Read for 20 minutes tonight!
Revise and add to the research for your WWII topic (if not completed during class)
Complete the comprehension questions about the Female Spy article from class (if not completed during class)
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Yesterday we tackled our first (of many!) research projects! It was a quick research task that included selected a WWII topic from the list we developed as a class and then using the internet to locate information about it. It was challenging for some and fascinating for others, and today we'll be revising and clarifying some of the details that we researched so we can create some awesome (and short!) Google slide shows tomorrow during stations work.
This week the kids are seeing a different side of ELA - instead of asking them to write MORE...I'm asking them to write LESS. It's odd, I know, but hear me out: It's important to give plenty of information, but it's also crucial for a writer to be able to give the IMPORTANT information...those key details and facts that are most necessary for understanding. That's what this week is about!
Today we will be learning a new nonfiction reading strategy: THIEVES. I didn't develop it, but I did create this super cute poster to hang in my classroom about it. It's a strategy that we will use all year, and my goal is that kids will take this strategy to other classes (science and social studies especially!) and future grades to help them process nonficton texts. We'll apply this strategy today when we read this article about Female Spies during WWII.
Looking ahead, we will be writing informative paragraphs on Friday - again about the WWII topics they researched - and starting our first novel next week. All of this WWII and female spy research is going to give us a great mental backdrop for the novel!
A student asked me yesterday if the work she was doing was actually for a purpose, or if it was just part of the bellringer. At first I didn't know what she meant, but after she repeated herself I realized - she thought she was doing all of the research work for no real purpose! It made me realize more than ever how important it is to be transparent with the tasks and work I'm assigning. I hope that these blog posts help you, the parents, understand, too!
Next Friday, September 10, will be our fall Benchmarking day. Please try to get avoid making appointments for that day, since kids will have to miss out on regular class or study hall time to complete Benchmark Testing if they miss it on the 10th.
OH! And tomorrow is picture day!!!