Day 4 – Sept. 9, 2016 – Fawcett's Class

LITERACY – Reading : Inferring

During our Read Aloud this week (The Composition) I’ve been modelling the reading comprehension strategy, “Inferring”. Today, student continued practising making their own inferences during Independent Reading, and explaining clearly how those inferences are connected to what the text said or showed (click each image to enlarge).

Oral Communication: Inferring

While listening to the read aloud “The Composition”, students have been making inferences while listening to the story being read by the teacher. In the story, Pedro’s country is ruled by a Dictatorship, backed by the military.We made and discussed inferences orally as a whole group. For example, we inferred that when Pedro’s parents listen to the radio, it is quiet because the radio station is probably very far away and maybe even full of static/hard to hear. In the text, Pedro’s father reluctantly tells Pedro that he is against the dictatorship. When Pedro’s mother said that children aren’t against anything, we inferred as a class that Pedro’s mother doesn’t want Pedro to say he is against the dictatorship. We infer that Pedro’s parents want to protect him.

Pedro and his classmates were visited by a Captain in the army (“Captain Romo”) —- to write all about what their families do at night………….It was very clear which students were making important inferences at this point in the read aloud, because they GASPED aloud.

In the story, the military is VERY interested in learning which families are part of the resistance movement that opposes the dictatorship. Pedro already witnessed his friend’s father being dragged away by the military in the streets for being part of the resistance…..

Will Pedro write in his composition that his parents listen to far away radio stations at night?
Will Pedro write about their family friends that come over to listen to the radio, and discuss what is happening in their country?
Will Pedro write that his father has said he is against the dictatorship?

My instruction to 6F students was for THEM to pretend to be PEDRO, and to write Pedro’s composition, “What My Family Does at Night” in Pedro’s voice. Will grade 6 students have made an important inference? Will they write the truth about Pedro’s family (shows an understanding of literal meaning…or will they write a composition that protects Pedro’s family from the wrath of the military dictatorship (shows an understanding of inferential meaning)?

MATH – Patterning

Yesterday, I modelled the first four numbers in a pictorial representation, using graph paper (2 is represented by a 2×2 square….3 by a 3×3 square, etc.). Students continued the pattern up to 21 or 34.