Language Arts


You may explore these games AFTER you have completed the Polar Express Survey form on our Splash page.


 What may you do after that?  ALEKS, Typing Club, Type to Learn 4, Hour of Code.  It's YOUR choice.
Love, 
Your humble Conductor




Fortunately, Unfortunately Poem Examples















Posted December 15, 2014

You may explore these games AFTER you have completed the Polar Express Survey form on our Splash page.


 What may you do after that?  ALEKS, Typing Club, Type to Learn 4, Hour of Code.  It's YOUR choice.
Love, 
Your humble Conductor




LINK TO AR
Posted October 6, 2014
We will be reading "The Talking Cloth" this week to enhance our Art in Action experience this Friday.  Here are some videos that we'll watch.
What is Adinkra?

 How is Adinkra made?

 Exquisite Impressions: Adinkra Symbols
Posted October 9, 2014

Below is a video we watch before writing our "How to Carve a Jack o'Lantern" assignment.  Listen for the sequencing words such as first, next, after that, finally, last, etc.



Below is a video of a "Pumpkin Carving Artist" that the students enjoyed.



Posted May 19, 2014
We have read two books by Kenneth Thomasma, Om-Kas-Toe and Moho Wat.  This week we will discuss  and compare/contrast the theme, plot, setting, and characters.

 Here are two interesting Prezis about the books we read.

Posted April 3, 2014
This video contains photographs taken of Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure and their amazing tale of survival.
Click HERE for full size.



Posted March 23, 2014
Want to try something new (or old?).  Try Tumblebooks!
You might enjoy the NEW Non-Fiction book area!  Click on the photo below to get started.






Posted January 7, 2014

Let's meet Chris Van Allsburg!

Below is a reading of our recent story, "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi."  Hold on to your hats!


 Posted January 3, 2014

Here are two versions of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Snow Queen."






Posted December 17, 2013

You may explore these games AFTER you have completed the Polar Express Survey form on our Splash page.

 What may you do after that?  ALEKS, Kidblog, or Typing Club.  It's YOUR choice.
Love, 
Your humble Conductor
 
Posted November 12, 2013

"Spooky Sentences"
As authors, we try to create sentences that are rich with descriptive words.  These sentences contain adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases.  Watch them....if you dare!




Posted November 7, 2013

"Don't Say Said, Say..."



Posted October 18, 2013
Parts of Informational Texts
Do you know what non-fiction books have that fiction books don't?
Here's a video about Parts of Informational Texts that we'll watch.



Posted October 15, 2013

Below is a video we watch before writing our "How to Carve a Jack o'Lantern" assignment.  Listen for the sequencing words such as first, next, after that, finally, last, etc.


Below is a video of a "Pumpkin Carving Artist" that the students enjoyed.



Posted October 13, 2013
Vocabulary for Friendly Letters

Do you know the parts of a friendly letter?



Posted September 23, 2013
Let's start blogging!

This week each student will start his/her own blog with Kidblog.  Teachers all over the nation use this blogging site because it is so safe and the teacher maintains control of the publishing of all posts and comments.
http://kidblog.org/home/

Students, here is what you need to do.
1) Click on the link below. 
http://kidblog.org/MrsDufortsClass/
2) Click on "login" in the top right hand corner
3) Select your name from the drop down menu
4) Enter your password and click the "LOGIN" button
5) You will be taken to YOUR blog.  On top you will see 3 tabs.  Go to the "New Post" tab to create your first blog entry! 
6) Once you have created your blogpost, you may click on the "My Blog" tab to view what your post looks like.
7)  After doing that, you may go to the "All Blogs" post to see the posts of other students in our class.

Want to add a picture?  Want to learn more about posting on Kidblog.  For an online tutorial about using Kidblog. click HERE

Posted September 29, 2013
Content is key!

 Blogging has many parts: the post, the comments, and the sidebar.
If you do a good job with all of the parts, your blog will be more interesting.
This week we will focus on quality comments!
A "one point" comment is a general comment that doesn't add very much to the post. Example: I like your blog. Please visit mine!  
A "two-point" comment adds something to the comment conversation. A commenter might compliment the writer in a specific way or add new information. Another idea is to make a connection. Maybe the post reminds you of an experience that you've had. Share that connection!  Try to end your comment with a relevant question. That way, an interesting conversation can develop.
Here is advice from some third graders with tips to help you take your comments to the next level!
                          


We like to open our comments with a greeting and end with a closing. We choose to do this as it makes it easier for us to follow the conversation within a comment section.




Posted September 2, 2013
Personal Narratives using Picturebooks as mentor texts
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
We'll "read" this book tomorrow as an inspiration for our personal narratives.  After reading the book students will talk with a  partner about how Sylvester found the magic pebble and what he did with the pebble.  Students will work independently to create a narrative about an object they have found or been given (real or imaginary.)  Students will share their writing with a partner in the class.  They will edit and revise their writing according to their writing rubric.  They will publish their work electronically using illustrations to aid in understanding.




Posted September 2, 2013
Comparing books in a series or books by the same author.
Pigsty by Mark Teague
We are reading and comparing storybooks written by Mark Teague.  We will compare and contrast Wendell's experiences in Pigsty and The Lost and  Found.




How I Spent My Summer Vacation


Posted August 15, 2013
During the first two weeks of school, we will be focusing on words with short vowel sounds. Try out your phonetic decoding skills on this fun interactive website!  You'll be great at it! Just click on this link....Picturematch

Posted May 2013
Photos of some useful Language Arts charts that I saw on-line. 


prefix  Evidence Based TermsSelf-Monitoring Anchor ChartThe Art Lesson -Author's Viewpoint anchor chart






Click HERE for information about every story we'll be reading this year!








Our first story is.....


The Lost and Found by Mark Teague
Theme: Off to Adventure!
Literature: The Lost and Found
Author: Mark Teague
Genre: Fantasy
Comprehension Skill: Sequence of Events
Comprehension Strategy: Summarize


Key Vocabulary:
directions- lines or paths along which someone or something goes
rumpled- wrinkled or creased
unusual- not usual, common, or ordinary
visible- able to be seen
worried- concerned or anxious
Click HERE for the link to the eWord vocabulary game and more!










Our second story is...
The Ballad of Mulan by Song Nan Zhang
Theme: Off to Adventure!
Literature: The Ballad of Mulan
Author: Retold by Song Nan Zhang
Genre: Folktale







Comprehension Skill: Making Inference
Comprehension Strategy:  Monitor/ Clarify


Key Vocabulary: 
armor- body covering, often of metal, worn for protection in battle
comrades- companions who share one's activities
endured- put up with or lasted through
farewell- good-bye
triumphant- successful
troops- soldiers
victorious- having won by defeating another
Click HERE for the link to the eWord vocabulary game and information about the author!








Our third story is...
The Waterfall by Jonathan London

Theme: Off to Adventure!
Literature: The Waterfall
Author: Jonathan London
Genre: Realistic Fiction (adapted)







Comprehension Skill: Cause and Effect
Comprehension Strategy: Predict/ Infer


Key Vocabulary: 
boulders- large, rounded rocks
canyon- a deep valley with steep walls on both sides, formed by running water
cauldron- a large pot used for boiling
ledges- flat spaces like shelves on the sides of cliffs or rock walls
rapids- a group of small waterfalls in a river where the water flows very fast
scouted- observed or explored carefully for information
sheer- very steep


Click HERE for the link to information about the author!




Below are some links that I am saving for future lessons...

"Compare and Contrast" 
Here is a fun way to make your own "Compare and Contrast" Venn Diagram
Interactive Venn Diagram  


Character Study
Create your own "Character Trading Card"


Letter Writer
Learn parts of a letter and write your own letter HERE


Word Sort
Form word families HERE
You'll be great at it!
I found some fun word usage websites for you!  
Word Frog- antonyms, synonyms
Word Invasion- parts of speech
Verb Viper- subject/verb agreement
Coconut Vowels- add vowels to words by shooting coconuts as they fall
Language Arts Land- many fun games
Many other games are HERE

 Below is a video we watch before writing our "How to Carve a Jack o'Lantern" assignment.  Listen for the sequencing words such as first, next, after that, finally, last, etc.


Below is a video of a "Pumpkin Carving Artist" that the students enjoyed.














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