Our focus for this quarter are the genres of poetry and realistic fiction.  The fifth grade students have had many experiences with realistic fiction and know its characteristics.  Therefore, this genre will be taught in small groups to students who may need additional support.

                             

                                                                     

    Whole group lessons will focus on poetry.  The lessons will connect a Langston Hughes author study with writing assignments.  The poetry lessons will allow students to discuss what they notice and bring up questions in the spirit of personal inquiry.  The poems will be open to many different interpretations and conversations which are welcomed in our risk-free, literary environment. 

                                                                                     

    Poetry is meant to be read aloud, and students will learn to appreciate the visual appearance or shape of poems.  Students will not only delight in the poems, themselves, but they will learn to read with a "writer's eye."  As students write original poetry or include figurative language in other forms of writing, studying craft will help to support them in their writing.