Teacher Mark’s Reading Room

SInce we need to do some assessment of the students’ reading comprehension every few weeks, we decided that this week would be a good time to give P4 their first ELO (expected learning outcome) exam of the term in Reading. I spent this morning writing a 20-point test covering the first four chapters of Charlotte’s Web; the homeroom teachers were to let the kids know today as the test will be tomorrow. I didn’t make it very difficult as it mostly repeats the questions from the first three chapter comprehension worksheets with a few added in for chapter four.

I’m already tired and we still have 18 weeks to go in Term 1!

The P3 students are a very energetic lot, to say the least. They are enjoying the Reading lessons and eagerly thrust worksheets my way whenever I enter the classroom. Completing the comprehension exercises properly are the key to receiving a new Oxford Reading Tree book.

We also started taking students to the Reading Room this week in small groups (five to seven kids). That’s really worked out well as I’ve already moved a few kids down a stage or two as they were really struggling. And a few children have advanced a level as well. Except for a bit of minor misbehavior on Tuesday, the students have been extremely well-mannered while in the Reading Room. Starting next week, there will be multiple groups of kids using the room at the same time as we are sharing with with P1 through M2 — both Reading and ESL. I think that we will still be able to maintain control, however.

Thursday once again proved to be my favorite day of the week as I was upstairs teaching P4 Reading. Other than a few students in one class who had forgotten their copies of Charlotte’s Web, the lessons went fairly smooth. I again had to teach P4 Green in a shortened class period as they had to have their photographs taken for school identification cards. I hope to make it up to them next week.

All three classes focussed on Chapter One of the book. I think they initially were surprised that P4 Reading is more about comprehension than anything else but they soon got into the spirit of the discussion. I’m sure any one of them can tell their parents, brothers, and sisters every little detail of what happened in Chapter One as well as why. Their homework (apart from reading the next two chapters) is to draw a picture of one scene from the first chapter. We’ll do this every week so at the end of the term they will have an illustrated version of the story to go along with their comprehension worksheets (which we finished in class this week).

As I mentioned, school ID photos were taken yesterday. This afternoon, the children will register for their Friday Clubs (I made some visual aids with which to decorate my booth). And we’ll have Parent-Teacher meetings next week for P3. The school year has only just begun and I feel like it’s already been a month!

Have a great weekend…

During Term 1 this year, we will be reading Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I’m really looking forward to this because I’ve never read the book (well, I’ve read Chapter One to prepare for this week’s lessons!), nor have I seen the most recent movie. I have a lot of fun activities planned that will help us understand (and enjoy) the story even more. Unfortunately, I will only be meeting with the three P4 classes once a week (on Thursdays) so your homeroom teachers will give you additional reading homework throughout each week. I will always be available to help you in the Reading Room if you want extra reading time or just want to chat! My schedule is posted on the bulletin board.