Most weeks with the exception of the First and Second nine weeks, we will focus on one Essential Question or curriculum skill. The students will learn the answer to each question. They will then practice the skill in a variety of ways during class and through some out of class assignments. The objective is for all students to master these skills. Assessments will be given weekly on Tuesdays. At the end of each nine weeks, a Benchmark Test will be administered that will measure your child's knowledge of the skills taught the current nine weeks. Please speak to your child regarding his/her Benchmark scores. READING Essential Questions: First nine weeks Week 1: * What is a genre? * What are some examples of types of genre? Week 2: * How do I locate information by using text features? * What are the parts of a book and purpose for each part? Week 3: * What are some different literary and media types? Week 4: * What are some ways that readers can interact with the text? Week 5: * What is the author�s purpose for writing the story/text? Week 6: * How does author's purpose determine text format? Week 7: * How do I write a summary after reading a text section? Week 8: * Can I create questions to clarify thinking? Week 9: * Benchmark Testing Second nine weeks Week 1: * What is the Sequence of events in a story? * What are the five parts of a plot? Week 2: * How do I select the best summary statement? Week 3: * What is main idea? * What is theme? Week 4: * What is my prediction about the story? Week 5: * What is point of view? * How do I determine point of view? Week 6: * What is the difference between fact and opinion? Week 7: * What sources can I use to know the meaning of unfamiliar words? * How do I breakdown unfamiliar words? Week 8: * Can I use grade appropriate vocabulary in context? Week 9: * Benchmark testing Third nine weeks Week 1: * What are multi-meaning words? * Can I select and use multi-meaning words in context? Week 2: * What are synonyms? Week 3: * What are antonyms? Week 4: * Can I select the correct synonym/antonym in context? Week 5: * What are the different types of figurative language? Week 6: * How can I express the effects of sound in context? Week 7: * What is rhythm/rhyme? * How are rhythm and rhyme different? Week 8: * What is the pattern of rhyme in a poem? Week 9: * Benchmark Testing Fourth nine weeks Week 1: * What is cause/effect? * What is the difference between cause/effect relationships? Week 2: * How do I support my predictions, ideas, opinions, and conclusions? Week 3: * What is the difference between literal and inferential inferences? Week 4: * What is the author's purpose for writing the text? Week 5: * What is propaganda? * What are some common propaganda techniques? Week 6 * What are primary and secondary sources? * Why are reference materials important? Week 7: * Benchmark Testing Week 8 and 9: * Review