September 11th (and next week:)

Hello Neuse Charter family. I have spent a reflective weekend, thinking about September 11th and all the heroes and victims of our great national tragedy 10 years ago. I remember well the day we were attacked. My brother lives in New York City and had been working on a project close to the towers. I was pretty scared before I heard his voice late in the afternoon of 9-11, the fact that he was able to get a call out of the city was just a gift from God. Many were not as lucky as I on that day, and I try not to lose sight of that blessing. A small tribute to the brave firefighters that day, and every day, many of whom died, protecting and serving:
The Great Figure by William Carlos Williams
Among the rain
and lights
I saw the figure 5
in gold
on a red
firetruck
moving
tense
unheeded
to gong clangs
siren howls
and wheels rumbling
through the dark city.
This week, we will begin reading and writing fairy tales. We have completed, for the most part, our review of tall tales and folktales. I taught students last week about story structure and we will build on that graphic organizer this week by crafting our own fairytales. We also begin novel study, reading two different novels that have fairy tale elements. 5A and 5B will be reading The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and 5C will be reading The Wee Free Men by Terry Patchett. I have a set of each book, but they may not be removed from the classroom. If you would like your student to have their own copy, you will have to purchase one (which is a great idea, if you can). We may have to share books in class. We will not begin until later in the week with the novels.
A couple notes on the upcoming FICTION book report project, due on Oct. 14. The project consists of 2 elements:
1. A book review of the book the student read. Typed, 12 point font, Times New Roman, double spaced. Each class has a different length requirement. It is written on the sheet that was sent home. None is more than 3 pages, double-spaced (1.5 pages). I enclosed a guideline on how to write it with the handout.
And
2. a.) A poem about the book and b.) An artistic representation. The artwork may be a painting, a sculpture, any medium or a diorama, or small model. This will be graded based on the amount of effort shown, not artistic skills.
Spelling/Vocabulary Words
Week of 9/12/11
Based on common fairytale words and vocabulary from novels, The Secret Garden and The Wee Free Men
5A
peril
rescued
coward
kidnapper
protagonist
excitement
imprisoned
puzzling
ruthless
position
amuse
disagree
hearth
disturbed
ought

5B
peril
cowardly
triumph
protagonist
antagonist
glisten
mysterious
transform
disagreeable
familiar
hearth
muttering
implore
wailing
eerie

5C
imploringly
wold (yes, wold, not world)
resolution
eerie
protagonist
antagonist
hyperbole
glistening
colossal
mysterious
absentmindedly
dialect
raggedy
reliable
susurrus