Text Box: In Language Arts this year we are covering a variety of topics. In the first half of the year we focused on verbs, nouns, and writing sentences correctly. In the second half of the year we will focus on adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and prepositions, as well as continuing to learn about mechanics. In writing we are learning about genres such as descriptive, expository, persuasive, and narrative. We are also working on some Robert Frost poetry. This week: “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Text Box: Evening.” In social studies we are learning about many different Native American groups who inhabited the Americas long ago. We learned about Europeans who conquered these groups and set up colonies in the Americas. As the year continues we will progress through history to the birth of our nation, expansion and change, war and reconstruction, becoming a world power, and our country in the 21st century. The students will later be learning all the state capitals as well. Text Box: The focus in religion this year is the sacraments. We began the year with a brief overview of each sacrament. We also learned about the liturgical year. We are now focusing on each individual sacrament in depth. For our Advent project this year, the children and their families donated new pajamas and books to needy children through a program called The Pajama Program. We will soon be thinking about a Lenten project. Text Box: ELA Social Studies Religion Text Box: Reading Text Box: The first book the class read together was From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. We are currently reading Bridge to Terabithia. Our next book will be Esperanza Rising. Text Box: In fifth grade the students are expected to read 25 chapter books by June. After a book is completed, students complete a short Book Conference and receive a sticker on a chart. Keep reading! Text Box: We are focusing this year on various reading skills. Some of these include making inferences, using context clues, comparing/contrasting, cause/effect, main idea, and character development.