Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families,

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
the lives of animals, with a focus on the informational text genre. We 
will read texts and view videos about the amazing characteristics and 
abilities of animals. Children will also write an expository essay that 
compares animal interactions and human interactions.

 

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
• express a clear central idea
• include text and graphic features
• have a particular tone
• use precise and descriptive words

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 

The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words tension, antisocial, bond, and
relationship in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: With whom do you feel a strong bond? When do you feel tension?

 

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 prefixes in–, anti–, and pre– and 
Latin root bene in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

Greetings 5th Grade Families

 

If you didn't see the email, here is the link again to sign up for conferences related to ELA, Math, and Social Studies.

 

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families!

 

Pre-Conference Reminder, you can access your child's work on HMH online through their login to see the work they've done or need to complete. Looking at this will better inform you coming into student conferences. Signups will be released soon. 

 

This week we're wrapping up our 7th module for the year, "Above, Beyond, and Below". Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about the experience of moving to a new country, with a focus on the poetry genre. We will read texts and view videos about how people adapt to new experiences to make a home in a new place. Children will also write an opinion essay about whether or not they think it is easy to adapt to a new experience or place.

 

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 poetry. 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
• model themes or lessons that might be familiar to your child
• include interesting text formats or graphic features

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words nomadic, voice, monologue, 
and temporary in daily conversation with your child. Use prompts like: 
What makes something temporary? Describe a monologue.
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 prefixes mono– and semi– and Latin 
root ject in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

HELLO, FAMILIES!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about exploration, with a focus on the autobiography genre. We will read texts and view videos about important discoveries people have made on land, in the oceans, and in space. Students will also write a biographical research paper on notable figures in Pre-Revolutionary US history. Here are ways to support your child at home.

Discuss the Topic at Home
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 at Home
The genre focus in this module is autobiography. 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
• provide first-person accounts of interesting discoveries
• describe a clear sequence of events and have unique visuals.

Build Vocabulary at Home
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea

Reinforce the topic words expedition, incredible, progress, and chronology in everyday conversations with your child.

Use prompts like these: 
Where would you like to go on an expedition? Describe something incredible in nature.

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 tract, chrono, gress, ped, dent, terr and prefixes mega–, sub–, pro–, anti– in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
different art forms, with a focus on the biography genre. We will read 
texts and view videos about how different art forms impact people in 
different ways. 

 

How can you support their learning at home?

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 different forms of art we see around us and enjoy on daily basis.
• 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 biography. 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 points of view
• help readers connect to historical events
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words classic, tribute, striking, and
provoking in everyday conversations with your child.

Use prompts like these: What is a fun classic game? Describe an animal 
you think is striking. What Does It Mean? 

Greetings Families,

 

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about our planet, with a focus on the persuasive text genre. We will read texts and view videos about different things people do to care for the Earth and its living things. Children will also write an opinion essay about what they think people can do to make Earth a better place today and in the future.

 

To help them retain their learning, discuss the topic at home. 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.

 

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.
• That tie to the module topic.
• In which an author presents evidence for or against 
something. 
• In which the author asks readers to take action about an issue

 

Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words contaminate, benevolent, imperil, endangered in conversation with your child. Use prompts like 
these: What is the opposite of contaminate? Describe a 
benevolent person. What Does It Mean? Have your child keep a growing list of the Critical Vocabulary words. Quiz each other on their meanings.

Thanks for taking the time to ask your child these questions over the next few weeks as we finish out the semester.

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families!

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about westward expansion, with a focus on the informational text genre. We will read texts and view videos about how workers and families had varied experiences during the time of westward expansion. Students will also write an expository essay about what made the settlers, pioneers, and workers in the West successful. 

 

I appreciate any time you can set aside 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.

 

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
• express a clear central idea
• have a clear text structure (i.e., problem/solution, sequence, cause-and-effect)

 

Each week your student is taught critical vocabulary from each passage, plus you'll see their Super Six word chosen from words the collect on their own each week come home in Friday Folders.

Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 

Reinforce the topic words native, epic, midland, and victory in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: You are a native of ___. 
Or, when have you experienced a victory?

 

Thanks for your support at home. Email me if you have any questions. You can see much of their work on HMH online if you would like to see scores and feedback.

 

Best Regards,

Mr. McGinnis

Greetings 5th ELA Families,

 

As we continue increasing our understanding and background knowledge of Natural Disasters through reading, students will be creating Safety Pamphlets for a natural disaster of their choice in groups.

In writing, we will be using the topic of Natural Disasters to learn how to organize and write persuasive arguments to finish up the module. 

 

Best Regards,

Travis McGinnis

HELLO, 5th Grade ELA FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
natural disasters, with a focus on the informational text genre. We will 
read texts and view videos about how Earth’s movements, features, 
and weather can cause natural disasters. Children will also write an 
opinion essay about the best way to prepare for a natural disaster. Use the information below to help your child at home!

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
• explore interesting scientific 
facts and ideas
• have unique formats, graphic 
features, and visual elements
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child 
build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words notable, spontaneous, tremor, and hazard in everyday conversations with your child.

Use prompts like these:

What hazards do you avoid?

Describe the last spontaneous thing you did. 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 roots graph, gram, geo, rupt, fer; suffixes –logy/–logist; and prefixes inter–, com–/con–/cor– in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

 

Thanks for partnering in learning with me.

 

Best Regards,

Mr. McGinnis

Greetings Families,

 

In case you cannot find the link in your email that was sent out last Tuesday, here is the Signup Genius link for Fall Conferences.

 

I look forward to meeting you virtually (Thursday) or in person (Friday.) 

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families!

 

Your child has completed two units or English Language Arts this past quarter, nonfiction and fiction features related to Inventions, and the literary elements of Narrative Fiction and their subgenres, which includes plays and poetry. We do a lot of work in class that doesn't go home. If you'd like to see the quality of their work, you can have them log into HMH www.hmhco.com using their login and password to see their scores on quizzes and feedback on writing. 

 

They had two writing assignments this quarter, an expository essay on an inventor or invention that has impacted our world, and a narrative story of their own creation. I encourage you to have them share their hard work with you.

 

Thank you for taking interest in their work and giving them positive and constructive feedback to encourage their best and to seize opportunities to support them as they try to master skills that can feel subjective or abstract. 

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families,

 

This week we are finishing up our work on Fiction Literature and various sub-genres. Because this is our reading theme, your student is also completing a short narrative writing assignment online through Writable. If they have access to the internet, have them access their HMH Reading so they can show you their progress. 

 

Best Regards,

Mr. McGinnis

Greetings 5th Grade ELA Families,

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
inventors, with a focus on the informational text genre. We will read 
texts and view videos about how people can create amazing things 
through innovation, perseverance, and the desire to solve problems. 
Your child will also write an expository essay about the circumstances 
that pushed the inventors in this module to create new inventions.

 

Here are ways you can partner with me to support your child at home as we learn these concepts.

 

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. (What circumstances lead inventors to invent?)
• 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
• show a particular point of view
• have a clear text structure

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary.

 

The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words excel, illustrious, revere, and transcend in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these:

What do you excel at? Is there a person you revere? Who?

 

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 roots phon, photo, vis, aud, auto, bio and prefixes ex–, e–, ir–, il– in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

 

Thanks for encouraging your child in these areas to make the learning more meaningful or relevant outside the classroom. 

 

Best Regards,

Mr. McGinnis