This week in language arts:
We are finishing up some work with strategies for reading and understanding paired passages. Answering questions that require comparing two passages is hard for many students. If they slow down and use the strategies taught, they always do better. Look for some grades to come home that will show you how your child is doing with that. I worked with small groups to make corrections to our latest practice. Those who scored lower showed no strategies or process of elimination as they have been taught. Please encourage your child to always show his or her best work and effort. We will begin learning about media literacy toward the end of this week and the beginning of next week.
In writing, students are completing a poetry collection about a specific topic. These will be on display in the hallway soon and then become part of their portfolios which you will receive at the end of the year. Next up will be writing fictional stories using a plot pyramid for planning.
In social studies, we are learning about the differences between Mirabeau Lamar and Sam Houston as it pertains to Texas joining the U.S. We will then follow the challenges Texas faced when they joined the Union.