This week...
In Writing, students are learning about the other three parts of the "cubing" strategy. This includes reasons and explanations, definitions, and connections. (Here is a link to one example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-1PkBjot50)
Once finished, we will have 6 different, easy, go-to ways to address any prompt. We will be practicing applying the three new cubing types this week and then trying various types to write about a variety of topics. The more comfortable the students are with addressing a prompt, the easier it is for them to plan for it and write it. We have been and will continue to work on revising and editing our own writing. In addition, we are continuing our study of homophones and tricky words this week by adding words to our word walls often. Tricky words include knowing when to use lay/lie, good/well, its/it's, etc. Tricky words can also be unusual spellings such as lose/loose or desert/dessert.
I am going over writing benchmark scores from December one on one with students this week to identify skills that still need work in their writing as well as rules they may not yet fully understand with regard to editing and revising. I can't send the benchmarks home, but I will make them available the week of spring conferences which is mid February. We are beginning our daily practices of test-like questions, but the focus is only about 10 minutes per day.
In Reading, we are rotating through stations that wrap up our study of poetry as a genre. Students are being given time at one station as well as homeroom time, ROAR time, and free time to work on their new assignment: Poetry Collection. Students are brainstorming and writing 6 types of poems on one topic. By next Tuesday, I will send them home for completion with a due date of Jan. 27th. Homework this week is due THURSDAY.
In Social Studies, we are continuing our study of American settlers in Texas. Texas is controlled by Mexico at this point in history, which is the third of the Six Flags of Texas. The students just finished reading about The Old 300 and participating in a fun activity where they read letters from potential settlers and decided who would be a good fit for their colony. It was fun to watch them explain their reasons for including or dismissing the candidates.
Speaking of candidates, please remember that this Friday is Inauguration Day, and regardless of who anyone voted for, it is still a time in history that students should be aware of. It is my hope that whether we watch any of it here at school or not, that some discussion will be had at home and at school regarding the process such as the oath of office and what that means. This is likely the first memory of any election that your kids will remember.