Week of September 27 in Project Arrow

I believe that the final week of September can officially be designated as "Novel Week" in PA. It is fun and exciting to see your children immersed in great literature. The second grade literature unit, Beyond Words, is organized around the study of figurative language, exploring the idea that language can change the way we think about the world, by creating new images and connections in our minds.Today our second graders have begun to read Frindle by Andrew Clements. This is the story of a very clever and mischievous young boy, who finds himself in quite the predicament in school. As he scrambles to unravel the mess he has made in school, he comes to learn about the power of the written and spoken word. Look to see Reflections, Vocabulary and Literature Webs, and Venn Diagrams coming home. Perhaps your child will invent a word of their own....who knows?
The guiding theme of the third grade unit is the recognition of change as a concept that affects people and their relationships to the world around them.
In the Green Book, as they continue their journey into an unknown universe and the planet Shine, we continue to explore many of these ideas. Learning new vocabulary, analyzing characters and making predictions is made simple through this exciting text. At the end of the week they will begin designing their plan to construct a model of Shine, to be created (for the most part) in class the following week. All materials will be collected from school and home; this should not be an expensive project. We will do our best to think creatively and use the resources we have around us!
The fourth graders are now beginning their second week of The Secret Garden. I wish all of you could have been a fly on the wall during our discussion of "emotional" and "physical" needs, as we came to meet and understand the character Mary Lenox, in the novel. They contemplated and shared many new ideas, wondering which needs were more important, and came to understand that there is not always an answer to every question. They love to debate and exchange new ideas; it has been an exciting experience!
Last, but not least, our fifth graders are delving into their first autobiography, The Girl from Yamhill. Through her writing, Beverly Cleary places us comfortably into the life of early twentieth century America. She offers many situations where we can witness the power of one's life experiences, and its effect on great writing. This novel provides a perfect model for our fifth grade literature theme, and a springboard for future writing and reflection.

Thanks again to everyone for your continued support and encouragement. Have a wonderful week. It is a pleasure to teach your children each and every day!