Beginning, Middle and End

Okay, boy and girls…Now to really make you use your brain!

Visit the following website:

http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/storyscramble/index.html

Put the story boxes in the correct order.
When you think you have it right click the “Read It” button.
If you got it right click the “Next” button. You can try again if you need to.

Once you have completed this activity follow these steps.

Open the Paint program on your computer.
Create three pictures that tell a story.
Add text to each of your pictures to tell what is happening in your story.
Ask the teacher to check your progress before you print.
Find a friend and give them your three pages. See if they can get your story in the correct order.

Teacher’s Note: The students can read each segment independently or have the speaker read it aloud to them if they need extra help.

Getting Ready for the Test!

It is getting close to testing time! Let’s practice our reading comprehension. Visit the wesite:

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/readingpassageindex.htm

Select a story from the first column.
Click on the “Start Reading” button.
Read the story and answer the first question.
After you answer each question click the arrow to get the next question.
Do your best!

Teacher’s Note: This website offers a timer. Since the SOL tests are a timed test, this is good practice. Students are also able to select multiple answers if they get it wrong on the first try, but they are scored on the first answer. They are just able to see the correct answers, too.

Who? What? When? Where? Why? & How?

Here is a lesson that lets you work with a friend. Each student will receive a check-list from the teacher to keep notes about the story. (The worksheet will have places to keep up with the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the story.) Each pair will visit the website:

http://www.storylineonline.net/

Choose a story to listen to with your partner. A short description is given for each one, so be sure to check each one out before making your decision.

As you listen, take notes to answer each of the questions on your worksheet. After listening to the story return to your table. With your partner create an informational poster that will let the class know about your story. Get creative! Use descriptive words and/or pictures to make it fun. Be sure to include all the information from your worksheet. Be ready to share with the class!

Reading Comprehension

Students can never get enough practice with various reading comprehension skills. Offering your students fun websites to practice these skills allows you to gauge their skills level while the students are having a little fun.

Many times it is difficult to assess whether the student in struggling with comprehension skills or with their actual reading abilities. The following site reads the story allowed and asks students to follow simple directions.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/laac/story/sbi.shtml

The following two sites offer stories for the students to read independently. After reading the story the students can select quizzes, fill in the blank or sentence order activities that will test their understanding of what they are reading.

http://eslbears.homestead.com/map_and_directions.html
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/rattic/rattic1.html

Reading for a Purpose

Each of the websites listed below would be used in different lessons for my first grade students. The students would work on assignments during class time and use the websites to practice skills, test comprehension and further knowledge on that topic during technology time. Some sites would require students to work in pairs for retelling or stories and discussion purposes.

www.starfall.com
http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/english/beatrix/index.htm
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/trophies/rsr/big_idea.html
http://www.professorgarfield.org/ReadingRing/Strips/strips.html
www.bookadventure.com
http://www.tampareads.com/books-ol/index-ol.htm

Standards of Learning

Grade 1 English Standards of Learning
Reading

1.9 The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of a variety of fiction and nonfiction.

a) Preview the selection.
b) Set a purpose for reading.
c) Relate previous experiences to what is read.
d) Make predictions about content.
e) Ask and answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions about what is read.
f) Identify characters, setting, and important events.
g) Retell stories and events, using beginning, middle, and end.
h) Identify the topic or main idea

In all subjects a student will face in the future, it is imperative that they be able to read a passage and extract the important information. By giving the student a framework of how to do this at a young age they are able to perform these task on their own.



http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/standards_docs/index.shtml

Welcome to our classroom blog. As the teacher, I will be overseeing the blog but will have input from my students on items they feel should be included. I hope you will take this opportunity to keep an eye on what is going on in our classroom. Everyday is filled with learning and exciting experiences for the children. Many parents ask their children, “What did you learn today?” The response many times is, “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember”. Well, by keeping tabs on our class through this blog, parents will know what students are learning and what fun projects are happening in our class. Feel free to make positive comments or give words of encouragement to the children.

My aim in working with children is to instill a love of learning. Education does not have to be dreary and difficult. I want them to find joy in making discoveries in all subjects. I want my students to realize they can travel the world through a book. I want them to discover how things work through hands-on projects in Science. I want them to become storytellers of history. I want them to find a real appreciation of the arts: drama, music, art, etc. and find the artist in themselves. For the child who loves to learn the opportunities are endless and no dream is too big.