August 8, 2013
MISS HOFFMAN’S LANGUAGE ARTS CLASS
What’s happening in language arts this
year?
Your child participates in 120 minutes of literacy instruction each day. This time is split between a
variety of activities…
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Guided reading will be taught from the Wonders (Mcgraw Hill) reading series, improving
your child’s reading CRAFT (comprehension, response to text, accuracy, fluency and terms
and vocabulary). Our class will read together, and many times break into smaller groups
(reading from different leveled texts).
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Writing is taught through Writer’s Workshop. We will work on our writers’ VOICES (voice,
organization, ideas, conventions, excellent word choice and sentence fluency.) This is a
time that puts students in control of what they write. A short lesson or skill will be taught,
and then students will be asked to write what they would like in order to practice that skill.
We will work through the writing process using the Write Source textbook. Students will
produce a narrative, persuasive, expository, descriptive, and research paper this year!
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Grammar skills will be practiced throughout the year. Students will work on transferring
what they learn during class lessons into their writing. We will also practice grammar daily
using DOL (daily oral language) and Use it Don’t Lose it.
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Station work will occur weekly in language arts class. Students will be divided into groups
and will work at their own level to complete station activities. These may include leveled
reading practice, vocabulary development; work with spelling patterns, silent reading, or
reading with a partner. There will be other games and activities to reinforce or enrich skill
development for the week.
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Student Resource Time or SRT is an extra 30 minutes that is built into our language arts
block. Students will be broken into smaller groups based on areas of need and will be
remediated or enriched accordingly. Activities may include working with a small group,
developing strategies to decode words and text, working on the computers, practicing
fluency and comprehension skills or any other activities to strengthen and deepen
understanding.
August 8, 2013
MISS HOFFMAN’S LANGUAGE ARTS CLASS
FREQUENTLY USED LANGUAGE ARTS MATERIALS:
DOL (Daily Oral Language) paper:
Each morning during homeroom time your child will work on correcting two sentences for
grammatical mistakes. We will go over these corrections at the beginning of each language arts
class and discuss the reasons why the changes need to be made. Your child should correct
anything he/she did not catch at this time. These will be collected weekly and checked for
completion. There will be a DOL assessment every four weeks over the skills we have practiced.
Be sure to save DOL papers from the weekly packets to prepare for assessments.
USE IT DON’T LOSE IT:
This is a resource that is used along with DOL for morning work each day to review grammar
skills that are taught throughout the year. It is composed of 5 questions that contain a spiral
review and become more difficult as the year progresses. Students become exposed to new
vocabulary and grammar terms.
FLUENCY CHARTS:
You will see fluency charts go home throughout the year. This is a way for your child to practice
oral reading fluency. I time the class for a minute as they read to a partner. On Friday, your child
will be answering the comprehension questions. After reading with their partner, the students will
work together to discuss their reading. The idea is that over time, fluency (and as a result,
comprehension) will improve. This is not graded, but simply a way for students to track their
progress.
READERS/WRITER’S NOTEBOOKS (Brain Books):
Your child will decorate a composition notebook that they will keep with them throughout the
year. This is their Brain Book. Your child’s Brain Book will be used for reading and writing
instruction. This will be an interactive notebook that we will use to store important information
and reference sheets, store our own personal spelling dictionary, reflect about our reading, and
come up with writing ideas and drafts. This is a great place to look for more information about
what your child is learning in Language Arts.
CHOICE BOOK:
Your child is expected to bring a choice book to language arts (and their other classes). I
expect this book to be at their independent reading level. We will work on reading a variety of
genres throughout the year and finding one or several that interests him/her. We will be
working with the librarians to help find books, and we will also use my classroom library.
Becoming a better reader comes with practice and I hope to establish the love of authentic
reading.
August 8, 2013
MISS HOFFMAN’S LANGUAGE ARTS CLASS
BASIC LANGUAGE ARTS SCHEDULE:
(This is a very rough outline and may change as the year progresses, but it is a guide for what to expect)
 Every day as intro work, we will correct two DOL sentences and
complete our spiral review with Use it, Don’t Lose It. In addition, we
will develop fluency daily.
Mondays
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Tuesdays
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Wednesdays
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Thursdays
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Fridays
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Introduce weekly reading series theme
Introduce 8 new vocabulary words. Record these words, a meaningful
definition, and a “quick pic” in a VOCABULARY circle map. Students should
study these each night! This sheet should be kept in the homework folder.
Introduce a reading comprehension skill, vocabulary skill, and practice these
by reading a short story from the Wonders series.
2-sided vocabulary/genre skill homework paper assigned- due Friday
Vocabulary circle maps- due Wednesday
Mini lesson on a weekly skill
2 LEVELED/DIFFERENTIATED center rotations (students will rotate through a
guided reading station and two of the following stations: Spelling,
vocabulary, comprehension skill, vocabulary skill, grammar, or writing).
Mini lesson on a weekly skill
2 LEVELED/DIFFERENTIATED center rotations (students will rotate through a
guided reading station and two of the following stations: Spelling,
vocabulary, comprehension skill, vocabulary skill, grammar, or writing).
Collect vocabulary circle map homework.
Mini lesson on a weekly skill
2 LEVELED/DIFFERENTIATED center rotations (students will rotate through a
guided reading station and two of the following stations: Spelling, vocabulary,
comprehension skill, vocabulary skill, grammar, or writing).
Collect all work from the week:
o DOL/ Use It, Don’t Lose It paper
o Fluency chart
o Station work (one of these station papers will be graded for accuracy
and the remaining will be checked for completion)
o 2-sided vocabulary/genre skill homework paper
Vocabulary/reading skills review
Take weekly reading skills assessment
Every four weeks, take DOL assessment
** I would suggest checking your child’s classwork at home after stations to make sure it is their
best work these are taken for an accuracy grade and I often see silly mistakes **
August 8, 2013
MISS HOFFMAN’S LANGUAGE ARTS CLASS
GRADING AND HOMEWORK:
The breakdown for grades in reading will be as follows
20% homework,
40% in-class work (station work) and projects
40% tests and quizzes
Our Language grades will be broken down as follows:
20% of the in-class work will be DOL and Use It Don’t Lose It!
30% will be delegated to in-class activities.
40% for test/quizzes and papers.
10% homework
Any homework not completed fully on the day it is due will receive a percentage grade based on
the amount that is done. Students whose homework is not 100% complete will be assigned to stay
in for study hall to work on it. All students receiving anything less than an 80% on homework will
have the option to redo/complete it and hand it into the late homework tray to receive a maximum
of an 80% on the assignment. An “R” will be marked on a paper to indicate it was a redo. No
extra copies will be made (unless a student is absent, of course! ) Extra copies can be found in
the “extra folder” until they run out.
Please check my website frequently to stay updated on happenings in my class. I will post test
reminders, ongoing projects, and important forms. Nightly homework will be posted although
your child is to be responsible for copying the assignments in his or her agenda.
Feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have!
I am here to work together with you to make this a successful year for
your child!
~Mrs. Pearcy 
dpearcy@avon-schools.org
317-544-5800 ext. 5858
I’m looking forward to a GREAT year!
