ROCK THE MOCK!

Today and tomorrow students will be taking the MOCK ELA state test.  This helps us see what students KNOW and DON'T KNOW before the state test, and to see if we have enough rooms and proctors to match accommodations for students.

I had 501 for the first hour and we went over getting ready for PBA.  We read the task and talked about the rubric,  I then passed out two planning sheets to help them get their work done by Thursday.  We went over a hook, topic, and thesis.  We went over the components and students took notes to help them.  The only work they have to do tonight is research and prepare!

We tested from 9AM until almost noon.

502 will get the materials and talk tomorrow so they can start working on putting ideas down as well. Right now, finishing research and taking notes is the MOST important part.  Once you do that, you can group and write real easily.

Homework:

• Read 45 minutes and take AR tests (2 weeks left!)
• Research using online links! 

Monday - McDougall OUT

I was out sick on Monday!

Students still had a busy day....

First they started with being read to from our class novel.  Then they  had their 20 minutes of independent reading so we can continue to grow as readers.  Next they worked on an article as a class called "Donald Trump is Sworn in as US President".  They read the article together and worked on the comprehension questions.  Finally, they had over an hour to finish their research for the PBA that we are writing in class on Thursday.  All research must be done by then.  I don't want to hear excuses, I have given multiple hours in class, I have put links on the blog, I have reminded you....

Homework:

• Reading 45 minutes, Log
• DRC - The Lusitania (502)
• Finish your research (BOTH)

Pizza for Points Friday

Today I picked two students from each class (501 and 502) who earned the most points for reading books on AR this week.

Congrats to Kelsea  and Jason from class 501, as well as Grisel and Shirley from class 502!  Keep on racking up those reading points!

Friday in ELA

Today we compared all three texts we have been working with in this unit: "Heart and Soul", "Operation Clean Sweep", and "Cesar Chavez".  After comparing how each text was presented (Chronological order for each, one about the civil rights movement, one about women's rights to vote, and one about a person's life).  Students worked on their classwork assignment about looking at the similarities and differences in the styles of writing in each text (Lesson 2A.18).

Students then moved to groups to work on researching their topics for the PBA Speech.  I have included links to webpages so students can do more research at home and over the weekend.   Monday is the last day they get time in class to gather information.  Monday I show them how to write their speech using a template, and Tuesday they write, edit, revise, and publish.  

Homework:

1. Read 45 minutes, log and get signature
2. Research for PBA (See Below)
3. Reading Comprehension - Activist and Labor Organizer: Cesar Chavez (SS GRADE)

Websites FOR your PBA

Social Media Websites

http://socialnetworking.procon.org/

http://www.toptensocialmedia.com/social-media-social-buzz/10-pros-and-cons-of-social-media/

http://socialnetworking.lovetoknow.com/Reasons_Why_Social_Networking_Is_Bad

Rainforest Websites

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/sla/5/rainforest.html

http://www.tooter4kids.com/Rainforest/Why_save_the_rainforest.htm

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/7-reasons-to-save-the-rainforest/

Gun Control Websites

http://gun-control.procon.org/

http://www.clearpictureonline.com/SO-Gun Control.html

http://thecurrent-online.com/opinions/the-debate-on-gun-control-why-we-need-gun-control-laws/

Bullying Websites

https://nobullying.com/why-is-bullying-bad/

https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/

http://kerrymagro.com/10-reasons-bullying-needs-to-stop-in-our-schools/

Substance Abuse

http://recovergateway.org/substance-abuse-resources/drug-addiction-effects/

https://easyread.drugabuse.gov/content/effects-drug-use

http://drugfacts4youngpeople.com/why-drugs-are-bad

Thursday in Room 403

We are winding down our unit 2 A.  We did lesson 2A.17 today, which was to focus on comparing and contrasting Heart and Soul to Cesar Chavez by looking deeply at the visuals of the two texts.  Students are beginning to make the connections that pictures are there to help you get a deeper understanding.  We  literally went page by page and discussed visuals from both text, were they alike, were they different, and why.   The WHY is the important part here.  

During writing, we went over the PBA they will be writing next Monday and Tuesday and talked about how to start forming their ideas about their speech.  They were able to pick topics and will be working in groups to read the articles I found and to gather information for their speech.  

Speech Topics by Class

I wanted students to see that you read your articles.. .you look for REASONS you feel passionately about a topic, and once you have those reasons, you find details to support your reasons.  I did an outline with them from our slavery unit so they can see that it is just a matter of putting your gained knowledge of a topic down in organized ways.   Here is my sample:

Be ready to work tomorrow. You have the last lesson of the unit and a bunch of reading and note taking so you can start to think about your PBA.   Major Reasons... Details to support those reasons... a good hook... how you will introduce your topic.... start thinking!

Homework

1. Read 45 minutes - only 2.5 weeks left for AR Contest!
2. Reading Comp - The Iran Hostage Crisis

5th Grade Awards AssemblyCon

Congrats Jason!  Over 634,000 words so far this year!

CookShop Lesson 3 - Vegetables