Main Idea

A main idea of a paragraph is what the paragraph is mostly or mainly about. When you read the paragraph everything in it should tie in to one topic.
Multiple choice questions
I have tough the 5th graders to read each answer choice and then go back to the paragraph and underline everything dealing with that answer choice. Erase and do the same for each answer choice. Does this take a lot of time? Yes, but it is worth getting the right answer! There are other ways and some student can just read it and know the answer.
Fill in the blank questions or labeling
Ask yourself what is the topic(who or what is it about)
then ask yourself the _______ has what?
_______ is what
_______ does what?

Then you have your main idea:)
For label paragraphs you do not need a complete sentence, just a phrase or group of words.

Please feel free to email me your questions:) bushcrabtree@yahoo.com or on the comment section.
Please leave your name with your comment please!

I Believe

Welcome to our Reading Class blog!!!! Our year is almost half over. That means it is time to get very serious. We must think about what we want to get out of our 5th grade year. Do you want to pass the TAKS? Do you want to pass 5th grade? I know each and every students wants to be successful but it is going to take some work! First we are all going to have to Believe!!! I believe that each of my students CAN pass this school year and TAKS. The problem so far in this area is getting everyone to use their strategies. I believe that we can get 100% on the TAKS this year:) What do you believe?

Preparing for TAKS

I know I said the bad word TAKS!!!!! Well unfortunately it is in our near future and we have to start preparing now. Please make sure you are proofing your answers. Remember that proofing your answers is only to help you get the right answer. I want everyone to do their best so that we can enjoy the rest of the year TAKS FREE:) The Reading TAKS test will be given in the first week of March. We just finished our second benchmark last week and we should know our scores soon. Here are a few pictures of the students hard at work in class.

Pumpkin Fun

two of my classes got the chance to clean and prepare a pumpkin for carving. Unfortunately two of the four classes did not get to participate due to the fact that I had to leave and go pick up my son. So I am so sorry that the other two classes did not get to get to stick their hand in the pumpkin and get all gooey and smelly. And unfortunately we didn't even

get to carve the pumpkin, But it was fun while it lasted:) Many of the students had never seen the inside, touched or carved a pumpkin before. A lot of them actually tasted the goo and seeds. YUCK!!!

Red Ribbon Week

We had a great time wearing crazy silly thing for Red Ribbon week. Red Ribbon week is a week to Celebrate being drug free. Drugs are never the answer. Drugs are bad for your body. I love all my kids would never want them to make that bad choice. If you are ever pressured about taking drugs please tell someone.

Here are a few pictures from Drug Free Week!

Shade out Drugs! and Sock it to Drugs!

book report

Don't forget your book reports are due Wednesday! The directions for the book report are as follows. Take notes on each page or pareagraph of your Nonfiction book. Then combine like ideas in your notes. Then you will write a summary using your notes. It should be around 20 words long not including your main who/what of your book. This book report will be used for a writing and reading grade.

I hope everyone had a super weekend! See you Monday!!!

GOOD LUCK

Good Luck to everybody on your Science Benchmark!!!