This week...
In Language Arts we are finishing up our historical fiction novels during sustained silent reading each day. Students are working on some short activities on something we called a Novel Choice Board. It allows students to choose activities that match their interests as well as the level of challenge they need. GT kiddos are working on a slightly different assignment, but all of them are intended to be a culminating activity.
In addition, we are beginning to look at procedural texts. Procedural texts are what we all used to call "How To" passages. Typically they will have common vocabulary that indicates order like first, next, then, etc. We will practice finding information from the text itself as well as information boxes, captions with photos, charts, steps, and directions. The homework I gave today is based on following directions and is due on Wednesday.
In writing, we will be going over the last benchmark composition to see what in what areas the kids are improving as well as which areas need more work. This week we are practicing in a different way. Each student was asked to write just one paragraph today about a particular topic. They will work with other students this week to tie their individual paragraphs together by adding transitions sentences. The group texts will be typed up for them so that on Friday, individual students can add an introduction and conclusion and have a completed composition. Hopefully you saw my notes on the webpage last week. I included some pictures to help you see what we are doing in class. Aside from work on compositions, students will work in writing stations this week to help each other on some basic revision and editing activities.
In Social Studies, we are right in the middle of the Battle of the Alamo. In 1836, the battle began on February 23rd. The battle lasted 13 days, ending on March 6th. In the midst of that, in another town, (Washington-on-the-Brazos) a group of men met to write Texas' declaration to be independent from Mexico. That happened on March 2nd, which is now remembered as Texas Independence Day. Students are hearing a lot about the different Texas defenders that died that day through reading the Texas Studies Weekly newspapers, listening to some information that I'm reading aloud, and through short videos from Discovery Education. They are using the information to create their own Faces of the Alamo mini books.