Readers Workshop: Introduction to Non-Fiction Illustrators

BIG IDEA: Non-fiction texts, illustrators, features, purpose

Students learned:

*we call the title of a non-fiction book a TOPIC

*illustrators teach us something new with FACTS

*illustrators use features to catch our attention (cut-aways, diagrams, etc)

*illustrators are sometimes called photographers in non-fiction because they use so many real pictures to teach the reader something new

 

BIG IDEA:  Finished Unit 3 and took the assessment.

We will also be taking a mid-year assessment soon to see if your child has been retaining all the information taught so far in the school year.  We will be taking the written portion on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The individual oral assessment will vary as students need to taken one on one.

We started taking time tests to check for addition and subtraction fluency.   Kids are shown their time test before they take the next one.  Their goal is to get more correct than they did the last time.  If they got all ten correct, they have to try to get all ten correct again.

Big Idea: Becoming NON-FICTION writers

Students learned….

* how to use a chart to plan their writing before starting a book

*non-fiction writers label IMPORTANT details only

*non-fiction stories can use features (zooming in, labels, captions)

*non-fiction stories have an ending

*non-fiction stories are longer (4 facts and an ending page)

*non-fiction illustrations must be NEAT and DETAILED to help the learner learn

*the difference between a fact and an opinion.

*opinions often have secret words to let you know they are opinions (I think, best, worst)

*non-fiction writers have to teach their reader something using details.

The expectation is that students know 25 words by March to be considered “on-grade-level” and 38-60 by the end of the year. However, the more words students know, the easier navigating books independently, will be. Please know that many of these words are words that your child has already been exposed to and already knows.

Please click on the Sight Word page at the top of our blog for the entire list

Homework is ALWAYS sent home on Thursday and is due the following Wednesday.

Please make sure to have your child

*Write his/her FIRST and LAST name at the top….tall letters tall/small letters small

*Write with a pencil so he/she can fix an errors that might be made

*Fix errors so he/she can grow as a learner

*Write NEATLY and do BEST work

Monday 3/12, Wednesday 3/14, Thursday 3/15: Parent Teacher Conferences- Kindergarten report cards will go home with parents at conferences.

If you have not already signed up for a conference, please do so by Wednesday. Remember 1 slot per FAMILY. If parents are separated, please make arrangements so both parents can attend. 

https://signup.com/group/636057820012

Please make sure you are reading the assigned chapters on the correct evenings.  We are having lots of fun discussing the question of the day at school the next morning.

Alward Carnival Saturday, March 24th

11am-2pm

Class Baskets for Carnival! The PTC will be collecting donations for the class baskets drawings at the carnival! More details will be coming home soon from the PTC, but for now, you can start thinking of ideas of things to go with your class basket theme!

Our class basket theme: Super Heroes

Every MONDAY!

Please help your child take care of their book. If a book is damaged or lost, they will need to pay for a replacement BEFORE they are allowed to borrow another. All books are due back on Monday.

 

Here is a link to last week’s newsletter for specials and other info:K News 2:22:18-29eeisk