Letters from Language Arts
What's Happening In ELAR, Issue 8
Life As We Know It
It is an unavoidable truth that our children are measured by their performance on standardized tests. In fourth grade, we have three. The first test, writing, is coming quickly on April 9. We believe that if our instruction is on point, our kids will do just fine on the test; however, testing is a genre unto itself. Kids needs to learn the testing language in order to answer to be successful. We will devote a portion of our class time to test prep. We will make it as enjoyable and fruitful as possible.
With Pencils Sharpened and and Journals Ready,
Anne and Caitlin
Writing Camp Begins March 18!! This is an in-class activity
Students will be participating in writing rotations for the next few weeks. In each rotation, students will be perfecting a specific writing skill. Students will also be meeting with either Mrs. Mozisek or Ms. Smalling each day. We look forward to students having the opportunity to review and master skills in a joyous way.
Extra Help
If your child ever needs help understanding a topic in class, or they bring home a grade below a 70, they are always welcome to bring it back to class and get help to improve and bring their grade up to a 75. We are available every morning at 7:30am, unless we have morning duty.
George Ranch Historical Park - March 5, 2019
We had a fantastic, yet cold, time at George Ranch. It was an amazing experience, and the kids loved it. We were able to bring history to life with the help of the Jones family. Kids learned to cook, spin cotton, and tend animals. A huge thank you to all of the parents who joined us on our jaunt on March 5. This trip was a year in the making. We applied for the grant at the end of last year, had to schedule the trip at the beginning of the school year, and who knew Mother Nature would throw us such a strong curve ball? That said, the kids gave the trip a resounding thumbs up.
Subjectively Speaking: What To Expect When You're A 4th Grade Parent
Reader's Workshop
We have been asking noticing interesting parts of books, writing our thinking to what we notice, and asking questions of our characters. This allows students to think deeper about what they are reading. Once they interact with the text, it becomes easier for them to comprehend what is happening within it.
Writer's Workshop
We have continued our journey into expository writing. We are noticing that students tend to have good structure, but we work daily on explaining and providing good examples to support our claims. Writing is a process, and kids develop at different paces.
Texas History
Should we stay or should we go? This is the big question happening in Texas history right now. Should Texas become part of the United States, or should we stay our own republic? There are many differing view as the kids are learning. We also continue to examine life as a pioneer during this time period.
Expository Essay Rubric
Spelling: Words Their Way
We have finished unusual plurals, and we will be moving on to another spelling TEK after spring break. Stay tuned for the next spelling list to go out on Monday, March 18.
Grammar Rules!
With the Writing STAAR test coming up April 9, we are continuing to focus on strategies to use on revision and editing passages. We are also working on using grammar skills we have learned in our expository writing and our social studies journals.
Flocabulary
Students should continue to access this resource at home and practice the new words they learn in the vocabulary section of Flocabulary.
UpComing Events
3/7: 5th Grade Americana Performance
3/11 - 3/15 Spring Break
3/12 Mrs. Mozisek's 21st birthday!!
3/18 Writing Camp Begins
3/29 Field Day during Specials
4/1-4/5 All School Talent Show
4/9 Writing STAAR Test
4/19 Good Friday Holiday
About Us
We are overjoyed at being your language arts and social studies teachers. It is our goal to not only create good readers and writers but lifelong readers and writers. Thank you for making this journey with us.
Email: Anne-Louise.Smalling@springbranchisd.com
Location: https://maps.google.com/?cid=7155001544484722155
Phone: 713 251 6300
Twitter: @MDESmalling