Discussion Question # 5

This week we have been talking about your Twits project and what it's going to look like. Your blog post this week should talk about what you and your partner have planned for the project. Our goal for this week's blog is to have you post, not only your comment, but also I want you to comment on another student's post. For example:

“My partner (Ima Kidd) and I are going to film a rap battle between Mr. and Mrs. Twit. We are going to focus on the different ways in which Mr. and Mrs. Twit were cruel to each other. I (Mr. D) will also have a speaking part as the narrator to explain what is about to happen in the scene, and Ima Kidd will be responsible for the summary. By the end of the film, everyone should have a better understanding of the book, The Twits, and also how to rap a little better.”

When I am through with writing my own post. I will now go and comment on another kid's post from my class so that I can tell them what I liked about it, as well as what I would change or add. The more we have a discussion with each other about our own work, the better the whole project will be.

As always...PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION!

Mr. D

Discussion Question # 4

In class this week we talked about adding detail to our writing. After watching the Lion Kings opening scene, we practiced adding detail to it that described what was happening. Now you are going to get that opportunity again with a different movie. Remember that the hardest part about writing is just getting started. Once you put something on paper, it is much easier to go back and edit (fix) it.

Your assignment this week is to watch the below clip and write a description of the scene. Remember, the more detail you provide, the more clear a picture you paint in the readers mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhHwnrlZRus&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL586E3C7470FE0D1B



PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION!


Mr. D

Discussion Question # 3

Once again I am impressed with the amount of improvement many of you are making. Last week you showed that you can really share your thoughts and put forth a great effort when doing so. I am pleased with your hard work and look forward to reading your responses this week!

The question this week is about making predictions. Good readers are always making predictions about what they think will happen next in the story they are reading. When you make a prediction, you are challenging your brain to try and tell the future. Even though none of us have the ability to magically tell what is going to happen in the future, when you use all the information the story has already given you, often times you can correctly predict what will happen next. It is always fun to try, and there is no penalty if you are wrong. One of my favorite moments any time I read is when I predict something that is going to happen and i get it right!!

Your mission this week is to make a prediction about the story you are currently reading. As always, write the author and the book title. After you make a prediction, share 2-3 sentences from the book that helped you make your prediction.

example: I am currently reading "Sluggers: Magic in the Outfield" by Phil Bildner (who is also the visiting author at BHE this week!). It is a story about a traveling baseball team and the struggles they go through to make money and survive on the road. My prediction after reading the first chapter is that Uncle Owen (the main characters great uncle) will be murdered soon and force Griffith (his oldest nephew) to take run away with his brothers and sisters. The reason I made this prediction is because of a conversation Uncle Owen has with one of his nephews named Griffith. "Uncle Owen lifted his hand and placed it on Griffith's cheek. "Griff, great danger lies ahead." What kind of danger?" Griffith's eyes met his uncle's. "An unspeakable kind". Uncle Owen choked on his words."

Remember: Try your very best in everything you do.

PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION,

Mr. Dickson

Discussion question #2 - summarizing

Let me just say first and foremost how PROUD I am of you for last weeks responses! I thought the majority of you did a wonderful job of following the example and really sharing your thoughts. I know your responses will continue to improve and I can't wait to see what you'll write next!

This week we've been working on summarizing. Summarizing is the art of taking A LOT of information from a story or article and shrinking it down to point of the most important facts. We use summarizing all the time to give information to people quickly. Your assignment due Thursday is to write a one paragraph summary of the book you are currently reading at home.  For the purpose of this assignment, your paragraph should consist of 5-7 sentences. Remember, focus on the "need to know" instead of the "nice to know" information.

Example (as always, include the book you are reading and the author's name):

I am reading Lone Survivor: The eyewitness account of Operation Redwing and the lost heroes of SEAL team 10. It is a true story, that like many books about the Navy SEALs, starts out right in the middle of the action. There is a bit of a lead up to this and it starts with Marcus Luttrell, the lone survivor, going through his tough, country style upbringing in Texas. At a very young age Luttrell decides he wants to become a Navy Seal, seeking out help and training from a former Green Beret named Billy Shelton. The difficult challenges that he faces while training to become a SEAL are shown in a lot of detail from the physical, mental, and emotional point of view.


I'm looking forward to your responses. Remember, we just began learning how to summarize, so don't get upset if you don't get it exactly right the first time. PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION!!

Mr. Dickson

Discussion Question # 1

In class we have been discussing the importance of descriptive writing. When an author uses a good desription to paint a picture in your mind, it really helps you enjoy the book. In the book that we are currently reading in class, "My Side of the Mountain" by Jean Craighead George, the author uses wonderful descriptions of the wilderness and the mountains to make the reader feel like you are surving in the wild along with the main character, Sam Gribley.

Here is an example from the book, where Sam is describing his tree house, "My bed is on the right as you enter, and is made of ash slats and covered with deerskin. On the left is a small fireplace about knee high. It is made of clay and stones. It has a chimney that leads the smoke through a knothole. I chipped out three other knotholes to let fresh air in. The air coming in is bitter cold. It must be below zero outside, and yet I can sit here inside my tree and write with bare hands. The fire is small too. It doesn't take much fire to warm this tree room."

Your assignment this week is to find a description from the book you are currently reading, and post it on this blog. Explain in several sentences why you chose the description. Be sure to include the title of the book and the author.

Have fun!!

Mr. Dickson

Welcome back to another great year 2011-12

Dear parents and students,

Welcome to our classroom blog! The purpose of this blog is to share what we have been working on in class with friends and family at home. Your students will post on here once a week for a reading discussion question. When we have big classroom projects or video presentations, we will be posting those as well. There is also a challenge club that poses 100 seperate challenges for the students. Their progress will be monitored in class. It is optional, but I always encourage your kids to really go for it and challenge themselves, even outside of the classroom!

I look forward to an amazing year, and can't wait to see all that your children accomplish!

enthusiastically,

Mr. Dickson

Reading log discussion question #4

We have been talking about persuasive writing in class recently and what it means to try and persuade someone to believe your side of a particular debate or argument. For example, if I make the statement, "All 4th graders should have to go to summer school before they can move to 5th grade", you might disagree with me. However, just like we talked about in class, just disagreeing with someone won't change their mind. You need to be able to make strong arguments that clearly explain why you feel a certain way. Your assignment today is to make a good argument either supporting or disagreeing with the following statement: "Students should be required to eat a green vegetable at lunch everyday when they are in school".  

Remember, just saying "NO, I don't think that is right" does not make a good argument. Tell me why you agree or disagree.

Reading Log discussion question # 3

Welcome back students. Sorry for the delay, but all technical issues have been handled!

Here is your question for the week of April 11-15th: What is the most memorable book you have read since Christmas break? If it is memorable, you'll want to tinclude two examples from the text and give me detailed descriptions of your feelings and thoughts.

example: Since the Christmas break, the most memorable book I have read is "The Book of Basketball" by Bill Simmons. It is a non-fiction book written about the greatest NBA players and how they measure up against one another. The author uses opinions from many sources, as well as statistics to back up his arguments about who the best players of all-time are. The book is memorable because I love the style in which the author writes (very funny guy), and even when I disagree with some of his picks about who the greatest players of all time are, I still like the arguments he makes for each one of them. It is a great source of information for any basketball fan, and I know I can always go back and read parts of it again just for a good laugh or some information.

Reading Log discussion question # 2

This week you'll write your response to the following: Who is your favorite character in the story so far? Why do you like this character? Who do they remind you of in real life? Choose one quote or passage from the book that describes why you like your character and include it in your answer.

example: I am currently reading Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare. I love the character of Julius Caesar because he is strong and when I read his lines I always feel like he is in total control. It's easy for me to picture Caesar ruling over the vast empire that was the Roman empire. My favortie quote from this passage is, "Danger knows full well that Caesar is more dangerous than he; We are two lions littered in one day, and I the elder and more terrible. (Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene II)

Keep on truckin,

Mr. Dickson

Reading response

This is where you post your reading logs. Instead of writing in your reading log, you are going to post your response on this website instead. Remember, I want a paragraph (5-6 sentences) of quality work. The question you will answer today is...Describe in detail the setting of your book and how it fits into the story.