Hi folks! Here's what's happening in ELA lately: 

SpringBoard Unit 2 Assessments: Essay, then Test

Next week, students will begin planning and drafting their final explanatory essay for SpringBoard Unit 2. This essay is a summative assessment, so it will have the heaviest impact on their grade of all assignments/test so far this semester. We have been gathering information from a variety of sources about the topic. We've reviewed the essay prompt so many times in class they should have it memorized! (Seriously. Quiz them on it. Here's the prompt: Write a multi-paragraph explanatory essay explaining how human beings can enhance their lives by observing and interacting with animals.)

One of these sources is the film Temple Grandin. You may have heard about it from your child. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend watching it! It is valuable for so much more than the limited evidence collection we are focusing on in class. 

Sometime after the Thanksgiving break, there will also be a summative test on the concepts covered in Unit 2. Stay tuned for more information on that when it gets closer. 

Class Dojo

Wondering how your child is performing beyond the gradebook? Part of encouraging a growth mindset and developing resilient learners is focusing on soft skills like responsibility, attentiveness, helpfulness, and persistence. In ELA we've started monitoring positive and not-so-positive classroom behaviors using Class Dojo.  Several parents have signed up already to receive notifications and individualized updates about how kids are doing with these soft skills. Students took home fliers a little over a week ago with information on how to sign up. In case that never made it to your hands, keep your eyes out for an email from Class Dojo with information on how to sign up. I'll send it over the weekend or early next week. 

Reading Project Reminders

The current genre study is biography/autobiography or memoir. Who is your child learning about? What's their plan for finishing the project before the deadline on November 28th?