ReadingSome of the novels we may explore in and out of the classroom are:
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WritingOur school has adopted the Units of Study by Lucy Calkins to teach writing to our students. "The foundation of the Units of Study in Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing series
lies in the understanding that writing is a lifelong process during which we continually
lift the level of our writing skills and outgrow ourselves as writers. Students learn that all
writing has essential traits to which they must attend when developing a piece. Writers
learn various ways to find topics they wish to write about. They learn to make purposeful
decisions about the structure and organization of a piece. They learn a repertoire of
methods for elaborating. They learn to craft their pieces using literary language and
devices and to employ the conventions of written language (Anderson 2005; Calkins
1994; Elbow 1989; Graves 1994; Wood Ray 1999)."
In order to further improve their writing skills, students are encouraged to write often. One of the ways they can engage in additional writing activities is by writing in their own personal journals.
Word StudyWe will be implementing the Words Their Way program to deepen student understanding of words. Words Their Way is a developmental spelling, phonics, and vocabulary program. It is a part of a balanced literacy plan that includes fluency, comprehension and writing. An assessment is given to determine where to begin instruction. Based on assessment results students are given words to study in order to discover the common attributes. In this manner students are actively constructing their own knowledge of spelling patterns. Students learn features by completing activities such as word sorting, word hunts, games and drawing and labeling. Students work individually, with partners, and in small groups to encourage cooperative learning and individual responsibility.
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