The Rewards Star Readers

Hi! We're learning about reading using the Rewards Reading Program. To tackle words, we break them down into syllables.  One strategy we use is to look for prefixes and suffixes. So far, we've studied 18 prefixes and 35 suffixes. We also look for vowels and vowel combinations. An example would be when there's an "e" at the end of a syllable, the "e" might be silent and the vowel before it might be long. We would mark the long vowel with a macron. We also learned we can try two ways to sound out a vowel. First we try the sound, then we try the name.

Here are a few more interesting things we learned:

• A "g" can sound like  /j/ when it's followed by e, i, or y-- like gymnasium
• A "c" can sound like  /s/ and  /k/- like cycle or cat
• Words can have more than one prefix or suffix-- unintentional has the prefixes un and in, the suffixes tion and al

Check us out later! 

Dawud, Jakwana, Jamal, Marquise, Najmah, Nayir, Siani, Tyreese, Vickie, Zaire

Wilson Rocks!

Wilson is a special reading program and it helps us to read better. We tap out the sounds in the words. That's called decoding and encoding. Our group has been working on this for over a year. When we first started using Wilson, we didn't know how to sound the words out, but now we can sound out multi-syllabic words. Did you know that every syllable in the English language has to have a vowel? That's why we look for the vowels first. Then we look to see if there are consonants or digraphs or blends in between the vowels. That helps us to find the syllables. Here are some of the rules we learned:

• If the word only has one consonant between the vowels, close in the first syllable.
• Divide between two consonants.
• Keep digraphs together.
• Watch for digraphs, blends, and welded sounds; divide between them.

If you don't understand, ask us! We are: Neique, Tavon, Leslie, Taz, and Terry.

WELCOME BACK!

Hey there! Welcome back! I know I'm a little late in posting- it's October already. WOW! Where has the time gone!

We're already well into our instructional program. There are Rewards Readers and Rewards Writers, Wilson Tappers, and Everyday Math thinkers. Did I forget anyone? So let me hear what you're thinking about the school year so far. Are you enjoying what we're doing?

YOW WOW! It's HOT!

Boy oh boy is it hot! Today is going to feel like 115 degrees. Anyone out there reading these posts? I know Brianna is-- she just sent me new comments on older posts. She's the reason I'm putting up a new post today. I've been kind of busy with summer things- that means fixing things at home like painting and plastering and caulking all around my house. Did you know I was handy like that? What?

Other than that, my sister Zoe came in from San Francisco for a week. It was really good to see her! I don't get to see her that often but I do talk to her a lot. My daughter, Lara, also came home for a visit. She lives in Pittsburgh (if you didn't know that) and is finishing college.

So tell me, what have you been doing?

Here's Zoe and I.
My mom and Lara in the back.

We went to Hershey Park one day!
Boy are those roller coasters wild!

What did you learn?

So you're back from your trip through Historic Philadelphia. Blake said his group didn't get to go to the mint, which is a shame since that is the topic of his research project. Did you get to go to all of the places? What did you learn? What did you like best? Tell me!!!! : )

Take a Walk Through Philadelphia's History

Hi guys! So you're going to take a waking tour of Philly! How cool is that! I made a new folder with links on my portaportal if you'd like to learn about the sites you're going to visit. My one group will be making a podcast and taking notes on the trip, so they DEFINITELY need to check out these links! Go to my portaportal, and check out the folder "Philadelphia History" then let me know what you think! (Click here)

FOR ALIZEA (Look! I remembered!)

So last Friday, a very excited Alizea came up to me before the bell rang to start the school day. Do you know what she asked me? She asked me if I have ever been so excited about a trip that I couldn't get to sleep! The answer is YES!!! Once I was going to visit my sister in San Francisco and I was taking my daughter to visit her for the very first time. Lara was only 5 months old. I was excited and nervous about the trip. I hardly slept! Boy was I tired the next day.

So have YOU ever been so excited about a trip that you couldn't get to sleep? If so, tell me about it!