Letters from Language Arts
What's Happening In ELAR, Issue 1
Dear Families,
We've just started our educational journey into the 2019 - 2020 school year, and we are so pleased to have you with us on our amazing travels through 4th grade. We will do our very best to give you a window into the Language Arts and Texas History classrooms at the end of every week. If information needs to be sent home between our newsletter dates, you will receive email updates.
With Sharpened Pencils and Journals Ready,
Caitlin Mozisek and Anne Smalling
NWEA MAP Testing: August 19-21.
Our students will be participating in the MAP test in math, reading and language arts. This test measures what students know and informs us what they need to learn next. Because it is computer adaptive, it adjusts the questions based on student responses. This allows us to personalize learning for each student. This test is linked to our state curriculum and gives us the ability to monitor student growth. We will be discussing these results with you during our fall conferences.
Fun Read Alouds This Week
Subjectively Speaking: What To Expect When You're A 4th Grade Parent
Reader's Workshop
This year we will be following a reader's workshop plan in our classroom. This consists of a block of time when students are taught a specific mini lesson, given time to work with a group or partner to practice the topic of the mini lesson, then expected to take time to read independently. During this block, teachers will be working in small group to target specific reading strategies.
Writer's Workshop
We will be following a similar workshop plan in writing. There will be a mini-lesson daily, collaborative learning time, independent practice with teacher conferring, and time to peer edit. This year, students will be writing imaginary stories, narratives, memoirs, and expository pieces.
Social Studies with a Texas History Twist
Although we start our year with a review of geography and map skills, this year we dive in to our terrific state's history. We take students on a journey of Native Americans, European Explorers, the six flags over Texas, our fight for independence, Texas as a republic, the oil boom, and current day. It is a fascinating experience, and one that we can't wait to teach.
Spelling: Words Their Way
Like years past, we will be using Words Their Way as our primary spelling source. It is a terrific program that focuses on the learning of spelling patterns rather than memorizing words. You child will interact with their word lists for a week prior to having an assessment over the patterns. During that week, they will be open sorting, closed sorting, speed sporting, buddy sorting, and word hunting to find the words we will use on the spelling test. We will be sending home more information about this process in the near future.
Grammar Rules
As you may know, writing takes center stage in 4th grade. We also focus on grammar as well. We are currently reviewing parts of speech and how they create effective sentences. Students will begin crafting more complex sentences with a variety of punctuation used.
UpComing Events
August 20th: Reading MAP Test
August 21st: Language Arts MAP Test
September 2nd: Labor Day Holiday
September 13th: Back to School Night
September 17th - 20th: Book Fair
September 17th: Book Fair Preview during library times
September 17th: Spaghetti Dinner
September 19th: Donuts with Dad 7:15AM
September 19th: Back to School Night 5:30 - 7:30PM
September 24th: MFAH Field Trip
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