Meta Responses and other information from the week

This week we started a new literary unit. Students will write a realistic fiction story. In reading, we will continue to practice comprehension reading strategy. In addition, we will look at character change, plot conflict, the theme to deepen our understanding of what we read. This weeks we read several books and used graphic organizer to figure about character attributes and the elements of a story. On Friday we dance to rap about the elements of fiction.

On the back of each week's reading log, there is a Meta-Response prompt. The meta-response lets students write about what they are thinking as they read. A good meta response not only gives a specific example from the book, but also explains why that connection was made. The top response(s) of this week are copied below:


When I was reading: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"  I thought about "how he sat around and played video games and movies. I understand he would do that because I've done that myself."
When I was reading: "Dog Son", I thought about: "if I shot a deer with a bow by myself I would be as proud as Russel was."

When I was reading: "Tangerine" I thought about: "a text to world connection. My connection is in the book [where] there was a sinkhole and there was a hurricane named Sandy that hit the East coast. The sinkhole was also on the East coast."

Encourage each other to talk about what you are thinking AND why you are thinking that as you read in addition to the plot of the story!

Happy Trails,
Mr. Rabinowitz

Request

We are in need of a parent volunteer to be the team manager for a K-2 Destination Imagination team this year. Teams would meet once a week, and all challenge materials are provided. Optional training will be held in January as well. Anyone interested should contact traci_whipple@dpsk12.org.

Thanksgiving Break Puzzle #1

Can you think of 7 letter word that contains every vowel?

Post your answer in the comments.

Congrats again on your hard work with your feature article. You should feel proud.

Gobble gobble,
Mr. Rabinowitz

Ps I'll post a hint later this week.

Meta-Responses and other infomation

On the back of each week's reading log, there is a Meta-Response prompt. The meta-response lets students write about what they are thinking as they read. A good meta response not only gives a specific example from the book, but also explains why that connection was made. The top response(s) of this week are copied below:


When I was reading: "Ten Ruloes for Living with my Sister  I thought about "how nervous Pearl felt when Daddy-Bo took Pearl to New Jersey without Pearl's parents knowing. I know this [feeling] because one time my best friend and I went somewhere without my parents knowing."


When I was reading: "Big Nate, I felt as aggravated as Nate" I thought about "how mad it is to have somebody else on your fleece ball team pick your team name for you, the team captain."

Encourage eachother to talk about what you are thinking AND why you are thinking that  as you read in addition to the plot of the story!

 Gobble gobble!

Thursday

On Thursday, we will layout our feature articles. Students will get a mini lesson on graphic design. Parents, adults, and other 4th grade family members are more than welcome to come and help students revise and edit. We will be working from 9:20-11:15 & 11:45-12:45, 1:40-2:30.

Thanks,
Mr. Rabinowitz

A Message from the Health Office

Just a few reminders regarding student health.
Please do not send ill children to school.
Not only do they risk the chance of catching
other germs but they can spread their illness
to others.

Use these guidelines to determine if your
child should stay home:

• Persistent and uncontrollable cough

• Fever of 100.0 degrees or higher

• Persistent headache

• Vomiting and/or diarrhea, ongoing stomach pain

• Sore throat lasting more than 3 days

• Unexplained rashes

• Any of the above with general fatigue or sleepiness

Please take your child to their health care
provider if they have any of the following:

• Ongoing respiratory issues persistent cough, chest tightness or pain

• Unexplained fever of over 100.5 degrees

• Sore throat lasting more than 3 days

• Red, itchy or burning eyes with or without discharge

Please contact the nurses’ office with any questions. (720)424-3164

Meta-Responses and other infomation

On the back of each week's reading log, there is a Meta-Response prompt. The meta-response lets students write about what they are thinking as they read. The top response(s) of this week are copied below:


When I was reading: "Nancy Drew and the Ivory Charm I felt scared for the Indian boy when we was trapped in ropes." I thought about "what will happen to Nancy. Will she find out who knocked out Mr. Batt or will someone get captured or go to the police station and get arrested."

When I was reading: "The Ghost of Fossil Glen" I thought about "when Allie was stuck on top of Fossil Cliff, I made a text to self connection. When I was 8, I went rock climbing. When I reached the top of the rock wall, I was too scared to come down, and just hung there for a few minutes. When I finally got down, I promised myself never to go rock climbing again. But my promise didn't stick."

Encourage eachother to talk about what you are thinking about as you read in addition to the plot of the story!

In read aloud we continue to carve out time to for our book, The Watsons go to Birmingham. Ask your child about the auction. Its seemed like a big hit. We will have another before 2012 ends. In addition, we plan to wrap up our feature articles by November 20th. Be on the look out for rubrics, requirements and deadline information this next week. Book Club will start up again this Wednesday!


Keep it up!
Mr. Rabinowitz

PS no school on Monday

Bugs

10/29/2012


Dear Parents,

There were several cases of head lice reported at Westerly Creek in the past few weeks. We want to make sure you are aware of what to look for and how to deal with the issue, should you detect head lice in your child’s hair.

Head lice infestation is diagnosed by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs, or adult lice. Nits are the easiest to spot. They are found ‘glued’ to the hair shaft. Unlike dandruff or hairspray, they will not slide along a strand of hair. If you find nits more than ¼ inch from the scalp, the infection is probably an old.

If you are not sure if a person has lice, the diagnosis should be made by your doctor, the local health department, or a health care provider.

Facts

• Head lice are parasitic insects that live in the hair and scalp of humans. They need human blood to survive.

• Head lice spread from person to person through direct head to head contact.

• Personal hygiene is not a factor in the transmission of lice.

• Head lice are treatable with lice-killing shampoos.

• To prevent the spread 1) avoid direct contact with the head, hair, clothing, and personal belongings of a person with head lice, and 2) Encourage proper treatment of the affected person(s) and their household.

• Teach children not to share combs, brushes, scarves, hair ribbons, helmets, headphones, hats, towels, bedding, clothing, or other personal items.

Thank you,

Monica Johnston, DPS School Nurse

Colleen Brown, Health Para
DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS WESTERLY CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

8800 East Twenty-Eight Avenue Denver, CO 80238

This week in Literacy

This week in literacy we will continue to focus on informational text. Last week we looked at cause and effect . This week we will investigate text that compares and contrasts.  Vin diagrams are often used as a graphic organizers for this type of text.  We will also practice recognizing signal words that are commonly used to express comparisons or contrasts.  This pdf. is a good example.  In writing, we will begin drafting out our feature articles. This last week, students work endlessly to put their thoughts into outlines. We hope to have our final copies finished before Thanksgiving.

In read aloud we continue to carve out time to for our book, The Watsons go to Birmingham.

Here is a link to a blog created by one our 4th grader, Kindal. Check it out!

Don't forget to vote and set you clocks back one hour.

Enjoy,
Mr.Rabinowitz

This Week's Reading Responses

On the back of each week's reading log, there is a Meta-Response prompt. The meta-response lets students write about what they are thinking as they read. The top response(s) of this week are copied below:


When I was reading: "TheTiger Rising it reminded me of the show SpongeBob Square Pants." I.thought about "how Spongbob would say "Well, that's a way to put some hair on your chest," and [in the book] the beauchamp had a necklace in his chest hair."


When I was reading: "Smile", I thought about "how she is going to highschool and she is really scared about it and sometimes I think about how scared I will be in highschool."


Encourage eachother to talk about what you are thinking about as you read in addition to the plot of the story!
Keep it up!
Mr. Rabinowitz