Inferring

     We are learning how making inferences can help us understand what we read.  Good readers determine meaning of unknown words by using their schema, paying attention to the text and picture clues, rereading and engaging in conversation with each other.
     Good readers use their prior knowledge and clues from the text to draw conclusions and form their own ideas about the text.
     Good readers infer meaning when the answers to questions are not directly (explicitly) stated in the text.
     Good readers use the text to create their own ideas about a subject in order to deepen and enrich understanding.
     And lastly good readers revise their images to add new information.
   

I WONDER... Asking Questions

  For the next few weeks the class will be asking lots of questions about what they are reading.  We will be learning how to ask "Thick" and "Thin" questions.  I will send home examples of each in the Friday Folder.  We will also be learning the "Art of Conversation".  We will not always be raising our hands, but listening to others and responding.

*Questions help a reader clarify ideas and deepen understanding.
*Young children are the master questioners - I WONDER...Why the
  sky is blue?Why are there clouds?  Those questions show a child's
  brilliance.  As a teacher or a parent,we want to encourage them to
  ask those questions that really puzzle them, even if
  there is no answer.
*Wonder keeps he imagination alive and curiosity well tuned.
*Asking questions is how you make sense of the world and
   leads you to new ideas and more questions.
*Share YOUR questions when you are reading with
  your child, showing him/her that even you have
  questions when you read.
*There is no doubt about it, children love to generate their
  own questions.  Questioning makes reading more fun.

     We will also be inferring and synthesizing when asking questions.
I will be defining those terms as we use them. Although your child will
probably explaining them to you a lot better than I can.

Dear Families,

     For the next several weeks we will be working on MENTAL IMAGING in Reader's Workshop.  Students rely on pictures associated with the text they are reading.  Good readers also create pictures in their minds.  Theses visual images are powerful and help to keep us engaged while we read.  Where do our mental images come from?  When we visualize we connect with our own personal SCHEMA with clues provided by the author.  It is like watching a movie in our mind.  When we are using mental images we are in fact INFERRING what the author wants us to know and understand.  Proficient readers create images from all their senses.  Mental images occur before, during and after reading.  They change as we read and collect new information.  Mental images enhance our reading.

THE DAILY FIVE

Read to Self
We have been working on reading to self in class.  
The students are doing an excellent job finding a
"Just Right Book".
They are using schema and making
connections to improve their comprehension.

Listen to Read
The students can listen to and read along
with many fiction and nonfiction texts.  
We have introduced the listening center.  

Word Work
We have introduced word work.  
The students are doing lots of fun
activities and games while
working with sight words, word families,
blends and digraphs.

Work on Writing
The students have authored several little books and
also write in their Writer's Workshop journal.

Read with Someone
The children love to read with their peers.  
They use sticky notes to find picture clues,text connections and tricky words.

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Welcome First Graders!

It's here...the first day of school. I know that many children are excited and ready to go to school, while others are hesitant and don't want too many surprises. No matter how your child feels about the first day of school, know that I am here for them to help them have a wonderful first grade experience.