorite series.

I just got The Kill Order, the newest book in James Dashner's Maze Runner series.  This is a little different than what you usually find because it is a prequel to the series.  This book will give readers background on what led up to the series.

I can't wait to get started reading.

Here is an audio excerpt from The Maze Runner.

No Wonder These Students Do So Well

Recently I asked students to complete a survey about the importance of reading with a parent or grandparent.   As I looked at some of the comments, I realized why so many students are doing so well in Reading Workshop.  Thank you so much to the parents and grandparents that took the time to talk about reading with their child.

When asked, why do you believe reading is important, answers included:

• Andrea D.--Reading is an important part of life. At first, we learn to read. Then, we read to learn. Reading is the key to all learning.
• Laura C.--Reading takes you places you may never have the opportunity to visit. . . With reading, you control the graphics and scenery. You get to create your own version of the story in your mind.
• Heather E.--Reading gives you "life long learning," meaning you can learn new things every day of your life. 
• Diana F.--there is a whole world of ideas and information there for us to discover. Sometimes reading can make you laugh, cry, and experience all kinds of emotions. Reading is awesome.
• Susan P.--Reading is the foundation of learning.
• Tonya W.--I believe reading is important because, for a very long time now, people have taken the time to think things through and deliverer their thoughts on paper.
• Jennifer T.--reading improves your vocabulary, your writing ability, and your communication skills.
• Kim E.--It broadens the mind and helps educate in all areas of learning.
• Beth M.--Reading is the basis for most aspects of daily living. From reading weather and news reports, to road signs and menus, reading is a necessity in society.

When asked, how has reading helped you be successful in your life, answers included:

• Sandy E.--Being a fluent reader afforded me the opportunity to be my high school graduating class valedictorian. This led to scholarships and grants to help pay for my college education. Reading has allowed me to be a life-long learner and successful in my career.
• Andrea D.--All successful writers will tell you that in order to write well, you need to read. At the age of 40, I went back to school to become a medical assistant. If I didn't know how to read, I wouldn't have been able to complete the assignments in order to graduate.
• Laura C.--Without reading I would not have the job I have. I am an Engineer at Kenworth. My job requires me to be able to read...Not only has reading helped me get a college degree as well as a good job it also has helped me to relax. I love to read just for fun. A good book is like therapy.
• Stephanie S.--Reading has helped me be successful for a lot of things. I couldn't own a business if I didn't know how to read.
• Cheryl R.--Reading has helped me in my job because I have to read daily work instructions and be able to follow those instructions.
• Teresa L.--Reading is a way for communication in my work and I continually learn by reading. Reading enhances my career as a nurse to educate myself and others. It enables me provide excellent care to my patients.
• Lisa B.--It constantly gives me direction in life. On the flip side it has given me a portal of imaginations as entertainment.

Thanks to all the parents for their amazing responses.  Check out all of the responses HERE.

Image from http://www.gameshowstogo.com/SurveySaysCollegeDownloads.html

Student and Parent Reading Survey

Students, please complete this survey with the help of a parent or grandparent.

You can see responses HERE

I Think You're Reading Too Fast

It was during SSR and I started watching her read.  This girl had chosen one of the best books in the book room.  She was reading Awakening, book 1 in Robin Wasserman's Chasing Yesterday series.  At first I thought she must really be enjoying it.  She was buzzing through the pages.

Then I really started watching.  She wasn't getting anything.  All the action and adventure was lost to her.  The fear and loneliness of main character might as well have not been there.  She never gave a thought about the fact that she could be in the book.  

The main character in this series is a young girl that faces an incredible challenge.  The books are filled with scenes that bring the reader into the book.  But this reader is reading too fast.  Her brain isn't keeping up with the pages.  

The reader isn't stopping to 

THINK

WONDER

REVIEW

GUESS

PREDICT

THINK

PICTURE

COMPARE

DECIDE

THINK

ASK

WISH

GO BACK

QUESTION

RELATE

THINK

When you think about it, she's not really reading.  But she sure can turn the pages fast.  Is this post about you?  Could it be?

Image from http://www.unfinishedman.com/why-you-shouldnt-read-a-book-just-to-finish-it/

If You're Going to Write, Write Right

As published writers, there is no excuse for mistakes.  Sister Salad points out the reason most of us take writing correctly so seriously.   This video, "Yo Comments Are Wack!" points out the disastrous commenting seen on the web and in a humorous way explains why writing well matters.

A Student's Good First Blog Post

Students in Reading Workshop have begun blogging as part of their language arts class.  The first assignment was to write about the main character in the book they are reading.  Students all choose their own books based on their interests and ability.

Megan set the standard with her first post.  You can follow her work throughout the year on her blog, Megan's Thoughts.

Study Island & Student of the Day

Each day a Study Island Student of the Day is chosen from each class in Reading Workshop. The winners receive an award certificate, a piece of candy,

     AND THEY GET THE CHAIR FOR THE DAY!  

All students want the chance to spend the day in luxury.  And learning online is a great way to achieve this.

Students work daily in Reading Workshop with the online learning program from Study Island. This program is based on the Ohio State Standards. It has lessons that help teach each topic and remediates when students do not pass a topic. Students can do sessions anywhere they have internet access.

Students scores count towards their grade in Reading Workshop.  It is important that students pay attention to their score as they are completing a 20 question session.  If they are close to the next higher grade, doing a couple of extra questions correctly can really help their grade.

85 - 100 = A

75 - 84.9 = B

65 - 74.9 = C

55 - 64.9 = D 

Congratulations to today's Study Island Students of the Day:  Olivia, Sam, Holden, and Dylan.

Dylan Pays it Forward

A couple of days ago I wrote about Maddie helping Dylan.  Even now, it still seems like a terrific event.  Then yesterday, I got another surprise.  As we worked to set up student blogs, Dylan paid it forward.  Lizzy was struggling with the pace to set up her blog until Dylan took over.

Through every step and each direction, he set up his blog and then guided Lizzy to success.  Now I am sure he had no thought of repaying a kindness someone showed him.  He was just trying to help a classmate because he is a good guy that cares for others.

As we end the second week of the school year, I am so impressed by the kindness and caring of the Salt Creek students.  I can't wait to see who will be the next to step up.

Kindness Counts

He was walking down the hall to his next class.  Papers were sticking out everywhere, books were stacked every which way, and his pencils stuck out like swords.  He was a walking mess of school supplies just waiting on a wreck.

He bumped into a classmate and some of his stuff scattered to the floor.  A girl noticed, not knowing I was watching.  She left her circle of friends to help him.  She picked up what he dropped, tucked it into his pile, and helped him on his way.

I am not really sure what makes an eleven year old girl act with such maturity and kindness, but it sure makes a teacher feel proud when one of his students acts like that.  It also serves as a reminder of just how caring some kids treat their peers.

Too often we hear the other side of today's kids with all the media focus on bullying, but the fact is, kids are what makes a school great.  And in my second week at a different school, a girl made me proud to be a part of Salt Creek Intermediate School.  

Image from http://www.school-clipart.com

The Old Man with the Cane

I was standing at the cash register at the Village Cafe as an old man with a cane slowly walked up to the front door.  Just as he started in, a young woman started out.  They saw each other at the same time and both quickly stopped.  The young woman backed up, and motioned for him to come in.  

Although it was a struggle for him, the old man's response was immediate.  He eased backwards, held the door, and told the young woman to come through.  His response was one built through a lifetime of good manners and showing respect.  

To some, in today's world, his actions may be considered old fashioned.  Some might even suggest he needs to get with the times--women are equal to men.  To those of us with older parents and/or grandparents, we might think he needs to be a little willing to accept help.

But to this old man, his response was the only one possible.  He did what was right.  And he did it because he always treats people with respect.  In just a few seconds, his actions showed the kind of person he is.  He didn't think about it.  He acted the way he always does.

What about you Salt Creek students?  Do you do what is right?  In your new school, with new classmates, do you treat others with respect?  Do you think of others first?  Or are you thinking just of yourself?  

As the new school year starts, please take a minute and think about yourself.  What kind of person do you want to be?  Is that how people see you?  Why or why not?

Image from http://alwaysonwatch2.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html