• Silent reading books were checked out on Monday. Each day students are asked to record a few notes about what was read (characters, setting, conflicts, etc.) and reading logs will be collected on Friday. 

• This week students will be completing their "similarities and differences" partnered poster and present on Thursday. On Friday, we will look at completing the notes on parts of speech and apply skills identifying adjective, verbs, and prepositions (try to answer at least 8 questions for each exercise). 

• Reading Log: This week we have a short week so on Thursday I will collect your weekly reading logs. Your reading log should 4 entries (Mon., Tues., Wed., Thurs.) and  include 3-5 points on what you read that day. Try to cover character development, interesting plot points, and conflict. 

• Parts of Speech: This week we continued reviewing parts of speech including: synonyms, homonyms, and antonyms; subject-verb agreements. The handouts are included below and answers were discussed in class. 

• Reading Log: This week your reading log will be collected at the end of class on Friday. Your reading log should include an entry for each day of the week, include 3-5 points on what you read each day, and 5 vocabulary words that are either unknown or just great words that you can use in your own writing at a later date. Try to cover character development, interesting plot points, and conflict. 

• Parts of Sentences and Types of Sentences: Below are notes on the different parts and types of sentences that we will be working with in our writing. Try your best to work through the 10 questions. 

• Reading Log: This week your reading log will be collected at the end of class on Friday. Your reading log should include an entry for each day of the week, include 3-5 points on what you read each day, and 5 vocabulary words that are new/unfamiliar or just great words that you can use in your own writing at a later date. Try to cover character development, interesting plot points, and conflict. 

• Reading Log: This week will be your last reading log! Include 5 points on what you read each school day. Find 5 vocabulary words that are new, unfamiliar, or just great words that you can use in your own writing at a later date. Try to focus on including small yet important details to the plot, reasons why characters are acting a particular way, and you own opinions. 

• To prepare for the test, the class wrote a Parts of Speech and Sentences Pre-Test to do one last review session before the test. 

• Types of Writing Unit: The class looked at four main types of writing: 

  • expository: a style of writing that focuses on clear points that explain 

  • narrative: writing that tells a story using a plot structure

  • persuasive: writing to persuade others to agree with you through facts and persuasive devices

  • descriptive: activate the five senses through descriptive details to create mental images; sometimes more focused on details than plot

• This week we took a break from reading logs but continued to start class with silent reading. The class took notes on the different figurative devices and applied them to their writing. 

Week 8: 

• The class had time to edit and revise their descriptive paragraphs before completing a good copy. 

• Time was provided to work on completing the novel study cubes and assembling, some will need more time on Monday to complete. 

Week 10: 

• This week we mixed independent reading with some free writes. During free writes, we tried to write for 15 minutes without second guessing ideas or worrying about spelling or sentences. Also, we didn't cross anything out. It's all about getting ideas on the page. This can be done by writing notes, sentences, telling a story or any combination of the three. Your ideas don't have to be in order but basically, any idea related to the topic, try to get it down on the page. Aim for 3/4 - 1 page. Topic 1: "Create a monster." This related to our suspenseful short story unit. 

• We read "The Tell-Tale Heart" and responded to the questions. 

• Free write topic 2: "Write about a suspenseful situation. This could be something that happened to yourself, or made up." 

• We also read "Never Again" and "The Click Clack Rattle Bag" and compared how the stories created suspense (handout and stories included below). 

Week 12: 

• The class brainstormed ideas for re-writing the ending of "The Monkey's Paw" and began drafting an outline and rough copy. After student's completed a rough copy, they edited their own or a friend's draft. Once edits were completed, the class wrote their good copy taking note of places to revise. The re-written ending should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced (front and back). 

Week 14: 

• Some needed more time to complete the "Dog of Pompeii" newspaper. Then the class read "The Decision" and completed the plot outline assignment (attached below).

• We reviewed the plot of each story read in class to prepare for the short story test. Points of discussion were: characters, point of view, setting, symbolism, conflicts, climax, foreshadowing, and types of endings. 

• Students wrote the short story test on Friday.