Hello Westgate Families, 

This week in literacy we are beginning our poetry and figurative language unit. This week will be focused on identifying the different types of figurative language and then recognizing them in poetry. This is a very unique and creative unit that they seem to enjoy a lot! This is a great opportunity to share any poetry you enjoy or that you remember from your childhood! 

 

Our spelling rule for the week is "oi" and "oy".

1. point

2. oyster

3. royal

4. avoid

5. loyal

6. enjoy

7. moist

8. annoy

9. oil

10. coil 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This week in literacy we are finishing up looking at important leaders during the Civil Rights Movement in honor of MLK. We studied Ruby Bridges, Ayanna Najuma, MLK and some of the important accomplishments of the movement. We are going to briefly look at some important leaders in our community as a segway into Junior Achievement Day this Friday. This will include a few close reading activities, comprehension questions and guided discussions. 

 

The rule of the week for spelling is the /oo/ sound, as in "moon". 

 

1. groom

2. knew

3. revenue

4. smooth

5. cougar

6. tune

7. duty

8. stew

9. due

10. youth 

Hello Westgate Families, 

Welcome back to a new year! Literacy is going to look a bit different this semester in terms of spelling and small groups. Each week we will have a "rule of the week" that explains why words are spelled the way they are. I will also be implementing small groups that focus on certain books and articles. This week, in honor of MLK Day, they will be reading articles about important historical figures from that time while assigning character traits and defining important vocab. 

 

The rule for this week is when to use "C", "K" and "CK". 

-The /k/ sound is spelled with a "c" before the letters a, o, u, or any consonant. 

-The /k/ sound is spelled with a "k" before the letters e, i or y. 

-At the end of the word, the /k/ sound is spelled with a "ck" immediately after a short vowel. 

 

1. canvas

2. act

3. clap

4. skill

5. sketch

6. kite

7. keep

8. deck

9. black 

10. slick 

Hello Westgate Families, 

This week in literacy is going to be shortened due to winter break and because we will not have literacy tomorrow, Tuesday the 18th. We have a guest coming in to do an interactive percussion class with all of our math classes, which will be for the entire morning. However, even with the shortened week they are working very hard on their persuasive writing prompt. They have planned out, edited, and are now working on their final drafts of a letter to their families persuading them about a specific present they would like. This writing prompt is focused on transition words, juicy details, fact vs. opinion, and the structure of a letter. 

 

We will not have a spelling word list this week due to the shortened week. However, I encourage you to keep practicing spelling over break using SpellingCity or flashcards of the words from this past semester. Reviewing is great practice to keep up fluency! 

 

 

Hello Westgate Families,

This was another short week in literacy due to MAPS testing. However, they spent lots of time focusing on how to answer questions about what they read. I also introduced transition words and how to use them appropriately (ex: next, last, first, etc.) They will use these skills next week in some creative holiday persuasive writing. Because they did not get much spelling word practice this week, we are going to carry the same list through next week.

Spelling Words for the Week:

Spelling Words:

• Able
• Already
• Different
• Because
• Ahead
• Against
• Choose
• Anyone
• Among
• Everyone

Hello Westgate Families, 

Due to MAPS testing this is a shorter week in literacy. However, we will be focusing on reading comprehension. We are looking at how to answer questions about what they've read using lots of strategies. With this I am also focusing on writing complete sentences that restate the question in the answer. A great tool to help them remember how to fully answer a question is: 

Restate the question in the answer

Answer the question 

Cite the evidence

Explain
Sum it up

 

 

 

• 1. Able
• 2.Already
• 3.Different
• 4.Because
• 5.Ahead
• 6.Against
• 7.Choose
• 8.Anyone
• 9. Among
• 10. Everyone 

Hello Westgate Families! 

I hope everyone had a terrific break and enjoyed the holidays. This week in literacy is going to be shortened due to the field trips. We are going to do lots of spelling practice and word work. They will also have some time to write creative short stories (always with an emphasis on sentence structure). 

 

Also, a quick reminder that if your student is reading a chapter book at home they are welcome to bring it for literacy. I provide 15-20 minutes of independent reading most days. 

 

Here are the spelling words for the week! We are continuing to work on homophones and homonyms. 

 

1. Hear

2. Here

3. Sail

4. Sale

5. Tied

6. Tide

7. Your

8. You're

9. Our

10. Hour

11. Pear

12. Pair

13. Great

14. Grate 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This week in literacy we are looking into the history of Thanksgiving and why it is a celebrated holiday. After some brief research they are writing two paragraphs, using the writing process, about the history and what they are thankful for. We are really focusing on creating meaningful paragraphs! 

 

We are going to continue the same spelling words for this week. They did not have as much practice last week as usual so we will catch up this week and take the post test Friday. Here is the list again! 

 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This week in literacy we are going to implement centers. This means the students will rotate through various activities including spelling, independent reading, small groups, a creative writing prompt, etc. Small groups will consistent of short fiction stories and then checking for comprehension through writing. We are also going to jump back into grammar and reinforce some of those skills. 

 

 

 

1. There

2. Their

3. They're

4. One

5. Won

6. Too

7. To

8. Two 

9. Right

10. Write 

 

Thank you for practicing words with students! If you are having trouble with SpellingCity or finding the correct list please reach out! 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This week we are doing lots of festive activities and close readings. Last week we focused on autobiographies, non-fiction, so this week we are going to use Halloween to learn about fiction writing. They will have some time to do creative writing as well! Our spelling words are Halloween themed. If your student does not celebrate Halloween please contact me ASAP so I can provide alternative assignments. 

 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This week in literacy they are researching important historical figures, for example, George Washington. We are focusing on highlighting/note taking skills and how to turn that information into an informative well constructed biography. Our spelling words are also some vocabulary terms that we will be using throughout this writing project. 

 

1. Research 
2. Dictionary 
3. Atlas 
4. Library
5. Newspaper 
6. Character 
7. Setting 
8. Plot 
9. Glossary 
10. Index 

 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This post is a bit earlier in the week than usual, but I am going to begin sending out the spelling words for each week when we have them. This week we are starting our unit on genres, mainly focusing on fiction vs. nonfiction. They will also be incorporating research skills into learning about the different types of genres. To align with the topic, their spelling words are about genres. 

 

• 1. Genre
• 2. Nonfiction
• 3. Fiction
• 4. Biography
• 5. Autobiography
• 6. Poem
• 7. Mystery
• 8. Myth
• 9. Fairy tale
• 10. Fable

Hello Westgate Families! 

This was a great in literacy focusing on parts of speech, how to make a complete sentence and how to use a dictionary. They spent quite a bit of time trying to look up their vocab/spelling words. However, since the words this week were challenging, I am going to give them Monday and Tuesday next week to continue practicing, and then end the week on Wednesday with the post test. 

 

Next week they will also work on a fall writing prompt as a representation of the skills they have learned. Hopefully they will be completed for parent teacher conferences! 

Hello Westgate Families! 

This was a great week looking at how to use a model called RACES to fully answer questions. It shows how to Restate the question, Answer the question, Cite the evidence, Explain the evidence and Summarize. We started a read aloud book and are using this model to answer comprehension questions with complete sentences. Next week we will continue using comprehension to prompt writing as well as adding in further grammar extensions. 

Hello Westgate Families! 

These first few weeks of literacy have been mainly focused on grammar. Last week was spent on the components of a complete sentence. Next week we will build on that to form more complex writing. I build in time everyday for independent reading and then challenge them to write about what they read, recently in the form of a summary.