Writing Assignment Due Oct 4/6

Since the Writing homework did not make it on my newsletter, I am posting it here for all to see! :)

Students...turn to page 15 in your Paragraph Planning Packet.  You get to choose the topic on this one!  Go ahead and plan your paragraph.  Remember, when you see dots and dashes that means to just jot down ideas to organize your thoughts...not complete sentences!  After you have completed the Paragraph Planning Sheet (pg. 15), expand your planning into a paragraph.  This paragraph will have ELEVEN sentences.  After your paragraph is complete, please underline the sentences in the correct corresponding color (green, yellow, red).  That's all! :)

Week of September 20/22 -- Literature!

We are moving right along in The Secret Garden.  I really enjoyed our class discussions about Mary and Dickon this week. :)

For homework this week, please do Activities 15 and 16 in your Notebook.  Remember, next week in class we will be having a quiz.

***Parents!!!***
For Activity 16, you are to listen to your child read aloud part of The Secret Garden.  It doesn't need to be a whole chapter, but it does need to be enough for you to assess their oral reading.  On page 12 of their Secret Garden Notebook is a chart for you to complete while they read.

As your child reads to you, simply place a tally mark in the chart next to the area that you see as a concern. 
               
Omissions = when words are omitted from the reading
Insertions = when words are added orally that are not written
Substitutions = when a different word is said instead of the word printed
Mispronunciations = when a word is pronounced incorrectly
Inversions = when words are reversed ("saw" for "was")
Aided = when prompting/help is used to read the word
Repititions = when a word is repeated orally but not repeated in the text
Expressions = if your child reads with expression, please place a (+) in this column.  If there is no expression, please place a (-) in this column.
Rate = if your child reads at a good rate, please place a (+) in this column.  If the rate is slow, please place a (-) in this column.
Volume = if your child reads an easy to hear volume, please place a (+) in this column.  If your child reads at a volume you can't hear very well, please place a (-) in this column.

Class Reminder!  We will be having a quiz over The Secret Garden next week.  Make sure you have read through Chapter 16.
                                         

Week of September 13/15 -- Literature

First of all, class, as you are reading and learn more and more about Dickon, please write those adjectives that describe him on his picture (pg 16)!  We will compare/contrast Dickon and Mary in class next week!

Activity 9 Vocabulary

                                                                1.  Wick

                                                                2.  Governess

                                                                3.  Guardian

                                                                4.  Solemnly

Activity 10 Reader's Response

"Happiness must be grown in one's own garden." -Mary Engelbreight

When you write about what you believe this quote to mean, be sure to write at least a five sentence paragraph.  Use the format we learned in writing class! :)

Activity 11 Vocabulary

I'm looking forward to seeing your picture of a Rajah gaping fretfully at ....!  Do your best, even if you don't consider yourself artistic!

Activity 12 Literary Terms

1.  Imagery : figurative language (to see a picture in your mind)

2.  Metaphor : a strong comparison, applying a word or phrase to something else, usually using the verb "is"

          General Example :  He is a bear in the morning.

          Story Example : 

 

3.  Simile : a comparison that is not as strong, that uses "like" or "as"

           General Example : He is as quiet as a mouse.

           Story Example :

4.  Symbol : something that represents something else

           General Example : The sun rose the next day bringing hope.

           Story Example :

 

***I just realized that I forgot to type #5 on in your handbook.  Please try to find space on your paper to add it!  I'm sorry!  :)

5.  Personification : giving human characteristics to objects

           General Example : The sunflower shined its face on us.

           Story Example :

Make sure that by class next week you have read through Chapter 11.  And as always, e-mail me if you have any questions, comments or concerns.  Have a great weekend!

Week of September 13/15 -- Writing Assignment for Writing Class!

Today (Tuesday...Thursday students, ignore this until after class on Thursday!) in class we talked about the organization of paragraphs and how to make sure we have paragraphs that make sense.  We discusses five, six and seven sentence accordion paragraphs.  This is how they look:

Five Sentence Paragraph      

Topic Sentence

Reason/Detail/Fact

Reason/Detail/Fact

Reason/Detail/Fact

Conclusion

Six Sentence Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Reason/Detail/Fact

Explain

Reason/Detail/Fact

Explain

Conclusion

Seven Sentence Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Reason/Detail/Fact

Explain

Reason/Detail/Fact

Explain

Explain

Conclusion    

***Parents:  This might look a little foreign to you, but trust me, your kids should know exactly what it means!  We looked at examples and practices writing paragraphs like this in class.  If you or your student is lost, please e-mail me!  mfernihough@asd20.org

For homework, each student is to write an 8 sentence paragraph and the topic is movie/tv show.  Follow the accordion format below!

Eight Sentence Paragraph

Topic Sentence

Reason, Detail, Fact

Explain

Reason, Detail, Fact

Explain

Reason, Detail, Fact

Explain

Conclusion

Activity 6 Vocabulary

My Tuesday students are completely on top of completing their "Secret Garden Notebook!"  I am just now getting the vocabulary for this week posted and I have already had several inqiries about where the definitions were!  So those of you who have been eager to begin, I'm so sorry!  I'll try to be better at posting the definitions that day I assign them.  :) 

Remember, copy down the definitions and then draw a picture out to the side to help you remember the meaning of each word!

1.  Porridge - breakfast food like oatmeal

2.  Biscuit - can be a small cake or cookie, not usually too sweet

3.  Matted - a tangled mess, clumped together

4.  Alcoves - a shady or secluded place in a garden

I look forward to hearing how many of your predictions from Activity 7 were close to what happened in the story! 

I hope you are enjoying this book and the activities as much as I am!  Have a great week! :)

Followers!

Thank you so much for those of you who have already signed up and are now "following" this blog!  I really appreciate it!  I believe that as "followers" you will get notifications when I post.  This is a new concept for me (and for CSP) to have a class blog that is an actual interactive tool for the students.  I appreciate any and all feedback, as I want this to be useful and exciting!  Thank you so much for your support thus far this year and I look forward to a great year with all of you!