Goliath's Christmas - Chapter 4

Today we finished reading "Goliath's Christmas."  We also took our unit 15 review spelling test.  Please keep reading for Book-it over the holiday.  Have a great break!

Goliath's Christmas Chapter 3

Today we read Chapter 3 of "Goliath's Christmas" to find out what mysterious event almost caused David and Goliath's Christmas to be ruined.  We also worked on a "Truth About Mrs. Claus" comprehension sheet, and we practiced for our review spelling test tomorrow.

Mrs. Curta gave the students who had p.e. today a Winter Activity Log to be returned after the holiday break.

Please continue to read for Book-it over the holiday break.  Book -it is due on January 6, along with one good quality book review.

Goliath's Christmas Chapter 2

Today we read the second chapter in our "Goliath's Christmas" story.  We worked on summarizing what we read, and we also learned new vocabulary words.

In spelling we practiced for Thursday's review test by completing workbook pages 59 & 60.

Please remember that Book-it is due on January 6th.  At home reading that is completed during the first vacation week of January can count for BOTH the December and January Book-it calendars, as we will not receive a January calendar until we return from the holiday break.

Goliath's Christmas

This week we are reading a chapter book called "Goliath's Christmas."  It is about a dog named Goliath who saves the day for a senior citizen's holiday party.  Students will be reading, discussing, and learning vocabulary from one chapter each day.

We will also have a spelling test this week, but it will be a review test on Thursday.  The students have their word list in their folders to study.

Book-it calendars are due on January 6.  There was a misprint in the newsletter saying that they were due after Thanksgiving.  Oops!  Thanksgiving is long gone!  New calendars for January will be distributed upon the return from break.  Reading that takes place during the first month of January can count for BOTH the December and the January calendars!

Jack Frost

Today we enjoyed the 1976 version of "Jack Frost." Was Jack Frost the stranger in our Chris Van Allsburg story this week?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9U9Cba7-AA

We also took our spelling test over our unit 14 words.  Next week's spelling unit is a review unit.  We will take our test on Thursday since students will be staying in their homerooms on Friday.

Please keep reading for Book-it, which is due on January 6th.  A new Book-it calendar will be distributed for January after the holiday break.  

Pronouns

Today we learned about pronouns (words that take the place of a noun), as well as antecedents (the noun that is replaced).  We completed workbook page 49.

Tomorrow is a  spelling test.  Workbook page 57 was offered as a spelling extra credit assignment.

Book-it is due on January 6th.  January calendars for Book-it will be distributed AFTER the break. Any reading that is completed during the first month of January will be allowed to count toward BOTH calendars!  If a student lost their calendar, they can provide a note from home verifying if 4 hours of reading was completed for the month.  Students who lose their book review paper can create their own book review on a blank sheet of paper.  That should solve the problem of "the elves took my homework!"  :)

Today we read "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi," a fascinating Chris Van Allsburg story.  We also had library time.

Story Assessment

Today we worked hard on our story assessment about "The Stranger," which is a fantasy explanation for the existence of Jack Frost.  Students really enjoyed this story and were very perceptive.  We took a vocabulary, comprehension, and story summary test.  Tonight students should continue to read for Book-it and prepare for Friday's spelling test.

The Stranger

Today we read the mysterious fantasy story titled "The Stranger" by Chris Van Allsburg.  Students should reread the story at home and review the vocabulary for tomorrow's selection test.  We also completed the corresponding workbook pages for this story, Practice workbook 78 & 79.

Please keep reading for Book-it, and don't forget about Friday's spelling test.

Nouns

Today we reviewed plural, singular, singular possessive, and plural possessive nouns.  Using apostrophes to show ownership is still a challenge for many students.  We will continue to work on this skill.  We did complete Grammar Workbook page 48 today, for a grade.

We also discussed and practiced our Unit 14 spelling words and completed workbook page 55.

This week our reading story will be in the genre of Fantasy.  We will be reading "The Stranger" by Chris Van Allsburg.

Nouns

Today we reviewed nouns (person, place, thing) and discussed common and proper nouns.  We also practiced possessive nouns and completed grammar workbook page 45 as a review.  Our spelling test today included words with suffixes.  Students also worked hard to recopy their Three Branches of Government essays.

Please continue to read for Book-it, due on January 6th.

Spelling Test Tomorrow

Today we worked on the skill of "Cause and Effect" and completed a cause and effect worksheet.  We also have an extra credit spelling sheet that can be completed for homework (workbook page 54).  Our spelling test will be tomorrow!

Please continue to read for Book-it.  We also worked on our final copies of our "Three Branches of Government" essays.

Story Test

Today we took our story assessment over "Fire Storm" on pages 344-354 in our reading book.  We worked on properly responding to an extended response question using an "E-I-E-I-O" format.  (Evidence, Interpretation, Observation)

We have a spelling test over our unit 13 words on Friday, and Book-it is due at the end of the month. The Book-it requirement includes a "good quality" book review to be completed along with the monthly Book-it calendar.

Fire Storm

Today we read the story "Fire Storm" on pages 344-354 in our Storytown book.  Students should reread this story for homework and return the signed purple story sheet for homework.  We also worked hard to learn the vocabulary words on the back of the purple story sheet.  Students completed "Practice Workbook" page 72.

December Book-it is due on January 6.  Students who complete Book-it requirements are given a 100% for this assignment.  The Book-it requirement is 4 hours of reading per month, and one simple book review is also required.  However, I would like to see quality work on the book review (complete, neat sentences, no pen, proper punctuation and capitalization).

We will have a spelling test on Friday.

New Book-it

Welcome back from the holiday break!  Today we are practicing our Lesson 13 spelling list.  This list includes words with suffixes (-able, -ible, -ness, -ment, and -less).  Students also received a new December Book-it calendar which will be due on January 6th, along with one book review.  Tomorrow we will be reading the story "Firestorm."

In class, we completed spelling workbook pages 51 & 52, and grammar workbook pages 41 & 42 about singular and plural nouns.