C. Duncan's Notes

Welcome To My World!

In my world, reading lots of books rule!

Thoughts On Learning From What You Read

    Did you know that 'learning logs' and 'reflective journals' are great ways to learn (and remember) the information in books?  Not just math, science, social studies...but books read for pleasure.  What are learning logs and reflective journals, you ask?  Learning logs are short entries that can have problem solving entries, neat observations about science experiments, questions about what you've been reading.  The entries are usually brief, factual and impersonal.

 

    Journals are usually written in narrative form.  They deal more with feelings, opinions, or personal experiences.  Journal entries are usually more descriptive, longer, openended, and have a more free flowing style.  Journals are used to respond to pieces of literature, describe events, comment on reactions to events, reflect on personal experiences and feelings.  They can even be used to connect what is being studied in one class with another class or with life outside the classroom.

    Try it!  Get a journal from the bookstore, or use a spiral notebook...it doesn't matter...just try it.  Your brain will love it, and will make you AND your teachers very happy.

My World of Books: Informational Edition

Informational Text is a great way to help your brain make new 'grooves'...In other words, you learn!  Here are three books that will make really DEEP grooves...

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, by Joyce Sidman

You will love these poems and facutal information about meadow flora and fauna.  Do you know what 'flora and fauna' are?  Let the context clues help you out.

What's Inside Trees?, by Jane Kelly Kosek

From the tips of their leaves to their thick roots, trees are fascinating networks of life.  You will read about these oxygen-producing pillars, what goes on inside them, and why trees have rings.  The knowlede gained from this beautiful book will inspire you to save more trees!

             When Things Go Wrong, by John Porell

What's the real deal?  A baseball fan can cost his team a trip to the World Series.  A building can sink into the ground and lean sideways for centuries.  You will have to read this little book to find out what happens when silly and serious things go wrong. 

Here are some great books from 'My World Of Books'...

The Night I Followed The Dog 

Do you have a dog at home?  Do you know what he's doing when you aren't looking?  Read this book and have fun wondering what in the world your dog is doing 'under the table'...

Grandma's Records

Every summer, Eric goes to live with his grandmother in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem) while his parents work.  Grandma loved music!  Read and enjoy a magical musical journey with Eric!

I have some more suggestions...scoot on down the closest library..

AVisitor for Bear      by Bonny Becker

Bear is quite sure he doesn't like visitors.  He even has a sign.  So when a mouse taps on his door one day, Bear tells him to leave.  BUT when bear opens the cupboard, the fridge...oh my!  The mouse!  Read this book!

Beware of the Bears   by Alan MacDonald

Everyone knows the story of the three bears.  Goldilocks breaks into their cottage and ruins stuff. Well, the BEARS decide to visit Goldilock's house.  You won't believe it!

 

 

I hope you like bears!  I have one more book for you to peruse (to read or examine attentively and in detail).

Somebody and the Three Blairs  by Barilyn Tolhurst

What do you think is lurking in this book?  Or will it be "who" is lurking?

Are you ready for more suggestions?  Try these books on for size...

Talking Walls by Margy Burns knight

Do walls talk?  If they did, what would they tell us?  Who built them?  Why?  Can you imagine a world without walls?

Talking Walls introduces young readers to different cultures by exploring walls around the world, showing the impact of walls on the people who build and are divided or unified by these partitions.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy."  So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.  Read and enjoy.

 

   It's April, the weather is getting warmer, and I'm going to share a book about  Christmas!  It really doesn't matter...books are wonderful any time of year.

                                    Night Tree  by Eve Bunting

This author tells a great story about sharing at Christmas. Before you read the book, try these 'pre-reading' activities:

• Find pictures of coniferous and deciduous trees.  Check out books on trees and pinecones.
• Research the history of Christmas trees.  One way to do this is to use www.google.com and use the words "Christmas tree history" in the search engine.

Some good 'During and After' reading activities:

• Discuss the family and their traditions and compare them to your own family and your family's Christmas traditions.

• Make a bird feeder and record what kinds of birds come to eat and at what time of day.

Why don't you make a 'text to text' connection using Night Tree and The Giving Tree?

Record your thoughts in your 'reading journal'...Enjoy!

 Monday's Troll, by Jack Prelustsky

This is a collection of seventeen poems about such unsavory characters as witches, ogres, qizards, trolls, giants, a yeti, and seven grubby goblins.  Oh my...keep the lights on!  Read this book with a friend!  yikes!!

Evaluating What You Read...

Can you defend your opinions about the books you read?

Here are some words to consider when you are making judgments about the information, validity of ideas, or the quality of your book...By the way...If you don't know what the words mean, LOOK THEM UP!!!

• choose
• compare
• decide
• criteria
• disprove     
• defend          
• justify
• prove
• conclude

Try these questions to help you 'make a judgment'...

• How could you determine...?
• What judgment would you make about...?
• Why would it be better that...?
• Can you assess the value or importance of...?
• What information would you use to support the view...?

Remembering what you read...

You can remember previously read text by recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.

Here are some key words to 'write on your brain'...omit, match, show, what where, which, relate, who, list, why.

Try these questions to help 'seed' your brain...

• How would you expain...?

• Who were the main...?

• Can you select...?

• Which one...?

• How would you explain...?

• Can you list the three...?

• How would you show...?

Try it!!  You may like it!!  Remembering what you read rocks!!

 

 

Words To Live By When Reading...

Did you know there are words that will help you enjoy reading?  Here are a few... 

       'create'--Create a picture in your mind as you read.

      

       'imagine'--Imagine what would happen if the characters were different!

                    

      'propose'--Propose an alternate ending...enjoy the experience!

      

       'modify'--Modify the problem or several of the events.              

 

 

 

By The Way...

    Did you know that writing a 'note' about what you liked about a book helps you remember what you read?  It really does!  Try it...get a little notepad or binder, a cool pencil, and start. 

    Write down the title of the book, author, and illustrator.  Write just a little bit about what you liked, didn't like, or what you noticed about the way the author used words. 

• Did you enjoy the characters? 
• Could you tell where the story took place? 
• Could you 'guess' what was going to happen next? 

Start writing! NOW!

                                                  

Are You Reading Every Night?

Don't forget to pick up a good book and and a fuzzy reading buddy and read! Books open doors and make sunshine! READ!