During Quarter 2, we will focus on writing realistic fiction. We will begin by applying pre-writing strategies to write story blurbs to generate ideas for fiction writing.
We will begin the week with a pre-assessment asking the students to write for an extended period of time about a small moment (scene or vignette) from a larger fiction story. Teacher's will be gathering information to look to see if students rehearse or weigh options, have strategies for getting started, get their pens to paper right away, storytell rather than summarize, use any organizers to get started, and whether they develop compelling characters and detailed settings. This data will allow us to plan mini-lessons to best meet the needs of the writers in our classes.
We will look for elements of realistic fiction to create story blurbs. Writers pay attention to moments in their own lives that they can use as ideas for stories. A story blurb is a writing plan, a series of short statements, or jots that tell a story. An example is the blurb on the back cover of a book.
We will also continue focusing on the work of author Ralph Fletcher. He has many great ideas for writer's to help them use their writer's notebooks to develop story ideas.
A link to a website for information on the 6 Traits of writing is below:
http://writingfix.com/classroom_tools/post_its.htm
Natural Reader:
This tool can be downloaded on your home computers to assist students with reading text that may be challenging. We use this in class for webpage research and for revising our writing. Students can listen to what they have typed and determine if it sounds right to revise. In addition, when gathering research, this tool allows them to read difficult text. We have this program at school, but it is a great tool for home use as well:
www.naturalreader.com
Life Science:
We will finish our science quarter with a cooperative learning activity to examine how different groups of people affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
We will study Social Studies during quarter 2. Due to Hurricane Sandy, we will focus on concluding our science unit this week before moving on to social studies.
Math 5: Unit 2 Overview:
Identify lines (perpendicular, parallel and intersecting)
Identify points, lines, line segments, rays
Identify angles (obtuse, acute, right, straight)
Identify the vertex
We will learn to use a protractor to measure and draw angles. We will use angles to classify polygons.
Math 4:
Unit 2 Topics Include:
Demonstrate mastery of basic multiplication and division fact families
Identify and apply multiples and factors of numbers.
Solve for the unknown or variable in an equation.
Generalize a pattern by stating a rule.
Write and simplify numeric expressions using number properties.
Complete a function table using a given rule.
Our focus will begin by reviewing addition and subtraction strategies so that students can look for the relationship between addition and multiplication and division and subtraction.
*A great website that allows students to work at their own pace on word problems/real world application of multiplication & division:
http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
Our focus will continue to be using the visualization strategy to monitor our understanding when reading. This strategy involves making a mental movie as you are reading/listening to text. Last week we shared many stories and had students sketch pictures of what the images are in their heads based on the author's details. This led us to our small group work in our novels to point out where authors are creating visualizations for the reader.
http://www.thinkingblocks.com/
We continue to use the Khan academy website to help practice our math at home. This is a great site where students (if a log in is created) can track their progress and have example problems to work on. It has been featured in CNN as an up and coming way for teachers to assess individual students learning.
http://www.khanacademy.org/
Reading:
Our focus will continue to be using the visualization strategy to monitor our understanding when reading. This strategy involves making a mental movie as you are reading/listening to text. Last week we shared many stories and had students sketch pictures of what the images are in their heads based on the author's details. This led us to our small group work in our novels to point out where authors are creating visualizations for the reader.
Suggested Books for Visualization:
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
Mr. Popper's Penguins
Abel's Island
A Cricket in Times Square
The Castle in the Attic
The People in Pineapple Place
Matilda
The Flying Dragon Room
Spelling:
*Our spelling program involves the use of developmental word study rather than traditional spelling books. This“Words Their Way” approach allows students to practice target spelling patterns that best address their individual needs as a speller.
*Our next spelling test will be on November 30. Students will continue to practice the words in the patterns already assessed at this time. We will select new words based on new patterns on November 19. That way our next test will be on November 30. Happy Turkey Day!
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