Week 2 of Activities
March 31 - April 3
This week we are easing back into reading and writing routines by reading lots, writing a book review, and writing letters to a people of our choosing. I've got some books about snowy weather to read to you because of our recent weather, and I'm looking forward to reading the letters you write later this week!
Literacy Assignments for Week 2
To be submitted to Mrs. Barker by the end of the week
Assignment 1: Book Review
- Choose a book that you have read this week to create a book review for
- This book could be a picture book or a chapter book, and it could be either a hard copy book or an eBook you've accessed online
- You can present the book review in a format of your choosing, for example:
- A video review such as the Reading Rainbow ones below
- A written newspaper review of a book such as the one below (you can download the template to copy or print if you'd like, or just write out the review on paper)
- An audio podcast review (you could use Seesaw Class to take a picture of the book or yourself and then use the microphone to add audio to your submission)
- If you decide to make a video or podcast, it would probably be helpful to write a little script for yourself before recording
- I am not expecting professional-level presentation whether you are submitting something written, filmed, or audio-recorded, the goal of this activity is to have students reflect on and engage in their reading
- You can use the Reading at Home section below for reading mini-lessons and guidance on where to find online reading materials for your child if needed
Assignment 2: Write a Letter
- Write a friendly letter to someone (it could be Mrs. Barker, a family member, a friend from school that Mrs. Barker can forward the letter to, or someone else)
- Many of you will be able to write more than one letter during the allotted writing time, so feel free to write lots of letters if you wish!
- There are ideas for additional writing in the Writing at Home section below as well
- Please check out the Writing at Home mini-lessons below to provide some guidance on writing a friendly letter
- When writing, please remember to print neatly, include capital letters at the beginning of sentences, and include punctuation at the end of your ideas
- Remember to edit your writing after to fix any problems with those writing conventions
- Please also revise your writing to ensure that sentences make sense and that you have made interesting word choices
- Remember to edit your writing after to fix any problems with those writing conventions
Reading at Home
The most valuable activity for students to be engaged in over this time away is reading! Hard-copy books are wonderful, but with libraries closed and the length of time away from school undetermined, you may eventually (or soon) find that you want to use eBooks to provide your child with reading materials. The two reading websites that we use in class are Epic and Raz-Kids, which I have linked below (I have emailed you a link to access Epic for free, or I believe you can use our class code like the students normally do as outlined below).
If your child is using Epic, please work with them to find books that are just right for them (they need to choose books where they can read almost every single word). Audiobooks or "Read to Me" books are good occasionally, but ideally your child should be reading the words most of the time in a book without auditory support. Raz-Kids provides content at your child's reading level, but sometimes students prefer the variety on Epic.
On Epic, our class code is tsu3631, and the students should be familiar with choosing their profile from there. On Raz-Kids, my teacher username is caitjane, and students should know their password. You can access these platforms through the websites, or by downloading the apps.
If your child is reading below grade level (let me know if you're not sure), and was working on sight words and phonics in class, I've attached some beginning activities to get back to some of that practice at the bottom of this page. I will change and add to those activities each week.
Happy reading!
If your child is using Epic, please work with them to find books that are just right for them (they need to choose books where they can read almost every single word). Audiobooks or "Read to Me" books are good occasionally, but ideally your child should be reading the words most of the time in a book without auditory support. Raz-Kids provides content at your child's reading level, but sometimes students prefer the variety on Epic.
On Epic, our class code is tsu3631, and the students should be familiar with choosing their profile from there. On Raz-Kids, my teacher username is caitjane, and students should know their password. You can access these platforms through the websites, or by downloading the apps.
If your child is reading below grade level (let me know if you're not sure), and was working on sight words and phonics in class, I've attached some beginning activities to get back to some of that practice at the bottom of this page. I will change and add to those activities each week.
Happy reading!
Reading Mini-Lessons
Writing at Home
This week students are working on writing letters, as outlined in the assignment above! The mini-lessons below provide some guidance for writing those letters.
If your child has completed one or more letters, they can write about an idea of their choosing. I've linked to a website called Pobble that has picture prompts for writing if students would like, and I've attached a file similar to one we use in class to help us think of writing ideas. I've also attached a rubric that we refer to to track how we're doing in our writing and set goals. Feel free to send me a picture of your writing on Seesaw if you'd like!
If your child has completed one or more letters, they can write about an idea of their choosing. I've linked to a website called Pobble that has picture prompts for writing if students would like, and I've attached a file similar to one we use in class to help us think of writing ideas. I've also attached a rubric that we refer to to track how we're doing in our writing and set goals. Feel free to send me a picture of your writing on Seesaw if you'd like!
Writing Mini-Lessons
Spelling at Home
Students can practice their spelling words for this week on Spelling City. Their username and password are the same as their Google username and password (such as caitb1234 and red.bike). Students have accessed this website before to find the games for this week, but feel free to comment if you need help finding the games. They should be able to log on, go to Lists & Games, find the list from the group "All This Week" and then select Games.
I've also attached a document when you click here with some offline ways to practice spelling words if that's preferable for you.
I've also attached a document when you click here with some offline ways to practice spelling words if that's preferable for you.
March Book Madness Voting
You may have heard of March Madness, but prior to this pause on classes, 2B was taking part in a book tournament called March Book Madness. There is a bracket of 16 entertaining and interesting picture books, and we have enjoyed reading the selections and voting. The tournament is now down to 8 books, and students are invited to vote for their favourites by clicking here by March 31! We had hard-copies of the books in the classroom, but I've posted videos of the books below to refresh the students' memories if they'd like (you can click on the button at the bottom to enlarge the video).
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For Students Reading Below Grade Level
Week 2: Reviewing Short Vowel Sounds
This week our focus in reading work will be a review of the vowel sounds. You can practice by reading the below book, working through the worksheets (either visually or by writing them out), and playing the games below.
Your child will benefit from lots of practice of their sight words, so please click here to go to the sight word page (it's also linked at the top of this website under "more") and select the group of words that your child was working on. Almost of the children were working on set 2 of the words, but the student reading at level G was working on set 4 of the words. Just message me if you're not sure which set your child was working on, and I can let you know!
On the page for each set of sight words, the 25 words to practice are listed there, along with download links for flashcards and a booklet if you feel like printing those off or writing them out. There are links to a fridge magnet game where your child can write out their words, and links to the words on Spelling City where your child can play games with the 25 words from that group. Finally, there's a video for students to practice reading the words quickly (in about 3 seconds or less) and a list of ideas for how to practice the sight words.
When your child knows 23-25 of the words quickly and consistently (without sounding out the word), you can move them up to the next level of sight words!
I will vary the activities for these students every week on this section of the Language Arts page, so next week we will focus on different skills (but still practice their sight words). Reading on Raz-Kids is also a great way for these readers to practice reading at their just-right level!
Your child will benefit from lots of practice of their sight words, so please click here to go to the sight word page (it's also linked at the top of this website under "more") and select the group of words that your child was working on. Almost of the children were working on set 2 of the words, but the student reading at level G was working on set 4 of the words. Just message me if you're not sure which set your child was working on, and I can let you know!
On the page for each set of sight words, the 25 words to practice are listed there, along with download links for flashcards and a booklet if you feel like printing those off or writing them out. There are links to a fridge magnet game where your child can write out their words, and links to the words on Spelling City where your child can play games with the 25 words from that group. Finally, there's a video for students to practice reading the words quickly (in about 3 seconds or less) and a list of ideas for how to practice the sight words.
When your child knows 23-25 of the words quickly and consistently (without sounding out the word), you can move them up to the next level of sight words!
I will vary the activities for these students every week on this section of the Language Arts page, so next week we will focus on different skills (but still practice their sight words). Reading on Raz-Kids is also a great way for these readers to practice reading at their just-right level!
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