Week 18

Announcements:

12/9 – 12/13 – Clothing Drive

12/11 – Wednesday – Santa Shop @ 9:15

12/19 – Thursday – Class Party @ 1:00

12/20 – Friday – Sing – A – Long/ Pajama Day

Reading

In reading this week we focused on reading our class read aloud, Scar (and Saturday and Teacakes). Students worked on reading responses in their interactive notebooks as I read. They listened for all reading skills they have learned up until this point: compare/contrast, problem/solution, cause/effect, main idea, and point of view. They also listened for figurative language: similes, metaphors, idioms, adages/proverbs. After we completed a chapter students shared what they heard during the reading and we complied everyones notes on a big poster. I really want them to see how the skills they are learning apply to the texts they read every day and not just in isolated settings.

Next week we are going to do a SUPER FUN research project! Students are going to get into groups and research Christmas traditions around the world. They will create complete graphic organizers with their notes, make comparisons, and find photographs/illustrations. Then they will take all their information and create a dodecagon! This will be an extension activity I think they will really get into and a great way to address our “conducting independent research” standard. J

Writing

In writing this week we looked at GMAS narrative writing prompts. We read sample Milestone passages and the writing prompt that they would be expected to write to. They discussed the difference between writing a narrative from scratch vs. writing to a prompt. They came up with answers like: already having characters, already having a setting, knowing the problem, and building on the plot already given. We also began to look at the rubric they would be graded on. We will continue to look at these types of stories and model responses throughout the remainder of the year.

Next week we will read How Santa Got His Job and discuss opinion writing. Students will come up with a new job for Santa based on the skills he already has. They will write a short paper on why the job they gave him best suits him and how the skills needed for his new job correlates with the skills he needs to be Santa.

Grammar

In grammar this week we reviewed proverbs and adages. Students practiced determining the meaning of proverbs and adages using notecards and a partner. The goal is not for them to differentiate between proverbs and adages but to be able to determine the meaning. Next week we will begin learning about progressive verbs and my intent is for that to take us into the holiday J