Mrs. Fuchs
English-Language Arts
Science (currently Clements' Homeroom)
This week in Reading: Comparing texts, and comparing a text with a video or play/drama version. Here is a kid-friendly video to review the concept.
This week in Writing: Students will use comparisons and contrasts from reading and notes taken to write a paragraph comparing texts from last week. Next week, students will go further and write a 4 paragraph compare and contrast essay. These writing activities will be extremely helpful in preparation for the Spring AIR assessment. Students who do not finish will be required to finish at home and return it by date given on the work slip.
These 3 videos will help with writing a multi-paragraph compare and contrast essay: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
Writing expectations will continue to use the paragraph writing elements, however, students will complete writing assignments that may be 1 paragraph or multi-paragraphs. Response writings will need: a hook, introduction and/or thesis style statement. Reasons and details or examples to support opinions or persuade the reader. Finally, restate the thesis or introduction and include a closing. Depending on the assignment this will be done with 1 paragraph or 3 or more paragraphs.
This week in Word Work:
Suffixes -ent/-ence and -ant/-ance -- these both mean quality or state, being of a quality or state of. Examples: brilliant and brilliance; diligent and diligence; tolerant and tolerance
And person or thing that performs an action. Examples: president, accountant, officiant, resident
FreeDictionary -ent vs -ant when to use -ent or -ant. They are both pronounced the same way and have the same meaning so it can be difficult to figure out when to use which one.
Here are some general rules:
Use -ant/-ance for: verbs ending in -ate and for 'silent e' verbs; for verbs ending in y - change the y to i and add -ant or -ance; words ending in 'or' and 'ct' or 'lt'; hard g or c ending words; and finally words that have the 'gn' or 'gr'
Use -ent/-ence for: words ending with soft g or c; words ending in 'er' or 'ere'; words ending with 'id'; and when a u is used in the base prior to adding the suffix.
Link to the most recent Morpheme Chart
This website is from another teacher and does not have the order I use, but it will have helpful links to morphological meanings. The Quizlet Practices are not mine and may or may not work.
3 Great Rules are essential to know and remember. Continue to practice throughout the year (and in the future).
For Morphology students will need to use and apply past Word Work learning and understanding from third grade. We will be reviewing large chunks of this material each week for the next 3-4 weeks. Please take some time to practice putting words together at home.
Keep in mind that not all words with the letter groups are from the given root or affix (prefix or suffix) and may not have the meaning given. The English language has had so many influences and language has changed a great deal over the years which influences and modifies word meanings.
Red Words are: none this week
This Unit in Science: Landforms, weathering and erosion, fast and slow changes to the Earth's Surface.
Homework: None
The students had a great time learning the Greek Myths, so I'll leave these links open if they would like to learn more. We will also return to Mythology near the end of the year for some fun activities.
30 of the Most Famous Tales from GreekTravelTellers
Myths from Around the World by StoryNory
Greek Mythology from GreekGodsandGoddesses.net
Roman Mythology from HistoryCooperative
Roman Mythology from WorldHistory
What are Pourquoi Tales from FairyTalez
Native American Pourquoi Tales from Native-Languages
Online Thesaurus links:
Fact Monster Thesaurus Thesaurus.com (lots of ads, though)
This We Are Teachers post also has several great printed Thesauruses to purchase if you would like a printed copy at home.
