Last week I shared all math updates so this week I'll share language arts/creativity updates. The only quick reminder is that Tuesday, November 17, is the first Math Olympiad of the year. Please try to make sure 4th and 5th grade students are not absent that day as they cannot make it up. Fifth grade language arts/creativity has been working on a couple of different learning opportunities. The students have been reading a mystery novel for literature circles - either The Westing Game or The Graveyard Book. Those literature circles were completed this week so they all know "whodunit" now. We'll begin a unit on poetry next week. We have also been working a brief creative writing project. In order to help the kids understand how to "explode the moment" and work on "showing not telling" in their writing, I showed them a YouTube video of the most beautiful abandoned places. The kids had to pick one and use their senses to write about setting. Their final work is due on Monday, and I can't wait to read their deserted descriptive writing. I do try to keep the schedule consistent for them and so that you know, here is how our weeks usually play out: Mondays - Work day to prep for literature circles Tuesdays - Greek & Latin root word work Wednesday - Literature Circles Thursdays - Creativity or Additional reading lessons or Mrs. Bean's choice Last week began another four-week session with fourth grade language arts/creative students. We began reading Bud, Not Buddy. We spent some time setting up the background of the story's timeframe. It takes place in the 30's during the depression. A big piece of the story is jazz music and Hoovervilles (shanty towns set up near large cities where people were forced to live during the Depression.) The video below is one that we watched showing pictures from this time. We'll be doing projects related to this book on Thursdays beginning next week. This group follows the same schedule as 5th grade (see above,) and we have just begun also looking at the roots of English through Greek/Latin word work. I'll continue with this group and this book until Thanksgiving break when we will take time off until after Christmas. While third grade language arts/creativity kids are not currently working with me in class, I did send them with a project based on The Green Book that hopefully they are all working on in the evenings though. Their project is due on November 30 when we come back together. Below is a copy of their menu of options. They only need to complete one choice, but can do two if they choose (NO more than 2 though - this shouldn't become stressful, extra work but is hopefully fun.) We'll then meet for the month of December ending another four-week session before Christmas break.
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Tracey BeanWerner Elementary Archives
May 2018
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