Is it weird that I love normal, 5-day weeks? I mean, I love holidays and workdays just as much as the next teacher, as well, but there is something so refreshing about having a nice, clean swath of instructional time lying before you. And we sure need it this week, because we have a LOT to do! Here's our docket for the week ...

Reading: We are continuing to enjoy The Keeping Room-- it is leading to some lively debates! This week, we're using our newly-developed inference skills to figure out the meanings of unknown words using context clues.

Word Study: We're back in our regular groups now; each group will be studying its own pattern.

Language: We are FINALLY reviewing what we know about verbs and demonstrating our knowledge on a test. 

Writing: We will take one day to finalize our SPLENDID personal narratives, then move into some focused PASS Writing Preparation. Students will have time to transform their narratives into an electronic Big Universe book as time permits in the morning and during Reading Workshop over the next couple of weeks.

Social Studies: We will be working in small groups to create videos about key events of the American Revolution, then showing what we've learned through a test on Friday.

As you can see, we are trying to pack in a gargantuan amount of learning. Thank you for helping your child come to school fully prepared to learn and work each day!

Thanks SO much to those of you who helped make our Friendship Celebration a success! The kids enjoyed spending time with each other and sharing kind notes. Oh, who am I kidding? The part they were MOST excited about was all that candy!

This week is my favorite kind of school week-- calm, straight-forward, no major disruptions-- just time to work and learn! Let's make it a great one!

Reading: The kids are getting into our novel, The Keeping Room, and making some GREAT observations about the conflicts between Patriots, Loyalists, and the British army. The book is leaving many of us wondering what we would do if we were in Joey's shoes. As we read, we are continuing to practice our inferring skills.

Word Study: The majority of the class will be reviewing words that have double letters, since this was a tricky area on our mid-year Developmental Spelling Assessment. The blue group is comfortable with this category of words already and will be continuing their small-group study of derivational patterns.

Language and Writing: We will be revising and editing our personal narratives, paying careful attention to our story structure, word choice, and use of verbs.

Social Studies: The American Revolution is in full swing now! We will begin with a brief study of the Declaration of Independence, then overview the major battles that brought the war to its finale.

It's another full week of learning for the H5 family! We are very much building on our goals from last week.

- Reading: We will be developing our inferring skills as we continue reading and reflecting on The Keeping Room. The students started this novel with our substitute teacher last week, and, I'm not gonna lie-- I'm a little jealous. I am SO ready to share the book with them myself!
- Language: We're continuing to practice applying our editing skills in real contexts, particularly in our own writing and particularly with regard to verbs, nouns, and sentence conventions.
- Writing: Hoping to finish drafting our personal narratives by the end of the week. We will be working especially hard on keeping our stories organized and making them shine with specific details and interesting word choice.
- Social Studies: The first shots of the American Revolution will be fired this week, and the war will be in full swing! How will it end?! ... Okay, actually, we know how it will end. But this should be an intriguing study anyway!

Colonial Day was a hit! I personally enjoyed dressing up and channeling my inner school-marm ... and I supposed the kids had fun, too!  You can read more about it by choosing "Slices of Life" from the blog list at the top of the page. Your child knows the password to access it.

This week will be a bit unusual. Tuesday is a Half Day and our second annual Career Morning, and we are looking forward that. On Thursday and Friday, I will be away, traveling. My students know that their behavior with a guest teacher should be even BETTER than normal, that they should prepare to be flexible with a different adult in the room, and that they have plenty of good work to focus on while I'm gone. Please continue to reinforce those lessons at home so they'll have a smooth, enjoyable two days. (But not TOO enjoyable ... I want them to miss me a little bit!)

Here are our goals for the week:
Reading - Make inferences as we begin our novel study of The Keeping Room, which will parallel our study of the American Revolution.
Word Study - Learn patterns introduced in our small groups.
Language - Apply what we've learned about verbs in context by editing passages.
Writing - Plan vivid settings and characters for our personal narratives.
Social Studies - Explain the causes of the American Revolution.

Looking forward to a full week of learning!