Dear Students and Families,

Welcome back and welcome to ELA!  I wanted to share some of the exciting things we have in store here in Room 18.  I look forward to getting to know all students as both readers and writers -- and can’t wait to see the work they produce.

Our first unit of study is grounded in realistic fiction.  As with all our units of study, we will be targeting specific reading and writing strategies inherent to this genre.  These strategies will be modeled, as well as analyzed within short story selections that represent a diverse cross section of cultures, opinion and human experiences.  Students will also be coached to identify the targeted strategies within their own independent reading books.

Ultimately, students will be asked to write their own personal narratives.  They will be guided through a comprehensive writing process, ultimately celebrating published stories of life lessons, experiences and victories.

Please note that all students should be reading a realistic fiction independent reading book for 20-30 minutes a day, working to complete their book log.  As always, I encourage families to become familiar with your child’s current independent reading book.  We operate on a student choice model, giving all learners the opportunity to select books / topics that are of high interest to them.

Looking forward to a great year!

Mrs. Gareffa

Thank you for stopping by!  Fall is officially here and to say the least, it's going to be a unique experience for us all.  We may be wearing masks, but we will still build a strong classroom community of readers and writers.  Remember that we're in this together! 

Our first unit of study examines personal narratives and realistic fiction. We will use the anchor text Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes along with several other short stories to study specific reading and writing strategies.  After, we will reflect on our own "life lessons" -- with the goal of incorporating these experiences into our own personal narratives.  Students will move through the entire writing process (brainstorm, draft, revise, edit, publish, reflect) and will celebrate published work at the end of the unit. 

All students should be reading a realistic fiction independent reading book for 20-30 minutes a day, completing their digital book log two to three times per week.

Please see Google Classroom for above assignments and rubrics.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy fall.  Happy reading!

Ms. K

Thanks for dropping in!  Winter is here and we've started a brand new unit here in ELA.  

We are currently examining the structure of TED talks -- discovering what makes them effective, engaging and well written.  Over the course of this unit we will be researching topics of interest, writing / delivering our own TED talks and ultimately using this research to craft our own argument essays.

All students should be reading a non-fiction book for 20-30 minutes a day, completing their digital book log each time they read.

In addition to the above, I am asking students to complete reading responses to support overall comprehension.

Please see Google Classroom for above assignments and rubrics.

Wishing everyone snow filled advenutes -- and lots of skiing.  Happy reading! 

Ms. K

Thank you for stopping by!  Fall is officially here and we have been busy in Room 16.  

For the next few weeks, students will be participating in book clubs.  We will be reading books featuring social issues that affect many students -- and working with our club members to deepen our own comprehension as we consider their perspectives. Parents: this is a great opportunity to engage with your child about their reading -- ask about what is being read and discussed in class.  Better yet, pick up a copy of your child's book club book and read along!

We are also working on crafting our own personal narratives.  Students will move through the entire writing process (brainstorm, draft, revise, edit, publish, reflect) and will  celebrate published work at the end of the unit. I have been so impressed with the many profound story ideas shared in class!

All students should be reading a realistic fiction independent reading book for 20-30 minutes a day, completing their digital book log two to three times per week.

In addition to the above, I am asking students to complete four (4) Reader Response Journals related to their reading.

Please see Google Classroom for above assignments and rubrics.

Wishing everyone a beautiful fall.  Happy reading!

Ms. K