Be Awesome

Be awesome to yourself. Be awesome to everybody else. Now everything is awesome. Thanks! @iamkidpresident

Questions About Study Island?

Over the last several years, I have written several posts describing Study Island and how it is used in the classroom. If you have a question, please take a second and use the search function in the top right corner. This will lead you to this link: 

http://www.thereadingworkshop.com/search?q=+study+island

In fact, you can use the search function to find out more information about almost any topic in Reading Workshop. 

Write With Your Hand

Are You Going to Reach Your Potential?

Potential--Capable of being but not yet in existence; the inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being.

As we start a new school year, do you know how successful you can be? In your mind, can you picture an outstanding year? Can you see yourself on the Honor Roll? Can you see yourself as an amazing writer that makes your readers think, and feel, and wonder, and care? Can you picture yourself reading great books with comprehension and thought?

Write a blog post, Reading Workshop students and describe yourself as a student this year. Tell your readers about your goals and how you plan to make this year your best ever.

Have a Great Monday

Image from @grammarly

Are You Part of the Salt Creek Team?

A couple of girls had a problem getting along yesterday. Afterwards, I thought about it and I realized they hadn't yet realized what being part of The Hallway means. Hopefully, they will figure out how to be great members of our team. Maybe this message from Kid President will help.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Students' Weekly Reading Assignment rewards effort. Students choose a book that they want to read from home, the library, or the bookmobile. The only requirement is that they log the title, time read, and pages. 

Any time students read it counts. They will read on some days during language arts, and daily during SSR--Sustained Silent Reading time(1:30-2:18). In addition, they can read at home, on the bus, while they are eating breakfast, once they finish a test or assignment in another class. Any time they read it counts.

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 250 minutes.

A =    250 + Minutes
B =    200 - 249 Minutes
C =    150 - 199 Minutes
D =    100 - 149 Minutes

Each time students read they will put it on their Reading Log. Then, at the beginning of language arts, students log their minutes on the online Reading Log.

Although students have no direct assignments associated with Weekly Reading Assignment, 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.

So if you want a good grade Reading Workshop students, all you have to do is read!

The first Weekly Reading Assignment is due on Friday, August 28.

Welcome 2015-2016

Tonight is Open House at Salt Creek Intermediate School. Welcome to all our students and parents. The start of each new year is an exciting time and I am looking forward to another great year. Stop in and say hello. On Tuesday come to Reading Workshop ready for the best year ever!

A Year in Pictures

D.A.R.E. Essay

You Need More Than Spellcheck

Spell Check is a great tool that helps all writers produce cleaner writing. However, writers still need to proofread their own work. The picture below shows . . .

The Best Way to Get Stronger

Image from @Grammarly

Want to be a Better Reader?

Image from @rgowgreene

Will It Be You?

Reading Workshop students, will you take a minute today to say something to make someone else's life better? Before you say yes, think about when and where this will happen. Thank you for taking the time to share some of yourself for another.

Want to Read a Mystery?

Take a Grammar Test

Are you a grammar expert? Take a test and prove it!

Grammer Monster Tests

Are You a Winner?

Image from @lara_nikai

Is This You?

Image from @BookNerdParadis

I Have Trouble With What to Write

I had this conversation about poetry with a student:

Student:  I have trouble with what to write.
Me: Really?
Student: Yeah, I don't know what to say.
Me: You like sports a lot, right?
Student: Yeah
Me:  How many sports poems have you been working on?
Student:  Two
Me:  So you have twelve drafts and only two are about sports?
Student:  Yeah
Me:  But you really like sports?
Student: Yeah, a lot.
Me:  Then why don't you write poems about sports?
Student:  I don't know.
Me:  If that's what you are interested in, that's what you should write about. You know, write about what interests you. Write about what you know.
Student:  Oh, OK.

Reading Workshop students, if you are struggling with what to write, maybe you need to give the topic a break and write about something that you find interesting.


Poem written by Shel Silverstein. Image from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/331296116310627083/

Hard Work

Image from @AustinFraserLtd