What's new?

The class overall has been doing very well and adjusted to the new schedule. They are working very hard and are very comfortable with Rosetta Stone. They are all very successful in what they are doing.

A test will be coming up. It will be in the beginning of December. My tests consist of a reading comprehension section where they will read a short story and answer questions relating to the story. They have been doing this since the beginnning of the year. There is a listening section where I will read a story to them and they will answer questions to the story. They will not see the written story. They will only hear it. I will read the story a multiple of times. The stories I pick will be stories all the students can understand and the questions are easily found in the story. The final section will focus on grammar which we have been focusing on the three different tenses. I will provide the verbs I will focus on. Each student will need to look over their textbook and the grammar books to help them study. I will also have the students read the Creed and In the Name of the Father prayers as a part of the test.

Along with the test I have students provide a book report. They will get the book in advance and each student will choose what book they want. I give about a month for the book report because I am aware that each child has a busy life outside of Greek School. They will choose their book and how to present it. Of course, everything is in Greek. Each student should have a written document that will be handed in. Some examples of projects are posters, song or rap, ccreate a book cover, write a letter to a character, etc... Last year they had fun with it and I hope your children will to. It gives them a chance to read other stories other than the textbook.

Prayers

I thought long and hard about this. Our language is so connected with our religion that I am going to have students memorize or be able to read them fluently some prayers in which is said in our liturgy. They will receive a copy this week of the three prayers(Creed, Our Father, and In the name of the Father...). I believe these are three prayers they should be able to say aloud while reading it or by memory. I thought it would be nice if the students could recite these along with the other parishioners before they are long fgorgotten in Greek.

Greek School

It was nice to see all the Greek School students in church this past Sunday for agiasmos. The schedule of our classroom is as follows:
- center work:Consists of...
        reading, writing, rosetta stone (speaking), spelling/vocabulary words for the week, meet with me.
- Break
- Spelling/Vocabulary Quiz
- Centers continued
- Grammar
- Culture (Starts on 10-20-12)
- Dismissal
       

Homework

Homework:
1. Text book pages 190-192
2. Grammar lesson 62 and 63 (Irregular verbs similar to text book pages)
3. Spelling(List is on p. 187)
4. Practice reading 194 and highlight any words you do not know. You don't have to answer questions on p. 195. We will be doing that in class.

I know it seems like a lot, but the grammar is very repetitive and it is easy to follow. The grammar book is also does not include much writing. The students can do this on their own and only ask for help when he or she can not figure it out.

4th Grade news

I am trying to create a routine in the classroom that will benefit everyone where everyone will be able to go onto Rosetta stone while in the classroom. I am going to try duting center time as a part of the speaking grade and see how it works,

When I meet with specific groups on Saturday is when they will receive their spelling and vocab quiz. The students should know what the words mean regardless, but the vocabulary words will be written out for them where each student will have to know what it means. I give a word bank so the english words are spelled correctly.  I am trying to figure out a way where the students can also use Rosetta stone at home or similar activities which wi;; improve their speaking. Rosetta stone is a good product but the one problem I find is the students have to speak clearly and loudly into the microphone which makes it frustrating at first, but with time they will become more familiar with it they will also get better.

They did very well on the spelling/voacabulary quiz last week and this week during spelling, I will say the word and say it in a sentence and repeat the word. This is where the students need to study the words. Every parent can give their students a spelling test and ask them what the vocabulary words. Every week it will be much easier to the students because they are using dictionaries to find out what the word means. This takes time to get used to.

Homework which is due next week (10-6-12)
Textbook Unit 8 pgs 266-273.
Practice reading page 274 and underline any unknown words.
Spelling/Vocabulary words are on p. 267.
Grammar Lesson 13.
Spelling/Vocabulary Quiz

Homework due 9-29-12

Text book: pages 156-163 (Some of it was done in class during guided reading)
Read p. 166 from same text book.
Spellin/Vocab Quiz from words on p. 157
Grammar lesson 12: p. 43-47

Some pages from text book is review from last week as well as the grammar book pages which deal with the present verb tenses.

Last 2 Weeks

I have been trying to include a new idea that was not included before, the use of Rosetta stone and having the students speaking more Greek. There are centers included in the classroom: reading, spelling/vocab words, writing, Rosetta Stone, Speaking, and meeting with me.

When they meet with me, each student will be taking their spelling/vocab. quiz along with reading the story the students practiced reading for homework and work on some questions. The students will also be using the grammar book to review verb tenses which they should already know. The grammar book also addresses nouns, adjectives and how they relate to nouns, etc. This is when they will receive their homework. When I am with one group, the other group will be conducting the centers stations. Most of the centers they can work with a partner. Rosetta Stone is the only one that can be done one at a time. Eventually they will be getting dictionaries to figure out what the words mean. Each group will have 45 minutes to work on center work. The reading and writing center will be rotated due to the lack of time.

New School Year

Welcome back to all returning and new students. I can not believe the whole summer has passes by so quickly. I am excited for another great year. I will be posting the homework assignments on this blog. Lets have a great year and I hope to post pictures as well.

I am trying to introduce some technology into the classroom to engage the students  as well as keeping them interested in coming back to Greek School. I have introduced Rosetta Stone to the students which can be frustrating at times because the students have to be sure to speak clearly and slowly into the microphone. It is in a work in progress, but the students seem to enjoy it.

I am even considering to bring my ipad from home which will have some greek apps that will relate to our lesson or Rosetta Stone.

What's New

As you might know Our Greek Play has changed to the following Sunday(April 1st).

I know that everyone has received their test and book report grades. I am so proud of them because the grammar section was not easy and as you may know greek grammar is not easy to follow unless you are familiar with it. We will continue to practice. Have each child bring the print outs I have been given them because it helps with the spelling and the short cuts on how to spell words. My next step is to have them to try to use the grammar we have learned so far in their writing. They do understand it. I want them to say it aloud to see if it makes sense. They did so much better on the listening and reading comprehension section of the test from the previous test. This is a good practice since they will increase their vocabulary and understanding what new stories are telling them and they can understand it themselves. Each student can use the context clues to figure out the meaning.

Greek centers have been going really well where they are working with each other along with what I have given them. The word work I give them has helped them a lot because when I give them a quiz. They don't ask for more clues so they can figure out what the word means. They are picking up on the vocabulary. The extra stories they are reading gives them the opportunity to become more fluent readers and introduce them to more vocabulary while they migt review old vocabulary. In the future I am going to try to include more writing.

New things to Look for

Just catching up from the last blog. Students are doing great. We just had a test last week and they did well. They will get their tests on March 3rd. I can't wait to see their book report projects on Saturday, February 18th.

Lets keep practicing their poems for March 25th.

There is no school on February 25th. See you back on March 3rd.

Wow!! The students are amazing!!

I am amazed at how well they are doing and how confident they feel. I am thinking of many ways to challenge them and having them try something new. I have included the use of centers in the classroom which is very similar to what they probably do Mon.-Fri., but in one days worth. During center time, they work on grammar, spelling, and reading with a reading response. They are definitely starting to use their dictionaries to figure out words and using me as a last source. They are being exposed to a multiple of words through these centers along with the text books provided to them. I am trying to get them to talk more Greek in the classroom. It's work in progress. Lets keep trying though. Keep doing such a wonderful job!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year to all of my students and to their families. I hope everyone had an enjoyable break. But it's back to work. Hope to see everyone on Saturday, January 7th. Remember to bring all of your supplies along with packets I gave you that will halp with the grammar book.

Homework that is due on January 14th is as following...

Homework due January 14^th:

1. Study spelling words using packet  from class
2. Complete part B from lesson 24 pgs. 55-56
3. Grammar Book lesson                                       
4. Read pgs. 57 & 61 from lesson 25 and write words you don’t know in the notebook or post-its

Spelling:

Ecei endiaferoun

pote

arketeV foreV

kernw

Sobara

bgainw fwtofrafia

lefta

glistrw