DECEMBER 16-20

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16:
*  review characterization notes
*  complete "Birthday Box" characterization practice with partner, then discuss as large group
*  work on holiday paragraph

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17:
*  Unit 2 Reading test review:  students will make a review sheet, complete it from memory, use their notes to fill in any holes, then check with a partner to make sure they haven't left anything out.  The partners will then quiz each other on vocabulary.  STUDENTS WILL BE BRINGING THIS HOME TO STUDY!  :)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18:
*  Unit 2 reading test


THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19:
*  holiday paragraph


FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20:
*  holiday paragraph
*  book passback to get ideas for independent reading books
*  book talks


HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

DECEMBER 9-13

MONDAY, DEC. 9:
*  character notes:  main, minor, static, dynamic
*  start new paragraph with elaboration

TUESDAY, DEC. 10:
*  work on paragraph
*  practice answering questions in reading

WEDNESDAY, DEC 11:
*  library day
*  work on paragraph
*  characterization in reading

THURSDAY, DEC. 12:
*  character traits notes, look at examples in literature book
*  work on paragraph

FRIDAY, DEC. 13:
*  character motivation notes
*  read "Zebra" in lit book

DECEMBER 2-6

MONDAY, DECEMBER 2:

*  homework explained:  final draft of newspaper/tabloid article.  We will do a minilesson on quotations and how a newspaper article is structured.  Students will come home with a rubric and instructions.  This is due THURSDAY.
*  begin Unit 2 in reading with vocab introduction
*  adding elaboration to paragraphs:  notes

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3:

*  minilesson:  punctuating dialogue
*  point of view notes:  1st person, 3rd person, narrator, practice identifying point of view in different selections, including independent reading book

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4:

*  practice punctuating dialogue
*  add narrator, 1st person POV, 3rd person POV to vocab notebook
*  library
*  adding elaboration notes

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5:

*  character notes:  main, minor, static, dynamic; discuss selections we've already read and look at examples
*  adding elaboration notes
*  afternoon assembly--shortened classes

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6:

*  read "Sloppy Jalopy" and discuss POV, static and dynamic characters, practice POV and characters
*  adding elaboration notes
*  BOOK ORDERS DUE!  WE ARE SENDING IN THE ORDER TODAY SO WE CAN GET BOOKS IN TIME FOR WINTER BREAK!  You may order online at Scholastic.com--our code is HCRLR.  Or, you can send in the book order slip.  Thanks!!

NOVEMBER 25-27

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25: 
*  Today we will talk about substitute teacher expectations
*  We will explain tomorrow's lesson
*  We will start talking about characters, character traits and main and minor characters
*  rough draft of newspaper article/tabloid article

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26:
*  WE WILL BE ATTENDING A CLASS--there will be subs in the room today
*  Students will be following the writing process and writing a P122 powergraph on their own.  They may need to finish as homework if they don't complete it in class.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27:
*  We have shortened classes today because of our Fun Run movie incentive
*  We will write a final copy of their newspaper/tabloid article

NOVEMBER 18-22

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18:

Today we will review for our test tomorrow!  Your students should come home with a study guide and vocabulary sheet of words they will need to know. 
In writing, we will start talking about elaboration in paragraphs.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19:

Unit 1 Reading test on:  stages of plot:  exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution; cause and effect; internal and external conflicts; sequence, chronological order and flashbacks. 

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20: 

library day
elaboration in writing

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21:

elaboration
Start Unit 2 in reading:  Characterization, character traits, character motivation, static and dynamic characters

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22:

elaboration
Character traits

NOVEMBER 12-15

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11:  No school.  Veterans' Day

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12:
*  open classroom library--your students may be coming home with a contract for you to sign in order for them to check out books from our library.  We just wanted to let you know how it works, and that students are responsible for the books they check out.
*  add cause/effect to reading vocab notes
*  notes and discussion on types of conflict (internal and external)
* practice recognizing internal and external conflicts

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13:
*  library day
*  final draft of Strange Habits paragraph
* read "Stop the Sun" and practice identifying conflicts

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14:
*  plot map on own for "Stop the Sun"--unit test coming up next TUESDAY
*  label conflicts in novel as internal or external

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15:
*  practice plot map
* synonyms and antonyms practice

NOVEMBER 4-6

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES ARE THIS WEEK!  We are looking forward to talking with you about your child.

MONDAY, NOV. 4: 
*  cause/effect in reading  (notes and discussion)
*  read "Spaghetti Pig Out"
*  write final draft of Strange Habits P122

TUESDAY, NOV. 5:
*  peer editing Strange Habits
*  practice identifying causes and effects with partner, discuss in large group

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6:
*  library day
*  final draft of P122
*  editing practice, synonyms and antonyms

OCTOBER 28-NOV 1

MONDAY, OCT. 28: 
*  PROGRESS REPORTS HANDED OUT IN CORE CLASSES TODAY--your child's final report card grade is reflected on this progress report, unless he or she turns in missing work
*  add plot map terms to vocab notebook
*  vocabulary practice for "The Last Dog"
*  t chart P122 Strange Habits paragraph

TUESDAY, OCT. 29:
*  notes on chronological order, sequence and flashback
*  read "The Last Dog" on own in class
*  rough draft Strange Habits paragraph

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30:
*  quiz on "The Last Dog" with plot map
*  revise/edit Strange Habits paragraph
*  library day

THURSDAY, OCT. 31:
*  vocabulary review
*  add flashback and chronolgical order to vocab notebook

FRIDAY, NOV. 1:
*  MOVIE INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS WITH ALL WORK TURNED IN
*  vocabulary game
*  peer edit Strange Habits paragraph

OCTOBER 21-25

MONDAY, OCT. 21:
*  plot map notes and practice with "Licked"
*  If your P122 paragraph isn't finished, it is HOMEWORK DUE TOMORROW


TUESDAY, OCT. 22:
*  add exposition, setting and characters to vocab notebook
*  vocab study for "Seventh Grade" story
*  read "Seventh Grade" in literature book
*  do plot map for "Seventh Grade" together

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23:
*  add rising action and conflict to vocab notebook
*  selection quiz for "Seventh Grade"
*  library day
*  paragraphs

THURSDAY, OCT. 24:
*  add climax and falling action to vocab notebook
*  read "Ice Maiden" together
*  do plot map with support from partner
*  paragraphs

FRIDAY, OCT. 25:
*  add resolution to vocab notebook
*  quiz on plot map definitions
*  vocab practice game

OCTOBER 14-18

Hi.  I'm so sorry that I didn't get this posted in a timely manner this week!  Here is what we are doing in LA:


MONDAY, OCT 14:
*  power writing notes
*  revise and edit rough draft of P122 paragraph

TUESDAY, OCT 15:
*  Close read with articles about school lunches, teach students how to write a response, have them find evidence to support their opinions

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16:
*  library
*  dictionary/editing strategies
*  write final draft of P122 paragraph

THURSDAY, OCT 17:
*  peer editing
* plot map notes in LA binder

FRIDAY, OCT 18:
* complete plot map together with "Licked"
* add plot map terms to vocabulary notebook:  exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
*  FUN RUN in the afternoon!

OCTOBER 7-11

MONDAY OCTOBER 7:
*  connections notes, practice making connections together with "Fly Away Home"
* TAPF notes and t chart for paragraph

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8:
*  inference notes, practice making inferences about characters together
*  graphic organizer and rough draft for paragraph

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 9:
*  practice asking questions while reading, learn to "close read" with "Licked" story:  practice recording connections, questions, inferences and predictions.  Practice inference questions together. 
*  Power Writing Rules

THURSDAY OCTOBER 10:
*  practice close reading with INFORMATIONAL TEXT. How are your thoughts the same or different than with fiction?
*  revise and edit paragraph

FRIDAY OCTOBER 11:
*  final draft P122 paragraph, peer response, rewrite

BOOK ORDERS SHOULD BE COMING IN SOMETIME THIS WEEK! WOOHOO!  :)

SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 4


MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30:
*  students will finish creating an object to put on the wall that contains their goals for the year
*  NO homework this week
*  TEXT FEATURES PROJECT DUE if your child brought it home to finish over the weekend

TUESDSAY, OCTOBER 1:
* book orders due today
* begin Power Writing and paragraph writing
*  complete word power sheet

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2:
* library day
*  P122 paragraph notes
*  P122 rough draft

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3:
* Power writing standards notes
*  rewrite rough draft to standards
*  Making connections in reading (narrative and informational text)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4:
* Peer edit rough draft of paragraph
* previewing and making connections practice

SEPTEMBER 23-27


MONDAY, SEPT. 23:

*  NO HOMEWORK THIS WEEK
*  Begin text features project and rough draft today.   It includes a poster about themselves using 8 different text features, and then students will write to explain the information their text features show.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24:

*  begin writing paragraphs
*  Text Feature project work time--rough drafts checked off by the end of class!

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25:

*  library
*  writing paragraphs
*  Text Feature project work time--start on final draft

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26:

*  writing paragraphs
*  Text Features project work time--final drafts due FRIDAY at the end of class

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27:

*  work on goal objects to hang on wall
*  Text Features project due by the end of the class period.  The last 15 minutes will be spent writing to explain the text features used. 

SEPTEMBER 16-20

MONDAY, SEPT. 16: 

*  progress reports handed out today
* students will learn what to do if they are missing an assignment, and the process for finding it and completing it
*  Hopes and Dreams homework handed out--due THURSDAY
*  fiction vs. nonfiction:  we will create charts that show the features of each of these genres


TUESDAY, SEPT. 17:
*  Reading strategies notes
*  begin with PREVIEW
*  start looking at nonfiction text features, finding them in books and articles, and identifying what information they give

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18:

*  library day
*  text features review
*  Text Features project introduction

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19:

*  article to preview and review text features
*  Text Features project work time--rough draft due by the end of class
*  WEEKLY HOMEWORK DUE BY THE END OF THE DAY!!

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20:

*  Text Features project work time
*  goal object for wall


**We are not sure how long this text features project will take.  We will set a due date as probably next Monday or Tuesday.  We will let you and the students know in plenty of time. **

SEPTEMBER 9-13

MONDAY, SEPT. 9:

*  Your student needs a silent reading book starting today. We will visit the school library today if your student doesn't have a book from home to bring.
*  Students will complete a reading survey
*  We will go over the rules and ways to earn points for silent reading

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10:

*  Begin silent reading every day!
*  Set up Language Arts Binder:  a 1" binder that will be kept in the classroom for notes and work
*  Read Mascot article and start brainstorming team names

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11:

*  Library day
*  Mascot work
*  sentence stems
*  write school goals for the year

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12:

* Pick classroom theme
* Mascot work
* journal


FRIDAY, SEPT. 13:

* goals
* begin non fiction notes