Week 13 Unit 6 - Sick Kids in the Mix:(

Hello Essentials families,

I missed the long awaited return on Tuesday.  Around our home the days and nights are a blur, but after 5 doctor visits with 3 out of 4 children, I hope we are on the road to recovery.  Thank you for the prayers as my little ones regain strength.

Thank you again Mrs. Varnell for taking IEW over with enthusiasm and grace.  We are all blessed by you.

UNIT 6 - RESEARCH REPORTS - LESSON 14
This week Unit 6 - Research Reports was introduced with a new skill of taking notes (5-6 Favorite Facts) from 2 sources and FUSING (melting) them together into one outline.  The format should be familiar from Unit 4 with the Topic Sentence and the Clincher REPEATING and/or REFLECTING 2-3 key words.  The Title should also reflect the Clincher.

READ ALOUD
I look forward to reading your one paragraph reports on the Ancient Greek Olympics.  Practice reading your paragraph aloud this week at home.  This is a necessary step in the proofreading process and it helps strengthen your presentation skills. I plan to have several volunteers share their paragraphs with the class next week:)

NEW DECORATION: 3sss - THREE SHORT STACCATO SENTENCES
"It's a new decoration! It's a new style element! It's three short staccato sentences"
Enjoy brainstorming your three short sentences and perfectly place them in your paragraph this week.


CHALLENGE PREP ALERT- As some of your children look forward to entering the Challenge program next year, please note that the skills presented in this unit are used every week in the fall semester of Challenge A.  Each week the students will research and find at least 2 sources on a science topic, take notes in KEY WORD OUTLINE format, and then FUSE the 2 KWOs into one outline.  Then they will write a one paragraph report, illustrate, and present in class.  These skills will continue to follow then through the Challenge years.

I will see all of you next Tuesday!  I have some new and exciting plans for the semester.  Get ready to have a ball!

Love,
Mrs. Gaines