A Great Week in 5th Grade!!

I hope you and your family had a relaxing and restful Thanksgiving break!  This break gives us an opportunity to reflect upon all that we are thankful for.  I want to thank you all for your support and dedication to your child's education.  I am very fortunate to work such great children and very supportive families.  Below is an update on what to expect this week in "The Kourt Room."

In writing this week we are starting a new writing unit called argumentative essay.  This week we are going to focus on essay format and strategies on how to write well organized essays.  We will discuss how to write an introduction that restates the topic and gives a very general answer.  Together we discuss how the middle paragraphs answer the essay with great detail and specific evidence.  This evidence is based upon research.  We will also discuss how an essay's conclusion concisely answers and reiterates the essay's topic or question.  Later in the week we will define argumentative writing and begin classroom debates in class.  These debates help prepare the children to argue their claim or side.  In order to debate their side the children will have to use evidence based upon the articles used in class.   This is an exciting writing unit that I know the children will enjoy!

In reading this week we will continue our unit on character for meaning.  This week our focus will be on author's purpose.  Throughout reading this week we will read short texts and picture books.  The children will then have to infer what they think the author's purpose for writing the story.  I will discuss how there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer but that they must have evidence to support their chosen purpose.  We will of course work in reading workshop where the children will read their independent books.

This will be our last week of our current science unit.  The children will finish up their crayfish unit with Mrs. Aupperle.  Next week we will start a United States history unit in social studies.  We will have spelling this week and a test on Friday.  We will choose vocabulary words on Thursday of this week.

Let me know if you have any questions.  Have a great week!