August+Newsletter

=August Newsletter =

Reading
In reading, we are finishing a unit on Close Reading, which is a process reading a text carefully and multiple times to answer a question based on the text. The texts we’ve read in this unit have focused on the exploration of Antarctica, and students have learned a lot about this topic over the last several weeks. This week, students will write a five-plus paragraph analysis essay on one of three texts and will become an “expert” on that text. At the end of the week, using their analysis essays, students will go back to their “home” group to lead a text-based discussion based on their text. Students will discuss the text using a text centered discussion protocol.

Don’t forget, students have a vocabulary quiz every Friday. Students get a new word each day and then review the works on Thursday. This week, students will get three new words and then will review all 15 words we’ve had so far. The test will include the three new words and seven old words, but students won’t know which seven. 1. Abate 2. Adorn 3. Ardently 4. Cater 5. Devour 6. Elicit 7. Endure 8. Enthrall 9. Extraordinary 10. Former 11. Ponder 12. Procure 13. Regaled 14. Scrutinize 15. Sheer

Social Studies
Social Studies classes will continue talking about African culture and then will move to talking about the history of the continent, beginning with the Berlin Conference and European colonization in Africa.