Dear Family Member,

Welcome to our next unit of study, “Characters’ Actions and Reactions.” We are beginning our second unit of study in the Benchmark Advance program. As a reminder, each three-week unit features one topic. As with the previous unit, I am providing suggested activities you and your child can do together at home to build on the work we’re doing in class. In our second unit of study, “Characters’ Actions and Reactions,” your child will explore how characters drive the action of a plot. For example, in the story The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Dorothy is going to visit the Great Oz. During the journey, she discovers a scarecrow that can talk. Your child will also explore some of the messages in character-driven classic stories, such as the challenges of growing up and believing in oneself. This will help students begin thinking about how they come across as characters in their own lives, with actions and reactions similar to those of characters they read about. The selections include a variety of genres, such as fantasy, drama, a fable, and informational texts. I’m looking forward to this exciting unit, exploring with your children the wide range of characters we encounter in literature. It will be fun to discover how the children connect with the various characters as well as recognize the historical significance of some of our favorite children’s tales.As always, should you have any questions about our reading program or about your child’s progress, please don’t hesitate to contact me.