Welcome! At Ames in fifth grade we say, "Learning is our business and Learning is fun!"

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What's

Mrs. Schwarz's 6th Graders when they were in Third Grade... Which grew more... the Sunflowers or the Students... STUDENTS!!!! YEAH!

new in the Writer's Workshop?

Here's what's happening in Writer's Workshop this year...

2009 - 2010 Ames Writing Schedule

• Launching of the Writer’s Workshop
• Develop the idea of what it means to be a writer.
• Set the rituals and routines for the writer’s workshop.
• Building a bank of entries in the writer’s notebook.
• Thank You Notes to 3M 
• Benchmark Writing Sample

October - November

• Memoir: Units of Study Study examples of personal narratives or memoirs. Develop a definition of personal narrative or memoir based on read alouds.
  
• Study the craft elements of writing narratives and memoirs.
  
• Write and publish personal narratives and memoirs.
  

December - January

• Nonfiction (informative)
  
• Writing and Research: Unit of Study Study examples of a particular genre.
  
• Develop a definition of nonfiction writing based on read alouds.
  
• Develop age-appropriate researching skills.
  
• Study the craft elements of writing nonfiction.
  
• Write and publish nonfiction pieces.
  
• Benchmark Writing Sample.
  

February - March

• Test Taking Unit of Study
  
• Descriptive writing
  
• Persuasive writing
  
• Narrative writing
  
• Write open ended response
  

April - May

• Poetry Unit
• Develop a definition of poetry based on read alouds
• Write and publish poetry Friendly Letter Writing (K - 4) and Business Letter Writing (5 - 6)
• Write May Day letters
• Write letters to the community
• Benchmark Writing Sample June
• Writer’s Choice Notes: SPPS Literacy Framework referenced to ensure grade level standards.
• Grammar, usage and spelling incorporated into mini lesson.
• Handwriting and word processing skills are also a part of the writer’s workshop.
• Cursive begun in latter second grade, introduced again in third and continued thru sixth.