English Language Arts
ALWTW Final Wrap-Up
We will be finishing up our discussions about A Long Walk to Water this week by watching Salva Dut's TED Talk as well as revisiting the Anticipation Guide that we completed before we started the novel. How has your thinking changed? What are you doing to "keep walking" in your life?
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English Language Funnies - Why Proofreading is Important
This week, we're going to focus on proofreading, which is basically a fancy word for looking over your work and making corrections before you had it in. Work often gets handed in to me that doesn't get a second look from the person who created it. Often, this results in me plopping the work right back into the corrections box, or needing to give TONS of feedback. When this happens, we've both wasted time: you in trying to figure out the issues with your work, and me needing to leave a pile of feedback when you haven't made an effort to polish the work up nicely.
For example, here are some common errors:
For example, here are some common errors:
Instead, it's helpful if you proofread your work before you hand it in so you don't receive it back immediately. Moving forward, feedback will only be given on blog posts or other writing assignments if you have actually taken the time to proofread. If you find your work in the corrections bin, it probably means you need to look it over and make some changes to improve it before it will count as being completed.
But how do we do this? On his website, Mr. Masigan shared a simple way to proofread your work - check the RIGHT SIDE of this infographic:
But how do we do this? On his website, Mr. Masigan shared a simple way to proofread your work - check the RIGHT SIDE of this infographic:
Peace Is... Sketchnote Project
As Remembrance Day approaches, I challenged you to consider what the word "peace" meant to you. The holiday looks back on and remembers those who have given their lives to ensure that ours are free and peaceful. This week, we will be making sketchnotes of what we think represents peace.
Sketchnotes are a way to write while using visual elements like doodles, lines, text boxes, and more. We will be going through some examples together as a class and practicing how to sketch examples of each of the elements of sketchnoting. If you're curious about sketchnoting and want to peruse some examples early, here is a presentation that Mrs. LS gave to local teachers about sketchnoting practices and how to get started:
Sketchnotes are a way to write while using visual elements like doodles, lines, text boxes, and more. We will be going through some examples together as a class and practicing how to sketch examples of each of the elements of sketchnoting. If you're curious about sketchnoting and want to peruse some examples early, here is a presentation that Mrs. LS gave to local teachers about sketchnoting practices and how to get started:

Sketchnoting 101 with speaker notes.pdf | |
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Project Criteria
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A Long Walk to Water - Chapters 7-9
The following assignments are due for Daily 5 by the end of this work. Be sure to answer THREE out of 4 of the questions on the Padlet wall and read the instructions for your blog post writing.
A Long Walk to Water - Chapters 4-6
The following assignments will be due for Daily 5 by the end of this week. Be sure to answer 2 out of 4 of the questions on the Padlet wall (left button) and to complete the 2 paragraph response on Google classroom.
For the curious:
Below is an interactive map so you can see the different schools all over the world that are reading A Long Walk to Water on the same schedule that we are! Throughout the weeks, we will gradually connect with a couple classrooms from somewhere on this map!
Below is an interactive map so you can see the different schools all over the world that are reading A Long Walk to Water on the same schedule that we are! Throughout the weeks, we will gradually connect with a couple classrooms from somewhere on this map!
A Long Walk to Water - Chapters 1-3
Last week, we read Chapters 1-3 of A Long Walk to Water as a class. With a partner, discuss and submit an answer to at least 3 of the 4 questions that are listed on this Padlet wall. We are trying Padlet again with only our own class to see if that makes it a little less glitchy for us :)
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Introduction to Global Read Aloud & "A Long Walk To Water"

October 2nd is the official kick-off for the Global Read Aloud project and we will be reading a novel called A Long Walk To Water by Linda Sue Park. The story is told as a dual narrative, meaning there are stories about two different characters who, in this case, are living in different time periods.
The story follows Nya and Salva, who are both South Sudanese children, but are from different villages and tribes. The story chronicles each of their "walks" of life in war-torn and drought-ridden South Sudan, and shows that perseverance of the human spirit can bring hope and positive change in their futures.
Intro videos for discussion:
The story follows Nya and Salva, who are both South Sudanese children, but are from different villages and tribes. The story chronicles each of their "walks" of life in war-torn and drought-ridden South Sudan, and shows that perseverance of the human spirit can bring hope and positive change in their futures.
Intro videos for discussion:
The Hamburger Paragraph & Indigo Fundraiser Stories

The following questions are your choices for topics during the Indigo Fundraiser. Be sure to create "hamburger paragraphs" with supporting sentences as you draft your writing. You may write a story that has more than one paragraph.
Topic Questions (choose ONE):
Topic Questions (choose ONE):
- Which children's book had the most impact on your life and why?
- Why is reading important to you?
- Why are you supporting West Langley in this fundraiser?
- Who helped you fall in love with reading and how?
- What are the three books every library should have and why?
This is now assigned for HOMEWORK for students who have not completed the task in class - final paragraphs/stories due Thursday Sept 28. Final drafts need to be on looseleaf and hamburger prep pages need to be submitted with your final draft.
Posting on Indigo
If your parent is willing to help you post, submit your final edited version of your paragraph on the Indigo contest website. Your parent must make an account, select our school, and publish your story with you. Let me know if you publish it at home so we can share it and get votes for it!
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