Welcome!

I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. I am very excited to hear about your travels as well as the great books that you read along the way. Please do not forget about the homework assignments for this week:
Welcome letter signed by you and your parent/guardian
Picture of you for your read/write poster
Some appropriate decorations for the cover of your sourcebooks

Executive Summary

It is now time to present the synthesis of all of your hard work: research, polling report, and interview. Your executive summary is due May 1st!

Thanks!

I just wanted to point out how happy I really am that not only are we helping each other in class to find pertinent research for our executive summary topics, but also OUTSIDE of class. As you know, I keep a "look-out" for your topics as I read the daily papers and surf the web. ALSO there are some students who apparently have been on the "look-out" for my topic as well. Thank you for sharing your results with me!!

Executive Summary: Interpret/Represent Poll Results

So far we have researched our executive summary issues as well as surveyed our appropriate audience. It is time to take our survey results and create a polling report. We have discussed the different types of graphs and debated their best uses. If you have any questions (or comments) about interpreting or representing your results post them here!

Don't Forget!

Your children's nonfiction picture book is due this Monday, February 13 (in published form)! If you have any questions, feel free to post them here.

Executive Summary Task

We are moving into the new unit: Executive Summary. The first stage of this project will entail reading informational texts about issues in our school and community. Please start collecting any helpful material. Also let us continue brainstorming possible issues here!
Executive Summary Task
After exploring a real problem that is facing your community and/or school (by reading about the issue, polling stakeholders, and doing some observations), you will synthesize your research and propose a recommendation for an executive who might be able to put your recommendation into action!

The following are the parts of the Executive Summary:

Date
To (Your Executive: principal, mayor, school board, etc. Remember to address your communication to a specific audience that has the power to effect change.)
From (You)
Subject ( The Community or School Issue)
Introduction (Engages the reader by dramatically identifying the problem, indicating its seriousness, and proposing the needed solution.)
Issue (The issue and discussion sections clearly develop the introduction in a knowledgeable, effective manner. This is accomplished by using an appropriate organizing structure that arranges details, reasons, examples, and/or anecdotes effectively and persuasively. It is here that appropriate information and arguments are included.)
Discussion (The recommended action is presented clearly with many details including the reasons for doing so. This is where you must anticipate and address the reader’s concerns and counter-arguments.)
Conclusion (A sense of closure is provided that reiterates the problem and solution in a focused, dramatic manner.)


Do not forget to take pride in your work. You can show this by organizing your information using the above format and by making sure that your work is free of errors in sentence structure, punctuation, usage, and spelling.

The Bronx Zoo Safari Poetry Contest

This week we will discuss this exciting contest. We are going to tie this into our Nonfiction unit by discussing how research and facts are necessary at times to write poetry. Hopefully we will hone our research skills, strengthen our poetic sides, and advocate the conservation of animals all at the same time!

Please feel free to brainstorm and discuss possible topics that would fit into one of the four contest categories:

Nature's Wonders and Surprises
Endangered Animals
Living with Nature
Predators and Prey

Finishing Touches

As we return to the Nonfiction unit, please make sure that you have your drafts and graphics handy for polishing and assembly. In the upcoming days we will:

• polish the endings to our children's books
• determine where the page breaks will be
• create storyboards in order to faciliate assembly
• edit and peer-edit work
• assemble the actual books

If you have any suggestions, comments, or questions as we go along please feel free to post them!

Children's Nonfiction Picture Books

As we begin our unit on Nonfiction which will culminate with each of us publishing a nonfiction children's picture book, it is certainly important that we decide on a topic. We have explored many different models and came up with ideas of what makes a good children's book. Remember that we have discussed how the content is just one aspect of a good book. The content chosen should be appropriate for a child in the sense of nonviolence. However, do not feel limited when choosing a topic. We can make a high level topic accessible to a child by explaining vocabulary (glossary or context clues), using illustrations or diagrams, and considering the length. Take into consideration that children are very inquisitive and choose a topic that will allow them to learn something new. You will be completing research on this topic.

Gary Soto Reflection

As we come to the close of our Gary Soto author study and you prepare to hand in your final narrative account drafts, it would be beneficial to discuss our final reflections on his works. In class we will complete and revise these reflections. On the the blog, let's pratice accountable talk and discuss our reflections. (Remember the Gary Soto Patterns)

Parent Teacher Conferences

I look forward to meeting parents this Tuesday afternoon and Thursday evening. I will be available in Room 522. Together we can really make progress, so if you are able to attend please do so.