Gombert Project Arrow

Week of March 23rd

During the upcoming week, we will continue reading The Secret Garden. Our goal is to complete the novel by the end of the week. It may feel like a reading marathon; however, I am confident that each learner will handle it well and continue to grow as a voracious reader. We will also continue having in-depth discussions and tracking plot development.

I hope your children have a wonderful spring break! I also hope the weather cooperates so we can all enjoy some warmer temperatures.

The next weekly update will be sent out on Sunday, April 5th. Take care!

Week of March 16th

During the upcoming week, we will continue reading The Secret Garden. Our goal will be to read and discuss chapters 14–18 during the time we have together. In addition, we will engage in higher-level discussions that focus on details related to the setting, character analysis, and symbolism. Students will be encouraged to use critical thinking in order to clearly understand the abstract ideas present in the text.

Please be aware that this novel contains twenty-seven chapters. Most likely, students will be responsible for doing some reading at home so that we can complete the text prior to spring break. Have a great week.

Week of March 9th

During the upcoming week, we will continue to read The Secret Garden. Our goal will be to read and discuss chapters 11-13 during the time we have together.

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that IAR testing will continue next week. As a result, PA will be canceled from 3/11-3/13.

Week of March 2nd

During the upcoming week, we will continue to read The Secret Garden. Each learner will be encouraged to analyze the thoughts and actions of the characters, interpret implicit meanings, and uncover symbolism. We will also continue to add important events to our class plot development chart.

IMPORTANT: Please be aware that IAR testing will begin next week. As a result, PA will be canceled from 3/4 through 3/6.

Week of February 23rd

During the upcoming week, we will continue to read The Secret Garden. Mary has discovered the key and has finally located the mysterious garden. Each learner will continue to be encouraged to analyze the thoughts and actions of the characters, interpret implicit meanings, and uncover symbolism. We will also continue to add important events to our class plot development chart.

Please be aware that this will be a short week due to Teacher Institute Day, which will take place on Friday, February 28th. Have a great week!

Week of February 16th

WOW! I have been so impressed by the students' critical thinking skills. We have engaged in several rich discussions about the text that have led to an understanding of both literal and figurative meanings. This week, Mary will discover the key to the secret garden. We will continue to read and have discussions about the text, with an emphasis on symbolism and character development.

Students will also be responsible for completing written tasks in their digital journals. This helps to support student comprehension and provides opportunities for each learner to reflect on the chapters that have been read. In addition, students are encouraged to search for text evidence to support their thinking and to write their responses in a clear and concise manner. Have a great week, and enjoy the weather!

Week of February 9th

During the upcoming week, students will continue to delve deeper into The Secret Garden. I have been so impressed with the students' insights. We have unearthed the meaning of various symbols within the text, and students have presented theories about what they believe will happen as we continue to read. We are also on the search for important events that can be added to our plot development chart. Students will begin to take ownership of this process and will collaborate in small groups to determine what they feel is the most predominant event within the chapter. Once students have come to a consensus, their idea will be added to our class plot development chart. Have a great week!

Week of February 2nd

This week, students will begin reading the classic novel The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. We will engage in discussions about the exposition of the text, including information about the characters and the setting. Students will also learn important background information about Mary, the main character, and identify the inciting incident of the story. Many students may be surprised to learn that both of Mary’s parents die of cholera, leaving her an orphan. I am looking forward to having rich conversations during the upcoming week. Please be aware that students may have reading homework during our novel study. Have a great week!

Week of January 26th

During the upcoming week, students will be reading My Teacher Has a Tattoo. This text will provide another opportunity for students to practice their understanding of symbolism.

In addition, the students will begin background building for The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Barnett. This will include a preview and predict task that will help students to consider what this classic literary piece will be about. Each learner will be shown images and short excerpts to help them make predictions and strong inferences about what will occur in the text. Our goal is to begin reading during the week of February 2nd. I am confident that this will be one of the highlights of our year together! Have a great week!

Week of January 19th

Due to iReady testing, we were unable to wrap our work with symbolism. This week, students will investigate various objects and use divergent thinking to identify what they symbolize. They will collaborate with their peers to determine logical ideas. If time permits, we will do a few additional learning tasks that relate to symbolism. In addition, we will read a picture book entitled My Teacher Has Tattoos and discuss the symbolism within the text.

Please be aware that, similar to last week, students will have iReady testing. Therefore, students will have a limited amount of PA time. I am looking forward to returning to our normal schedule during the week of 1/26. Have a great week!

Week of January 12th

During the upcoming week, students will wrap up their learning related to symbolism. We will read a text entitled This Is the Rope by Jacqueline Woodson and uncover the symbolism within the story, as well as determine whether the meaning of a symbol can change over the course of the narrative.

In addition, students will view a video entitled Understanding Symbolism, which highlights several important symbols, and each learner will be required to uncover the meaning of each one. Finally, students will play an engaging game of Symbolic Pictionary. The overall goal is for students to work in groups and use divergent thinking as they create drawings of symbols for predetermined words (e.g., hardship, peace, kindness). They will be encouraged to identify and draw the most unique and creative images.

Finally, second‑quarter progress reports will be sent home on Friday, January 16th. Have a great week!

Week of January 5th

Happy New Year, and welcome back 4PA! I am very excited to see each learner on Monday, January 5th. We will begin our time together by sharing a few highlights from winter break and completing some New Year–themed activities. We will soon begin reading the novel entitled The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This is a classic text that is filled to the brim with symbolism. As a result, we will be spending some much-needed time exploring what symbolism is and how to uncover its meaning. After examining how authors embed symbolism within their writing, we will investigate various objects and use divergent thinking to identify what they symbolize. Please be aware that this is one building block that will be used to support students in accessing the text. I am confident that each learner will think critically during our quest to discover new ideas. Have a great week!

Week of December 15th

During the upcoming week students will wrap up their Chalk Talk learning task. Also, one of the big ideas of this text is honoring and respecting elders within our community and learning from the wisdom they have. We will extend our learning by viewing and examining a TED Talk that focuses on this premise. It is entitled "Connect the Ages". Please click HERE to view.

In addition, students will be reading The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read. This picture book tells the true story of Mary Walker, who was born into slavery and spent most of her life working hard to support her family. At age 116, she decided it was finally time to learn to read. With determination and perseverance, Mary proved it’s never too late to learn something new. We will identify and discuss the parallels between this text and "The Old Man and His Affectionate Son".

For the remainder of the week, students will be participating in collaborative tasks that will be FUN and engaging. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. It has been an extreme pleasure to observe how your children have flourished since the beginning of the year, and I look forward to many new and exciting learning opportunities upon the students' return in January. Enjoy this time and be safe!

Week of December 8th

Our goal will be to wrap up "The Old Man and His Affectionate Son" during the upcoming week. Students will be participating in a task entitled Chalk Talk. They will take an active role and respond to higher-level thinking questions through the use of written conversations. The goal will be for students to to learn from one another and gain a deeper understanding of the text.

They will also engage in a team debate carousel. Students will respond to the following dilemma: A society does not have enough resources to feed all of its people. There is a proposal to take all people over the age of seventy into the mountains and let them fend for themselves. I am eager to observe their responses.

Finally, one of the big ideas of this text is honoring and respecting elders within our community and learning from the wisdom they have. We will extend our learning by viewing and examining a TED Talk that focuses on this premise. It is entitled "Connect the Ages". Please click HERE to view. Have a great weekend!

Week of December 1st

I hope that each student had a relaxing Thanksgiving break. I am excited to see the students and look forward to continuing the learning process.

This week, students will begin with building background knowledge for a folktale entitled " The Old Man and His Affectionate Son." Each learner will be shown several images and will be encouraged to use higher-level thinking to determine how they relate to one another. Students will use inferential thinking and be encouraged to synthesize throughout the lesson. We will also review the characteristics of folktales prior to reading.

This story is about an aging father lovingly cared for by his devoted son, whose kindness highlights the strength of their bond. Each learner will be responsible for reading and annotating the text. They will be tasked with examining the piece of work for the following ideas/concepts: ethical issues, inferences, theme, characterization, problem/solution, etc. Have a great week!

Week of November 17th

This week, students will be diving into our grammar unit. Prior to our learning, each individual will be given a pre-assessment to determine their current knowledge of the eight parts of speech. We will then begin reading from our Grammar Town textbook and having in-depth discussions. We will cover common and proper nouns and pronouns. In addition to reading from our grammar book, students will engage in some interactive learning routines to help solidify their learning. These routines will also allow students to communicate and collaborate with their peers.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to you for entrusting your child's education to me. I am extremely lucky to be able to work with such wonderful and supportive parents. It's an absolute honor to work with your children. I hope that everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break!

Week of November 10th

This week, students will be wrapping up their Socratic Seminar training. Then, learners will participate in their very first seminar. Our goal for this discussion will be engagement as well as fluent thinking. We will focus on the ground rules for discussion with an emphasis on the rule that states, "Know that you are responsible for the quality of the seminar." Students are aware that I will be a facilitator of the learning process and that they will be in the driver's seat. Ultimately, it will be the responsibility of each student to engage in thoughtful conversations in order to ensure that the seminar runs like a well-oiled machine. I am excited to observe their thinking.

As a culminating activity, students will be playing Monopoly. This game is referenced in the story and aligns with the conflict that occurs within the text. Afterward, they will consider the symbolic meaning of the game and how it relates to our reading. Students will share their thoughts in a written or verbal format. If time permits, their knowledge of the literary selection will be assessed through the use of an exit slip. Have a wonderful week!

Week of November 3rd

During the upcoming week, students will complete their annotations for the story "Lenny's Red Letter Day." Each learner will also undergo training to learn about the Socratic Seminar. Students will learn about the purpose of a seminar, view examples of exemplary learners engaged in a discussion, and take notes on what they see and hear as they watch the seminars. We will have many conversations about how to interact with one another and behave. Also, the students will be tasked with creating a personal goal for themselves that they will work towards achieving. Have a great week!

Week of October 27th

During the upcoming week, students will be completing background building for an upcoming story entitled "Lenny's Red-Letter Day". They will also be introduced to new vocabulary and work to learn the meanings of the words through the use of Quizlet and Blooket. We will then begin the process of annotating the text. This process will be scaffolded. We will begin working as an entire group, and eventually, students will collaborate with a partner to complete their work. Each learner will be encouraged to make inferences, search for examples of symbolism, identify various perspectives, uncover themes, and pinpoint ethical issues within the text. I am looking forward to observing some great thinking this week! Have a great week!

Week of October 20th

We will continue with our exploration of the poem entitled "Birdfoot's Grampa" by Josep Bruchac. They will be using a forced analogy, including images, to uncover a hidden meaning within the text. A pictorial forced analogy is when someone uses a picture or visual comparison to link two things that don’t really go together — just to make a point. Students will discover how the author Joseph Bruchac used the toads in his poem as a metaphor for Native Americans being mistreated and displaced from their land. They will also be completing a Depth and Complexity organizer that will focus on the following icons: patterns, details, big ideas, and across the disciplines. Please be aware that students will only be attending PA on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Week of October 13th

This week, students will be reading, analyzing, and annotating a poem entitled "Birdfoot's Grampa". This will be our very first text of the year. The Depth and Complexity framework will be highlighted and used throughout the annotation process. Students will be encouraged to use inferential thinking and to uncover implicit themes within the text. If time permits, they will also be completing a Depth and Complexity organizer that will focus on patterns, details, big ideas, and text-to-world connections.

PA conferences will take place on Thursday, October 16th from 4:30-8:00 p.m. and Monday, October 20th from 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. and 4:30-8:00 p.m. If you have not signed up, you can find the links in a previous email that was sent last week. Please be sure to complete the "Parent Homework" questionnaire and have your child turn it in on Tuesday, October 14th, if you have a conference. This will help to guide our discussions during the conference. Have a great week!

IMPORTANT: Please remember that conferences are for parents of students who are new to PA. However, you may request a conference, if you would like.

Week of October 6th

Last week, students reviewed literary elements, plot development, and began to learn about the four types of conflict. We also learned about character vs. character conflict and viewed the movie adaption of The Ugyly Duckling. Afterward, we had a great discussion about examples of character vs. character conflict that were present. During the upcoming week, we will move on to learning about character vs. self, character vs. nature, and character vs. society. Literary texts will be used to help students apply their learning and focus on the type of conflict being examined. They will also be viewing short video clips from popular movies to enhance their knowledge. Toward the end of the week, students will apply their knowledge by reading passages and identifying the type of conflict that is present. Learners will be working in small groups and will be encouraged to find evidence to support their thinking. If time permits, students will be given a short assessment to determine their understanding of conflict.

Week of September 29th

Last week, students spent the bulk of our class time composing a piece of writing in connection with point of view. During the upcoming week, we will be completing a close reading of the text They All Saw a Cat. Students will be responsbile for making observations about how the author depicts the characters' perceptions of the cat. Later in the week, students will be composing a writing piece to support their understanding of perspective. Eyebombing is a playful and imaginative writing activity where children place googly eyes on everyday objects to bring them to life—then write short stories or character descriptions based on their creations. It’s a fun way to blend visual creativity with storytelling while building observation and writing skills. Have a great week!

Week of September 22nd

Students will begin the week by reviewing point of view. They will work collaboratively with their group members to read passages and determine the point of view of each. Afterward, students will be completing a point of view writing task. They will be responsible for writing a story for a chosen image from different points of view (1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited, and 3rd person omniscient). If time permits, students will identify the difference between point of view and perspective. We will also complete a close reading of the text They All Saw a Cat and make observations about how the author depicts the characters' perceptions of the cat. I am looking forward to an AWESOME week of learning!

Week of September 15th

At the beginning of the week, each learner will complete a pre-assessment for literature. The assessment will be used to determine students' knowledge of theme, change, interpretation of implicit ideas, and conflict. We will then transition to learning about point of view. Students will learn about 1st Person, 2nd Person, and 3rd Person points of view. They will also discover what 3rd Person Limited and 3rd Person Omniscient mean and will be taught how to decipher them when reading texts. Please contact me if you have any questions. I am looking forward to an AWESOME week of learning!

Week of September 8th

Students are making steady progress on their creativity projects despite having a shorter amount of time to work. Please be aware that each learner will continue their iReady assessments during the upcoming week (9/8, 9/10-9/11). As a result, our class time willl, again, be abbreviated. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me via email. Have a great week!

Week of September 1st

Please be aware that students will be participating in iReady testing on 9/3-9/5. As a result, PA services will be shortened to allow for students to complete the assessments. During the upcoming week, we will continue to work on our introductory project. Students will be encouraged to consider their passions, desires, and interests. We have begun the process of brainstorming ideas. Each learner has been exposed to the components of creativity, and the hope is that they will consider these throughout the design process. Also, I would like to remind any students who have not yet turn in their supplies to bring them in as soon as possilble. Finally, I'd like to remind you about the parent survey. This will help me to learn more about your child. Click HERE if you still need to complete the questionniare. I am looking forward to another wonderful week with your children. Enjoy your weekend!

Week of August 25th

I am extremely excited to begin the 2025-2026 school year, and I am confident we are going to have an awesome year! Students will begin Project Arrow on Monday, August 25th. This week, we will begin to create a community in our classroom through the use of team building activities. They will be encouraged to communicate and collaborate with one another to be successful.

Students will also begin a project that will help them to consider what their passions, interests, and desires are. They will be creating a pictorial representation of these ideas. They will be encouraged to integrate the components of creativity (fluency, flexiblity, originality, and elaboration) throughout the design process. Prior to beginning the project, we will be reading a book entitled Sarabella's Thinking Cap by Judith Byron Schachner. My hope is that this text will inspire thoughtful ideas for their project.

Please be aware that your child brought home a teacher bio, PA schedule, and a supply list last Friday. You can also find a digital copy of the supply list as well as the schedule on the homepage of the PA Google site. Please have your child bring in their supplies no later than Friday, August 29th. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

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