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Every Monday the students will be given class time to write their weekly assignments into their assignment notebooks. This includes homework for each night, as well. The students should then be able to plan their week accordingly.

When the students first enter the room each day, they will edit two sentences and complete two analogies. After completing an editing unit, which consists of ten sentences, there will be a test on those skills.

Following that, we will be working in the Beyond the Windows book. We start every story by defining vocabulary. We will continue to reinforce the definitions throughout the story. Next, the students will read a story and complete a Literature Circle to help improve their comprehension. After we have completed the story, there will be a test on the vocabulary and the story itself.
Homework
Your child will be given a novel and each evening will be expected to read approximately twenty minutes and then write a brief summary. The plan is to READ, READ, READ! There is no doubt that practicing a skill improves it, and reading is no exception. Your child will be asked to share his/her understanding of this book in class in daily journal entries. After completion of the novel, the students will write a book review. The plan is to share the variety of experiences that diverse novels offer, in hopes of expanding your child’s vision and personal expectations of reading.

Novels by Jerry Spinelli: Maniac Magee Stargirl	Novels by Paula Danziger: Can You Sue Your Parents For Malpractice? Make Like a Tree and Leave The Cat Ate My Gymsuit The Pistachio Prescription
Novels by Lois Lowery: Anastasia at This Address Anastasia Has the Answers Autumn Street	Novels by Robert Kimmel Smith: Jelly Belly The War with Grandpa
Novels by Judy Blume: Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret Superfudge Fudge-a-Mania Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great	Novels by Kathrine Paterson Flip-Flop Girl Jacob Have I Loved Bridge to Terabithia
Novels by Eve Bunting: Jumping the Nail Sharing Susan	Novels by Carolyn Coman: Bee and Jacky Tell Me Everything

A Long Way From Chicago - Richard Peck
Bandit's Moon - Sid Fleischman
Bloomability - Sharon Creech
Cybil War - Betsy Byars
Dave At Night - Gail Carson Levine
Earthquake Terror - Peg Kehret
Frindle - Andrew Clements

Homeless Bird - Gloria Whelan
It Is All Greek to Me - Jon Scieszka
Regarding the Fountain - Kate Klise
Soup - Robert Peck
The Door in the Lake - Nancy Butts
The Great Turkey Walk - Kathleen Karr
The Heart Of a Chief - Joseph Bruchac

Course Outline	Daily Assignments
Need A Book?	Recommended Links
Language Arts Guide

Comprehension	Vocabulary
Grasping Main Idea Paying Attention to Details Drawing Conclusions Getting the Facts Distinguishing Between Cause and Effect Summarizing/Paraphrasing Oral and Silent Reading	Sight Word Vocabulary Functional Vocabulary Words with Multiple Meanings Analogies, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homonyms Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots
Critical Thinking	Language Mechanics/Expression
Understanding Characters Predicting Next Events Distinguishing Facts and Opinions Distinguishing Relevant Information from Irrelevant Information Learning about Figurative Speech Comparing and Contrasting Making Connections From Readings and Their own Lives	Capitalization Punctuation Grammar and Usage Constructing Sentences Avoiding and Correcting Run-On Sentences
Time Management Skills
Using Assignment Books Study Habits Organizing Material/Work Area Managing Short/Long Term Projects