Kitchen Sink for the Week of 3/4/13

Readers’ Workshop

We are beginning our study of author and illustrator, Allen Say.  Check out the blog for information about this talented man!  We will be revisiting narrative features, focusing on character motivation and theme.  We will be pushing ourselves to think beyond the text, asking and answering higher level questions. This higher level thinking should also be evident in our weekly reader’s responses.  Take a look at your child’s recent responses to see if they are challenging themselves to think deeply about their books and including evidence from the text to support their ideas. 

Writers’ Workshop

This week we will divide our workshop time between a study of figurative language and our biography presentations.  Your child should have recorded their presentation date in their planner.  If your child is absent on their presentation day, we will do our best to schedule a make up presentation date.

We will learn the difference between similes and metaphors this week.  A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things, usually utilizing the words "like" or "as."  For example, Miss Hoffmann is as lovely as a flower.  A metaphor is a figure of speech where a resemblance to something else is suggested but not meant literally.  For example, you could call your house a fortress if it was very secure, even though it is not actually a fortress/castle.

Skills Block

Our spelling homework and test will be based on List 17.