Merry Christmas

 If you are taking the semester test, be sure to brush up on the Magi Vocabulary! You will be allowed to use your copy of the story during the test, but you must be responsible enough to bring it with you to the test.

It's been a great first semester.  Have a super break! We will be doing a two week unit on Greek and Latin root words when we return, so rest up!
   

The Magi Continues

We are continuing to do activities revolving around the short story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O'Henry. If you would like to listen to the story on Youtube click HERE.
I have changed a few due dates, a few times actually, trying to do things on the best days to have success!

We will study vocabulary and review figurative language in class Tuesday, Dec. 8 and test on both Wednesday, December 9th so PRACTICE UP at home. To practice on Quizlet click HERE.

instigates	subsiding	vestibule	prosperity
sterling	depreciate	cascade	garment
ransacking	truant	sentiment	laboriously
idiocy	illuminated	ardent	enfolded
assertion	coveted

• Today in class I am assigning a writing project...DUE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10th.
• December Book Reports are DUE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 15th.
• Semester Tests are DECEMBER 17th and 18th. We will have an exemption list soon.

***** THIS WAS MONDAY'S POST THAT SOMEHOW DISAPPEARED! (Could be the bloggers fault, but I think it was those sneaky elves I see everywhere.)

WELCOME BACK

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving Break!
Over the next 3 weeks we will be doing a unit over the classic Christmas short story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O'Henry. If you would like to listen to the story on Youtube click HERE. We will not have spelling with this unit but we will have a challenging vocabulary list so PRACTICE UP at home. To practice on Quizlet click HERE.
Vocabulary List (Test December11)

instigates	subsiding	vestibule	prosperity
sterling	depreciate	cascade	garment
ransacking	truant	sentiment	laboriously
idiocy	illuminated	ardent	enfolded
assertion	coveted

The 4th Book Report is also due DECEMBER 11th! BE READING!

Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for your support as parents!
I am also thankful for super awesome students!
Have a GREAT THANKSGIVING BREAK!!!!


The next book report is due December 11th.

November 16-20

This week we will work through a Figurative Language unit making notes each day in our interactive notebook. Each day we will be listening to songs that incorporate figurative language and examining the meaning intended by the author of the lyrics. It is challenging to make up notebook lessons AND you do not learn the material as well when you are absent. Please, make every effort to be at school all day everyday. There will be no spelling or vocabulary this week. We will have a Figurative Language assessment on Friday on the following terms:
-simile
-hyperbole
-metaphor
-idiom
-personification
-onomatopoeia
-allusion
-alliteration

November 9-13

Spelling List 6-Review Words:

• To practice your spelling list on Spelling City click HERE
• craft, wreck, strive, file, pleasant, cycle, sought, annoy, sword, mourn, grill, plump, mute, league, ravine, myth, clause, mound, chart, peirce

Vocabulary:

• To practice the words on Quizlet Click HERE 
• accompany, beneficial, captive, convenient, ecstasy, expanse, expedition, inept, territory, interpret, invaluable, linger, retrieve, skirmish, supplement

Story Focus:

• Over the next two weeks we are going to finish our discovery of folktales by reading On Turtles Backs: A Native American Legend and Sons of the Dragon King from the Storytown Reader.  To read these stories online, find them in the Table of Contents HERE. 
• This week we will compare On Turtles Backs to this telling of the same folktale on Youtube click HERE to watch.
• To read more about the topic of Chinese Dragons and The Sons of the Dragon King click HERE.

Friday, November 13th

• 2nd Chance Spelling Test
• Vocabulary Test
• Reading Assessment
• BOOK REPORT #3 DUE!!!!

ONliNE EnCyCloPediA

Today during our library lesson Mrs. Gordon showed us an amazing online resource that is available to us free of charge.  It's great for research, learning, and just plain fun. Click on the link to explore more....http://school.eb.com/levels/middle User Name: ptsd  Password: access

November 2-6

We had SUCH an amazing time last week with Sleepy Hollow!!! Great Job!

 

Spelling List 6-Review Words:

• To practice your spelling list on Spelling City click HERE
• craft, wreck, strive, file, pleasant, cycle, sought, annoy, sword, mourn, grill, plump, mute, league, ravine, myth, clause, mound, chart, peirce

Sleepy Hollow Vocabulary:

• To practice the words on Quizlet Click HERE 
• accompany, beneficial, captive, convenient, ecstasy, expanse, expedition, inept, territory, interpret, invaluable, linger, retrieve, skirmish, supplement

Story Focus:

• Over the next two weeks we are going to finish our discovery of folktales by reading On Turtles Backs: A Native American Legend and Sons of the Dragon King from the Storytown Reader.  To read these stories online, find them in the Table of Contents HERE. 
• This week we will compare On Turtles Backs to this telling of the same folktale on Youtube click HERE to watch.
• To read more about the topic of Chinese Dragons and The Sons of the Dragon King click HERE.

Friday, November 6th

• 1st Chance Spelling Test
• Vocabulary Quiz

SLEEPY HOLLOW WEEK!

This week we are doing the reader's theater version of the classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  The students seem to be excited to be doing something out of the usual routine! :) We've spiffed up the classroom and practiced our parts.  The students have been encouraged to dress up for the play on Friday in whatever best fits the part they are reading (don't spend money, any little thing is okay).
*7th Hour students are allowed to bring snacks for a post-play party. :)

* Our 2nd Spelling Test will be Thursday!!

October 19-23

Thank you to everyone who attended Parent-Teacher Conferences! I enjoyed speaking to you about your awesome kids! I hope everyone had a great Fall break full of good times and good rest.

This week we will begin our next two-week unit.  We will be reading a reader's theater version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  It should be a nice break from the regular stories we have been doing over the last few weeks, just in time for getting in the Halloween spirit! In addition to spelling and vocabulary we will be studying elements of folktales, generalizations, and fact/opinion. Here are some resources to help you be successful over the next few weeks:

Spelling List 5:

• To practice your spelling list on Spelling City click HERE
• fierce, sword, court, snarl, thorn, earth, skirt, chart, urge, yarn, whirl, mourn, rehearse, curb, earnest, starch, purse, birch, pierce, scorn

Sleepy Hollow Vocabulary:

• To practice the words on Quizlet Click HERE 
• entranced, mischief, brooding, shriek, lanky, tethered, decrepit, hymn, misshapen, superstitious, pommel, flimsy, drowsy, burly, shudder

Sleepy Hollow Fun Links:

• For a video from the current Mayor of Sleepy Hollow that includes pictures of the setting of our story click HERE
• This link will take you to a YouTube video with historic illustrations of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, click HERE
• We will be reading an abridged version of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. For a full version of Washington Irving's text read on YouTube as an audiobook click HERE

Friday, October 23rd

• 1st Chance Spelling Test
• Vocabulary Quiz

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent -Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Oct 12 and 13 from 3:30-6:45.

I will be available for conferences tonight from 3:30-6:00 and tomorrow from 3:00-7:00.
If my schedule messes you up a bit and you would like to phone conference with me about your kiddo, I'm sending a not home today for you to sign in addition to the progress report. I'd be happy to give you a call.

THANKS!!!

Oct 5-9

• Vocabulary Words Lesson 4: 
• To see them on Wordly Wise online click HERE
• To practice them on Quizlet click HERE
• aloft, attain, buffet, elude, flammable, hover, inflate, jeopardy, moor, plummet, pollute, propel, stationary, superb, swivel
• Spelling Words List 4:
• To practice on Spelling City, click HERE
• bloom, sprout, droop, crouch, annoy, vault, squawk, avoid, sought, naughty, mound, groove, foul, hoist, gloom, trout, noun, roost, clause, appoint
• Story:
• Smokejumpers
• To read it online click HERE

Friday, October 9th

• Smokejumpers/Main Idea and Details Assessment
• Vocabulary Test
• 2nd BOOK REPORT DUE!!!!!!!!!!!

Spirit Week

This week we will be showing our school spirit through the following dress-up days for Homecoming week:

Monday- Red, White, and Blue Day
Tuesday- Tu-tus and Ties Day
Wednesday- Dress to Impress Day: Dress like your favorite actor, actress, or athlete
Thursday- Tropic/Tourist Day
Friday- PT PRIDE DAY!!! Wear that Black and White!

Have fun! Dress codes still apply.

Sept28-Oct2

New 2-Week Unit Begins today:

• Vocabulary Words Lesson 4: 
• To see them on Wordly Wise online click HERE
• To practice them on Quizlet click HERE
• aloft, attain, buffet, elude, flammable, hover, inflate, jeopardy, moor, plummet, pollute, propel, stationary, superb, swivel
• Spelling Words List 4:
• To practice on Spelling City, click HERE
• bloom, sprout, droop, crouch, annoy, vault, squawk, avoid, sought, naughty, mound, groove, foul, hoist, gloom, trout, noun, roost, clause, appoint
• Story:
• Smokejumpers
• To read it online click HERE

This Friday, October 2nd

• First Chance Spelling Test
• Vocabulary Quiz
• CARS Pre-Test 

NEXT Friday, October 9th

• Smokejumpers/Main Idea and Details Assessment
• Vocabulary Test
• 2nd BOOK REPORT DUE!!!!!!!!!!!

A Few Notes:

- Students need to be reading library books and studying VOCABULARY at home!!
- Picture Retakes, October 7th
-Next Book Report Due, October 9th

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Sept 21-25

Our 2-Week Unit Continues:

• Vocabulary Words Lesson 3: 
• To see them on Wordly Wise online click HERE
• To practice them on Quizlet click HERE
• abundant, arid, distinct, graze, hectic, horde, humid, incredible, inhabit, peninsula, rural, sanctuary, splendor, squalor, terrain
• Spelling Words List 3:
• To practice on Spelling City, click HERE
• cycle, pleasant, reply, threat, rhyme, sweat, routine, meant, myth, thread, rhythm, cleanse, sponge, deny, meadow, rely, shove, apply, leather, ravine
• Story:
• The Great Serum Race
• To read it online click HERE

Friday, Sept 25th

• Second Chance Spelling Test if Needed
• Vocabulary TEST
• Reading Assessment on The Great Serum Race 

On Friday Sept. 18th, our first book report was due. Per the syllabus, there are no late exceptions on book reports. For some reason I had several students still not make the deadline regardless of DAILY reminders. Because this is our VERY first report assignment, I will be accepting reports on Monday, Sept 21st for partial credit, after that 2 zeros will be applied to student averages; one for AR tests and one for reports. For all other book report assignments through the year NO LATE papers will be accepted. Students have a list of due dates in their reading folders and in the syllabus.  The next report is due October 9th, that is three weeks away.

Book Orders

Shop Online: scholastic.com/readingclub
One-Time Class Activation Code: JDGKM

Due Date: Sept 18th
Dear Families,

Encouraging reading is one of the most important things we can do to help your child succeed. It can be tough finding the right books to keep them interested, which is why I am so excited that our class will be participating in Scholastic Reading Club this school year.

With Scholastic Reading Club:

• Every book you buy earns FREE Books for our classroom library
• You can choose from handpicked, grade- and reading-level-specific books for your child
• You'll find the best values on a variety of formats

Each month, your child will bring home Reading Club flyers. Together you can choose from books hand-selected by teachers and experts, and then order online or send your order form and payment to me.

I'd also love some help growing our classroom library. If you'd like to help out, please let me know! I'm excited to get our class reading!

Thank you for your support,

•  VISIT scholastic.com/readingclub
•  ENTER the one-time Class Activation Code (top of this letter)
•  SHOP from a carefully curated selection of the best books and value packs
•  SUBMIT your order and earn FREE Books for our classroom
•  All book orders will be shipped to our classroom so we can celebrate the joy of reading together!