Language+Arts

Welcome to Language Arts!

**Pronouns** Students please take the following survey.

 https://docs.google.com/a/kentwoodps.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGhQQm9kZ3k5MUh0T081T0tTOGtIVWc6MQ   **Research** Students are working on a research unit. After reading informational text to learn facts about the Rainforest, each student selected a species of the Amazon Rainforest to research. Students will need to write at least 5 questions to answer about their species. Students will also illustrate their species to display in our classroom "Rainforest" along with creating a fact card. The final project will be a written argument as to why their species is important to the Rainforest. Please use the following resources.

**Determining the validity of a Website**

**Check out the following website. Is it true or just a hoax? Is it fiction or nonfiction?**

http://home.inreach.com/kumbach/velcro.html

Note-taking guide Websites

http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/products?ed=all&gr=Welcome+Kentwood+Public+School+Dist

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

Fairy Tales Students are completing a unit on Fairy Tales. Please view the following link to view some of the activities.

http://www-ma.beth.k12.pa.us/jhoke/jhwebquest/jhwebquest.htm

Tall Tales Students are studying numerous Tall Tales. Our learning target is to recognize the particular sentences and phrases that add exaggeration.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; line-height: 25px;">Below are links to one of the Tall Tales we are studying. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; line-height: 25px;">John Henry Part 1 and 2

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; overflow: hidden;">Novel Projects

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Students will be responsible for reading and completing activities for one novel each marking period.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**Marking Period Three:** the project is a poster (paper is supplied) made up of 25 different smaller squares. For each of the squares, students will need to answer questions about the book of their choice. Posters are due Friday, March 16th.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**Marking Period Two:** the project is a set of four journal entries. See the attached document for the journal entry topics. Students will need to have all four journal entries turned in by Tuesday, January 17th. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**Marking Period One**: the project is a book talk. This will be a great opportunity for students to not only share a book they have read but to also learn about so many books that our school library has to offer.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Each student will complete the attached Book Talk form and present their book to the class starting the week of October 24th. Ask your student what day they have signed up for! I have also attached a sample Book Talk for students to use as a reference. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; overflow: hidden;">Paragraph a Week Writing (First Marking Period)

For Language Arts first marking period, each student will have a written homework assignment. These assignments will be used for extended lessons in the classroom. This will help your child practice and develop his/her writing skills throughout the school year.

Each Monday, I will introduce the writing prompt. Students will brainstorm and record their ideas. They will be expected to take their brainstorming notes home and use them to write their paragraph(s). The finished paragraph must be signed by a parent/guardian and returned to school by Thursday.


 * Each paragraph will be scored based on the following criteria **

Clear Purpose and Audience Six traits of good writing: Organization — logical order, proper structure Ideas — strong, support the topic, connect to the reader Varied Sentences — style, length, structure Word Choice — appropriate for the topic and grade level, varied, interesting Grammar/Punctuation/Capitalization (Conventions) Personal Voice/Style — expression, figurative language, thoughts/dialogue Topic sentence Supporting sentences (at least 3) Details/Examples/Personal Experiences (at least 2) Concluding sentence Indent paragraph Neatness and Spelling

Listed Below are the links to the paragraphs that have been assigned.

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