Week in Review

G and T MUR:
  This week our MUR class took their MCA reading test, so we did not have MUR Monday - Wednesday.

  Reading -Closing out the week we finished our unit on Animal Farm. Students presented their cover ideas to the class.  We have some budding artists and some very unique cover designs.  I was so impressed with the quality of thought and creative ideas the students came up with. We also worked on developing a moral for the story.  We had an in-depth discussion on why Animal Farm is a "Fairy Story", and students shared their self created morals through an expository essay.

  In writing, we have completed the research portion of our essay, and student's are conferencing with me one on one to begin the editing process.  This week I am helping students create quality topic sentences for their essays before they begin their rough draft.  Next week, we will be writing our rough drafts and again, students will conference with me to get one on one help with the editing process.


***A reminder to return your permission slips for the tablets by Monday, April 30, 2012

Advanced MUR:


  In reading, we began our unit on The Scarlet Pimpernel.  We started off the week with a biography scavenger hunt and group pair share on the author.  By midweek, we took an in-depth look at irony and the difference between situation, verbal and dramatic irony.  Students will continue to identify irony through out our study of the Scarlet Pimpernel. We will also be using the tablets to watch portions of the movie, allowing the students to gain a better understanding of the clothes, styles and rhetoric of the time.

  In writing, students completed their fictional short stories.  I am amazed at the creative story plots and use of suspense many of the students have developed. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to allow students to display this talent in a school assignment.  I am hoping to enter some of the stories into writing contests and will keep you updated on our progress in this area.

  In elements of style, we closed out our unit on the use of commas.  This topic is one we will continue to revisit for the remainder of the school year to allow students to become proficient in this area.
 

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Advanced MUR:

  As we begin our study of the Scarlet Pimpernel it is important to refresh your memory on the French Revolution.  Please click on the link below and watch this student made video of the Revolution.  Please complete the sheet in your packet that corresponds to the French Revolution and color in the map!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4AyWfahZPw&feature=related

All Animals are equal...but some are more equal than others!

What an exciting month this has been.  For the last two weeks students have been presenting their Propaganda Power Point Projects.  WOW!  I am continually blown away by what the students are able to create and their creative ideas.  We have some budding sales people in our classroom as well.  My favorite projects were one's where students made their own video commercials. What a creative use of technology incorporated into the power points.

This week we finished up our reading on Animal Farm and learned that some political ideals start off with good intentions, but end in exploitation and disaster.  Many times our conversations diverged to our own society and events occurring today.  It was wonderful to see student's making connections and their horizons broadened!

We also spent this week taking our fourth and final interim assessment.  For more information regarding your child's progress or if you have any questions about the final interim assessment, please feel free to contact me at jgordon@cologneacademy.org.

Good Luck to all next week on your reading MCA test!

Down on the Farm

Reading: This week we began reading Animal Farm by George Orwell. Student's took an in-depth look at The Beasts of England, the animal's new anthem.  Many students were able to make connections with our own National Anthem and the pride in which a song can instill.  We continued our study by looking at the "ten commandments" Major brought to the animals and how this might propagate a rebellion among the farm animals.

G and T Writing: The research period has drawn to a close and students are working in their packets to organize their information. I will be meeting with students over the next two weeks to conference on topic sentences, paragraph organization and incorporating research into their essays.

Advanced MUR Writing: We are have finished our stories and students are currently typing.  We will be meeting over the next two weeks to begin the editing process and then typing our final drafts.

Spelling: G & T MUR is working on less 32 in Red Hot Root Words  and Advanced MUR is continuing their study in Wordly Wise.


Elements of Style: We continue to explore the 8 rules of commas with rules 3-6 this week.  We will be completing this unit next week.  Students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of the 8 rules in their essays and story projects.