Reading: We've been reviewing literary terms and test strategies in preparation for the ISATS. We're doing this prep in conjunction with our regular literacy curriculum, combining Treasures stories with our review whenever possible. As we review, we're using this guide to understand the test:
The reading ISATS test reading in three ways:
- Do you understand the story? (reading comprehension)
- characters, setting, plot, sequencing, climax, resolution
- summarizing, inferring
- "right-there" questions, search and find, extended response
- Do you understand how the author wrote the piece? (writing styles and strategies)
- genres: biography, narrative, advertisement, etc.
- literary devices: foreshadowing, alliteration, personification (using an object as a character throughout the story- Cogsworth/ Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast)
- figurative language: idiom, simile, metaphor, personification (describing an object with human characteristics- the wind whistled)
- Do you understand how the words and sentences are combined and used in the piece? (grammar)
- parts of speech
- prefixes, suffixes, root words
- vocabulary, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, homographs, etc
4th Grade Math: Our lessons focused on identifying, reading and drawing angles this week. We reviewed acute, right, obtuse, straight and reflex angles, then learned how to measure and draw them. As I've mentioned, Unit 6 is a difficult unit: long division, map skills and using protractors are all new and challenging skills. Next week we will wrap up our study of angles and heavily review for the Unit 6 test, slated for next Thursday, March 1.
5th Grade Math: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Writing: We finished revising our shortcut maps! The last thing we will do is create titles for our pieces, a mini-lesson I haven't touched on yet this year. We are excited to hang our maps and stories on "The Wall" for you to see soon!
We have also been having a lot of fun learning to properly use conjunctions (and, yet, but, for...) and either/ or, neither/ nor. I have some humorous but really effective worksheets that we've been using, for which the students practice filling in blank spaces in the first half, then make up sentences of their own. Class 303 had a "moment" on Thursday as we checked our work and shared our writing. Everyone, including me, was in a fit of laughter. Ask your kids about the Ding-a-ling Circus reviews they wrote using either/ or, neither/ nor.
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
We have also been having a lot of fun learning to properly use conjunctions (and, yet, but, for...) and either/ or, neither/ nor. I have some humorous but really effective worksheets that we've been using, for which the students practice filling in blank spaces in the first half, then make up sentences of their own. Class 303 had a "moment" on Thursday as we checked our work and shared our writing. Everyone, including me, was in a fit of laughter. Ask your kids about the Ding-a-ling Circus reviews they wrote using either/ or, neither/ nor.
Social Studies: Check out Ms. Wennerberg's website and newsletter for updates: http://www.op97.org/swennerberg/
Miscellaneous:
- Don't forget to purchase your March to Success tickets!
- Speaking of March to Success...Last week your child brought home a template (on white paper) for a self-portrait. Please have him/ her complete this self-portrait and return it to school.
- Every Wednesday is Whittier Wear Wednesday! If you need to update your Whittier Wear Wardrobe, visit the PTO website to place an on line order. Go Wildcats!
