Omega World News

The Science Display was a huge success! Having returned from Thanksgiving Vacation, we have shifted our focus to Kwanzaa. The Omega class is learning about African-Americans who have worked hard and overcome obstacles to accomplish something big. Our theme is “Yes We Can” after Obama’s primary acceptance speech. Last week we watched his speech and a music video of the speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHEO_fG3mm4&NR=1). Of course, most of his speech was over the kids’ heads, but they all got the gist that people can do anything if we work together and work hard. This week we will be reading about Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Medgar Evers, Walter Dean Myers, and Mae Jemison.

In literacy we have been working on writing and spelling, with some quiet reading tossed in here and there. The kids have all been working on narratives for their writing portfolios. We will resume reading lessons when students are finished writing sometime this week. I am hoping to finish preparing the kids for literature circles before the next vacation.

Sage Literacy Lounge

The Sages have been working on finishing up literature circles. Two groups have completed end-of-the-book projects. The kids who read “The Giver” wrote spoofed newspaper story of what happened to the main character after the end of the book. One of the groups reading “The Phantom Tollbooth” write a skit that spoofed the ending of the story.

We are also focused on making headway in spelling. Everyone is working on some spelling everyday. Some students have also been doing some writing on prompts for the Young Author’s Project. Kudos to the kids working hard to submit writing pieces and meet deadlines!