Dr. Johnson's Reading Blog

On Tuesday I will be sending out homework. Since this is the first homework, let me spend a minute explaining how homework works in my classroom. At the beginning of the week, most likely Monday, I will send home a clear, plastic folder with your child's name on it. In that folder contains a packet of homework. The first page of the homework says which homework to do on a particular day (see below).  Homework packets are not due to me until Friday. Homework packets should be turned into me with the plastic folder. Really . . . I don't want to see them until that day! On Friday, we will go through the homework so that I can provide feedback to your child. Once your child has completed their homework, please sign your name at the bottom of the homework packet, letting me know you have made sure your child completed their work before turning it in. I don't give much homework but I have high expectations that what I hand out will be completed and returned. If your child ...

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub One-Time Class Activation Code: GPY4P DUE DATE: 9/11/14 Dear Families, Next week I will begin sending out homework packets and I'll explain more about those in my next post. In those packets I will be sending out Scholastic Book Orders. One of the ways I collect books for our classroom is through these book orders. I will be including a 4th grade and 5th grade order form in your child's homework packet. I always include multiple order forms to provide a wider range of material for your child to choose from. This class is full of phenomenal readers so it's important for them to choose from a wide range of books.  To order books, you have several options. On the right side of the classroom blog you will see a green banner. If you click on this it will automatically take you to Scholastic. You can type into any browser scholastic.com/readingclub  and type in the class activation code (GPY4P). Or you can order directl...

We made it and everyone is in one piece! We got our first week of school and our first week of the new loop is out of the way. During this time we accomplished quite a bit: We started discussing our expectations for the new loop, We immediately began moving into new routines and schedules, As issues came up in class students began the task of taking on classroom jobs, We are reviewing math while I'm getting to know your child as a mathematician, Students are creating a presentation of things they  think I should know about them, Students got to meet our new MAT Mrs. Meredith, We are getting back into the flow of reading and writing by doing  real reading and writing. This helps me get to know them as readers and writers, Our Chromebooks are all set up and accounts have been created. Really, this list is simply about getting procedures down and setting up expectations for the next two year. This is a critical part of the class because it's these expectations that...

Welcome to CFI for another wonderful year! The classroom is all put together and now it needs kids to feel complete. I am looking forward to a new school year and a new group of kids. I know we will have plenty of time to get to know each other but this will be my 18th year of teaching. Even though I have been at the Center for only 7 years, I have been reading about the Center since it first opened. In fact, the Center is one of the reasons why my family moved from California to South Carolina! I am also getting towards the end of my dissertation. All summer I sat at the computer and typed, typed, typed!  I have one child at the Center (Emily) who will be in Ms. Breland's classroom and my twins who begin kindergarten at my wife's school in Richland/Lexington Five school district.  Since your child will be adjusting to a new classroom with new procedures, I will be sending out periodic emails to let you know what's happening in class. Up until Labor Day, my main...

Mrs. Bolte wanted me to share this video with all of you. This is a Photo Story she put together. We spent some time watching it today and it is absolutely lovely. I hope you all enjoy it.

It is easy to say that yesterday's gathering probably had to be one of the best I have been a part of so far. With the combination of some videos we made, demonstrations, and speaking, it was evident how much students have learned. Everyone was amazed by the student's Rube Goldberg machines. When I envisioned this unit of study, I wasn't sure what to make of it or how it would go. Your kids taught me quite a bit and what I can do to make it better next time. Your kids received nothing but compliments concerning their machines. The amount of hard work they invested into the project is evident. I am going to post each groups video to our class You Tube page. From there I will link or embed those videos into the blog. The Domino Trio The Domino Trio in Slo Mo The Rube Racers The Rube Racers in Slo Mo The Yank's Rube Goldberg The Yank in Slo Mo The Pink Paris Pastries The Pink Paris Pastries in Slo Mo The Beach Beauties The Beach Beauties in Slo M...