ELA news

As District 66 grows in the development with Common Core Standards in English and Language Arts, one of the changes taking place is a shift in how the English Language Arts classes are structured.  Instead of seeing English/Reading and Language Arts as separate entities, they are now joined together to assist in more cohesion with reading and writing skills.  This change will be visibly apparent on student report cards as they will now get one grade for both English and Language Arts.  Finally, the key aspects and themes of the curriculum can more easily be interrelated in the essential skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language.

Week of March 24, 2013

Have a wonderful and safe Spring Break.  Enjoy your time off and get lots of rest.

The end of the year is fast approaching!  During the last 2 months of school, be prepared to start a new novel, give an informative speech, and read in literature circles.  See you soon!

January 2013

5th period Reading recently completed a Poetry Unit.  Here are some poems written by students in that class:

Yellow Star
Yellow star shining
Yellow star high in the sky
It warms us below

Ode to Christmas
I really love Christmas
It's the best time of the year.
The snow sticks on your head like glue.
Christmas is green and red, my favorite colors.
Christmas is the best time for giving.

Little Dog
I saw this little dog
He was sitting on a log
His fur is so dirty
So I decided to call him Curly
He's cute and fluffy
And he's a bit rowdy

Spring
Can't believe it's Spring!
I can see the roses bloom.
The grass is so green.

Week of December 3

This week the Advanced students will create a time line of their lives.  They will use the information text, The History of Chocolate, as a guide to their time lines.

Language Arts classes will continue studying verbs and will complete part 2 of the verb unit.

Week of November 18

This week the Advanced Reading class will be completing the Westing Game Unit with a final test on Monday.  Be sure to study for the final and have your study guides completed.

Advanced classes will also be presenting Part B of their historical fiction book reports.  Since these were already turned in, students are encouraged to look over their notes about the book and be ready to present on Monday and Tuesday.

The regular Reading class will have an opportunity to watch Maniac Magee on video as they complete their Unit.

Week of November 5

Monday and Tuesday are non attendance days for students.  Have a great weekend- see you Wednesday!

Here are some helpful tips for becoming a better reader:

Make it a habit. Now that you've started reading, how do you stick with it? Make it a habit. Carve out a niche of time – it might only be fifteen minutes a day, that’s okay – where you can get alone with a book.  If it helps to have a certain time or place dedicated to reading, go for it.  Do it everyday and make it a priority. 

Read widely.  If you regularly read novels, consider devoting a month to non-fiction…or epic poetry, or Shakespeare, or graphic novels. Get out of your comfort zone.

Make it a family affair.  If you have kids, read to them or take turns reading to each other. If you’re feeling really ambitious, orchestrate a reading group with your family.  

Visit the library.  If you are lucky enough to live near a decent library, take advantage of it!  The library is a low-cost, risk-free way of introducing yourself to new and compelling authors.  Plus, most libraries offer all sorts of cool (and often free!) resources and activities for kids, families, and readers of all ages and interests.

Week of October 8

Here is some interesting information on Columbus Day.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Christopher Columbus is often portrayed as the first European to sail to the Americas. He is sometimes portrayed as the discoverer of the New World.

Columbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and was first held in San Francisco in 1869. The first state-wide celebration was held in Colorado in 1907. In 1937, Columbus Day become a holiday across the United States. Since 1971, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October. The date on which Columbus arrived in the Americas is also celebrated as the Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in Latin America and some Latino communities in the USA.