Weeks of Sept. 25th & Oct. 2nd

Students are completing storyboards in groups, retelling the Battle of Fort Sumter in the following sequence: beginning, middle, climax, resolution, and ending. Students are also learning the relationship of cause and effect in this historic event that started the Civil War in 1861. After we review our storyboard products, students will learn about improvosational skits through videos, modeling, & discussion. Students will then act out their own improvosational skit explaining the events of Fort Sumter with the model we have created. Students will also learn how to evaluate other classmates group performances in class. Following these in varied class activities, students will write a 5 paragraph explanatory essay and a creative personal narrative essay on Fort Sumter. Students will complete both these essays in class, but will bring home to have their parents review, sign, and then return back to me for a final grade.

I am personally looking forward to these next two weeks as we are growing in our learning of numerous standards through a variety of focused activities. Following Fall break, we will begin our classroom novel, Bull Run. Remember to encourage your student to complete their daily Edmodo homework, Monday through Thursday.

Weeks of Sept. 11th & Sept. 18th

Students will read narrative essays this week as a follow up to our writing assignment last week in class. Students will be provided a rubric that targets the various elements of our narrative writing objectives last week. Students will use a peer assessment approach to sharpen our writing skills. When students assess another writer's work, it sharpens their own writing skills.

Students will also read various informational texts over the next two weeks. The informational texts will be on the subject of the beginning of the Civil War, as we prepare to begin reading our first novel, Bull Run, in class. Students will continue to reflect and journal each day in class. These journals (composition books) are stored in the classroom, to ensure a smooth transition to this activity. Students will also work in groups next week to create their own story board based on their readings to demonstrate and communicate their understanding of the texts.

Students are expected to log on to Edmodo each afternoon and complete their daily assignment(HOMEWORK). Please note that the Edmodo and NO RED INK on line activities have a default due date feature. Please ignore this internal due date feature. Students simply need to complete their Edmodo posted assignments each day (Monday through Thursday.) If your student cannot complete the Edmodo assignment when assigned, please send a note or email me: thomas.occhipinti@mnps.org