Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! Wow 2012 is already here!
What a wonderful holiday I enjoyed with my family and friends! I hope your times were equally as splendid and your child is ready to begin an exciting time of learning here at school!
Mrs. Okey’s Homeroom (Morning Group):
Our class will be reading a hilarious modern day fairy tale entiled the Horned Toad Prince. I know you will enjoy hearing about this story and the skills we focused on each day in class.
Summary/ Information:
Author Jackie Mims Hopkins's:
Reba Jo loves riding all over the wild prairie and roping any critter unlucky enough to cross her path. But when the spunky cowgirl finds herself in a mess of trouble, she's forced to strike a deal with a horned toad-he'll save her hide, but only if she grants him three wishes. Reba Jo tries her darnedest to weasel out of her part of the bargain, but the clever horned toad won't let her off the hook. In the end, she comes to see that a promise is a promise and that words once spoken are not easily taken back.
Please review the words and be prepared for a vocabulary test Friday. The students will also be given a comprehension assessment on the story Friday.
The Horned Toad Prince Vocabulary
bargain- an agreement to trade or exchange; deal
favor- act of kindness
lassoed- roped; caught with a long rope with a loop on the end
offended- hurt the feelings of someone; made angry
prairie- large area of level or rolling land with grass but few or no trees
riverbed- channel in which a river flows or used to flow
shrieked- made a loud, sharp, shrill sound
**sassy- rude; lively; spirited
**suspiciously- without trust, doubtfully
**twang- to make a sharp, ringing sound
The students will not be tested on the ** words.
Homework for the Morning Group (All Homework will be collected Friday)
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
1. Read 20 minutes daily, write a summary. If you prefer you may type your daily summary and print out your summary/log. Return log signed by a parent on Friday.
2. Complete the worksheet packet (contains three sheets) and return completed packet Friday.
Mrs. Smith’s Homeroom Class (Afternoon Language Arts Group)
This week in class we will begin learning an all inclusive format/arrangement for Literature Circles. These are groups in which all the students will be involved in discussing and contributing their insight to the readings. We will be using a novel entitled From the Mixed -up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler written by E.L. Konigsburg. I will be teaching the students the system for the Literature Circles using various handouts that specifically describe his/her part in the group. Each child will have a part in their group. I will also be providing them with a rubric to ensure clarity of my expectations for Literature Circles as well as to help them better understand how to make these a success in our class. I look forward to seeing these groups in action once the students are trained in each of the areas.
Vocabulary Words From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Franweiler
*We will be discussing these words in class throughout the unit and the students will be completing graphic organizers to help them with any unfamiliar words. They will not be given a test but will be completing a vocabulary “dictionary” (mostly in class) that will be graded using a rubric that I will pass out to the students once we begin our novel study.
Section 1: (Chapters 1&2)
injustice – 6 transistor – 9 complicate - 17
monotony – 6 obvious - 13 temptation - 20
knapsack – 5 & 17 tycoon – 17 penetrate - 24
jostle – 7 & 20
Section 2: (Chapters 3 & 4)
inconspicuous – 30 & 34 ornate – 38 acquisition - 58
accumulate – 30 commotion – 53 curator
condemn – 33 impostor – 55 intrigue - 65
elegant – 36 & 44
Section 3: (Chapters 5 & 6)
pagan – 73 embroider – 80 emblem - 91
corpuscle – 78 conscience – 86 associated - 91
pedestal – 78, 90, & 94 stealthily – 90 browse - 95
telepathy – 79
Section 4: (Chapters 7 & 8)
consult – 102 attribute – 115 sarcastic - 117
solemn – 106 consensus – 116 accomplish – 117 & 118
stroll – 110 righteous – 117 heroine - 151
abrasion – 111
Section 5: (Chapter 9 & 10)
chandelier – 126 muted – 140 coincidence -
emit – 127 saunter – 145 astound -
peer – 130 trance – 147 charity -
HOMEWORK
1. Complete Reading Log (Read 20 minutes nightly, write a summary and get parent to sign the completed log): If you prefer you may type and print your summary.
2. Nonfiction Comprehension Worksheets: All Assignments are due Friday:
Please Follow the Schedule Below to Help with Time Management:
Monday- Read the article and answer the comprehension questions
Tuesday- Reread the article and complete the graphic organizer
Wednesday- Research the writing portion at the bottom of the sheet in the technology lab and take notes when researching: Complete the writing assignment Wednesday at home based on your research. You may draw the picture instead of pasting a picture if you are unable to print a picture to label.
Thursday- Read the article and the writing assignment to a parent. Have the parent sign the someplace on the front of your sheet acknowledging completion of the assignments.
Friday- Return the completed worksheet and writing assignment to Mrs. Smith
