<![CDATA[Welcome to ScoPells 4th Grade! - Reading Log Blog]]>

<![CDATA[Welcome to ScoPells 4th Grade! - Reading Log Blog]]>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 04:04:14 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Summer Reading]]>Fri, 24 May 2019 17:55:12 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/summer-readingGreetings! This summer, I challenge you to read (at least) four books! Once you have finished a book, write a summary (TAM--TITLE, AUTHOR, MAIN IDEA, and SOMEBODY, WANTED, BUT, SO, THEN). When summer comes to an end and if you've read at least four books, we'll meet for ice cream before you start fifth grade! Happy Reading!
Mrs. Pells :) ]]><![CDATA[No Blog the Week of 4/29/19]]>Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:29:03 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/no-blog-the-week-of-42919You do not have a blog this week, so your focus can be on your research project and book club groups. :) ]]><![CDATA[Introducing Your Research--Due Friday, April 26, 2019]]>Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:35:18 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/introducing-your-research-due-friday-april-26-2019As you know, we are working on our research projects this week! I have been so proud of the work you've all done so far. This week, we'll continue taking notes on our topics and then use those note to write paragraphs for your nonfiction book.

Your assignment this week is to (1) introduce your topic to your classmates. (2) Write a STRONG lead (you are all good at this by now!) and (3) include your thesis statement (essential question).

Please see some examples from other nonfiction resources below. This can help your develop your own nonfiction lead!

Happy writing!

Sample Introductions:

"This book takes you inside the secret hideaways of many kinds of animals. You'll discover a hidden world where animals rest, take cover from harsh weather, escape enemies, and raise their young. Unusual illustrations give you inside views of many animals homes" (From the Secret World of Animals by National Geographic).

"All aboard! You've been standing in line for a half an hour, gripping your ticket and listening to the whoops and screams of the roller coaster passengers overhead. Now, it's your turn. You settle into your seat. The car lurches forward. A chain pulls your car to the top of the first steep rise. At this moment, you're probably not thinking about physics. But watch how many examples of physics you'll experience during this book!" (From Fun with Physics by National Geographic)

"Giverny! A charming village spread out along a hillside not far from Vernon...Giverny, a name now famous because of the residence chosen by the great artist. It was there that Claude Money decided to settle in April 1883...Before visiting his home, his garden and his ponds, one should say something of the painter's life and his sources of inspiration" (From Monet A Visit to Giverny by Gerald Van Der Kemp).

"What if your father or grandmother or uncle became President? Would you like to leave home for Washington, D.C.? Would you like to move to the White House? That is what Presidents' families have been doing since 1800. Before that, there was no White House. There was not even a Washington D.C." (From White House Children by Miriam Anne Bourne).

]]><![CDATA[Paraphrasing--Blog Due April 19, 2019]]>Mon, 15 Apr 2019 02:17:32 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/paraphrasing-blog-due-april-19-2019For the next couple of weeks, our focus will be on researching, taking notes, paraphrasing, and learning! Because it's important to use your own words (paraphrase!) and not plagiarize, our focus this week will be on practicing this important skill.

Here's your assignment:

1.) Write the title and author of your book.

2.) Copy/type a paragraph from the book you're reading at home (be sure to use quotation marks and cite your source!

3.) Below the paragraph, PARAPHRASE the text from your book.

Example:
I am reading The Watson's Go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis.

Text: "All of my family sat real close together on the couch under a blanket. Dad said this would generate a little heat but he didn’t have to tell us this, it seemed like the cold automatically made us want to get together and huddle up. My little sister, Joetta, sat in the middle and all you could see were her eyes because she had a scarf wrapped around her head. I was next to her, and on the outside was my mother." (Curtis p.1).

Paraphrased Version: It was below freezing and the only way for my family and I to get warm was to sit close to one another on the sofa with a blanket. We would do anything to warm up a little, including snuggling close together. Joetta was so bundled up, the only thing showing were her eyes (From The Watson's Go to Birmingham).

]]><![CDATA[NO BLOG THIS WEEK (APRIL 8TH)]]>Mon, 08 Apr 2019 02:12:48 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/no-blog-this-week-april-8thGet a good night sleep and eat a healthy breakfast! :) ]]><![CDATA[Descriptive Paragraphs]]>Sun, 31 Mar 2019 16:30:01 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/descriptive-paragraphs

Your homework this week is to complete the descriptive paragraph you started in school (based on the nature photo you chose). These will be due on Friday, April 5th.

If you'd like a little extra work on writing descriptively (or if you simply enjoy doing it!), you may choose to write another descriptive paragraph based on the photos below or on another scene if you'd like.
*You will also receive extra credit scholar dollars!*

Be sure to include:
1.) All five senses (see, hear, taste, smell, touch)
2.) Examples of figurative language (similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, alliteration, hyperbole, etc.)

Example: It was a wonderful day at the beach. White clouds floated like marshmallows through the light blue sky. My friend Sam and I relaxed on a rainbow striped beach towel under an enveloping orange umbrella. A seal popped his head up among the glistening waves as a tiny crab scurried along the sand like lightning. Two starfish lie happily basking in the sun. Near us, a seagull remained perched like a statue on a midnight black rock. Two red balloons danced in the sky looking down on young children creating memories. We didn’t want the day to end.

]]><![CDATA[Text Structure Paragraphs--Due March 29, 2019]]>Mon, 25 Mar 2019 01:18:21 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/text-structure-paragraphs-due-march-29-2019We have spent a considerable amount of time learning about and identifying text structures. This week, your assignment is to write a paragraph about a subject of your choosing and use one of the text structures as a way to organize your text. Please see the example for clarification.

1.) Pick a subject (this can be anything you want to write about--sports, music, art, school, family, homework, etc.)

2.) Choose one text structure and use that format to write.

3.) Your classmates need to guess the text structure.

The following are several examples of ways you can write paragraphs using various text structures. You are only required to write one.

Example: Subject: Teaching (The following are many examples of text structure, you only need to choose one).

I've always known I wanted to be a teacher. By the time I was just six years old, I started teaching to a group of stuffed animals. First, I'd set them up and pretend each was a student. By the time my brother was born, he had no chance of escaping my educational instruction. When he was just a baby, I'd set him up near my mini chalkboard and talk to him like he was in my class! Now, I don't have to pretend anymore, and I get to come to school everyday and spend time with real students.

Can you guess the text structure? (sequencing)

Every afternoon, I enter Cherry Hills Village Elementary School. The strong scent of cafeteria food engulfs my senses the moment I walk through those double-sided black doors. I make my way through the long hallway, up the short set of stairs, and into the fourth-grade classroom where I'm greeted by smiles, hugs, and waves.

Can you guess the text structure? (descriptive)

Sarah always thought she knew what she wanted to study in college. For a year now, she was convinced she wanted to become a social worker. She always enjoyed helping others, and this profession would meet that desire. But recently, she started thinking about teaching. She had many friends who became teachers and seemed to love their job. Hmm. Which should she do? There are many similarities and differences between both social work and teaching.

Can you guess the text structure? (compare and contrast)

Mike worked hard on his research project, so hard in fact, he ended up making a huge difference in hundreds of lives. Who knew that when he started his research project on helping the homeless, it would turn school-wide and create a positive difference for families across Colorado.

Can you guess the text structure? (cause and effect)

She saw the looks on their faces and knew right away they didn't get it. Teaching long division was no easy feat, and she knew this class needed more instruction. So, she spent the next week working on practice problems, helping students during recess, and sending home extra practice worksheets. By the end of the month, her students had mastered this skill and were ready to move on to the next mathematical challenge!

Can you guess the text structure? (problem/solution)

]]><![CDATA[Descriptive Writing: Due March 15, 2019]]>Sun, 10 Mar 2019 23:12:50 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/descriptive-writing-due-march-15-2019Our focus this week is descriptive language and the power of words. In class, we will be working on incorporating strong imagery and figurative language into our writing.

For your blog this week:

1.) Find two examples of strong descriptive language in the book you are reading, or a text you've read in the past.
2.) Write the examples. Be sure to include quotation marks and page numbers.
3.) Highlight specifically which words help create a strong visual.
4.) Include the author and title.

Sample Answer:
Example #1:
In the book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by JK Rowling, Rowling describes a "Death Day" party: "It was an incredible sight. the dungeon was full of hundreds of pearly-white, translucent people, mostly drifting around a crowded dance floor, waltzing to the dreadful, quavering sound of thirty musical saws, played by an orchestra on a raised, black-draped platform. A chandelier overhead blazed midnight-blue with a thousand more black candles. Their breath rose in a mist before them, it was like stepping into a freezer," (p. 132). In this example, words like "pearly-white translucent people" and "chandelier overhead blazed midnight-blue with a thousand more black candles" help me as the reader visualize the scene.
Example #2
My second example is also from the book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling. In this scene, Rowling continues to describe the scene: "On the other side of the dungeon was a long table, also covered in black velvet...The smell was quite disgusting. Large, rotten fish were laid on handsome silver platters; cakes burned charcoal-black, were heaped on salvers, there was a great maggoty haggis, a slab of cheese covered in furry green mold, and in a pride of place, an enormous gray cake in the shape of a tombstone, with tar-like icing..." (p. 133). In this example, words like "large, rotten fish" and "handsome silver platters" allows me to visualize this part of the party.

]]><![CDATA[No Blog This Week-Week of 2/15/19]]>Mon, 25 Feb 2019 14:52:49 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/no-blog-this-week-week-of-21519Instead of a blog this week, your homework will entail working on a variety of different comprehension and literacy skills.

]]><![CDATA[Compare and Contrast--Due February 22, 2019]]>Mon, 11 Feb 2019 18:50:47 GMThttps://scopells.weebly.com/reading-log-blog/compare-and-contrast-due-february-22-2019Compare or Contrast Characters
An important skill in reading and writing is the ability to compare and contrast characters. If you're able to demonstrate the similarities and/or differences between two people from your story, then you're showing a strong understanding of the text.
Your assignment this week is to compare and contrast two characters from the book you are reading at home.

1.) Choose two characters from the book you are reading at home.
2.) Write a compare and contrast essay demonstrating the similarities and differences between these two characters.
3.) Use transition words such as "On the other hand..." or "Similarly..." (see the image below).
5.) Include the author and title

For example:
Two fifth graders with seemingly nothing in common. One who loves school, one who despises it. One who escapes life's problems through books, the other who can't stand reading. Despite their differences, Jessica and Jeffrey, two characters from the book, Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyea, also find common ground through their fifth grade experiences at Snow Hill School. Jessica and Jeffrey have many similarities and differences.
Jessica and Jeffrey may seem like total opposites, but they actually have quite a few things in common! Both attend Snow Hill Tree Elementary School and share their beloved teacher, Mr. Terupt. We don't realize it at first, but they are both compassionate and kind kids. Jessica demonstrates her compassion when she defends her friends from the bully, Lexie. Jeffrey shows his kindness with students from the collaborate classroom. Both characters also demonstrate a great deal of strength. Jessica's parents are recently divorced and she moved to a new school. Even though she's new, she finds the strength to make friends and face her difficult family situation. Similarly, Jeffrey struggles with his family as well. He lost his brother to cancer and shows grit and courage in dealing with these difficult situations.
Jessica and Jeffrey are also quite different. Jessica loves to read and appreciates school and learning. She often connects to the characters in her books, "I was finishing the book Belle Teal. I loved Belle. I wanted her to be my friend" (p.38). On the other hand, Jeffrey's attitude is not as positive. He doesn't like school and dislikes most of his teachers and assignments: "I'm no good in school. School stinks" (p. 15). Clearly, these two characters are very different, though in the end of the book, they all find a commonality--loving Mr. Terupt.
Two different students with challenging family situations find common ground in Because of Mr. Terupt. From kindness and courage to very different backgrounds, clearly Jessica and Jeffrey have many similarities and differences.

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