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!

Book Review: Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder)

Welcome to “Keep In Touch Tuesday” and our Third book review. We are featuring the book, Goof Balls (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) by Tony Abbott.  Read my book review below and leave any questions or comments in the Comments and Trackbacks section.

Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) By Tony Abbott




There is nothing like a good mystery and the Goofballs love solving mysteries.  The Goofballs are four friends, Jeff, Brian, Mara, and Kelly.  They meet at the town library to solve mysteries.  In The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder, the Goofballs solve their latest mystery and it has to do with a missing horse, named Thunder.  Did you think Thunder had something to do with the weather?  I did, until I read the book.  I can't tell you the rest.  You'll have to read the book to find out how the mystery is solved.

I enjoyed reading this book.  I also liked the fact that the main character is a boy named Brian.  However, I think both boys and girls will like this book.  I think this book is especially good for its play on words, like thunder and Thunder and porpoise and purpose.  The book also uses a lot of interesting words like suspicious, mysterious, and culprit.  This book was funny and I kept wondering how the Goofballs were going to solve the mystery.  I give Goofballs, The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder-5 STARS.  Leave your comments below and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me)

Welcome to "Keep In Touch Tuesday" and our second book review. We are featuring the book, Kattie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) by Nancy Krulik.  Read my book review below and leave any questions or comments in the comments section.

Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) By Nancy Krulik


Have you ever been bullied?  Hopefully, you have not.  If you have been bullied before, you probably felt like Katie.  You wish you could be someone else--anybody--else!  Katie ruins her favorite jeans, lets out the loudest burp in the history of her school, and gets teased by the classroom bully, all in one day!   It's no wonder that she wants to be anybody else.  However, in the words of someone famous, "Be careful what you wish for."  Katie soon discovers that things are not always as they appear to be.  Read the book to find out what Katie discovers.  You might enjoy reading other books in the Katie Kazoo series:


Katie Kazoo-Out to Lunch
Katie Kazoo-Oh, Baby!
Katie Kazoo-Girls Don't Have Cooties
Katie Kazoo-I Hate Rules!

I enjoyed reading this book.  Both boys and girls will enjoy reading this book too.  I love the title of this book because the word "switcheroo" is one of my favorite words.  Just ask my first graders.  I give Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo--5 STARS.   Leave your comments below and Happy Reading!

Book Review: Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest

Welcome to "Keep In Touch Tuesday" and our first book review.  We are featuring the book, Heidi Hecklebeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven.  Read my review below and leave any questions or comments in the comment section.

Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest by Wanda Coven



Have you ever entered a contest before?  Heidi decides to enter her family's recipe in the local cookie contest.  After learning what the other kids are making, Heidi decides <em>her</em> cookies are too plain.  She wants to change the name of her cookies and spruce them up to make them really special.  However, things don't turn out like Heidi expects.  I can't tell you the rest.  You'll have to read the book to find out how the drama ends.  I enjoyed reading this book.  There were a lot of funny parts that really made me laugh.  I think both boys and girls will enjoy reading this book.  I give Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest - 5 STARS.  I thing you will enjoy reading this book too.  Happy Reading!

Keep In Touch Tuesdays

I hope you'll join me for Keep In Touch Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, I'll post a review on a new book I'm reading. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to read the book too. You may discuss the book with me by leaving a comment. You can also ask questions or share something that you're reading or doing this summer. Below is a list of the dates and book titles I'll be reviewing. The first book review will start in a week. This will give you time to get the book and read along with me. Remember to check the Library or Book Mobile for copies of the book. You can also purchase any of the books from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for about $5 or $6. If you can't get your hands on a copy of the book, don't worry. I'll tell you all about it in my review.

Happy Reading!

June 26th
Heidi Heckelbeck and the Cookie Contest By Wanda Coven

July 3rd
Catie Cazoo Switcheroo (Anyone But Me) By Nancy Krulik

July 10th
Goofballs (The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder) By Tony Abbott

July 17th
Bad Kitty Gets a Bath By Nick Bruel

July 24th
Mercy Watson To The Rescue By Kate DiCamillo

July 31st
Hi! Fly Guy By Tedd Arnold

August 7th
I Spy Fly Guy By Tedd Arnold

August 14th
Bink &amp; Gollie By Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

August 21st (Open to suggestions)

Fluency Poems on Animoto

December Poem-Animoto Fluency Work Each week my first graders practice a new fluency poem during our morning meeting time. The poem is introduced after we read our morning message together. The title of our newest poem is, December. We use poetry to practice our fluency. Poetry is a fun way to practice reading with expression, to learn about punctuation and phrasing, to notice and identify word families, and to work on our word accuracy strategies. At the end of the week, we illustrate our poems, and then we place them into our poetry notebooks. Walking Museum After our poems are illustrated and placed in our poetry notebooks, we share them with our classmates. A fun way to share our work is to have a Walking Museum. During the Walking Museum, we walk around our table groups and notice the great work of our classmates. Daily 5 During our Daily 5 time, we also make good use of our poetry notebooks. We use them during Read to Self, or independent reading. We also use our poetry notebooks during Read to Someone, when we read with a buddy. As you can see, we love using poems to work on fluency. We hope you enjoy our illustrations too. Just click on the Fluency Poems-Video link at the top. You'll see our illustrations via Animoto. How is fluency practiced in your classroom?