Book-it

February Book-it was due today, and a new March Book-it calendar is being sent home today.  Book-it is a requirement in class and counts as a homework grade.  I cannot say enough about the importance of reading at home.  There is one month left for Book-it.

We will be bringing home an ISAT practice folder today.  Please take a look at the hard work and preparation that your child has completed in school.

Next week we will not have a spelling test.  There will be no homework assignments (other than March Book-it) due to testing all week.

Extended Response

Today we read a story called "Tukama and the Duppy" and another story called "The Race at Moonbeam Lake."  We were able to compare and contrast these two tales.  One was an American Indian Tale, and the other was a Caribbean tale.  We used the stories to work on an extended response answer in preparation for next week's ISAT tests.  Students will bring their whole ISAT practice folder home tomorrow to show you.  Please take a moment to look through it to see how hard they have been working.

Book-it calendars are due tomorrow.  If lost, students can turn in a note from home verifying three hours of reading for the month.  If the book review page is lost, students can simply write a book review on a blank sheet of notebook paper.  Reading for Book-it is a required monthly homework assignment, and one of the few homework assignments that I give in language arts.

There is a review spelling test tomorrow.

Prefixes, Suffixes, Root Words

Today we reviewed and practiced Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words.  A root is the basic part of a word that gives the word its meaning.  We talked about some unusual prefixes, such as "giga" (one billion, as in "gigabyte") and "milli" (one thousand).  We completed Practice workbook 34.

We also completed a practice ISAT paper about Narrative, Persuasive, and Expository passages.

Book-it is due Friday with a short book review.  Our spelling review Unit 20 test will also be given on Friday.  Students should be working to be prepared for these two tasks on a nightly basis.  I've been encouraging them not to leave anything for the last minute.

More Practice!

We continue to practice each day for our ISAT tests by working on "Extended Response" reading questions.  We will be taking two tests each day of next week.  Remember that we are off school on Monday.  Students will take the tests in their HOMEROOM.

Next week:
Tuesday -  Reading & Science tests
Wednesday - Reading & Math tests
Thursday - Reading & Math tests
Friday - Math & Science tests

This week:
Spelling test Friday, as well as our due date for Book-it.

Practice!

Today we took a look at our unit 20 spelling review words and completed Spelling Workbook page 79. Our spelling test will be on Friday.

We also worked on reviewing more skills for our upcoming ISAT Reading tests.  We learned to distinguish main ideas and supporting details.  Students will bring home their ISAT practice folders on Friday so that you can see what we have been learning.

Book-it is due on Friday.  A "good quality" book review is part of the Book-it requirement.

Figurative Language

Today we worked on using "Figurative Language" such as personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and idioms.  Students should be able to identify these examples in a story or passage.

We also took our spelling test and practiced ISAT Reading skills.  Our ISAT tests are the week of March 4.

Book-it is due on Friday, February 28.  All students should please be reading at home.

Practice

We are continuing to practice for our State Reading tests.  Today we read a passage called "Treasure in the Field" and we worked together as a class to answer story questions and to complete an "Extended Response" written answer.  Students are keeping all of these practice ISAT materials in a folder that will be sent home next Friday.

Spelling test tomorrow!  Book-it due on 28th.