Reading and Writing in Term 3

In READING this term, students are focusing on making inferences. Making inferences is a comprehension strategy where readers use clues from the book along with their own background experience to make conclusions and read between the lines. The ability to go beyond the literal meaning of a book enables readers to gain a deeper understanding and grasp the meaning of what is implied by the author.

After listening to your child read or reading together ask the following questions below and discuss ideas.

– What is the most important event in the story?
– Why do they think it is important?
– What do you think the author is trying to tell you in this story?
– Why do you think it is important?

In WRITING this term, students are focusing on reading and interpreting poetry. Students will be focusing on the poet’s use of words to enhance the meaning; in particular we will be looking at the poetry terms:

Alliteration: When several words begin with the same sound are next to each other or close together Example: sly, sleek, slips.Onomatopoeia- When a word sounds like the noise or sound that is stands for Example: buzz, sizzle.

Simile: Comparing one thing to another using the word ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Example:

Lines of cars inch along in the fog
Rising and dipping with the humps of the road
Like a mechanical caterpillar

(from “Fog” by Nancy R Wadhams)

During the next few weeks we will be experimenting with these literacy techniques in our writing.

Current Events

Find out what Current Events are happening this week from IST Grade 2…

What is a Current Event? A Current Event is something that is happening somewhere in the world NOW! Current Events are news stories that include a title, author, and date of publication. Grade 2 students are doing more than just looking up information, they are asking, “What is happening in our world TODAY?”

Each week two students choose an article to present from newspapers, magazines and Internet sites. Students read the article and then use our Current Events Note Taking Form to answer questions like Who, What, When, Where and Why. Students include their opinion about the article and then present their information to the rest of the class.

This week Aryan shared with us an article titled Costa Passengers Describe Panic As Cruise Ship Crashed Into Pier from USAToday online.

Aryan stated that, “On the 7th of May in Egypt, a cruise ship crashed into a pier. There were holes on one side of the ship so the captain turned the ship so it would not sink.”

Aryan continued by stating, “I think this article is important because three people died and three other people got hurt.” He also shared with the class, “I wouldn’t want to go on a cruise ship because it might crash.”

__________

Faris shared with the class an article titled, Earth-Friendly Fabrics from Science News For Kids online.

Faris told the class, “This article is about companies that make fabric out of bamboo and corn. People began to understand the need to protect the environment. They started new ways of making fabric using natural products that are easily replaced.”

Faris shared the following facts, “Bamboo fabric is made in the USA, Canada, China, India, Taiwan and Turkey. Corn fabric is made in the USA and China.” Faris continued by saying, “I think this article is important because we need to save our planet Earth and to keep the environment clean and healthy.” He concluded his presentation by saying, “I was surprised to learn that fabric is made this way and I think this is good for the environment.”

Faris used the following slide presentation to share information about his article.

__________

Thank you Aryan and Faris for presenting your articles to the class. Both students answered questions and accepted constructive feedback from their audience at the conclusion of their presentation.

Reader’s Chair

Each Wednesday one student has the opportunity to share a book of his/her choice with the class. This week, Noah had the opportunity to share one of his favorite books.

Students are given one week to choose a “just right book” to share. Students are expected to practice reading their book aloud to family and friends at home. Students present the book to their class, reading the book aloud, engaging the audience by making eye contact, showing illustrations and asking questions to check for their understanding.

Noah has been working hard this year to become a fluent reader. Noah chose this book for many reasons. He said he likes the many different stories but he also likes the fantastic illustrations in this book. While reading aloud, Noah made sure to involve his audience by showing the pictures on each page and stopping to ask questions. He was well prepared for his reading. He obviously practiced reading at home with his parents and he made lots of notes for himself to remember what to ask and where to stop in the book while reading.

This Week’s IST Grade 2 Reading Recommendation:

When the World Began: Stories Collected in Ethiopia (Oxford Myths & Legends)
Written by Elizabeth Laird
Illustrated by Joseph Kebede and Lydia Monks
Publisher: Oxford University Press; New Ed edition (5 April 2001)
Language: English
Recommended Age: 3-5

This work contains stories about animals and hunters, wise stories, funny stories, stories about cunning and trickery, and love and goodness. These stories are written down here for the first time ever. The author has travelled around Ethiopia collecting stories from this incredibly diverse country. There are stories like those of Aesop, the Bible and Grimm. They are retold by a prize-winning children’s author who loves the country. Elizabeth Laird has won the Reader’s Choice award for the Smarties, the children’s Book award and has been shortlisted for the Carnegie. She has previously published with Egmont, Macmillan, Collins and Hodder. She has spent two years travelling to gather these stories. – from amazon.com