Mrs. Williamson's English Language Arts: August 2013

Thursday, August 8, 2013

In English Language Arts, we will be using the Treasures series. This is the same book that was used throughout the primary and elementary grades. You will not be assigned a book because we use them mostly for the stories. If you are absent you can check out a book and return it the next day. I do have a link on this blog that has the vocabulary words that we will be using if you need help with them.

The district has decided to do the reading and writing workshop in each grade. I am extremely excited about this! We are going to find those "just right" books and get into "the zone" as we read and write around the room. Writing will be meaningful and we will create some amazing works. I sure hope you are ready for a fun, challenging, and exciting time as we venture through the doorway of our imaginations.

In ELA (English Language Arts) you will have two grades: one for reading and one for writing. Rooster Time will be a class that reinforces both of these grades and also your math grade. This is vital time to get work finished, improve your reading and writing skills, and also math skills.

Please familiarize yourself with this blog for any questions you may have. Many are answered through the blog. It does not need to be checked daily, but if you have any questions, please let it be the first place you go to get information. Email, which seems like a quicker way normally, takes a little longer because of our schedule. We have our plan time first thing in the morning, which means we do not have a break throughout the day until after school and duties are finished. If we have to scoot out of the school quickly we may not get back to you for at least 24 hours, until our next plan time. Please remember that we are structured different from what you are used to. We do have homerooms, but we also have close to 100 students to get to know and take care of their needs. Please be assured that we care about each one of them as individuals and want all of their needs to be met, so communication is vital for their success. It just may not happen as quickly as you were used to when they were in a self contained classroom with approximately 24 other students.

Class Organization

Text: The book is mostly for the reading selections. Your child should not need to take a book home unless they are absent on a day we read the story and did our activity. We do not have enough books to assign a book to each child, so if they need one they may check it out and bring it back the next day. There are links to the Treasures Book we use in class under the Fun Sites or ELA Text Links tab above.

Journal: We are building a journal in class. This will be used to record our thoughts as we are reading. It will contain elements of the seven keys of comprehension and story elements like plot, setting, character, etc.

Class Folders (kept in binder): Each class has a binder that students should use to organize their work. They should be able to find work quickly if they have classified it in the correct spot. This is one area that parents can help by making sure they put things in the correct locations. The class folder will contain papers spelling page as homework and study guides.

Other papers: Most papers/activities will be done in class. If students have used their time wisely in class they should not have extra work at home. There are times they may be stumped by a paper and it might take them longer than a class period.

I may switch up the paper and not do it exactly like the directions. Therefore, do not work ahead on the papers.

Discarding Papers: Do not throw out papers unless you know that it is not needed. Students are telling me that parents went through their folders and did not put it back. I have told them that if a parent goes though their work , and I am thankful that you do help them with organization, they need to be right there to answer any questions and make sure that work is placed back in the folder.

It would be great if you would keep graded work in a file at home until you know that the grade in the grade book (SIS) is correct. As much as I would like to think that I wouldn't make a mistake when entering grades, it does happen. This way you have proof of the mistake and it will be corrected immediately. Weekly tests or unit tests should be kept until you check SIS when progress reports are sent out.

Mrs. Williamson's English Language Arts

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Thursday, August 8, 2013

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