This week in Language Arts (reading) we are shifting our focus to an author study. We will be studying Chris Van Allsburg together this week. Next week the students will continue that study in small groups. We are learning about an author through his work. Does he add details that mirror his own life? Do all of his books have similar settings, plots, characters, etc.? What is the problem and solution in each story and what theme can you apply to each book. The kids enjoy this unit each year. Today, Monday, we read the author's very first book, The Garden of Abdul Gasazi. We will be exploring multi leveled questions about each story to really allow the kids to think deeply about the stories.
In Language Arts (writing) we will revisit subjects and predicates and move forward with those by expanding sentences and understanding the difference between complete subject/predicate and simple subject/predicate. We will also work on compound sentences and complex sentences. Before the break, we began an expository piece. All students at this point have done the planning. All that is left is writing the draft and revising/editing. We revisited it today and completed the planning page. Tomorrow we will talk about LEADS and write our rough drafts. In addition, we will be preparing for our writing benchmark, which is Wednesday, November 29.
Social Studies: After completing the unit on Native Americans in Texas, the students have been offered an extra credit opportunity which is to create a possible "menu" for an imaginary restaurant their Native American tribe may have had. We will be moving forward with explorers after the writing benchmark.
Have a great week!