Second Quarter Expectations
This quarter, we will focus on short stories, articles, paragraph and essay writing, vocabulary, and independent reading. Here is the homework you can expect:
1. A list of vocabulary words every Monday. Students need to record these words and their definitions in their vocabulary notebooks. I will check these for a grade EVERY FRIDAY. Students can find definitions in the glossary I posted on the Resources tab above, in a dictionary, or on-line. Students may work on this during Advisory, but most of it will need to be done at home.
2. A vocab quiz every Friday. Please help your child study if possible. Flash cards work well.
3. Independent Reading. In order to improve reading skills, kids need practice. I am asking students to read for a total of 2.5 hours each week. They should choose novels that are challenging but not frustrating that they enjoy. This totals 30 minutes per night five nights per week, but you can spread that out however you need. I will check SIGNED reading logs every Friday.
4. We will read, annotate, and answer questions on short stories and articles nearly every Monday. Students might need to finish this at home if we don't finish in class.
5. Reading Journal Entries. On Wednesdays, students will write journal entries based on their choice novels about setting, characterization, and plot. This is not formal writing, so it's fine if students use a very casual, conversational tone.
6. On Thursdays, I will hand out a worksheets that deal with text elements like titles, bold words, diagrams, maps, charts, etc. or that address writing organization such as cause and effect, sequence, problem and solution, etc. This should be quick and easy for kids, and it should be review, but I want to be sure students are aware of these elements in non-fiction texts.
7. We will be focusing on paragraph writing at the beginning of the quarter and essays as we get closer to the end. We will discuss this writing in class, and we will start there, too. Sometimes we will finish in class, and sometimes this will be homework. I encourage parental proofreading and praise! Writing is hard work, and emerging writers need all of the support they can get! :)
Okay, so yes, this seems like a lot! It is, but students can work on some of this during Advisory if they don't have missing work or re-takes, and, as I'm learning from my high schooler, getting into the habit of nightly homework will help students in the future. None of this should be too difficult or time-consuming, but students will need to be responsible and prepared. Your help and encouragement is instrumental in the process of gradually giving kids independence and ownership of their learning. Please let me know if you have questions, and don't forget to check the RESOURCES TAB for documents and support. Thanks for all you do!
1. A list of vocabulary words every Monday. Students need to record these words and their definitions in their vocabulary notebooks. I will check these for a grade EVERY FRIDAY. Students can find definitions in the glossary I posted on the Resources tab above, in a dictionary, or on-line. Students may work on this during Advisory, but most of it will need to be done at home.
2. A vocab quiz every Friday. Please help your child study if possible. Flash cards work well.
3. Independent Reading. In order to improve reading skills, kids need practice. I am asking students to read for a total of 2.5 hours each week. They should choose novels that are challenging but not frustrating that they enjoy. This totals 30 minutes per night five nights per week, but you can spread that out however you need. I will check SIGNED reading logs every Friday.
4. We will read, annotate, and answer questions on short stories and articles nearly every Monday. Students might need to finish this at home if we don't finish in class.
5. Reading Journal Entries. On Wednesdays, students will write journal entries based on their choice novels about setting, characterization, and plot. This is not formal writing, so it's fine if students use a very casual, conversational tone.
6. On Thursdays, I will hand out a worksheets that deal with text elements like titles, bold words, diagrams, maps, charts, etc. or that address writing organization such as cause and effect, sequence, problem and solution, etc. This should be quick and easy for kids, and it should be review, but I want to be sure students are aware of these elements in non-fiction texts.
7. We will be focusing on paragraph writing at the beginning of the quarter and essays as we get closer to the end. We will discuss this writing in class, and we will start there, too. Sometimes we will finish in class, and sometimes this will be homework. I encourage parental proofreading and praise! Writing is hard work, and emerging writers need all of the support they can get! :)
Okay, so yes, this seems like a lot! It is, but students can work on some of this during Advisory if they don't have missing work or re-takes, and, as I'm learning from my high schooler, getting into the habit of nightly homework will help students in the future. None of this should be too difficult or time-consuming, but students will need to be responsible and prepared. Your help and encouragement is instrumental in the process of gradually giving kids independence and ownership of their learning. Please let me know if you have questions, and don't forget to check the RESOURCES TAB for documents and support. Thanks for all you do!