Stephanie Vasquez

Language Arts - Small Group

January 28, 2008 - February 1, 2008

"Writing to explain and inform" - Expository Essay Writing

This week we will begin a new writing unit - Expository writing.  Our focus for this unit will be a compare/contrast essay and also a problem/solution essay.  We will introduce our unit with a "launch" activity.

Continuing with our lesson on pronouns, we will practice with pronoun/verb agreement.

Brainstorming for topic ideas for our compare/contrast essay will be completed this week and a quiz on pronouns will be administered on Friday, Feb. 1, 2008.

Language Arts - small group

Tuesday, January 22, 2008-Friday, January 25, 2008

Middle School Conference Week

We will have an early release schedule this week which means that classes will be shortened but we will continue with our study of the parts of speech.  At the beginning of the week, we will review pronouns and understand the meaning of "antecedent."  We will introduce conjunctions and interjections and a class discussion on what it means to "compare" and "contrast" will be explored.

Language Arts - Small Group

January 14, 2008 - January 18, 2008

Preparing for the Middle Grade Writing Assessment

This week we will prepare for the school-wide Middle Grade Writing Assessment.  Through practice writing sessions and feedback from the teacher, we will prepare for the assessment which is scheduled for Wednesday, January 16, 2008.

Also, we will continue to reinforce our knowledge of the eight parts of speech.

Pronouns and interjections will be reviewed and a quiz is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, 2008.

Language Arts - Small Group

January 8, 2008-January 11, 2008

WELCOME BACK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Continuing with the reading of our novel, "Heaven," we will now focus on how the author creates "conflict" within a story.  We will analyze the "theme" of the story and also determine which of the characters were the "antagonist" and "protagonist" in our story.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT...as we return to the routine of school, our focus during this period will be to prepare for the upcoming CRCT test.  Review of the eight parts of speech will be strongly emphasized and we will also review direct objects, subject/verb agreement, and types of sentences.