Updates February 13-17, 2012

Here we are in our last focus for Theme 4. Next week will begin our Monitoring Student Progress week with our performance tasks then Theme 4 test. My how time is flying by!!!

Reading
This week our focus will be on comparing and contrasting story elements as well as recognizing how an author helps us to recognize differences and likenesses between characters in a story. Our story will be Yang the Second and Her Secret Admirers. Students have vocabulary words on page 392 along with extra words: accompaniment, demonstration, impressed, noble, and rhythmic. Students will also be assigned questions 1-6 on page 408.


Language
We are wrapping up our focus on procedural writing. Students will peer revise and edit this week. Student's papers will be due Friday, February 17. We have gone over every step and expectation for their paper in class. Students should have journal activities in their writer's notebook to guide them while publishing their writing.

Spelling
This week's focus how words change spelling when adding the ed or ing ending. A pretest is given on Monday for students to have a focused list throughout the week.

Important Dates:
February 14................Valentine's Day (students may bring in Valentine's for friends)
February 16................FCAT Explorer night 6-7p.m.
February 20................Holiday-President's Day
February 22................Early dismissal

Until next time,
R. O'Steen

Updates February 6-10, 2012

You should have seen the report cards that came home last week by now along with the updated mid-year assessment page. I am so proud of how well the students did the second nine weeks!! You should have also received a survey last week in a white envelope.
Thanks to all who have signed and returned all three. If you haven't yet they can still be turned in this week.

Reading

This week in reading our focus will be inferring. This is when students use text clues along with personal knowledge to understand things not directly stated in the text. We will be using the story Dear Mr. Henshaw. Students should define the vocabulary on pg 414 and answer questions on pg 432 throughout the week. Look for reminders in student's planners.

Reminder: reading logs and student planners still need to be signed every night.

Writing

We will continue our study of procedural writing. By the end of the week students will be ready to write their complete paper.

Spelling

This week's words focus on suffixes. Look for the pretest to come home on Monday.


Important dates

February 8................early dismissal
February 14...............Valentine's Day (students may bring in Valentines)
February 20...............President's Day No School
February 21...............Last day to turn in money for Marine Science Field Trip
February 22...............early dismissal
February 27...............Marine Science Center Field Trip