Welcome Back!

• Monday  - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.10
• We will continue reading Heart and Soul with a reading focus of  determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. RL.5.4 and interpreting figurative language, including similes and metaphors, in context as we read chapters 10 and 11.  Our writing focus will include producing clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. W.5.4
• Tuesday - ReadyGen Lesson 2A.11
• We will be reading Chapter 12 of Heart and Soul with a focus of  determining the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text. RL.5.4 and to determine a theme of a story from details in the text, including how characters in a story or drama respond to challenges; summarize the text. RL.5.2 in reading.  Our writing focus will be to write opinion pieces on topics, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. W.5.1

• Wednesday
• Day 1 ELA State Test focuses on CLOSE READING.  Students will be reading 5 different passages and answering a total of 35 multiple choice questions.  This day is worth 2/3 of their score, so it is super important for them to take all the time they need; read the text multiple times to make sure you understand them fully before you answer any questions; understand the question before you attempt to answer it; use the text to come up with the best answer.  READ CLOSELY and TAKE YOUR TIME! 
• Thursday
• Day 2 ELA State Test focuses on writing.  Students will have to read 3 different passages and answer 6 short response questions (Just like our 2 point RACE work in class) and one extended response (just like our 4 point PBA's).  In other words, we have been practicing for this part since DAY 1 of fifth grade!   Just remember to Restate, Answer, Cite (2), and Explain... and sum it up!  Extended Responses just need an introduction, then RACE each bullet point, and add a conclusion.  NO WORRIES!  Remember, your brain works faster then your pencil, so go back and make sure you didn't leave out words that you thought you put in and check for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.  
• Friday 
• Skill Review Friday - We will be practicing the skills we have covered this week in ELA by using Time for Kids.  The article we will be using as our main text is Standing Strong Florida.  This will be a nice relaxing day of fun reading, discussion, and group work to end our testing week.

Please make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep this entire week.  That means going to be early and getting up a little earlier so they can be wide awake and ready to do well on the State Tests.  Have a "good breakfast" with a combination of complex carbs (oatmeal, whole grain cereal, etc) and protein (eggs, bacon, etc), as well as orange juice and water.  Encourage them and remind them they have been getting ready for this test since school started and they will do great!  Try to have positive, happy interactions before school so they come ready to "show what they know!"  There will not be "homework packet" this week, but we will have some targeted readings they they will have to read closely, analyze, answer multiple choice questions and even some short response writing.  Though I wont be collecting RRJ's this week, I want them to continue to read nightly and write about what they read to keep their reading and writing stamina up.