Language Arts

Vocabulary and decoding skills are important skills for comprehension.  We are focusing on synonyms and will add antonyms this nine weeks.  We are also working on adding prefixes and suffixes to words to change their meaning.  Students should write down new or unknown words they come across in their reading.  After writing this word they should circle the prefix or suffix and think how this helps them understand the word.  EX:  nonstop means not stopping because you know non is not.  Dictionary.com is good to use and there is an app for free.  Students can use this to find the meaning of the word and find synonyms and antonyms. 

We are also learning about metaphors and similes and proverbs.  This figuative language is used to help reader create images.  What a simile tells you directly, a metaphor just hints at.
- Neha Joshi.  Metaphors use comparisons and the further apart the two items being compared often creates the best metaphors.  EX: Her eyes were fireflies.  Similes use the words "like" and "as" to make comparisons.  EX:  As brave as a lion, As busy as a bee, As cool as a cucumber.  Proverbs are lessons that are taught in stories.  EX: All that glitters is not gold.  Below are some sites you can use.

http://www.syvum.com/proverbs/kids.html

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/tv/printables/Strouf_0876284586_131-132.pdf

http://www.timeforkids.com/homework-helper/study-helper/figurative-language