Goodbye to October

October was quite a productive month in ELL class.  We closed out the month with the story of Spookley, the Square Pumpkin.  A delightful story about a pumpkin that is square and how sometimes, it's better to be different than the rest. 
Kindergarten also enjoyed another story called, It's Pumpkin Time!  We learned some new vocabulary words and how to sequence a story.  They enjoyed learning the steps of how to grow a pumpkin. 
First and second grades focused on how we help others at home and at school.  We read two books called, I Can Help and Community Workers Help Us.  Both grades completed a semantic web and did some categorizing with these stories. Second graders also read a story called, Helping Out.
The story, Allie's Basketball Dream was the focus for third graders this week.  This was also their classroom story for the week.  We discussed each vocabulary word, completed a written extended response question, and took a vocabulary quiz. 
Fouth and fifth graders worked on a variety of things such as completing a packet about the Northeast Region of the United States, discussing the story, Lou Gehrig, The Luckiest Man, working on social studies vocabulary cards and reading the story, Iditarod Dream. 
Students in grades 1-5 have journals that they keep their ELL work in.  These journals stay at school in the ELL room.  Kindergarteners should be taking their work home in their take home folders.
I look forward to seeing you at conferences.
Just as a reminder, there is no school on Tuesday, November 2nd, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences all day. 
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Bennick

ELL activities this week

Parents:
Lots of engaging learning going on this week in ELL class.  Kindergarteners discussed the Fall season and learned many new vocabulary words.  They learned what a noun was and identified them in short sentences. A few of us took turns reading a book entitled, Fall, in front of the whole group.  That was very exciting! 
First and second grades focused on building their vocabularies through the use of a graphic organizer called a Frayer Model.  We also worked on using the correct word order in sentences and had great discussions about the books we read. 
Third grade's focus was on BATS this week.  We read an interesting story called Bats at the Library...a very amusing, rhyming book.  We practiced writing paragraphs with a main idea sentence, detail sentences, and an ending sentence.  We made our own bats to end the week.
Fourth and fifth grades continued to work on Extended Response writing and Narrative Elements.   Another busy week in ELL class!  All of the students are extremely motivated and eager to learn.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mrs. Bennick

ELL Conference Times

Parents,
I will be available for conferences during the following days and times:
(All conferences will be held at May Watts in Room 301.)
A more detailed letter about this will be sent home in your child's take home folder today.

Tuesday, November 2nd
8:00a.m.-11:45a.m.
1:00p.m.-3:00p.m.

Thursday, November 4th
4:30-8:00p.m.

Wednesday, November 10th
4:30-8:00p.m.

I look forward to meeting with you!!

ELL Parent-Teacher Conferences

Hello Parents,
Later this week, I will be sending home a Parent-Teacher Conference letter with the dates and times that I will be available to meet with you about your child's progress in ELL class.  ELL conferences will be held on a walk-in basis.  There will be no scheduled conferences.  Feel free to stop by my room at any time during the times listed on the letter.  These letters will be sent home in your child's take home folder. 
Thank you!
Mrs. Bennick

Christopher Columbus was our focus this week in ELL class

We had a delightful week reading, discussing, and completing activities about the explorer, Christopher Columbus this week in ELL class.  All grade levels participated in many activities, some of which included books, think-pair-share activities, vocabulary words, unscrambling sentences, and journal work.  Some of the older students worked on their TTQA (Turn the Question Around) skills, while others focused on identifying prepositions...place words such as on, under, over, behind, in, etc.  A very productive week overall in ELL.  All of the students are very motivated and eager to learn.

Welcome to Mrs. Bennick's ELL Blog!

I'd like to welcome all of my ELL parents to my blog.  I hope that you find this blog useful and informative.  My plan is to update the information weekly, so that you are aware of what is happening in ELL class.  As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  Again, it is a pleasure working with all of your children. 
Mrs. Bennick