Mr. Hrymak’s Weekly Newsletter
Week of March 17, 2014 - Unit 4, Week 1
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Language Arts
Happy Monday! Today begins the fourth unit in the new Reading Wonders language arts core
curriculum. This Unit 3 Big Idea is, “How do we decide what’s important?” The weekly essential
question is, “What kinds of stories do we tell, and why do we tell them?” Our class will be
focusing on the different ways that people tell stories, their reasons for sharing them and the
relationships of stories and cultures. The main stories we will read are entitled, “How Mighty
Kate Stopped the Train,” and “Davey Crockett Saves the World.” As you can tell, the reading
genre will be Tall Tales and Fantasy.
This Week’s Reading Strategy and Comprehension Skill:
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Visualization and Point of View
This Week’s Vocabulary Words:
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commenced, deeds, exaggeration, heroic, impress, posed, sauntered, wring
This Week’s Vocabulary Strategy:
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Synonyms and Antonyms
This Week’s Grammar Strategy:
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Pronouns and Antecedents
How can I help at home?
Students will also be receiving today, a “Word Workout” sheet, as well as a “Comprehension:
Point of View” sheet. These sheets contain activities and ideas to reinforce the weekly skills.
Reading Assessment:
Students should review pages 236 – 237 and 242 – 245 in his/her Reading/Writing Workshop
book.
Social Studies
We have begun Chapter 11: To Declare Independence or Not in social studies. Students will
learn about six prominent colonists, who are either Loyalists or Patriots, and record these
leaders’ viewpoints about American independence. As a problem-solving group activity, students
will engage in a debate about independence.
Other Important Upcoming Stuff:
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There is a Board of Education meeting at Palos South tomorrow at 7:00 PM.
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The Celebration of Cultures event will be held in the Red Gym on Wednesday, March 19
at 6:30 PM.
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PBIS Movie and Snack Reward Day is this Thursday, March 21.
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The third quarter ends this Friday, March 21.
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Spring Break begins on Saturday, March 22. School resumes on Monday, March 31.
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Face to Face Productions will present the play Ben and Me to the fifth graders on
Friday, April 4.