In Language Arts today the students continued to learn about figurative language.  The students focused on alliteration today. The video the students watched to correspond to this lesson has been added to today’s blog post.

Additionally, the students spent time digging further into their knowledge of textual evidence.  We discuss that there are a variety of textual evidence types.  The students practiced identifying these various types in their writing interactive notebooks.

Lastly, the students learned about text features.  This is one of the strategies on our CAFE board for Daily 5.  We discussed the types of text features and how they can be used to further our understanding of informational texts.

Have a great weekend!

Homework:

1. Read for 20 minutes

Today in Language Arts the students continued to learn about figurative language.  This time, we focused on hyperboles.  I have added the video the students watched to correspond to this lesson to my blog post for today.

The students also continued to learn about making a claim and supporting that claim with textual evidence.  Today we practiced identifying a claim and evidence in a sample writing piece.

Lastly, the students learned about the last type of multiple choice question as it relates to the QAR strategy.  We discussed that “on my own” questions require students to use their prior knowledge on the topic they are reading about or making textual connections to answer questions.

Homework:

1. Reading log due tomorrow-last grade on the marking!

In Language Arts today the students continued to learn about figurative language.  Today we focused on personification.

The students also continued to discuss argumentative writing. The students worked on an activity where they were asked to identify whether the example they were given was a fact or an opinion and they needed to explain their reasoning.

Lastly, the students continued to learn about QAR. The multiple choice question type we focused on today was author and me.  These types of questions occur when the person answering the question has to think about the way the author wrote the text in some way.

Since it was our library day, the class also spent time in the library.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

In Language Arts today the students continued to learn about figurative language.  We reviewed simile and metaphor.  The students also spent time learning about imagery.  I have included the videos the students used to practice to this blog post.

The students were also introduced to argumentative writing.  We discussed what an argument is as well as how they would write about an argument.  We also learned key vocabulary terms such as claim, counterargument, debate, and evidence.

Lastly, the students spent time learning about question answer relationships (QAR).  We specifically focused on right there as well as think and search questions.  The QAR strategy can be used to help students answer multiple choice questions. We will continue to learn about more of these types of questions throughout the course of the week.

Tomorrow is our library day. Please make sure you have your books ready to return or renew. Additionally, tomorrow is our test retake day.  I will be available at 7am or 3pm for a retake.  All students retaking the test must have all of their homework turned in, their test signed, and a scheduled test time in advance.  If students are retaking at 3pm, they must be picked up by 3:45.

Have a great evening!

Homework:

1. Read for 20 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB0HrNdqJKQ

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful and restful break.  I cannot believe it is the last week of the second marking period.  This school year is passing so quickly!  Grades are completely up to date.  At this point, the only grade the students should have left are their reading logs which are due on Friday.  I will be submitting grades on Friday at 3:05 pm. Any assignment turned in after that time will not be accepted.

Our class is beginning a new reading and writing unit this week.  We have started to discuss figurative language in class and how it can be used to enhance writing for the reader. We started off reviewing similes and metaphors in class by defining what these terms mean and then identifying their use in song lyrics.

Tomorrow we will begin to discuss argumentative writing in class.  I have also started meeting with students to review their personal narratives and set new writing goals for their argumentative pieces.

Have a great evening!

Homework:

1. Read for 20 minutes

In Language Arts today the students watched the short film version of “All Summer in a Day.”  This is a twenty five minute video where the students were asked to compare and contrast the story to the movie.  The students were also given time to go to the library during class today.  I encouraged them to check out multiple books since they would have some extra time off.  Lastly, the students spent time reviewing for their vocabulary test and then taking it.

Grading is taking longer than I anticipated and I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.  I will have grades completely up to date, with the vocabulary test score posted, by the end of the day today.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

In Language Arts today the students took their Elements of a Story Test Part 2.  They were given the entire class period to work on this.  When they were done, the students were given the option to read their good fit book, study for their vocabulary test, or finish their project from Friday if it was not completed in class.

I am doing my best to update grades as quickly as possible.  My goal is to have them done sometime this evening.  Tomorrow is the vocabulary test which means grades will change again tomorrow.  I will have grades done by 3pm tomorrow with all work I have been given.

Homework:

1. Read for 20 minutes
2. All late work due tomorrow
3. “All Summer in a Day” vocabulary test tomorrow

In Language Arts today the students continued to work on their mood/tone/story device project.  They were given time in class today tomorrow.  We will be finishing these in class tomorrow. The students were also given time to organize their reading and writing interactive notebooks.  These will be collected and graded on Monday. The students also spent time in class learning the rules of commas.  Tomorrow they will spend time in class applying these rules to practice sentences with their elbow partner. Lastly, the students played a jeopardy review game to help them prepare for their comprehension test on Monday.

I will be absent tomorrow so there will be no blog post.  During class time the students are to work with the words on the interactive word wall, complete the comma practice in their writing interactive notebooks, and finish their projects that we started in class today. If students have any questions, they can email me and I will try to respond on Sunday afternoon. The students have been aware that I will be absent tomorrow and have been encouraged to advocate for their learning for the past two days.  Reading logs and the mood, tone, or story device project will be due tomorrow at the end of class.

Homework:

1. Reading Log Due Tomorrow
2. Mood/Tone/Story Device Project Due Tomorrow at the end of class
3. Writing Interactive Notebook Check Monday
4. Reading Interactive Notebook Check Monday
5. Elements of a Story Test 2 Monday: Pyramid of Action, Types of Conflict, Story Devices, Mood and Tone, Genres, Making Connections, “The Jacket,” “All Summer in a Day,” “Tuesdays of the Other June,” quotation marks, and former story elements will be on the test
6. “All Summer in a Day” Vocabulary Test Tuesday

In Language Arts today the students began working on their “All Summer in a Day” project.  The students were instructed to identify a story device, the mood, or tone of “All Summer in a Day.” Then they wrote a constructed response explaining how they knew this story element was present within the text. The students were asked to use evidence to support their thinking on this assignment. Additionally, the students came up with an idea as to how this story element could be visually portrayed.  We will be working on the final draft of this piece in class tomorrow.

Homework:

1. Finish Constructed Response Rough Draft
2. Read for 20 minutes
3. Story Elements Test 2 Monday
4. “All Summer in a Day” Vocabulary Test Tuesday

In Language Arts today the students continued to explore the story, “All Summer in a Day.” The students identified the important parts of the story, the mood, the tone, and a story device the author uses to make the text more interesting.   We also used evidence in the text to support their thinking. The students were also given time to work with their vocabulary words during class.  Remember, the vocabulary test will be next Tuesday.

At the end of class, the students were assigned a project for “All Summer and a Day”. They are to take the mood, tone, or a story device moment and draw a picture.  They also need to use a quote from the text that supports the scene they are trying to capture. They will present these projects in class on Friday. The grade on the project itself will be summative. The presentation will not be.

Have a great evening!

Homework:

1. Read for 20 minutes
2. “All Summer in a Day” Project Due Friday
3. Story Elements Test Two Monday
4. “All Summer in a Day” Vocabulary Test Tuesday