This week marked the beginning of the third session of ALO in fifth grade. The students were introduced to the expectations of the unit and started to explore some important terms.

Please read the Introduction to the Unit here which includes a list of class dates and topics.

For students, class updates and assignments will be found on the Google Classroom Page. 

On this blog, I will type updates on what we are working on to update parents and students.

Thanks to the recommendation of Eva, I started a Google Classroom page for 5th grade ALO. Hopefully this helps you all stay more organized. It should be up and running. I posted the latest assignment on Thursday 2/4.

This week, we started reading the novel Edge of Nowhere. Students practiced making predictions on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, we will study some common boat terminology that comes up in the beginning of the novel. I will give the students time to read chapter 4 IN CLASS on Wednesday as it is Student Appreciation Day, and the students don't receive homework. On Thursday, we will discuss the first four chapters and look more closely at the structure of the novel.

Homework updates for this week and next week:

-Read chapter 3 - DUE WEDNESDAY 2/3
-Complete vocabulary activities - DUE WEDNESDAY 2/3 (see previous post)
-Read chapter 4 IN CLASS on Wednesday
-Read chapters 5-6 - DUE TUESDAY 2/9
-Read chapters 7-8 - DUE THURSDAY 2/11
-Complete vocabulary activities for flotsam (55) and weir (71)
​(Write definitions for unknown word/s and either use the word in a sentence or draw a picture for the word). DUE THURSDAY 2/11

This week, the fifth grade groups met for the first time as part of the Walk-to-Read Unit. All fifth grade students are reading a novel related to the theme of 'survival' and 'giving it all you got.' On Wednesday, the students worked in groups to determine which five items would be most important if they were stranded in the wilderness. Some items included a match, a rope, a water bottle, a knife, playing cards, a paper clip, and a piece of chalk. Students collaborated and used their critical thinking skills.

On Thursday, the ALO group met for the first time. Students were introduced to the book by reading the blurb and exploring the structure of the book.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS -
DUE Tuesday, Feb. 2 : Read chapters 1-2
DUE Wednesday, Feb. 3 : Read chapter 3. Define unknown words from list below. Draw a picture or use the word in a sentence for ALL words:

Ch. 1-2
rogue (13)        intrepid (14)         din (15)           tempest (19)          begrudgingly (23)          roiling (27)
slake (35)            marooned (38)

To help you understand the different types of sentences, read this document with explanations and examples.
Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

Review simple, compound and complex sentences. Be able to write and identify them. Be able to punctuate them correctly.

If you liked the book we used in class on Wednesday, you can purchase Super Grammar online:
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Grammar-Tony-Preciado/dp/0545425158

Remember that our final project due date has changed. It is now due at our last class - Friday, December 4th.

Look for a mentor text for your final project. Please see the link below for detailed instructions.

​Reminders:
Bring a copy of a section (paragraph, page) from a mentor text that you will annotate and analyze. The excerpt needs to be at least 5 sentences long. DUE Nov. 18
Analysis of mentor text DUE Dec. 2. 

Final Project Details

Today in class, we used Sy Montgomery's book about Temple Grandin (Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World) as a mentor text. After reading chapter 5, the students shared highlighted sentences they found interesting. Each student offered specific reasons for their choice such as imagery, word choice, sentence structure and punctuation.

For Friday's class, the students need to write their own, original sentence inspired by their highlighted sentence or another sentence from the mentor text. 

Examples of sentences

Read each night. While you are reading, try to find an example of each type of sentence: simple, compound, and complex. Copy the sentences and bring them to class on Friday. 

If you would like to practice identifying these types of sentences, try playing this sentence sort game at http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/sensort/index_pre.html or this game at http://www.time4writing.com/_games/swf.html?xml=assets/which_word/write_sent_simple_ms.xml. 
For an opportunity to review the three types of sentences, you can view this PPT.