ELA

Mrs. Sawotka's ELA Class

In English Language Arts the students and I will be discussing and trying out different modalities to increase reading and writing. 
 
Every night the students need to read for 20 minutes(minimum). Please sign the log nightly. 
 
Research has shown if a student reads a book on their level nightly, their reading comprehension will increase. 
 
As we all know, reading is tied into everything across the curriculum. 
 
I will use a class book to read aloud and model different expectations that will take place in reading groups. 
 
We will focus on figurative language, summaries, characterization, vocabulary, text proof, directly quoting from the text  and a whole lot more that
will unfold as the school year progresses. 
 
The students and I will start the school year by writing and sharing narratives. I feel the students and I can learn 
a lot about each other as we tell "our stories".  Step by step we will edit one to one to share, and revise  our 
written pieces. 
 
The students will also focus on expository, compare & contrast and opinion writing experiences in the different content areas. 

Grading policies for ELA

Quizzes - 30%

Tests- 35%

Written Work -25%

Reading 20 Mins. -  10%

 

1 = 65%

2= 75%

3= 85%

4= 95%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ELA Homework

Next book report - historical fiction or Newbery winner or honor due: 2/5.

*Report will follow the same format as mystery. 

 

12/17 - Book pick - historical fiction or Newbery winner or honor 7/7.

Common and proper noun quiz 12/20.

 

12/14 - Common and proper noun quiz  12/20.

 

11/15 - Mystery book report due: 12/17; format reviewed and distributed 11/15.

Start taking notes on a main and supporting character. Your notes should be focusing

on characterization. 

 

 

9/22 - Please dress for outdoors (poetry unit) Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.  We will start to gather information. 

 

9/21 - Information book report rubric was reviewed in class and it went home.

Informational book report due: 10/26

Ms. Gleason's hw is due: 9/25 ~ p 1-16 and 18-34 in the agenda log. 

Class representative speeches are bumped up to Tuesday, 9/25 due to NWEAs on Monday during Ela. 

 

9/20 - Continue with Reading 20 mins.        Ms. Gleason's hw due: 9/25 pages in the student handbook/agenda log - p 1-16; 18-34

Informational book report due: 10/25

Students should be taking notes nightly and thinking about if they want to use any of the information they just read for their report.

While the student is reading, they also need to think about what pictures they will use on their posters. (along with the  captions)

As we discussed in class, the student is the "teacher" for their presentation.

The students will need a poster with at least 8 pictures with captions. 

Students will be writing notes on index cards re: their presentation. 

They will be speaking for 2-3 mins. 

 

9/17 - Continue with Reading 20 mins. nightly

Information book pick due: 9/20.

Book report format will follow. 

Decorated composition notebook is due: 9/25.

 Class representative election and speeches will be made on Monday, 9/24. 

 

9/04 - We will discuss in class about selecting an information book for 

their first book report.  (This may happen the second week of school)

 

The student is free to select any topic. They will "teach" the class the 

information they found most interesting in this presentation. 

 

With the Information Book report the student is the teacher. I will  model with an Inca informational book regarding the thought process of what I would use in my presentation. There needs to be 8 visuals with captions on the  poster board. 

The students need to have note cards - this is the written portion of the report. They can refer to the notecards during the presentation, but please do not read off of them the entire time. 

Please practice speaking at home. The presentation should be 2 to 3 minutes long. 

Practice referring to the poster as you speak.  Remember to time your report and practice speaking loudly and good eye contact. 

 

 

Bio book reports are due: 4/17

Format reviewed 3/15

This project has a collage element, so students will need to incorporate their pictures by cutting and pasting. (on the computer or physically) 

 

https://goo.gl/forms/h4Y3DU9UTviVeuoI2 - Start with a Hello survey 

 

 

Every night - Reading 20 mins - parents please sign nightly

Historical book report due: 2/16; outline reviewed in class on 1/26. 

Historical book pick due: 1/26

The book report due date will be discussed and set in class.

The format will be similar to the mystery book report format.

*Students have a model in their binder. We used Esperanza Rising when modeling the sections.

 

 

The information book report format and rubric  was reviewed in class on 10/24.

The project is due: November 28th.

With the Information Book report the student is the teacher. I modeled with an Inca informational book regarding the thought process of what I would use in my presentation. There needs to be 8 visuals with captions on the  poster board. 

The students need to have note cards - this is the written portion of the report. They can refer to the notecards during the presentation, but please do not read off of them the entire time. 

Please practice speaking at home. The presentation should be 2 to 3 minutes long. 

Practice referring to the poster as you speak.  Remember to time your report and practice speaking loudly and good eye contact. 

 

Students should be taking notes nightly and thinking about if they want to use any of the information they just read for their report.

While the student is reading, they also need to think about what pictures they will use on their posters. (along with the  captions)

As we discussed in class, the student is the "teacher" for their presentation.