This is the final stretch of the first semester.  We will begin Unit three of our Treasures textbook. I have seen such growth in the students during our Communication Arts classes and have watched them learn how to think through stories by making inferences and connections to the story.  This helps tremendously with comprehension.   Please encourage your child to read, whether it is a book, magazine, or other forms of written text.  The more students see words, the more their vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency will grow.  

Students will also be writing their memory book throughout the rest of the year.  In the journals, we have started the rough drafts for a few of the chapters.  You will find that they have written 10 questions to ask a relative during the holidays.  It is best if they ask these questions of a grandparent or a great grandparent.  The idea is to find someone that is a distance from their age.  This way, they will learn new things about the life of fifth graders many years ago.  They may interview parents, neighbors, friends, aunts or uncles, but no siblings. Many students have begun their interview and the stories they have shared with me are priceless.  Please remind them to do this during the holidays.  We will be typing these up so we can put them in their book at the end of the year.  If your child would like to start typing, please have them do it in google docs.