We will finish up on Module 6, by reading "Who Wants to Move to Mars?", and we will focus on new vocabulary words and the reading strategy making inferences.  

 

For Writing, the students will continue researching, writing their rough draft and then edit their argumentive paper.  The final paper will be due on Friday. 

HELLO, FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
space exploration, with a focus on the opinion text genre. We will read 
nonfiction book excerpts and essays that tell the stories of space 
pioneers and the inspiring technology and human achievement that 
can be unlocked when we shoot for the moon and beyond. 

 

Module 6, To the Moon and Back

 

BRING IT HOME! Learning fun for the whole family!

 

Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is 
learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about 
the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge
Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic and work together to find the answers.

 

Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is persuasive text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 

Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• present interesting ideas and different techniques authors use to share an opinion
• help readers connect to science

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words craters, satellite, orbit, and launched in everyday conversations with your child.

 

Use prompts like these:

- How do satellites affect our lives?

- Describe what you would see if you were launched into orbit around the earth.

 

What Does It Mean?

Have your child keep a growing list of the 

Critical Vocabulary words.

Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt

- Look for words with the roots cosmo, astro, orbit, hum, mit; the prefix de–; and suffixes –ion, –ism in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

This week the students will be finishing Module 5. In Reading we will continue to look at reading on the Great Depression and connect it to the theme of Good times, Bad Times. 

 

Writing:

The students will finish writing their biography essay. 

This week we are moving into Module 5, Good Time, Bad Times

 

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
the Great Depression era, with a focus on the narrative text genre. We 
will read fiction and nonfiction that explore both the national 
experience of Americans who lived through the crisis, as well as the 
stories of individuals from different walks of life.

 

Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is 
learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about 
the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic, and work together to find the questions. 

 

Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is narrative text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 
Look for texts that 
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• present a conflict and show how it is resolved
• help readers connect to social studies

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words persisted, industry, stocks, 
and investors in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these:

Describe an industry you might want to have a career in. How do you think 
investors react if a company fails?
What Does It Mean? Have your child keep a growing list of the 
Critical Vocabulary words.

Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt Look for words with the roots migr, voc; prefixes intro–, 
im–; and suffixes –able,–ence, –ancein books, magazines, online texts, 
and environmental print

I hope that you had a wonderful week off!

 

This week in ELA we will be continuing our work for Module 4. 

 

Reading:

We will be reading Sacajawea and Paul Revere's Ride focusing on making predictions, visualizing and vocabulary. 

 

Writing:

We will finish brainstorming for our biography paper and begin working on organizing our research. 

HELLO, FAMILY!

 

Module 4, On a Journey

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about travel writing, with a focus on the narrative text genre. We will read fiction and historical fiction that take the reader on journeys to new places and show how the journey itself can change both fictional characters and real people.

BRING IT HOME! Learning fun for the whole family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week we will finish up Module 3. 

 

Reading we will taking the Assessment and the students will write a News Report about Designing the Future. 

 

For writing the students will finish their Opinion Writing.  

 

We will then begin Module 4, "On a Journey"

This week we will finish Module 3, week 3.

 

In reading we will read text about "3-D printing".  We will also have small group instruction focusing on decoding, grammar, vocabulary and writing skills. 

 

For writing the students will finish writing their opinion writing for the best or worst invention making sure to support their opinion through research. 

 

 

This week in ELA we will continue working in Module 3 Designing the Future. 

 

Reading:

We will be reading, "The Secret Science Alliance and the Copycat Crook" and "Lions No Match for a Young Boy and His Invention".

The skills that we are focusing on are retelling, summarizing, and literary elements. 

 

Writing:

The students will continue writing their opinion paper on the best of worst invention. 

 

We will also be having small groups focusing on grammar, decoding skills, vocabulary, and writing. 

We will only have 2 days of ELA this week as Wednesday through Thursday we will be participating in Outdoor Education. 

 

For reading, we will continue discussing the text, "The Boy Who Invented TV", and then complete a Quiz to check for understanding. 

 

In writing we will finish drafting our opinion writing for an invention, and then beginning writing the paper. 

Use the link below to learn how to log into HMH at home to help support your child in reading and writing. 

 

Welcome back!  I hope that you had an amazing Fall Break!

 

We will be starting Module 3  - Designing the Future

 

HELLO, FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
inventions and technology, with a focus on the informational text 
genre. We will read texts about inventors and inventions that have 
changed people’s lives in the past and will change our lives in 
the future. 

BRING IT HOME! Learning fun for the whole family!

 

Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is 
learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about 
the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic, and work together to find the answers

 

Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is informational text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 
Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• have a clear text structure
• help readers connect to science

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words innovations, blueprint, manufacturer, and advances in everyday conversations with your child.

 

Use prompts like these:

What do you like about new computer innovations?

Explain an area of technology you would like to see more advances in.
What Does It Mean? Have your child keep a growing list of the 

 

Critical Vocabulary words.

Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt Look for words with the roots phon, electro, aero, sol, rad; and prefixes tele–, com–, con– in books, magazines, online

 

For writing the students will be focusing on Opinion Writing.  

We will begin by brainstorming and developing a plan for the foundation of their writing. 

This week the students will show their learning of Module 2 in the HMH curriculum for "What Makes a Great Story"  

 

They will take the end of the Module Assessment and finish their imaginative stories before Fall Break.  

We will continue with Module 2, week 3 working on Fictional text and what makes a great story.  

 

Reading:

This week's story is a play, and we will continue to work on reading comprehension strategies.  Also, the groups will be working on grammar, vocabulary and decoding strategies.  

 

Writing:

The students have all drafted their imaginative stories and furiously writing their stories.  They all appear to be excited to use their imaginations in their stories.  We are using the Writable writing tool in the new HMH reading program where they are able to edit, and peer edit each other's writing pieces.  I am thrilled to see how this tool aids in the student's writing. 

Module 2, Week 2

 

Reading:

The story this week will be "It’s More Than Just Rain or Snow or Springtime" which is persuasive text. 

The students will learn new vocabulary words: overcome, fleeting, miserable, demeaning, elope, conspiring, garland, outraged. 

Reading skills will be visualization, figurative language, and main ideas and supporting details. 

 

Writing:

Students will begin drafting their imaginative story. 

 

Small group rotations will be focusing on grammar, decoding, writing and vocabulary.