Welcome back!

 

We will be starting Module 6, To the Moon and Back. 

 

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.

 

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.

In ELA this week we have finished Module 5 and we are going to work on some reading and writing activities to help support our International Towne field trip. 

 

On Monday, we will read and discuss Natural Disasters. 

Tuesday the students will conduct country meetings in preparation for International Towne.  They will be focusing on collaborating and communicating with their team to create norms for their country. 

Wednesday will be math MAP testing

Thursday will be the field trip to International Towne

Friday we will wrap up and have a discussion about our field trip and do some Holiday reading and writing activities. 

 

This week in ELA we will be reading the last story in Module 5, "Children of the Great Depression" and the reading focus will be on finding the Central Idea and Visualization as well as vocabulary. 

 

In the area of writing, students will write a new Formal Letter.

 

Thursday the students will be taking the reading MAPS assessment to celebrate their learning!  Please encourage the students to get adequate sleep and good nourishment.  Thank you for your support! :)

We will continue working in Module 5.

 

Reading we will read the stories "Men of the Woods" and "Stories of the Great Depression. The reading focus skill will be working on asking and answering questions along with the vocabulary words. 

 

Writing:

The focus will be learning to write a formal letter. 

This week we will complete Module 4 by reading "Paul Revere's Ride"  The focus reading skills: visualization and figurative language, and we will focus on the following vocabulary words: belfry, muster, rafters, tread, fleet, tranquil, skirt, and peril.

 

Writing:

Last week we spent time organizing our biography writing and the students are ready to set sail and complete their final draft by Friday. 

Reading:

We will be reading Jason and the Golden Fleece, and Sacajawea.  

The vocabulary words that we will focus on are usurped, banished, vanquished, disposal, mystifies, descend, practicable undertaking, expedition, and civilized.

The reading strategies that will be the focus are make and confirm predictions, elements of a drama, figurative language, and author's craft. 

 

Writing:

The students picked a person to research and write a biography about.  Last week they spent time, research and organizing their information.  This week we will continue to organize the information into a five-paragraph essay, and they will begin writing their rough draft. 

This week in ELA we will be starting Module 4, On a Journey.

 

HELLO, FAMILY!
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.

 

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 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
• describe interesting characters and events
• 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 passage, craft, metropolitan, and destination in everyday conversations with your child.

Use prompts like these:

What kind of craft would you like to take an adventure in?

Describe the destination of an adventure you’d like us to go on together.
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 log/logue, magn; prefix im–; and suffixes –al, –ic, –ous/–ious 
in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

 

Our new writing genre will be Biography writing.  The students will choose a person to research and then create a five-paragraph paper showcasing their knowledge about their person. 

 

 

We will have ELA class on Thursday and Friday only this week due to Outdoor Education activities. 

 

On Thursday we will dive into the last story in Module 3 discussing 3-D printing and the focus will be asking and answering questions along with vocabulary. In writing the students will continue working on their opinion writing for the best invention ever and they will need to finish their final draft. 

This week in ELA class we will continue with Module 3, the second story "Lions no Match for a Boy and his Invention"  We will focus on literary elements, retelling and vocabulary. 

 

Writing:  We will continue working on the research and rough draft for their Opinion Writing of what is the best invention. 

 

This week in ELA 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 texts, and environmental print.

This week we will be focusing on the last week of Module 2.

 

Reading: 

The students will be reading "Upside Down and Backward" which is a play.  The skills that we will focus on are vocabulary and asking and answering questions. 

 

Writing:

The students will complete their final draft for imaginative writing.  

This week in ELA we will continue working on Module 2:

 

Reading the focus text will be "All Summer in a Day" and "It's More Than Just Rain or Snow or Springtime" 

The reading focus skills are literary elements, point of view, theme and figurative language. 

 

Writing:

The students will continue working on their narrative Imaginative Story.  The goal for the students is to create a five-paragraph narrative using sensory details and a creative storyline. 

Module 2

Here’s the Story

 

HELLO, FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
literature and storytelling, with a focus on the narrative text genre. 
We will read texts about fascinating characters facing challenging 
conflicts and learn what craft goes into a superb story

 

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 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 interesting characters and settings
 • have a plot that will keep your child engaged

 

Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words voracious, discipline, persevere, and intrepid in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: Tell me about a time when you had to persevere to achieve something. Describe a 
person you think is intrepid.
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 root ject; prefixes gen–, trans–,inter–, en–; and suffixes –y, –ly, –ily, –ful, –less, –ment, –ness in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print

This week in ELA the students will finish the last week of Module 1, Eyes on the Prize. 

 

Reading:

Week 3 story and focus on vocabulary, inferencing, author's purpose.  We will be beginning our center rotations.  There will be four rotations: working on Vocabulary, responding to text, reading remake (extension to learning), keyboarding, writing skills and independent reading. 

 

Writing:

Students will finish their final copy of the personal narrative with the topic, "When a mistake becomes a Success" The students have been working on their drafts in writable online.