9.28.15 RELA Plus Newsletter

New Vocabulary Root Word

Next week we will be only studying one root word! This root word is JECT, which means to THROW. On Thursday, September 24th, I will introduce these words to the students. However, here are the words in case you would like to start previewing them. 

What we are learning the week of September 21st-25th

What we are learning this week
Writing	Students will learn how to generate story ideas by thinking of places that matter to me and the episodes that occurred in those places. Students will learn how to tell a story from inside it-from first person point of view. Students will assess themselves on their progress of writing personal narratives and then set goals for themselves
Shared Reading	Students will learn how to use evidence based terms when responding to text dependent questions Students will learn how to identify reading strategies as they use them during their reading
Book Clubs	Students will discuss characters and settings in their novels and generalize them with other fiction stories. They will also meet to discuss their reading and response for Session #2 on Tuesday. On Friday, students will observe a Fish Bowl group to better understand how to facilitate book clubs.
Vocabulary	Students will learn and practice applying root words JECT meaning “throw” and SECT meaning “cut” or “separate”. Students will acquire words they will reading Part 2 of Wonder
Grammar	Students will learn how to identify and apply different kinds of sentences
KidBiz	Use critical thinking skills to analyze text structure and understand how it compares and contrasts Website: https://portal.achieve3000.com/index

Don’t forget NO SCHOOL for Students on Wednesday, September 23rd!

SPEC and DICT Vocabulary Root Words and Review Sheet

Loving our novel study "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio

What are we learning the week of September 14th-18th?

What are we learning this week?
Writing	v   Strategies to develop ideas for personal narratives such as: first, last, times you realized something was important, and/or places that matter to me and the episodes that occurred
Vocabulary	v  Learn and practice applying root words SPEC-to see or look and DICT- to speak or say   v  Friday quiz on SPEC and DICT
Book Clubs	v  How to write a journal response correctly   v  How to conduct an effective Book Club session
Shared Reading	v  Continue reading our novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio   v  How to use CLOSE Reading strategies using song lyrics: o   What does the text say? o   How does the text work? o   What does the text mean?   v  How to use transition words and phrases to cite evidence from text and support inferences and predictions effectively
Grammar	v  Identify and use complete sentences
KidBiz	v  Understand our Lexile Level   v  How to use our KidBiz accounts and understand the expectations   v  Identify the main idea in a nonfiction text

Greek and Latin Vocabulary Quiz

Just in case you don't have your vocabulary packet with you, here are the words, definitions and review worksheet to help you study! 

What we are learning the week of September 8th-11th

	What are we learning this week?
Writing	Finishing our pre-assessment of narrative writing            Beginning Unit 1 on narrative writing:           Lessons 1 and 2-Students will learn strategies to develop ideas for personal narratives
Vocabulary	Quiz  on PED, MAN, MANU on Wednesday 9/9           Introduce and practice SPEC, DICT
Book Clubs	Introduce book clubs: novels and expectations            Students will choose top 3 of 4 novels they want to read           Students will be assigned their book club and plan out their reading schedule           Begin first reading assignment
Shared Reading	Introduce class novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio and complete pre-reading activities and vocabulary      Focus of lessons: o   Story Elements of Fiction o   How to analyze characters o   How to analyze setting
Grammar	Identifying and using complete sentences
KidBiz	Students will take a leveled set assessment to determine their lexile level for nonfiction reading           Introduce KidBiz: how it works and expectations