Ms. Kreul’s Class Blog

Visit Jon Scieszka’s amazing site Guys Read, a web-based literacy program for boys. The goal of the site is to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers.

ReadWriteThink Printing Press - Cool online tool for creating newspapers, brochures, flyers, and booklets at home

Math Activities – A variety of activities for each grade that match the units in the WFB math series

Each week fourth graders work on fluency, expression, pace, and interpretation as they read poems from their Poetry Folders.

The class will be learning how to do Literature Circles in 4KR next week using a variety of Junie B. Jones books. Students will write comments similar to reading log entries and discuss their thoughts with a small group of classmates in the circles. Book reviews too!

Time for Kids – or TFK – is the news magazine we read each week to find out what is happening in the US and around the world.

Visit the student site for TFK for learn more about this week’s issue and lots more…

TFK for Students

A Group Book Review by 4K on Sept. 18, 2009

Do you have a pesky little brother or sister? If you do, you’ll love Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.

Peter Hatcher is a 9 year old boy with an annoying 3 year old brother named Fudge. One day the boys went to the dentist because Fudge tried to fly like a bird from the monkey bars at the park. He knocked out his two front teeth. At the dentist Fudge refused to open his mouth. The dentist and Mrs. Hatcher made Peter open his mouth so Fudge would too. Fudge always wants to copy Peter and be just like him.

If you like funny books, you’ll like the part when Fudge gets to be in a commercial for Toddle-Bikes. Do you have a little brother or sister? You’ll really understand the book because you know what little brothers and sisters are like! If you’re a fourth grade teacher, you will want to read this book to your students because it’s about a fourth grader. Is realistic fiction one of your favorite genres? You’ll love this book, too!

You’ll like this book if you have siblings, students, or just love a funny story. Run, don’t walk, to your library or bookstore and pick up a copy of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. It’s a comedy that any kid with a little brother or sister can relate to!

Teachers will soon be assessing student reading skills using “3-Minutes Reading Assessments.”

Students read a passage aloud while I observe their word recognition, fluency, expression, phrasing, and pace. Then students are asked to retell what they read in the passage to check for comprehension skills.

The results of this informal assessment, along with individual conferences using books students are reading for SSR time, will be used to plan lessons and projects for the whole class, small groups, and individuals.

4K has started using Time for Kids (TFK) as part of the reading curriculum. TFK is wonderful for learning about current events, reading about interesting people, learning how to read nonfiction texts, discovering how fiction texts differ from fiction texts, working on reading fluency with partner reading, and practicing comprehension skills.

4K brainstormed a list of what makes books easy, challenging, and just right for fourth grade readers. They will use their ideas to make sure they are reading just right books for most of the time this year.

Easy books:

Understand everything
Not enough words on a page
Too much white space
Text size too big
Takes a short time to read
It’s way too short
All the words are easy
Don’t need fix-up strategies
Read fluently
Too predictable
Doesn’t keep your interest
Can’t make predictions
Have lots of schema

Challenging books:

Don’t understand a lot
Too many words on a page
Too little white space
Font is too small
Lots of hard words
Too long
Can’t make predictions
Don’t have much schema
Takes too much time to read
Doesn’t keep your interest
Can’t read fluently
Use too many fix-up strategies
Read later in the year or next year

Just right books:

Understand most of what’s going on
Enough words on a page
Text size is just right
White space is just right
Takes an average time to read
There are a few hard words
Use fix-up strategies a few times
Read fluently
Can make predictions
Have lots of schema
Keeps your interest
Want to read more in the series
Want to read more by the author
Enjoy reading

ReadWriteThink has organized a wonderful collection of summer reading and writing projects for students in Grades K-12 called Learning Beyond the Classroom.

Check out the Grades 3-5 section and write sports poetry, create online trading cards, making board games, and lots more.

Leave a comment to recommend a cool activity that you tried out!

4K has celebrated spring by participating in several baseball activities during April. They read the wonderful anthology selection Lou Gehring: The Luckiest Man, the biography of the well-loved NY Yankee baseball player.

Students went to the computer lab to go on a virtual field trip to the Baseball Hall of Fame to research famous Hall of Famers. Many students were able to view videos and photos of the players, along with other primary source documents available on the site.

Have you ever seen the comedy duo of Abbott and Costello perform their famous routine called “Whos’ on First?” Fourth graders practiced their fluency – and comedy skills – as they read the script of this hilarious baseball routine with partners.

4K’s current read-aloud book is titled In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, written by Bette Bao Lord. It’s a story set in the 1940s about a girl named Shirley Temple Wong who moves from China to America. Shirley doesn’t speak English and has trouble making friends in her new school until she discovers that she loves to play stickball. She also finds a hero in Brooklyn Dodger baseball superstar Jackie Robinson. Ask your fourth grader to share this wonderful story with you.

We also shared several read-aloud books about baseball, including Mama Played Baseball by David Adler, a story about the All-American Girls” Professional Baseball League, The Babe and I, a tale of a Depression Era boy and his father and Babe Ruth, and Teammates, which tells about the friendship between Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese during a challenging time in American baseball history.

These activities have combined reading, listening, social studies, math, research, and technology skills – and baseball! Not a bad way to spend a few days in the spring!

Davy Crocket
By Xavier

Would you like to read a outstanding book that even might leave you puzzled for a while?Then you should read Davy Crocket by George Sullivan.

This book is about Davy Crocket’s adventures around the world, life, and very important events in his life and friends and family’s life like the creek war.Davy’s personality in my point of view is brave and respectful because instead of staying at his nice cool cabin he went to fight for Texas’ independence and when Andrew Jackson tried to sabotage Davy’s campaign Davy still respected Andrew Jackson.

Davy Crocket is perfect for a report or even a class biography.Davy Crocket is fantastic when you just want to learn about great historical events like the siege of the Alamo.Or it’s also a great eye popping, Heart stopping, action packed, and book of fun!

Once again,if you would like to read a outstanding book get Davy Crocket at your library or book store.

Betsy Ross
By Vlada

Making over 100 American Flags for the army? Unbelievable! This truly amazing book I read is called Betsy Ross. It is by Peter and Connie Roop. Many of the pictures were from the Bostonian Society, and the Library of Congress.

In this biography, Betsy is a clever, nice and hardworking Quaker. She never gives up in all of her important tasks, such as running an Upholstery Shop by herself. Betsy gets married to a wonderful man named John Ross. Even though it was against her family’s rights, she believed it was the right thing to do. John Ross is a caring and hardworking husband. But he died after a gunpowder explosion, and was caught in it! Betsy was married two more times, but those husbands also died.

One of the reasons you should read this book is because of all the amazing accomplishments Betsy did. For example, she made over 100 flags for the army, or se cared for 7 children. Another reason you should read this book is some parts of her Betsy’s life were happy, like when her flag was chosen by Congress. The last reason is that other parts of her life were sad, like when all of her husbands died at different times in her life.

I would recommend this book to someone at least 8 years old because I sometimes felt like crying when someone in her family died. A lot of us think she did make the American flag, some don’t think so. Others believe she just worked in an Upholstery Shop. Who knows? You choose if she did or she didn’t!

Betsy Ross
By EH

If you want a good biography then check out Betsy Ross.  The authors are Peter Roop and Connie Roop, the title is Betsy Ross. The series is In Their Own Word.

Betsy Ross was born on January 1, 1752 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The most exciting part of her life was when she won the contest to see who would sew the American Flag.  She could only sew the Flag in the orders of George Washington. He only wanted 13 red and white strips and white stars with a blue background.  Her later years were rough.  Her child and her husband died in the same year.  The really sad thing is she died as a widow.  Remember, she was the first woman to sew the first American Flag. She helped make our Country what it is today!

Here are tree awesome reasons why you should read Betsy Ross. You would learn about Betsy Ross’s life and death and how she got inspired to sew the American Flag.  Also, this book will tell you about her three husbands, how she learned to sew, and many cooler things about her life.  Finally this book tells how she made out Country what it is today and how well and quickly she learned to sew.

I recommend this book to ages 9 and up.  Remember if you want a good book than check out Betsy Ross.  The series is In Their Own Word, authors Peter Roop and Connie Roop.

Lewis and Clark
By Jacob

Do you want to read an exiting biography book about two famous people? Then read Lewis and Clark by George Sullivan. There is no illustrator because the book is a primary source, it has real pictures.

There are lots of characters in this book. They include Lewis and Clark (Two explorers that led the expedition), Sacagawea (a woman who helped Lewis and Clark on the journey), The Indians, and much more. The book takes place at the Missouri River.

You should read this book because it has lots of history packed into it. Like when Lewis and Clack bounded with the Indians. Also, this book has lots of cool pictures. Last but not least, Lewis and Clark (name of book) has lots of words and things you could learn in the book.

This is sure an awesome biography book! If you like adventure, history, and fun facts; get Lewis and Clark by George Sullivan at your local library or bookstore.

Betsy Ross
By AlisonH

Are you looking for a fun to read full of information book?  Then try Betsy Ross by Peter and Connie Roop in the series In their own words.

Have you heard a primary source?  Well, if you haven’t they are real, in your words.  And a secondary source is what people think or what s/he did.  Well, did you know that this book is a secondary source, with primary sources in it.  A primary source of Betsy Ross is that she has accomplished so much in her life like creating the American flag.

Here are 3 reasons why you should read the book.  You should read the book because it is exciting in a lot of parts like when Betsy gets married.  Also, because it is really fun to read if it is exciting to you it is definitely going to be fun to read.  And, it is sad in some parts but then it gets happy again like when Betsy’s first husband dies she finds another husband.

I recommend this book to any one who wants to learn about Betsy Ross.  Again, if you are looking for a fun to read full of information book read Betsy Ross!  If you want to read this book ask your teacher or check your school or local library!

The Wright Brothers
By Annie

Have you ever been on an airplane? Did you ever wonder who made it and how it was made? Read this nonfiction book and amazing book. The Wight brothers from the series (In Their Own Words). By George Sullivan who wrote most of the books in the series. This book has photographs of the Wright brothers, their airplane, and much more! Go steep by steep making the airplane like you were helping them.

The Wright brothers Wilbur and Orville were not the only kids in the family. There were five kids in the family, four boys and one girl. Their names were Wilbur, Orville, Lorin, Reuchlin, and Katharine. Wilbur was four years older than Orville. Otto Lilienthal inspired them, he made gliders.

Learn about history, see real photographs, and be amazed by who made the first airplane. Did you know that the Wrights owned a bicycle shop? Or that Orville crashed nine times? Or… well I can’t tell everything, read this great book to find out.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to lean about the Wrights. The Wrights made that airplane for you; the least you can do is learn about them. This book will answer all your questions about the brothers.  Are you ready to takeoff in a great book? I hope you are!

Lewis and Clark
By Lizzie

If you love the adventures of Lewis and Clark then you might like Lewis and Clark In there own words. If you don’t then I wouldn’t even take a peek at the rest of the book review. Lewis and Clark was written by George Sullivan . the title is Lewis and Clark. There is no illustrator because they used primary sources.

If Thomas Jefferson didn’t let them go on this trip then the adventure of Lewis and Clark meeting the Native Americans would never be invented! At this point they wouldn’t be recognized all around America! This story takes place all around America! From Virginia to the rocky mountains! Clark is more active than Lewis and he is four years older and he complains about rain. Lewis on the other hand is a very artistic person and he like to draw and write in his journal.

One reason you should read this book is when they got to see the pacific ocean! It isn’t much of a sight now then it was back then. Another reason you should read this book is when they saw the great falls! Wouldn’t it be cool if you were one of them and you got to see it! It would be amazing! The last reason is when Lewis got shot. Who would want to kill a generous man like Lewis?

I recommend Lewis and Cark to all ages ( unless you don’t like the adventures of Lewis and Clark). Lewis and Clark set out on the adventure for victory and because Thomas Jefferson wanted them to. So if you like the adventures of Lewis and  Clark then I know you would like this book!!!

The Wright Brothers
By Deana

What was it like building the first plane to fly on its own power? The Wright Brothers was written by George Sullivan and primary sources from The Wright Brothers diary.

The Wright Brothers got their inspiration from Otto Lilienthal, who died in the year of 1891. The Wright Brothers had two major flying sites Kitty Hawk and Huffman Prairie. The first site was Kitty Hawk; they made a lot of progress there with the help of some friends and family. The Wright family had five children, four boys, and one girl. Their names were Wilbur, Orville, Lorin, Reuchlin, and Katharine the only girl. Their parents names were Susan Wright their mother, and Bishop Milton Wright their father.

A couple of reasons why I like this book is because the brothers did not spend day and night working on the plane. They had a few other hobbies like, they made a neighborhood newspaper, and they owned a bicycle shop together. That helps out a lot with putting the pieces together. Another is they didn’t work alone on those projects; they had help from other neighbors, family and friends. They had people that were just being nice.

The Wright Brothers is one book from the series “In Their Own Words.” They have other books like Lewis and Clark, Helen Killer, Davy Crockett, Betsy Ross, and Pocahontas. I would recommend this book to third, fourth, and fifth graders. Building the plane must have been an awesome adventure for them.