Inferring

    Hmmm...., How do I infer?

Inferring is a skill that almost everyone does when they read naturally, without even thinking about it.  Inferring is when you "see what is not being said", or you "read between the lines".  Inferring is like a mystery.  You must rely on evidence (clues in the text) and schema (what you already know).  Practicing inferring can be as simple as solving riddles, playing charades, or playing guessing games like "I Spy".  when we make judgments, draw conclusions, or think about cause and effect, we are inferring.  We have worked on inferring since the first week of school by making judgements about characters in a story.  One way to ask yourself our your child an inference question is to ask the following:

• Describe the character in one word (kind, mean, generous, jealous...etc.).    What text clues support your description?
• Why did the character do that?
• Why did the author chose that to happen in the plot?
• What do you think will happen next?  Why?
• If you were to write a sequel to the story, what would happen?  Does your plot make sense based on what you know about the characters and their actions?

Of course, charades might be more fun!

Have fun practicing inferring this week!

Week of March 26, 2012

Welcome back students!!! I hope everyone had a great Spring Break!


The homework for this week is a reading comprehension packet, given to the students today.  It is due Friday March 30, 2012.

We have an Early Release on Wednesday, 3/28/12.

There is no school for students on Thursday, 4/5/12 and Friday 4/6/12.

FCAT begins on Monday, April 16, 2012.  WE ARE READY!  The students have worked very hard and we are now reviewing two of the more difficult and important skills in reading, inferring and predicting.  We will cover two more stories reviewing these target skills.  We will also cover the benchmark on prefixes and suffixes over the next three weeks.  By the first day of FCAT we will have covered every tested benchmark.  We will stay on our normal schedule and maintain our normal instructional focus.  I feel excessive "cramming" before the test only adds stress and nervousness to the students.

I am very confident that the students will do GREAT!  They have worked so hard this school year and I am amazed at the progress being made by all of the students.  I am very proud of all of my students.  I also want to THANK YOU, the parents, for your support and assistance.  This has truly been a team effort, and we are almost to the goal!

Week of March 12, 2012

Don't forget the zoo field trip on Thursday, March 15, 2012.  Please send a sack lunch for your child.  They will be eating in the classrooms when we return to the building at 1:00 PM.

If you are chaperoning please be at the building in time to get a visitor's badge from the main office before reporting to the classroom (between 8:45-9:15).

There is no homework packet this week and no spelling until after FCAT.

Take home packets will be sent home on Tuesday, 3/13/12.  Please review and return on Wednesday 3/14/12.

Spring break is next week, 3/19-3/23.

The next early release day is Wednesday, 3/28/12

The third nine weeks ends on Monday 4/2/12.  There will be a teacher's planning day on Thursday 4/5/12 and no school on Friday 4/6/12.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK

Week of March 5, 2012

Just a reminder: Spelling has been cancelled until after FCAT.  There will be no Spelling Packets for the rest of the quarter.  Be on the lookout, however, for Skill Packets as the weekly homework sent home on Monday and due on Friday.  This week students will be reviewing Benchmark 3.1.6.3: Context Clues.

We have an Early Release Day on Wednesday 3/7/12

Scholastic Orders are due 3/9/12

Chaperone money for the field trip ($11.00) is due Friday 3/9/12

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!