Family Read Along

Last week, we held our annual Family Read Along for all four first grade classrooms.  Yes, 80 first graders and their families.  It's always a huge event and a huge surprise.  It's a time to celebrate our reading lives with our family and friends.  The theme is based on the book, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.  In the story, the relatives visit and there is lots of hugging, kissing, and eating.

Everyone in our class was extremely surprised when their family members appeared at our classroom door. There were moms and dads, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and volunteers!  They brought along lots of book to read, snacks to share, and blankets to sit on.  It was the best reading time ever!  What does your class do to celebrate reading?

Global Read Aloud - Charlotte's Web (Day 2)

This is day 2 of the Global Read Aloud.  The book we are reading is Charlotte's Web.  We enjoyed reading chapter one yesterday and we were anticipating what would happen next.  First, we reviewed the characters from chapter one.  Next, we talked about the setting of the story.  The setting is where the story takes place.  Our responses were:

• The Farm
• Fern's house
• The kitchen
• The barn

Mrs. Ruckes shared a nonfiction book with us called On A Farm.  There is a pig on the cover of this book and we think it looks like Wilbur because it's white.

We made two predictions about what would happen next in the story.  Our predictions were:

I predict Wilbur is getting bigger.

I predict Wilbur will talk.

Mrs. Ruckes read chapters two and three as we worked on our Reading Response sheets.  We wanted to see more pictures but Mrs. Ruckes reminded us that we were reading a chapter book and they usually don't have a lot of pictures.  Sometimes chapter books don't have any pictures and we have to make our own mental pictures.

We thought the part where Fern is pushing Wilbur in a stroller with her doll was really funny.  Here are more of our favorite parts from chapters two and three.

Wilbur might grow!

The girl was right by Wilbur.  Wilbur was happy.

Fern is putting Wilbur in the box.

The girl was right by Wilbur.  Wilbur was happy.

Wilbur is sleeping in the barn.

Here is a hound.  He is trying to get his food.

She put the pig in the box.

I put Wilbur in the box.

Tomorrow we'll read chapter 4.  We really love this book!  What is your favorite part of the book so far?

Flashlight Friday Makes Building Stamina a Breeze

Our classroom is working on building our reading stamina.  We are doing read to self for 12 minutes.  Our goal is to reach 30 minutes.  At each 10 minute interval we have a small classroom celebration, like extra recess, a treat, or playing a game in the gym with our teacher.  However, when we reach our 30 minute goal, we are planning to celebrate with a Read-In (bring blankets, wear P.J.'s, enjoy a treat, and READ).

Today was the kickoff of our Flashlight Fridays routine.  During flashlight Friday, Mrs. Ruckes turns out the lights and we read with our flashlights.  It's a lot of fun and it makes building stamina a breeze.  As S.G. exclaimed, "I just love Flashlight Friday."

Some students are reading by flashlight on the rug.

Some students like to read under tables with their flashlights.

Others like to stretch-out as they read.

Some students read at the small table and the writing center with their flashlights.

These students enjoy reading at their tables with their flashlights.

J.M. reads at the small table.

O.G. uses his flashlight to read near the book return area.

G.S. gets up close and personal with her flashlight and book.

What fun things do you do at reading time in your classroom?  Leave a comment, we would love to know!

Family Read-Along

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