How can the end of this week already be March? I for one cannot believe it!! The year is soaring!
Language Arts: This week we are completing our study of folktales. Through reading, read alouds, short videos, and self-selected materials, students have learned about the types of folktales and analyzed the similarities and differences among the types. A favorite seems to be the fable. I have many 1 to 2 page short fables from all over the world I will have ready for students who need a little extra "fable time" next week, as we are moving on now to paired passages.
Paired passages take some patience. Students are familiar with the concept already, as this happens naturally all the time. We have issues of Storyworks magazines that always contain paired passages on high interest topics. We usually read these in partners or through shared reading, as the reading level tends to be a bit higher than fourth grade level. We are moving toward (and have practiced in small groups already) seeing what this looks like in a STAAR format. We have strategies that can be applied to answering questions about paired passages. These questions are very "doable," but it DOES take determination and persistence in looking back at passages rather than guessing.
We are continuing our expository composition this week. "In what do you firmly believe?" The kids are enjoying this topic. I have seen a lot of creative answers to this, by the way. I'll put the finished compositions in the hall when the kiddos finish them. We are working on mini lessons daily to review grammar and spelling skills before we write. I find that if a rule is fresh in their minds, students are more likely to apply it to their writing that day.
Social Studies: We had to slow down quite a bit near the holidays due to multiple schedule changes, benchmark testing, etc. We are getting back on track. It's worked out nicely on our fourth grade team that we are going over the 13 day siege of the Alamo on the actual dates it took place in 1836. The kids have had a better understanding of how long a day felt, or how little progress was made on a battle field in just one day. We've had great discussions on how the lack of technology at the time really changed things and how the addition of just one little piece could have changed outcomes.