Mrs. Travis’ Classroom Blog

This week we will be learning about the features of plays and how these features help a reader better understand the text.  Complete the activities below:

1. Go to “The Difference Between Stories and Plays” and learn about how these types of texts are different.
2. Go to “Write a Play Interactive” and write your own play online.

Make sure to follow the following rules when posting a

 comment/reply to a blog:

1. Your comment/reply should be about the post you are reading.  If you want to say hi or ask the person a question that does not have to do with the post you should email them.
2. Make a point.  It’s great to hear comments like “Wonderful!” or “Great Job!”  Comments like this are fine, but try to make a more meaningful contribution.  Why is it wonderful?  What was great about the post?  If you disagree with ideas in the post don’t just write “Your Wrong.”  Explain why you disagree in a respectful way.  Do not make your disagreement personal.  (From Grammar Girl)
3. Check your spelling and punctuation before you submit your reply.  Remember your writing is a reflection of you.
4. Use the Living Room Rule.  If you went into someone’s living room as a guest you would not be rude.  If you are rude your comments will not be posted and your privilege to post a comment/reply will be taken away.
5. Pretend your mom is in the room.  Comments/replies that are intentionally misleading, contain false information, threats, verbal abuse, inappropriate statements or pictures, or personal information about others are not allowed.  Remember what you have learned about Internet safety.
6. Be yourself.  Don’t pretend to be anyone else.  However, remember not to give out personal information.  Again, remember your Internet safety.

The Reading class created a bag of chips about a non-fiction book they read for a book report. They read a non-fiction book of their choice and drew a picture of the topic on the front of the bag. On the back they wrote a summary of their book. Inside the bag were 10 chips with facts about their topic. Students kept their bags hidden and read their 10 facts to their teams. The teams tried to determine the topic of the book report based on the facts. Erika, Ke’Turah, and Na’Tale’ stumped their teams and it took the whole class to determine their topics. Students then shared their bags with the class. They did a great job!

Ms. Katie Slacum, a Salisbury University student in the Teacher Program, joined our class and taught a lesson on growing patterns. Students were given the first 3 steps in the pattern and then determined what the next 3 steps would be. Afterward they determined what the 10th step in the growing pattern would be without using cubes. Students also made connections to our last Math unit (Multiplication). They used multiplication to determine how many cubes they used to create their patterns. The class did an excellent job!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

In Reading we are reading an article called “The Name Game”. Following the article we will be reading about a girl who feels her family name is important. We will discuss family memories and traditions. Take the time to think about your family and click on the picture below to go to a link where you can create a free family tree online using dynastree.