HOME SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

K/1st Grade Writing

We are working hard on learning how to sound out words, rhyming, sight words and creating word families. All of our special writing goes into our Writer’s Notebooks. The students are very proud of all of their work they have accumulated so far!  Favorites lately have been Sneezy the Snowman,  Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes, Rainbow Fish and Green Eggs & Ham. These are fun read alouds that allow your child to read along with you. Be sure to check out their Writer’s Notebook. Look at their well loved “Rainbow Roll Game” and their Spring “Write Around the Room,” and give them some great feedback! The Kindergarten students are making wonderful growth and have been very excited to learn!

First Grade

We have been busy trying out some new strategies on sounding out unknown words as well as adding new endings to words in our spelling dictionaries. We have also enjoyed learning about the 5 parts of a friendly letter and singing our fun song to remember them (the tune is to Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, and we can sing it SO fast). We have been practicing writing letters to others. More favorite writing pieces include “When I Grow Up” and “All About Me.” These First Graders always try their best, and they have become incredible writers with lots of ideas!

2nd/3rd Grade Writing 

The 2nd and 3rd graders have been learning about Sentence Fluency, which is our last writing trait for the year. Students have learned about how to avoid run-on sentences, what makes a complete sentence, how to stretch a sentence, and how to begin sentences in different ways. They have practiced working on each of these skills so that they can apply them to their own writing. We will soon be starting our final writing project. Students will be researching a planet and putting that research into a newspaper article. Please be on the lookout for the research paper information sheet. They will need to complete what they don’t get done in class at home. 

4th/5th Grade Writing

The past several weeks 4th and 5th graders have learned the important elements needed to write an opinion piece. We began by defining and sharing our opinions. We then gave our reasons and examples for why we hold the opinions that we do. Students presented their final drafts in class, while audience members decided whether they agreed or disagreed with our presenters, including their own reasons. Each class held a discussion after their presentations. Our final unit on Sentence Fluency will begin by reading and reviewing two books written by award-winning author Robert Burleigh. He’s written over forty books for children, including Hoops and Goal. These  action-packed books give readers the feeling of being on the basketball court or on the sprawling soccer field. We’ll look closely at this author’s poetic and straight-forward writing style. As we identify the specific techniques that he uses to make his writing unique, students will try it for themselves as they write their own action-packed piece!

6th/8th Writing

Students finished writing their Mysteries of Harris Burdick short stories.  I have really enjoyed getting to read their finished products.  We are now in the middle of making informational tri-fold brochures.  We have examined published brochures for style, layout, and purpose.  The students are choosing their topics and should ask you what questions you have about their topic to lead their research.  Then they will research their topic and we will discuss the criteria for evaluating sources on the web (currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose).  Students will then design their tri-fold brochure and present it to the class.  Students will need access to a printer as this assignment can not be submitted in Canvas since you can’t fold an electronic copy.  😂

Friday 8th-12th Writing

We spent the first part of 2nd semester writing practice position essays for the ACT test.  This was quite a challenge for many of our students and very worthwhile.  We are currently working on debating.  We have learned about the format of a debate, chosen our teams and topics, and are currently working on our arguments.  Each group will have a practice debate and then have a formal debate with judges on our last day of classes.  Should be fun!