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.