ELA Kitchen Update

Skills Block October 15-19

Possessives

Last week, we talked about possessive nouns.  The word "possessive" means showing ownership.  We learned that we add apostrophe +s to the end of singular nouns to make the noun possessive.  When a noun is plural and already ends in an "s", we just add an apostrophe.  However, if the plural noun doesn't end in an s, we use an apostrophe +s to show ownership.  For a little extra practice before your snapshot, check out the practice items at this link.

Adverbs

This week, we'll practice identifying adverbs.  Adverbs tell more about the action (verb) in the sentence.  They can describe how, where, when, or to what extent something happens.  Adverbs can be used alone or as part of a longer adverb phrase.  Many adverbs end in the suffixes -ly or -er, especially when they're used alone.  Check out the tutorial here, and be sure to play a few rounds of the game before you leave it behind. 

Vocabulary

Don't forget to brush up on your the latest vocabulary words!  Review last week's words here, and check out the new set below.    

Sentences with Style

This week, we're studying the fourth and final type of our "Sentences with Style"!!

* So far, we've learned that we can combine two complete sentences using a comma and a FANBOYS word, otherwise known as conjunctions.  FANBOYS, remember, is an acronym that stands for:  for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.  This type of sentence is called a "compound sentence".

* We also learned that we can add a phrase (not a complete sentence) to the beginning of a sentence, using a comma to join the two parts.  These phrases are called "openers".

* Then, we learned that we can add those same types of phrases onto the end of a sentence, using a comma to join the two parts.  When the phrase is on the end of the sentence, we call it a "closer".  

* This week, we will learn about "interrupters".  Instead of adding a descriptive phrase at the beginning or end of a sentence, we will insert the sentence into the middle of the sentence!  We will use commas before AND after the phrase to set it apart.  

This week, Language Researchers, as you're reading, look for sentences with style.  When you find a sentence that has an opener, closer, interrupter, or is a compound sentence, share it with us all by leaving a comment on this post!  Bonus Bucks for great sentence shares!  

ELA Kitchen Update

Skills Block:  September 17-21

This week, students will practice identifying the four different types of sentences:  imperative, interrogatory, declarative, and exclamatory.  They will also continue to review and practice finding a subject and verb in various sentences.  Check out these two practice sites to help you with your sentence work!

Sentence Clubhouse -- 4 types of sentences

Fact Monster:  All You Need to Know About Sentences

And don't forget to study this week's vocabulary words here:

Students, what have you learned about the prefix in- so far this week?  How is it related to il-, im-, and ir-?

ELA Kitchen Update

Skills Block:  September 10-14

This week in your ELA kitchen, you will continue studying basic sentence structure.  In addition to looking for fragments and sentences, though, we will also start looking for run-on sentences.  These are sentences that NEVER SEEM TO STOP.  They're actually more like STRINGS of sentences, tied together like beads on a necklace with conjunctions and connecting words (for example:  and, then, but, so...).  

To make sure you're ready for a skills snapshot on fragments, be sure to get some extra practice with this activity.  

We will also continue to review prefixes you learned in the 3rd grade.  This week, we're refreshing our memories on mis- and dis-.  While you're reading this week, be sure to look for words that begin with any of the prefixes we've discussed so far this year:  pre-, un-, re-, non-, mis-, and dis-.  You can review all of those prefixes here.  

Our vocabulary words for this week are boost, barrier, recommend  and gratitude.  Check them out with these flashcards.



Finally, we'll study when we make nouns plural by adding -es instead of just -s.  Students, do you know the rule for when to add -es instead of -s to the end of a word to make it plural?  Leave a comment telling us what you think!