4/11- 4/15

• Monday- students will read novel in class and will have time to work on their vocabulary dictionaries


• Tuesday- group presentations; check with your student to make sure that he/she has his/her part of the presentation ready and at school on this day (test-language arts)


• Wednesday- students will work on vocabulary dictionaries and read in the novel; journal work will be done in class as well (daily grade)


• Thursday- book reports are due; students need to be ready to present the foldable for the book report (test- reading)


• Friday- book report presentations (test- reading)

4/4- 4/8

• Monday- students will begin work on their vocabulary dictionaries for the novel "Letters from Rifka"


• Tuesday- DEAR Day (Drop Everything And Read).. students will need to bring their book report books to read; book report "ways to share" details will be coming home.. it would help your student if you could help him/ her cut the foldable


• Wednesday- students will work in groups to create their group presentations


• Thursday- students will work in groups to create their group presentations


• Friday- Letters from Rifka Test #1

Tutoring Update

If your student is receiving after school tutoring please make note of the schedule changes for our grade level.

Mrs. McCall and myself will both be tutoring in math on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:45-4:45. You student has been put in one of our groups, and will need to be stay after school each Monday and Tuesday between now and the TAKS test. Testing dates are: Math- April 26; Reading- April 27.

I have moved all of my Reading tutoring groups to Thursdays from 3:45-4:45. If your student has been receiving tutoring from me in reading, I will now only be working with them on Thursdays.

We are doing all that we can to help your student reach success. Thank you for your continued support from home. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. A more detailed letter noting these changes is sent home with your student.

3/28-4/1

I apologize for not posting last week. Have you ever had a week that your to do list always seems longer than the amount of hours you have to get it done?

We have a lot going on this week. Last Friday we had Math Camp 2011; it was a great success! We are doing a follow-up Math Camp this Friday to help students learn mathematical concepts in new and fun ways. I'm looking forward to it!

Progress reports went home on Friday; they need to be returned no later than Wednesday. I am sending home extra credit work on Monday. It will be due Monday, April 4. Completing the extra credit will help your student deepen his/ her understanding of the concepts that we are focusing on, and will help to improve his/ her overall class average.

Thursday night is parenting night. We will have a math and science focus; you won't want to miss it!

Monday-

We are starting a new book entitled "Letters from Rifka". It is set during World War 1 and focuses on the life of an immigrant coming to America. You can help at home by discussing these historical events with your student. Having a previous knowledge of the text shows to help increase student comprehension.

Tuesday-

Chapter one work is due/ vocabulary focus.

Wednesday-

Introduce new class activities to correlate with the book. Expect to see information coming home about this on this day.

Thursday-

Vocabulary test/ watch Ellis Island video.

Parenting Night

Friday-

Math Camp 2011

As always, feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to help in any way that I can!

shelby.denman@lifeschools.net

3/7-3/11

Just one more week until spring break! Here is what we have planned...

Monday:

pre-test over figurative language

planner check (I was out last Friday)

begin figurative language graphic organizer

vocabulary will include- style, tone, mood, hyperbole, refrain, personification, simile, metaphor

Tuesday:

complete figurative language graphic organizer in class (daily grade)

Wednesday:

analyze poetry using figurative language graphic organizer

discuss figurative language findings with a partner (participation grade)

Thursday:

write poetry using figurative language (daily grade)

share with peers

Friday:

test over weekly skills- will include vocabulary (test grade- language arts)

2/28-3/4

This week your students have been learning about how to make an inference. I have taught that we make inferences on a day to day basis, sometimes without really understanding that that is what we are doing. Tomorrow they will be tested on their understanding of the concept.

I have been out of town the past few days and have had a sub. I look forward to returning on Monday and completing our last week before Spring Break. I will update more this weekend on next week's plans, and will be sending home a March/ April calendar of important due dates.

Thanks for all you do to help your child be academically successful!

2/21-2/25

We are coming to the end of yet another six weeks. As grades are due this week, please encourage your student to have his/ her assignments in on time and done to the best of his/ her ability. Students presented book reports this past week and I was quite impressed with the caliber of creativity that I saw presented in the classroom. You have much to be proud of; your students are talented!

Here's what we have going on this week:

Monday-

Black History Month projects are due (Language Arts test grade)

We will be watching the movie "Miracle at Midnight" to compare and contrast it to the novel that we just finished.

Tuesday- movie

Wednesday- "Number the Stars" final test; a section will be devoted to comparing/ contrasting the movie to the book (Reading test grade)

Thursday- reading activity from the Literature textbook; due at the end of class

Friday- TAKS focus- drawing conclusions; making generalizations

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to help in any way that I can.

and the snow melted...

What a week!? I trust you all had an enjoyable and safe time in the snow!

This week we will be focusing on the organizational patterns that an author uses to get his/ her message across. We will be reviewing different styles and then using those styles to write.

Projected homework:

* Tuesday/ Wednesday-- writing assignment that may need to be complete/ edited at home

* Thursday-- final copy due

* Friday- test over this week's material/ planner check

Progress reports should be coming home Monday, please be sure to sign them and have them returned with your student.

As always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns; I am happy to help!

1/24 - 1/28

We've been having a great week thus far in class. Your students have been working on ELA centers. There are six centers total and the students will rotate to each of them by the end of the week. The only homework that your student might have is if he/ she did not finish the work at that day's center. Please check to see if he/ she is finished, or if there is work that needs to be turned in.

Today was the due date for the students to have me check book report books. It was on the calendar that was sent home last week. They may bring the book to be me tomorrow or Wednesday for ten points off the grade each day. Having a book approved counts for a daily grade. The actual book report is due later in February and counts as a test grade.

Tuesday folders went home today. There is should be a note in each folder stating that we are altering the policy regarding marks and tallies. Starting tomorrow, a student who earns two marks will receive a tally. Remind your student to be on task and follow instructions.

We have been setting TAKS goals. I was very please with the benchmark scores and am excited about how well they are going to do on TAKS. You have bright kids!!

Feel free to email me if you have questions or concerns; I am happy to help in any way that I can.

1/17 - 1/21

Monday:

* No School- Martin Luther King Day

* Note- I watched another documentary on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Yet again I was inspired by his example to stand for justice. Take a few moments to speak with your student about his life and its impact on ours.

Tuesday:

* Chapter 6-10 Vocabulary Map

* Read Chapter 6-7 of "Number the Stars" in class

* Students should be bringing home January/ February calendar

Wednesday:

* Chapter 6-10 Vocabulary Map due

* We will be working on finding the author's purpose (a skill that showed to be a weakness on the spring benchmark)

* Students should be bringing home benchmark scores

Thursday:

* TAKS focus- finding the author's purpose

* Practice identifying that author's purpose for varied readings at home. This will help your students in class (ie- write to inform, persuade, teach, or entertain)

Friday:

* Chapter 1-10 Vocabulary Test

* Planner Check- must be updated and signed at least once by a parent

Have a great week!