Practice Makes (Almost) Perfect!

This week we will continue practicing for the MCAS/PARCC ELA test, which students will take on the mornings of April 4 & 5.  The goal with our practice is to understand how to take the test, and to be prepared so as to feel confident and comfortable taking it.  The last practice includes an essay which I will collect for a grade.

We're also continuing to work with sentence structure, particularly fragments and run-ons.  On Thursday, students will take a quiz to demonstrate their learning and understanding of these writing elements.

Students should be in the final pages of their nonfiction text, and the final reading log is due on Friday.  Students have shared many "nonfiction moments":  wow!, hmm...interesting, ah-ha! I wonder, and I can relate.  On Friday, they will begin preparing a slide show presentation of their book.

Homework:

Monday:  Finish MCAS practice; rdg. log due Friday
Tuesday:  Run-On activity; rdg. log due Friday
Wednesday:  Frag/Run-on quiz tomorrow; rdg. log due Friday
Thursday:  Reading log #3 due tomorrow
Friday:  Finish MCAS essay if needed and turn in on Monday.

Run-Ons and Comma Splices #2

Nonfiction Moments pic

Thoughts That Are Fragmented...Or Run On

As students read deeper into their nonfiction books, they are recording their thoughts to bits of information that jump out at them.  Good readers are always actively engaging the text: asking questions, making connections, predicting, summarizing, and enjoying ah-ha! moments.  The  goal in keeping logs and using sticky notes while reading is to raise awareness of the active thought process that occurs. This enables greater focus and attention, as well as internalization of the reading.  Readers may find that at times their thoughts are quick, short and fragmented, while other times they may run on in a web of connections and associations.

In class we've been looking at types of sentences with a focus on identifying fragments and run-ons.  Students have been practicing rewriting sentences to correct for these errors by combining fragments and adding correct punctuation as needed.  

Additionally, we looked at an exemplar of a well-written response to a prompt related to an article read in class last week.  Students highlighted the parts of the paragraph (topic sentence, transition words, supporting details, quotes, and clincher) in different colors to visually see the pattern of logical order and cohesion.

Finally, mid-week we will watch a TED talk titled "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Adichie and think about the impact of an author's perspective on his/her writing and audience.

Homework:

Monday:  Finish fragment practice #2; BRING IN nonfiction book tomorrow!  Log #2 due Thursday.

Tuesday:  Reading Log due Thursday.

Wednesday:  Finish response to "The Danger of a Single Story" TED talk; Reading log due tomorrow; BRING BOOK tomorrow! (need to renew at library)

Thursday:  Finish "Nonfiction Moments" handout

Friday:  Reading log due next Thursday

Reading Log

Nonfiction Moments Activity

Danger of a Single Story pre & post writing

TED talk: The Danger of a Single Story

Making Sense of Nonfiction...and the Latest Version of the State's ELA Test

It's always interesting to see the books that students choose to read.  Their nonfiction topics range from a volume of chefs discussing cooking to slavery, from a book about Ireland to the atrocities of WWII, from Steven Hawking's theories to circus history and culture.  The first reading log (double-sided) which represents a third of the book is due on Thursday.

To complement their independent reading, in class we are reviewing the features of nonfiction, and looking at how an author chooses language to suit the purpose of their informational text, be it to inform, inform and entertain, or to persuade.  We are accomplishing this using a selection of articles accompanied by MCAS/PARCC style questions.  This practice will help familiarize students with the test format and facilitate critical thinking about the articles they read.  

This week we are taking a closer look at sentence structure by identifying subjects, predicates (verbs), and prepositional phrases, as well as determining subject/verb agreement.

HOMEWORK:

Monday:  
1. Finish "Shark Tales" questions
2. Reading/log #1 (both sides [2 chunks] due Thursday)

Tuesday:
1. Subject/Verb activity sheets
2. Reading/log #1

Wednesday:
1. Finish Subject/Verb Agreement if needed
2. Reading/Log #1 -- DUE TOMORROW!

Thursday:
1. Finish "Quest for Speed" questions 1-5
2. Reading/log #2

Friday:  Reading/log #2 (due next Thursday)

Subjects and Verbs Activities

Transitions

As the season transitions to spring and daylight savings, students will shift this week from their study of ancient Greece to a variety of nonfiction topics.  On Thursday we will visit the library so that students can choose a nonfiction book, biography, or autobiography to read and work with this month.  We will determine the differences between fiction and nonfiction, examine the features of a nonfiction text, and explore the notion of authorship and perspective as it relates to the text.  Relating to this idea, students will view and respond to a TED talk by Chimimanda Adichie called "The Danger of a Single Story".  In addition, they will read and analyze Rudyard Kipling's poem "We and They", and explore its connection to "The Danger of a Single Story".  To culminate this unit, students will prepare book talks and present to one another in class.

The "Celebration of Ancient Greece" showcase was a success!  I am always amazed by students' creativity and ideas.  Thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend!

Homework:

Thursday:  Start reading nonfiction book--make sure you like it!  BRING IT TO CLASS on Friday.

Friday:  Read and complete Reading Log #1 (both sides) for next WEDNESDAY.

Nonfiction Reading Log