Hello families!

 

We've wrapped up our opinion essays, and are working on analyzing texts to see how authors persuade others using evidence, details, and stories. We'll be doing some persuasive writing on a topic that each student is passionate about over the next two weeks. 

 

We're continuing to work on our novel studies, and will be wrapping them up in the next two weeks and designing an amusement park based on the novels we read!

 

Students are (mostly) close to completing their Genius Hour projects. The week before spring break, we will have a few students present their research to the class each day! Every student will get a turn.

Hello families!

 

We have wrapped up our formal persuasive essays and now we are practicing using persuasive writing skills in new ways. This week, we are researching Greek monsters and will be running a fantasy football style bracket next week to determine the most fearsome monster!

 

Students will also be working with me in small groups based on what skills I noticed could use some work after reading essays. We are continuing with novel study as well as genius hour, and we will continue discussing our novel studies in a small group book talk every Friday.

Hello families! 

 

In the scuffle of returning from break, I've realized I haven't been updating this page! I'll be more consistent moving forward. What you're getting today is an update on January so far, as well as the upcoming week of 1/29.

 

This month, we started our Persuasive Writing unit. In this unit, students research the topic of zoos and then decide if zoos are "cool" or "cruel". They must then take their research and write a persuasive essay using evidence to support their opinions. We're working on writing completed rough drafts this week.

 

We've also started our quarter three novel studies. Students made a list of their top choice books before break, and most students did get their top choice. Our books for this quarter are: he Mysterious Benedict Society, Greenglass House, Rules, Sisters Grimm, Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat, and the Lightning Thief (these are all great options for at home reading too!)

 

I've added lots of fun information to the document titled "Emby Links/Novel Studies/First Chapter Friday" in the Family Resources folder that I've previously shared via email. It's linked here, and I recommend checking it out for tips/tricks/book recommendations for advanced readers/information about supporting students at home as well as what we're doing in class: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10oKUptvJWcRFsbR2CbOoVUMPJXVFC_LtvRnL67JUjjk/edit

 

Next week, we'll be wrapping up our current project, but we won't be moving on from Persuasive Writing just yet! We'll be working on a Great Food Debate as well as a Greek Monsters Persuasive Writing activity. 

 

Please reach out with any questions! And again, check the link for lots of resources for supporting students at home-- a few families asked for additional things they can do at home, and all the things I've posted there would be beneficial.

Text: Polar Bears Vs American Black Bears

 

Paragraph Outline: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ngmhlOVENHU2n0_YA70IZAVOyc4-bEq9/view?usp=sharing

 

Hello families!

 

This past week we finished our unit on inquiry, and we are getting ready to dive into a unit focused on informational text, text evidence, and biography. I am noticing that many students are ready for 5th grade work, and will be starting to pull 5th grade standards in more over the rest of this semester, so you may start seeing more 4s in the gradebook if students are meeting the 5th grade standards. 

 

Our novel studies are well under way and the new structure we used this quarter has been very successful. We will continue to work on spelling, as well as greek and latin root words.

 

Click HERE for information about Genius Hour, First Chapter Friday, Novel Study, Typing Club, and BOOM Cards.

 

You can help at home by making sure that students are reading after school every day.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12vBh0AyTRlhR3IpKVE19mUBcSPNaACoqVFJQmHHViqU/edit?usp=sharing

Hello families!

 

Last week we kicked off our inquiry unit where we will be using the text Areli Is a Dreamer to ask questions, investigate our questions, and research to find answers. We started our unit with a study of texts as windows and mirrors (ask students to explain this to you if you are not familiar!). We will continued our research on Greek Roots, and each student has an assigned novel group for novel study. Our novels this quarter are: Esperanza Rising, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, A Wrinkle in Time, The Name of This Book is Secret, and The One and Only Ivan.

 

We will be starting a new project that will take place every Friday! Students have homework related to this project! Please click here for a letter from me about this.

 

For a list of Language Arts resources and information, including our First Chapter Friday list, click here.