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The fifth graders have been meeting twice a week in small groups to discuss their
science fiction / fantasy novels. Their discussions revolve around setting, plot, and
character transformation. To prepare for discussion, students complete Response to
Reading assignments. These assignments challenge students to explore unfamiliar words,
to select favorite passages and provide personal reactions, and to analyze the main
characters through their relationships with others and reactions to situations. The
students have had fun sharing their thoughts and opinions with one another in their
discussion groups.
Our class has taken to the airwaves! Last week, the fifth graders took over our school's
morning announcements on channel 46. The CGN News Team covers a range of topics
ranging from "Top Story of the Day" to "Nutrition Tips." Every student in the class will
participate in some way between now and winter holiday break. The skills involved in
providing this service to our school community include writing, interviewing others,
researching, public speaking, and working with technology. Everyone is doing a great job
in their roles! If you are interested in watching your son or daughter "live" on our school
TV, stop by some morning at 8:00 a.m. and have a look.
During Writing Workshop, the students will be working on a three to four paragraph
comparison paper this week. They are comparing the alternative life of the main character
from their science fiction or fantasy novel with life on Earth in 2009. Your fifth grader
received a packet of information on Monday, November 16th, that presents the writing
process steps required. You may download this assignment, entitled "Comparison Paper"
from the Documents page of my website. This assignment is due on Tuesday, November
24th. Please make sure that you are aware of it so you can support your child at home as
she or he works through the writing process. Every writer needs a reader!
We have begun a weekly vocabulary enrichment routine during literacy period.
Students receive a list of word cards to cut apart and sort into different categories. Once
they find the patterns, they transfer their words into their Word Journals. Throughout the
week, the fifth graders will complete various tasks using these words. Currently we are
focusing on Greek and Latin Prefixes.
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