Weekly Schedule

Schedule: 

(Check back for changes)

Date(s)	Topic(s)	Activities	Assignments and/or Assessment	Instructional Strategies
Jan. 14, 2012	All About Me Preparing dialogue journals	Getting to know each other Introduce dialogue journal Read First Year Letters Begin read aloud novel (Trumpet of the Swan) Read First Day Jitters Write in journals Begin "Word Banking"  Share time Mad Libs: First day	Complete interest survey and create glyph Writing from a prompt. Creative writing journals Story time with discussion “Spectagram” game	Pre-assessment activity Interactive writing activities Active learning centers Differentiated instruction Creative Writing Journals
Jan. 21, 2012	Biographies	The writing process Dialogue journals Read various sample biographies (TBD) Read S is for Story Write biographies with class and individually Share time	Dialogue journals Participate in class brainstorm: steps to publishing Creative writing journals with prompt Work with Bananagrams (if time)	Interactive writing activities Active learning centers Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work: key words Creative Writing Journals
Jan. 28, 2012	Fairy Tales	Read aloud (TBD) Explore fairy tale books Read fairy tales Read Tale of a Tail and King Midas and the Golden Touch “Story chain” activity	Story time with discussion Share books  Drama/Improvisation activity Writer's workshop Write from a prompt	Allow for different work paces Creative writing journals Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts
Feb. 4, 2012	Poetry Computer Lab	Continue Writer's Workshop Dialogue journals Computer lab: www.gigglepoetry.com Read a selection of poems from various books Writing poems “Frog-A-Lert” activity based on the poem “Mrs. Cold on an Onion Roll” by Kalli Dakos Share time	Computer Lab: 9:30am-10:15am Using our senses Creative writing using rhymes Vocabulary game	Children may work together or individually Interactive writing activities Active learning centers Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts Technology connection
Feb. 11, 2012	Mysteries	“Humpty Dumpty” detective activity Dialogue journals Read The Mysteries of Harris Burdick Writing from a prompt and a picture Share time	Participate in class discussion Drama/Improvisation activity Writing from a prompt Play “Scrabble” if time	Allow for different work paces Creative writing journals Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts
Feb. 18, 2012	Folk Tales	Dialogue journals Read various folk tales including Zomo the Rabbit Create your own Zomo folk tale story Share time	Students will choose and finalize writing pieces for the class compilation Class discussion: elements of a folk tale Creative writing journals Illustrate folk tales Act out folk tales Play “Catch Phrase”	Allow for different work paces Creative writing journals Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts
Feb. 25, 2012	Science Fiction	Dialogue journals Design an astronaut center Read Here Come the Aliens! And Spacelab, Skylab, and Moon-  Flights Share time	Story time with discussion Class brainstorming Specialized vocabulary Writing a flight plan and daily log of a space flight Play “Apples to Apples”	Allow for different work paces Creative writing journals Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts
March 3, 2012	Expo! (11:00-11:30) *Please plan to be here the whole half hour! Finalize writing journals/class compilation	Creative writing journals Final dialogue journal Super heroes and heroines Read Arthur’s Nose Practice Author Chair readings	Story time with discussion Brainstorm: What is a hero? Class discussion: Heroes and Heroines Share final projects at the Author Author Celebration Expo!	Allow for different work paces Creative writing journals Differentiated instruction Vocabulary work Choices of prompts and presentations