Simple, Compound, Complex Sentences

Simple and Compound Sentences

Punctuating Dialogue

Capitalization Brainpop

Revising and editing are not the same thing

How to write an opinion essay in few easy steps - Educraft

Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences

 

Letter Writing

How to write a friendly letter. wikihow

Check the picture below to see how to write an address on a letter.

Paraphrasing Practice Online

We need to get better at paraphrasing.  We should not be copying when we write, unless we are quoting something.  

Try out these practice activities.

Paraphrase, summarize & quotation lesson

Paraphrase quiz (What score did you get?)

Paraphrasing and Summarizing -- Using your own words when you write.

Creating a News Report

Debate Topics -- Which side are you on?

Check out some of our debate topics for the week.  Read about them and form your own opinion.
1.  Are books better than television?
2.  Should junk food be banned in schools?
3.  Should it be legal to keep animals in cages or zoos?
4.  Is year round school a good idea?
5.  Should kids wear uniforms to school?
6.  Should skateboarding be banned in public places?
7.  Should the driving age be raised to 18?
8.  Should animals be used for scientific experiments?

Check out some debate topics that I posted for my students last year.  Look here and here.

Debate Topics -- 2017

This week we will be holding debates in class.

Check out a few of the debate topics ahead of time:
Fiction vs. Nonfiction
Extra Tax on Soda
Chocolate Milk in Schools
Are athletes paid too much?
Recess every day?

Writing with Dialogue

Read about the basic rules for writing with dialogue.
How to use proper punctuation when writing with dialogue.

Adding dialogue to a personal narrative. -- Learnzillion

Commonly Misused Words

It's vs its
When do you use its or it's?
Take a quiz
Take another

There, their, & they're
Learn when you should use each word.
Quiz yourself

Your or You're
What is the difference?
The quiz

Can vs may
Can you learn the difference between can and may?
Can you pass this quiz?

Debate Topics 2015

We will be debating this week in preparation for our persuasive writing unit.  Check out a few of the debate topics available to us:

1. Should schools require uniforms for students?
2. Should sports teams be allowed to use Native American mascots? (Washington Redskins)
3. Should animals be kept in zoos or cages?
4. Should skateboarding be allowed on city sidewalks?
5. Should junk food be banned in schools?
6. Are books better than television?
7. Should Pluto be changed back to a planet?

Pancho Villa vs. Porfirio Diaz -- Mexican Revolution

Both Esperanza Rising and Elena refer to the Mexican Revolution.  This is one of the many parallels between these two stories.  In Elena, you learned about two men, the rebel/bandit/folk-hero Pancho Villa and the dictator Porfirio Diaz.  Read about these two men and decide whose side you would be on. Defend your decision with reasons based on the reading.  Post your decision and reasons on kidblog.

The Mexican Revolution

Pancho Villa
Pancho Villa -- PBS
Pancho Villa -- Factmonster

Porfirio Diaz
Porfirio Diaz -- PBS
Porfirio Diaz -- Factmonster

Book Jacket Report

This link contains a Google Document with your directions for this book report.  Feel free to leave a comment about your book if you think others should read it.

Limericks -- Hooray!

There once was a teacher, Mr. P
He was kind of cranky, wasn't he?
He got really mad,
when the kids were bad.
And then he gave them a D.

Limericks are fun.  We will work on writing these fun little poems this week.  Although they are short, they take a lot of thought.  Take your time.
Giggle Poetry -- How to write a limerick.
How to write a limerick -- ehow.
Poetry for kids, how to write a limerick.

Would you like some examples?
Limericks for kids.
Illustrated limericks by Edward Lear. 
More limericks by Edward Lear. 
Limericks for Children. 

Current Events

This week you have a current events assignment to work on.  Don't forget that it is due on Friday.  If you are having trouble finding stories, try a few of these resources:

KQED
Time for Kids
Scholastic News
Nat Geo Kids
BBC kids (England)

Don't forget that you can check the local newspaper as well.  (San Jose Mercury News)
Did you find one of these websites useful?  Let me know which one with a comment.