Ms. Lessel

The time is sure flying by. This week students will be continuing to read The Giver or The Cay and applying concepts we have learned this year as well as work with symbolism and irony. This week’s writing challenge is on symbolism and is due on Friday, June 3rd. In Vocabulary Lesson 11 is wrapping up with the test tomorrow (Wednesday). Lesson 12 will begin and will be the final lesson covered. We will then review the 12 lessons for a final test the last week of school.

Sadly our Bryant library is closing for the school year so all books checked out are due by the end of the week. Due to this, the weekly reading challenge will be a little different .For this week students will be recommending a book they read this year to their classmates. This assignment must be done on google docs and shared with me by Monday, June 6th.

Reading Challenge Due Monday, June 6the :

summerreadinglist

Writing Challenge Due Friday, June 3rd  :

symbolismwritingchallenge

This week students will be working on developing their ideas on what they would like to see and not see in a Utopian society (perfect world). Their response shouldn’t be a fantasy world ( chocolate rivers, flying unicorns) but one that addresses problems they see in society and ways it could be eliminated.It would be beneficial if you could have a conversation with them on the topic while they form their own opinion. This assignment is due Thursday, May 26th.

Here is the two pages of the assignment/

doc20160523133609

doc20160523133546

This week we will continue reading The Giver and applying what we have learned this year to the novel. We will also begin Vocabulary Lesson 11 with the test scheduled for next Wednesday, May 31st.

Due to the shortened week there is no Reading and Writing challenge. Students who are missing either of these assignments can do a makeup one while students who have them all in can do one for a Bonus( extra credit).

Bonus Reading Challenge

Bonus Writing Challenge or create your own topic for 1 page of writing

ACT-050916-Recipe_Contest

Reminder No School May 27th -May 30th.

Enjoy the holiday!

This week we will be beginning the novel, The Giver” and applying what we have learned all year as we read it. I am urging students not to read ahead as we work through it together. I know it will be tough but parents I am asking your help in monitoring that they are reading their good-fit book at home and completing the homework that is due Monday. We are also starting Lesson 10 of vocabulary. The test is scheduled for next Monday, May 23rd.

Homework:

ReadingWriting Cafe Challenge May16

This week students will be presenting their folktale retelling. Students will be noticing the the different themes when listening to the presentations. Students will also be working on Lesson 9 vocabulary with the test scheduled for this Friday, May 13th.

Homework:

ReadingWriting Cafe Challenge May9

Here’s the scoop on what we did this week.

Students as a group have completed all M-Step testing and NWEA testing for Math and Language Arts.  A few students will be doing make-ups or finishing up if needed. Ask your child to see their scores ( they are in their planners, bllue page 6) The only test remaining is NWEA Science which is scheduled for Monday.

In the shortened classes, students should have finished their visual storyboard (illustrations only) and are currently working on their oral retelling of their folktale.Students will need to continue  practicing at home so that they can tell the story in a way that makes it come alive for the audience (no note cards) as that is how folktales were told and passed down from generation to generation. Be prepared for them to ask you to be their audience and critique and encourage them to hone their performance. I have also encouraged them to practice in front of a mirror.  Our dress rehearsal is on Monday. Presentations begin on Tuesday and wrap on Thursday.

This week’s Reading and Writing Challenge is due Monday.

ReadingWriting Cafe Challenge May2

Reminder Report cards for 5th marking are going home today.

Please check with your child on supplies, many students are coming to class without pencils/pens or paper. Yesterday I loaned out 21 pencils/pens for the day. I wish that was a hyperbole but it wasn’t. Last hour I was running out myself.

This week we will be taking the Language Arts M-Step on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. We will start around 9:15 AM and wrap up before lunch. If more time is needed we will go from there. Remember it is important that your child get a good nights sleep and have a breakfast. No food or drink can come into the testing session as we are taking the test online.

Our classes will be shortened in the afternoon so that each of us will get to meet with them for class. In class we will continue working on folktales. Students will be preparing to retell a folktale to the class and share the theme.

On Wednesday, April 29th their vocabulary word tracker is due.

On Friday, April 29th students will take the NWEA Language Test. It is also the last day of the 5th marking period.

Students will not be doing a reading and writing challenge this week for homework.

Instead students will be working on Vocabulary Lesson 8 for homework starting tomorrow. It is expected to be complete by next Wednesday, May 4th.

We will be ending our year reading the novel The Giver. Slips were passed out today for students who wish to purchase their own copy of The Giver. In case they forget to give it you, it is below.

TheGiverMoneyOrderForm.docx

This week we will be working on cause and effect writing as well as reading short passages and applying concepts we have learned this year.  Students will be working in and out of class on the cause and effect writing assignment and are expected to be reading 20 minutes a night.

ReadingWriting Cafe Challenge April 18th

Important Dates

Thursday, April 21st- Family Literacy Night @ Bryant 6-730pm Stop in and see me for extra credit.

Friday, April 22nd- NWEA Reading Test

Monday, April 25th- Cause/Effect Essay Due

Tuesday, April 26th- M-Step Language Arts Test Day 1

Wednesday, April 27th M- Step Language Arts Test Day 2

Wednesday April 27th – 5th Marking Vocabulary Trackers Due

Friday, April 29th- NWEA Writing Test

Friday, April 29th- End of 5th Marking

This week we will be exploring how certain folktales are common through many cultures. One such is the fairytale Cinderella.  One version is from China called,  “Yeh-Shen”  and and the other is from Native Americans called, “Sootface”.  From there students will move into story devices and writing.

Students will also be wrapping up Lesson 7 in Vocabulary.

Homework Due April 18th

Week of April 11th Reading Challenge

Important Dates:

Tuesday, April 12 Vocabulary 7 Test

Wednesday, April 13 Science Behind Roller Skating Field Trip

Leaving by 10 AM- returning around 2:15 PM

Lunch Provided: Choices- Cheese or Pepperoni(non-halal) Pizza,                                Hot Dogs (Halal), Nachos, and Drink.

Other food is available for purchase or students can bring food.

Roller Skate rental included. May rent roller blades for $2 or bring non-black wheel roller blades from home.

Cell phones are not allowed.

This week we will be wrapping up Vocabulary Lesson 6 and working on analyzing text for mood and tone.  Due to the short week, the reading and writing challenge is due this Thursday, March 24th. Please note reading and writing challenges are no longer accepted late.

Important Dates

Tuesday, March 22nd; Vocab. 6 Test

Thursday, March 24th: Reading and Writing Challenge Due

Friday, March 25th – Sunday, April 3rd: Spring Break

Monday, April 4th- Extra Credit/Makeup Reading and/or Writing Challenges Due

Students may use any reading form on the blog for the make/up extra credit.There are several writing contests for students to enter. Students are encouraged to participate and bring in their completed entries for extra credit on April 4th. I will then forward them to the contests.

Links:

Homework: Challenges:

ReadingWritingChallenge3-21

Law Day Contest

lawdaypage1  lawdaypage2

Teacher of the Year Contest

techeroftheyearpage1     teahceroftheyearpage2