Week of February 5-9

Reading

This week, we will continue to study Historical Fiction text.  We will be reading in class the novel, Letters from Rifka.  The students will be completing various activities and reflections over their daily reading.  Our class discussions will revolve around the reading skills we have been working on.  Please continue to have your child read each evening at home.  

Just a friendly reminder, your child should be working on their Reading Log and Reading Project.  Both of these are major grades and are due Friday, March 2nd.

Homework

Vocabulary: Review Units 7-9: Read p. 118; Complete pgs. 119 &120

Read Works: A Constitution for Kids: Students read and answer questions

Both assignments are due Friday, February 9th.

Social Studies

This week, we will finish our unit on Europe.  Our last topics will be over the European Union, the impact of the euro, democracy in Eastern Europe, and changing demographics.  Later in the week, we will begin a unit on Russia and the Eurasian Republics.  Our first topics that we will discuss are the geography and history of the regions.  

**The Coat of Arms project and Historical Narratives due date has changed.  They are now due on Thursday, February 8th at the beginning of class.

Writing

Our grammar practice this week will concentrate on adverbs. We will also be discussing our new writing assignment.  This assignment will be over expository writing. 

Week of January 29th - February 2nd

Reading

This week, we will explore through a variety of stories using many reading skills.  We will look at plot development and point-of-view in different stories.  We will compare and contrast the historical and cultural settings of two literary works.  We will end the week by defining and being able to recognize dialect of characters and be able to explain how authors use dialect to convey character.  We will compare the use of dialect and conversations within a story.  Each day, we will complete various activities to display our understanding of each skills. We will also continue to read in our reading groups daily and use our "taught" skills with our independent reading book.

Homework

Vocabulary: Unit 9: students need to complete Synonyms, Antonyms, and

                   Completing the Sentence sections

Read Works: Read and answer the questions for "Growing Up in Darfur"

Both assignments due Friday, February 2nd.

Social Studies

This week in Social Studies, we will continue studying Europe.  We will be discussing Nationalism, WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. This week, students will also continue working  on their project on Europe.  Last week, they chose a country in Europe in which to study.  They are gathering selected information on their country and will display it in a Coat of Arms.  This project will be completed in class and will be due on February 6th. It will be taken as a major grade in Social Studies.

Writing

Last week, students began writing a Historical Fiction Narrative based on a historical event that took place in the country they are researching.   This is an extension to the Coat of Arms project.  The final drafts will also be due on February 6th. It will be taken as a major grade in Language Arts.

In grammar, we will continue working with adjectives.  Topics this week include Demonstrative and Interrogative adjectives.

Week of January 22 - 26

Reading

On Monday, we will have a Reading Common Assessment.  This test will be over our recent skills that we have been learning in class.  Common Assessments are not a test students can study for, it measures their comprehension over the taught skills and give teachers awareness of where the students "are" academically.  It also provides data for teachers of areas of concern or skills that need to be retaught.  On Wednesday, we will review the Common Assessment, discuss answers, and strategies used on the assessment.  Wednesday is also our library book, so please check around the house for any book that could be overdue and please send them.  On Friday, we will celebrate reading by having our monthly Read-in!! Students will read and work on any reports that they need to work on for their Reading Project that is due Friday, March 2nd. 

Homework

Read Works: read article: City of Broken Records: answer questions

Vocabulary: Unit 9: read pages 108-109, draw pictures for words, complete

                  sections: Choose the Right Word & Vocabulary in Context

All homework due on Friday, January 26th...please have your child continue to read every evening and record their completed books on their Reading Logs.

Social Studies

This week in Social Studies, we will continue studying Europe.  We will be discussing The Republic of Rome, the Roman Empire, the Middle ages, Renaissance and Reformation.  We will also read about European Exploration, the Industrial Revolution, and the French Revolution.  This week, students will also start on a project on Europe.  They will choose a country in Europe in which to study.  They will gather selected information on their country and display it in a Coat of Arms.  This project will be completed in class and will be due on February 6th. It will be taken as a major grade in Social Studies.

Writing

As an extension to the Coat of Arms project, students will be writing a Historical Fiction Narrative based on a historical event that took place in the country they are researching.   The final drafts will also be due on February 6th. It will be taken as a major grade in Language Arts.

In grammar, we will continue working with adjectives.  Topics this week include Using Nouns as  Adjectives and Using Pronouns as Adjectives

Week of January 15 - 19

Reading

This week, we will continue to work with reading skills such as main idea, literary analysis, and author's purpose using a few textbook stories.  We will complete several activities using these skills.  We will increase our class time of independent reading to help our students build stamina and to help them with their reading log reading requirements.

Before break, we gave our students their new Reading Log and Reading Project that will both be due Friday, March 2, 2018.  Both of these are major grades.  On the cover sheet of the Reading Log/Reading Project packet is a letter that needed to be signed by parent and student and returned to their language arts' teacher.  We received many, but have not received one from every student.  Please make sure you have seen this packet, have signed the required cover letter, and your child has returned it.  The students will only receive one copy from us so please help them make sure they keep this in a safe place.  Thanks for your support.

Homework

Vocabulary: Unit 8: Students complete the following sections: Synonyms, Antonyms, and Completing the Sentences

Read Works: Students need to read the article and answer the questions for:

Excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr's Letter the Birmingham City Hall

ALL HOMEWORK DUE FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th

Social Studies

This week, we will be honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.   The students will be participating in many different activities and learning about this time in history.  Students will also be reading many different books and articles relating to this subject matter.  We will continue our unit on Europe the following week.

Writing

During our grammar time, we will be reviewing adjectives.  We will be looking at nouns as adjectives and compound adjectives.  This quarter, our writing subject is Fictional Narrative. This week, we will be discussing the guidelines of our next writing project 

Week of December 18-20

Reading

It is that time of year when I look back and realize how fast this school year is flying by...it is such a bittersweet feeling!  We look at our students and notice how much they have grown physically as well as academically.  It is also a time when I often realize, I will soon have to say goodbye and how hard that will be. 

I have cherished all the memories I have shared with your child thus far and look forward to the second semester with them!

This is a short week filled with many special events, curriculum based, and full of learning opportunities.  On Wednesday, December 20th, is our LC Read, Snuggle, and Snack day!! Your child can bring EITHER a blanket OR a pillow along with a NON-MESSY snack.  We will have a variety of different Read-in experiences for your child to participate in.

Writing

Students have finished up their persuasive papers and should have them turned in.  When we return from the holiday break, we will begin a unit on Fictional Narrative writing. 

Social Studies

We have wrapped up our unit on South America just in time for the holiday break.  We look forward to starting a new unit on Europe when we return in January.  We will start with the geography of Europe and the Roots of Democracy and Ancient Greece. 

Homework

Read Works: Excerpt from: A Christmas Carol: read article and answer questions: due Wednesday, December 20th @ 8am

I pray everyone has a blessed Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday break.  Please be safe and have a Happy New Year!! See you in 2018!!

Week of December 11-15

Reading

This week, we will continue to work with Persuasive text.  The students will focus on vocabulary words that are specific with this unit of study as well as complete several activities to display their understanding of this topic.  Wednesday is our Library day so please send all books in that are due.  We have several students with late/overdue books.  On Friday, our students will present their advertisement that they created with their partner.  I can't wait to see all their creative creations! 

Homework for Reading and Social Studies

Vocabulary: Unit 7: Read pgs. 88 & 89: Draw pictures for words, Complete pgs. 93-96: due Friday, December 15th

Read Works: Read article and answer questions: Wrapping Up a Little Bit of Trouble

Congratulations: Spelling Bee Winners for Round 1

Jaxon C, Paige B, Nicholas W, Jared H, & Stephanie M

TPSP students ONLY: Pursuit of Passion & Culture Shock News

I gave out an outline and folder to all students who selected either Pursuit of Passion or Culture Shock for their task on Tuesday, December 5th. Please have your child share this with you and discuss the outline together.  During Enrichment time on Thursdays and Fridays, the students will work on completing these activities, but they will also need to work at home to complete assignments and meet deadlines. 

Social Studies and Writing

Last week, week we finished our South America unit with the students' South America presentations.  I was so amazed with all the interesting things the students shared about the countries they researched.  I learned a lot of new information that I had not previously known.  We will be taking a short district checkpoint test on Thursday.  We will begin our unit on Europe when we return from the holiday break.  In the meantime, students will be working on a persuasive essay in which they will either choose to persuade the reader to visit one of the countries they researched or they will persuade the reader to buy the product they created an ad for in reading.  Students will be given handouts that show them exactly how to organize a persuasive essay and a list of "Powerful Words" that they can choose to use in their writing to make their essays more appealing to the reader.  I look forward to reading their final drafts! 

 

 

December 4-8

Reading

This week will be a little different due to our Social Studies presentations, District Math Benchmark assessment, and our persuasive essays.  We will continue to have our reading groups and reflection time, but most rest of our class time with be spent on our students working on their persuasive essays.  

Homework

Read Works article: Early People in the Central American Land Bridge: students should read article and answer questions by Friday, December 8th @ 8am. 

Vocabulary: Review 4-6: Students should read page 80, complete pages 81, 82, 83 and 87, which will be due Friday, December 8th.  

Please continue to have your child read each evening at home.

Social Studies

Next week, the students will be very busy!  Students will be putting on their finishing touches to their South America projects and preparing to present.  Each student will present their two countries that they researched either with a Google Presentation or a poster.  We look forward to hearing their presentations and all the interesting things they have learned!

Writing

Students will be working on their persuasive essays.  Each student will be writing an essay either persuading their readers to visit one of the South American countries they researched or to buy the product they are creating ads for in their reading classes.   We also look forward to reading these essays and seeing how the kids incorporated their knowledge from other assignments in a persuasive format. 

Week of November 13-17

Reading

This week, we will start our Drama unit.  We will define needed vocabulary to understand, make inferences, and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of drama.  Throughout the week, the students will be completing several activities that will help them be able to analyze the similarities and differences between a dramatic text and a picture book as well as analyze the elements of the plot and character in a work of drama. They will have a common assessment on Friday which will cover our poetry and drama unit.  There is not a study guide.  The test is designed like our district benchmark test.  

Homework

This week's Read Works article is "The Theater Club".  The article is available starting Sunday, November 12th thru Friday, November 17th @ 8am.  The students are to read the article and answer the questions.  Please make sure your child completes this assignment and SUBMITS their answers by Friday morning at 8am.  Since we have the Science benchmark and Reading common assessment, the students will not have Vocabulary homework this week.

Please make sure your child is reading every evening and recording their books on their Reading Log which is due Friday, December 1st.  This is a major grade.

Social Studies

This week in Social Studies, we will continue with our unit over South America.  We will read and discuss topics, such as, the Inca Empire, the Spanish Conquest, Indigenous cultures, and language diversity.  Last Thursday, the students started a South America project that will be a major grade.  Students are to pick two South American countries to research and create either a Google Presentation/Power Point or poster to present their research.  Students were given a rubric containing all the requirements and information they need to complete the project.  The project will be worked on in class.

On Ms. Taylor's Canvas page in discussions, there is a video over South America.  Please have your child watch the video and give a response in discussions.  Students may respond to each other's comments to discuss the video.  Comments will be monitored, and students will have repercussions for any misuse or inappropriateness of the discussion.  

Writing

This week, we will continue to make the final touches on our poetry books.  Supplies were due in class last Tuesday.

On Thursday, we will begin persuasive writing.  Students will be brainstorming topics to persuade.  They will also work on their introductions for their persuasive paper. 

In grammar, we will be discussing demonstrative pronouns and transitive verbs.  

Week of November 6-10

Reading

This week, we will be working on our main idea skills.  We will complete several activities using a magazine article, graphic organizers, and task cards.  The students will determine the difference in main idea and supporting details.  Please ask your child to explain the difference to you during the week.

Homework

Please make sure your child is reading every evening and recording their books on their Reading Log which is due Friday, December 1st.

This week's Vocabulary homework is Unit 6: Draw pictures for words, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Vocabulary in Context

Read Works article: The Dawn of the Mayas

Students must read article and answer questions by Friday, November 10th

Social Studies

On Tuesday, students will be taking a test over North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.  Study guides were handed out last Tuesday.  Please be sure your child studies for this test.  

This week, we will begin a unit on South America.  We will learn about South American geography, population, agriculture, economics, etc.  Students will begin a project in which they choose two countries from South America to study.  Students will compile their information in a either an online presentation or a poster.  A rubric with expectations will be handed out on Thursday.  

Homework

Please be sure your child is completing the Read Works homework.  This counts as a social studies grade as well.

October 30-November 3

Reading

This week, we will continue with our poetry unit of study.  The students will continue to work with finding figurative language embedded in different poems.  They will even work on creating their own.  On Wednesday, the students will practice their poetry skills with a STAAR passage.  Our goal is for the students to be able to make a connection with our class lessons and activities to the STAAR passages and questions.  In class, we are also working with our students in becoming more aware of their reading.  We want our students to be able to visualize their reading.  They should be able to make a movie in their head about what they are reading.  Next time you see your child reading, ask them, "What do you see when you are reading?"  They should be able to give you details about the setting, characters, everything that is happening.  On Friday, we will have our District Writing Benchmark test.  There is not a study guide for this test.  It is created by the district to evaluate where your child is performing in writing at this time. 

Please make sure your child is recording their books on their Reading Log. Their Reading Log will be due on Friday, December 1st for a major grade.

Homework

Vocabulary Unit 6:  Choosing the Right Word & Completing the Sentence

Read Works article:  The Road Not Taken 

Social Studies 

This week, we will continue to learn about Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean Islands.  We will explore the daily life in Mexico, trade across the continents, and the path toward independence.  We will also learn about Caribbean food and music and talk about migration and the Caribbean.  

Homework 

Please make sure your child is completing the Read Works homework.  This counts as homework for SS also.

Writing and Grammar

Last week, students began working in their yellow grammar workbooks.  We will continue to use them this week.  Concepts we will work on are Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns and Indefinite Pronouns.

We will continue to work on our poetry unit.  Students have been exposed to many different types of poetry.  They have been working hard to write their own poems in which will be comprised into their own book.  This week, a notice will go home informing parents what supplies they will need for the cover and binding of the book.  Supplies will be due in class by November 7th.    

Week of October 23-27

Reading

This week, we will begin our Poetry unit of study.  We will review our figurative language vocabulary and make a connection with them using poetry.  On Wednesday, we will use our five senses to create a "more alive" poem.  The students will engage in eating a few different items and writing using their senses to produce a poem that comes alive.  On Friday, we will have a read-in.  Our theme is "Reading in the Dark", so we are asking students to bring a flashlight to class.  

Homework

Vocabulary Unit 5: students should read pgs. 60-61; complete Choosing the Right Word, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Completing the Sentence

Students need to complete Read Works article: Understanding Learning Disabilities; this assignment MUST be completed by 8am on Friday, October 27th.

Students should still be reading each evening and recording their completed books on their Reading Log that is due Friday, December 1, 2017.

Social Studies

This week, we will will continue to explore the North American continents.  We will learn about Mexico's mountains and plateaus.  We will also discuss the impact of globalization.  Students will read about the physical geography of Central America and the Caribbean including earthquakes and volcanoes.  In Central America and the Caribbean, we will discuss the impact of tourism.  We will also read learn about the history of the Panama Canal.  Students will complete reading notes as they explore these topics

Writing and Grammar

Last week, a poetry project was introduced to the students.  Students will be exposed to 10-15 different types of poetry.  They will be composing their own poems based on examples showed in class.  Students will take their poems and put them together in their own poetry book.  A letter will go home on Thursday explaining what supplies will be needed to put their books together. We are looking forward to seeing the creativity our students possess!  

Students will be working with concrete and abstract nouns and pronouns and their antecedents in grammar this week.

Week of October 9-13

Reading

I hope everyone enjoyed their Monday Holiday!!  On Wednesday and Friday, we will continue with our Folktale genre unit.  We will explore through the Magic Helper, The Rule of Three, and Moral lessons using Folktale stories.  We will also revisit Figurative Language terms.  There will be a test over these lessons on Friday, October 13th.  The study guide for the test will be in their Reading ISN.

Just a friendly reminder...2nd Quarter Reading Logs were given to the students on Friday, September 29, 2017.  They are due on Friday, December 1st for a major grade.  Our goal for our Reading Logs is for your child to explore through the different types of genres.  The Reading Logs are aligned with our District's Language Arts expectations for each quarter.  There are seven books that need to be completed this quarter, they do have over eight weeks to complete them.  Please make sure your child keeps up with recording their books as they are reading them.

Homework

This week, we will have our first Read Works assignment.  I have explained and demonstrated to all students in our LC how to login and how to complete this assignment.  They must have read and answered the questions by Friday morning.  We are sent a "grade" for each passage and all grades will be collected Friday morning.

Social Studies


This week, we will be learning about the elements of culture.  we will study how geography has influenced cultures around the world, what happens when cultures collide, how culture impacts society, and how religion influences cultures.  Students will be completing various notes and activities while we read and discuss these topics.


Homework will be assigned on Tuesday and due on Thursday.


Writing


Last week, we finished our personal narratives.  They should be turned in at this time.  Our next writing topic will be poetry.  This week, students will be exposed to different types of poetry.  As we read different examples, we analyze their meanings.