HOMEWORK- Due Thursday, 30 October

    This week you are responsible for studying Lesson 8 of your Spelling Workout.  The test will be on Thursday, 30 October.  Notice the list of words all have "r" in them, changing the sounds of the vowels (a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y).  

1. carton
2. heart
3. sports
4. artist
5. spare
6. dirty
7. shore
8. curb
9. fair
10. sherbet
11. boards
12. fearless
13. journal
14. cheerfully
15. garbage
16. organ
17. error
18. sparks
19. harbor
20. perfume

HOMEWORK- Due 23 October

    We are restarting the homework pattern, and going back to the orange and yellow spelling book.  Your homework is to study the words of list #7.  The test will be on Thursday, like normal.

1. crept
2. crunch
3. sounds
4. dusk
5. refund
6. colder
7. skunk
8. unfold
9. risk
10. milk
11. halt
12. different
13. protesting
14. twister
15. independent
16. absent
17. stretch
18. printing
19. blended
20. product

HOMEWORK- Due Wednesday 8 October

       This week you are responsible for studying the words from lesson 5.  You will do the activities in class with me on Monday or Tuesday of next week.  

Here are the words:

1. gloves
2. speed
3. skill
4. screens
5. protect
6. front
7. craft
8. brains
9. scared
10. proper
11. trace
12. dream
13. straight
14. splinter
15. screech
16. spaces
17. stuff
18. greedy
19. sprinkle
20. strict

HOMEWORK- Due 2 October

    For this week, your homework is just like the other weeks!  Your job is to study the words of list #4 in your Spelling Workout.  Here are the words, just in case you are left without it.  
   When you come back from Rosh Hashana, you will be completing the activities in the classroom.  

1. edge
2. common
3. circle
4. cactus
5. gifts
6. gentle
7. stage
8. strange
9. corner
10. graceful
11. center
12. baggage
13. category
14. gerbil
15. cement
16. prices
17. force
18. celery
19. decide
20. energy

HOMEWORK- Due Wedneday, 24 September

     Here are your spelling words for this week.  Notice that due to Rosh Hashana, we are having our spelling test one day earlier (Wednesday).  Remember to bring your book (or copy) next week so we can do the activities together. 

1. these
2. deny
3. rules
4. safely
5. locate
6. crime
7. stove
8. scale
9. costume
10. arrive
11. opened
12. musical
13. equal
14. idea
15. tight
16. clover
17. rodent
18. tuba
19. cubes
20. pride

HOMEWORK: Due 18 September

      This week you are receiving another spelling list.  It comes from the orange spelling book, lesson #2.  Your homework is to memorize the spelling pattern of these words. 

1. hands
2. dentist
3. lifted
4. crack
5. bumps
6. practice
7. solid
8. clasp
9. sticks
10. spent
11. locked
12. adopt
13. judge
14. contest
15. stand
16. shrimp
17. stamp
18. trust
19. fender
20. pencil

HOMEWORK- Due 11 September

      Today you are receiving new homework to complete.  The good news is that it is the FIRST lesson in the orange spelling book.  You have been waiting for this for a long time.  However, we had to build you up to this step.  The orange book is a big step up from the green one.  
      Just like usual, you are in charge of STUDYING the words.  The actual activities we will do in class as we notice the words.  Your spelling test will be on Thursday, 11 September.  
      The words you are in charge of are below.  Notice that some of the words have double consonants.  

1. banner
2. hundred
3. fame
4. later
5. seven
6. hammer
7. twelve
8. barrel
9. dollar
10. letters
11. silent
12. wild
13. until
14. swift
15. bottles
16. pineapple
17. film
18. gallon
19. traffic
20. eleven

HOMEWORK- Due 4 September

     It has been a while since you have had homework, due to the exams.  This week restarts the homework cycle.  
     You each received Spelling List 35.  The packet inside will be completed in class next week.  Thus, your homework is to study the words.  As we are entering the third trimester, you are responsible for all 20 words.  

1. hear
2. here
3. tied
4. tide
5. your
6. you're
7. hour
8. our
9. sail
10. sale
11. two
12. too
13. to
14. pair
15. pear
16. pare
17. maid
18. made
19. great
20. grate

HOMEWORK- Exhibition Learning Activity, Due 30 July

          For the holiday break we are starting next week, you are expected to connect your holidays to your exhibition topic.  For example, if you are the water pollution group, you need to research something while on vacation.  You can visit museums, interview people, take pictures of what you see, or read newspapers, magazines, or articles.  
          The goal is for you to return to school in July with a deeper understanding of your topic.  You will share what you learned during the Exhibition class on Wednesday, 30 July.  
         Here are some ideas of how to support your topic:

• visit a museum or aquarium
• visit an art or photography exhibit related to your topic
• watch a documentary or video about your topic
• interview someone related to your topic
• read a magazine or newspaper article related to your topic
• read a book related to your topic

           Just in case you forget your homework at home, or it is lost somewhere during your holiday, you just need to bring proof of your research.  This can be pictures, photos, notes, or the article/book you read.

HOMEWORK- Due 6 June (Friday!)

      This week you are receiving a "shorter" homework.  You are continuing your work with prefixes.  Since you have been looking at them for several weeks, you should feel very comfortable with them.  
       What is missing this week is a spelling list.  You will not be receiving one because you will be given the Spelling Bee list very soon.  We want you to seriously study that.  
      

HOMEWORK- Due 29 May

      As usual, you have two pieces of homework for this week.  The first piece of homework is to study the 10 words from the spelling packet.  You are not responsible for the activities in the packet because we will do them together next week.  The list of words you are responsible for are below. 
     The second part of your homework is to look for words with the prefixes mis-, un-, re-, and dis-.  You have three short passages that use the words.  When you come across (find) a word using one of those prefixes, you will write the word into the correct category.  

Spelling Words:

1. there's
2. haven't
3. he's
4. couldn't
5. that's
6. I'll
7. isn't
8. didn't
9. they're
10. we'll
11. mustn't
12. shouldn't
13. wasn't
14. won't
15. I'd
16. wouldn't
17. don't
18. I've
19. you've
20. doesn't

HOMEWORK- Due 22 May

We have been discovering the prefixes “un” and “dis” and noticing them in texts.  By now, you should know very well how to use them.  You have also been shown a creative story using the words “fortunately” and “unfortunately.”  For you homework, write your own creative story using words with un- or dis-.  Below are your choices:

1. Write a story using the pattern fortunately/unfortunately/fortunately/unfortunately, etc.
2.  Write a story using 8 different words with dis- and/or un-.

Word bank:

fortunately/unfortunately	like/dislike	important/unimportant
tied/untied	connect/disconnect	appear/disappear
usual/unusual	agree/disagree	paid/unpaid

        

      Your second piece of homework is to study the words from the list 33.  This list was given on Thursday, 15 May but is also below.  Just like before, you are in charge of 10 of the words. Can you tell what prefix we want you to master now?

1. rename
2. remind
3. sharing
4. hoping
5. rewrite
6. making
7. lately
8. dancing
9. reload
10. serving
11. replace
12. lovely
13. racing
14. closely
15. rebuild
16. recopy
17. regroup
18. rethink
19. politely
20. nicely

HOMEWORK- Due 15 May

        This week, you will have two parts of your homework.  One of your pieces is to study your spellings words.  The words are at the bottom of this post.  You will have a spelling test on Thursday, 15 May

        The second piece is to complete the worksheet about prefixes.  Since you did the discovery in class, you should know what dis- and un- do to a base word.  They can be very powerful!  For your homework, find real words that use un- or dis-.  Write those on your homework, along with a quick meaning. 

Here are your spelling words:

1. unseen
2. unable
3. discover
4. unload
5. unclean
6. unsure
7. uneven
8. dislike
9. displease
10. distrust
11. unwrap
12. untrue
13. unlucky
14. unchanged
15. untouched
16. disobey
17. disorder
18. unbutton
19. unpaid
20. disappear

HOMEWORK- Due 8 May

          Welcome back to school!  We have been removed from our routine for a while, and it will be another week before we really jump back into the full load of school.  
          Your homework for the coming two weeks is using a list of spelling words that we are also using in our Unit of Inquiry, Who's the Boss.  Your job is split into two parts.  For the first part, write the words in meaningful sentences. This usually means longer sentences with the word because.  You need to show me what a protest is, by writing a longer sentence showing that.  

Example: I saw many people in Sao Paulo protesting against the World Cup because they feel it is unfair to spend money on that instead of hospitals.  
           
          The second part of your homework is to study the spelling of the words.  There is no pattern for the words, so you will have to study them individually.  Your words are:

1. law (noun)
2. leader (noun)
3. rights (noun)
4. protest (noun, verb)
5. democracy (noun)
6. peace (noun)

HOMEWORK- Due 24 April

Topaz and Emerald, reflect on the leaders we have studied.  Your homework is to write a paragraph explaining the following:

If you could, who would you interview?  Why that person?What questions would you ask? 

You will be graded on the following traits:
- organization (indentation, topic sentence, details, transition words)
- word choice (strong words, persuasive)
- conventions (spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization)

Hints on how to start:
- If I could choose any leader to interview...
- One leader I wish I could interview...
- Have you ever wondered who would be interesting to interview?
- When I think about all the leaders I have studied, the person I want to interview is...

Sample paragraph:
       If I were to choose any leader to interview, I would choose Aung San Suu Kyi.  This is because I find her life so meaningful for Myanmar.  If I could interview her, I would ask her if she sees massive changes in Myanmar.  Also, I would ask her if there is any differences for her since she is a woman.  Lastly, I would ask her what is the best thing someone can do if they want change. 

HOMEWORK- Due 3 April

As you all know, we are approaching the English Exam.  Your homework for this week is to visit the Exam tip page on our blog.  You should read through the information and practice parts.  

If you have questions of what something means, how to study more, or doubts about a concept, post it as a comment.  

HOMEWORK- Due March 27

This week you have a shorter homework due to the exams.  You were assigned lesson 25 (in the green spelling book).  Complete the activities to go along with the words. You also need to study the words for the exam. Remember, you are in charge of 10 words that we highlighted in class.  

1. faxed
2. stopped
3. slipped
4. beginning
5. admitted
6. waxed
7. bragged
8. trapped
9. skimmed
10. shipped

Lastly, I am always available to answer questions and explain concepts again.  Small plays, big plays, and Monday reinforcement are great opportunities. 

HOMEWORK- Due March 20

We have taken a break from homework due to the numerous holidays and events, but are jumping back into it again.  

For this week's homework, there are two activities that relate to several indicators.  Remember the verb search we performed using the Nelson Mandela biography?  You will recreate the same activity, but using a different biography of the leader Alexander the Great.  You may notice similarities between the two, but their leadership types are quite different.  Afterwards, you need to pick three of the verbs you collected and use them in meaningful sentences.  Do you recall what a meaningful sentence is? 

Alexander the Great's Empire

The second activity is also related to simple past tense verbs.  For this, you are completing the 4 pages of Lesson 23 from the G4 Spelling Workout.  On Thursday March 20, you will turn in the two pieces of your homework and take the Spelling Test for Lesson 23.  It is expected that you study the words. 

As always, I am available during most play times to answer questions. 

Word List: 

1. rained
2. prayed
3. studied
4. cleaning
5. thanked
6. acted
7. worried
8. helped
9. copying
10. flying
11. hurried
12. married
13. dressing
14. camping
15. replied
16. trying
17. repairing
18. swaying
19. spied
20. multiplied  

HOMEWORK- Due February 20

For this week, your homework is made up of two parts.  In the first part, you will practice the reading skill of MAIN IDEA.  Ms. Mezzabotta and I chose an interesting article on snowboarding because of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.  

The second part of the homework is studying your second list of spelling words.  I have written the list below.  Your job is to practice spelling the words so you are ready for our spelling test on Thursday, February 20.  

Remember, if you have ANY questions or doubts, I am available during almost all small and big plays.  All you have to do is ask, and I will make sure you get my help!

Spelling List #2 (from p. 82 in your Spelling Workout book from G4):

1. early
2. third
3. workbook
4. first
5. worry
6. hurt
7. Saturday
8. better
9. farmer
10. honor
11. sugar
12. nurse
13. earth
14. paper
15. learn
16. world
17. purse
18. curly
19. worse
20. service

HOMEWORK- Due February 13

Here is the FIRST list for G5.  These will become our NON-NEGOTIABLES of the year.  That means you are NOT allowed to spell this incorrectly anymore.  Remember to practice them for your test on Thursday during school.  

1. a lot
2. because
3. exciting
4. how
5. quit
6. I
7. really
8. think
9. thought
10. teach
11. teach
12. who
13. what
14. went
15. there
16. their
17. people
18. friend
19. where
20. when
21. quiet