In this two day per week short course, students in kindergarten and first grade will become ninjas and do ninja moves all while learning about reading and writing. Each week will start with a popular ninja or martial arts themed story which will highlight the learning objectives for the week.  Students will read with the teacher and practice such areas as vocabulary, reading comprehension, and fluency.  The second class of the week will start with a warm up such as jumping jacks and stretches, to prepare for kicks, punches and movement linked to the weekly academic goals. For example, 3 punches if you hear a rhyming word, jump when you hear a 1 syllable word, or kick when you hear a blend.  This class is designed to get your student out of their seats, yelling, learning and having a sweaty good time!!

Academic Plan 
Week 1- Day 1 Key Ideas and Details
	Students will answer questions, retell the story, and describe characters, setting, and events.
	Bonus skill: Rhyming words
	Day 2 
	Students will warm up, then act out the story, retelling major events through movement, and discuss central message.
Week 2 -  Day 1 Craft and Structure
	Students will identify new words, discuss words that appeal to senses, and explain who is telling the story. 
	Day 2 
	Students will warm up and then review day 1 vocabulary. (for example, thumped, vanished, hand to hand combat, Kung Fu, etc.)  Students will then work on moves related to the story.
	(blocks and Kung Fu)
Week 3 - Day 1 Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
	Students will use illustrations and story details to describe characters. The class will use these details to compare and contrast                  characters and work on a Venn diagram.
	Bonus skill: Counting syllables
	Day 2
	Students will warm up, review syllables, then create a obstacle course with household items such 
	as a pillow, chair, etc. to further practice counting syllables.  
Week 4 -Day 1 Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
	Students will read a ninja poem as a class and take turns sounding out words related to words families such as -ick, -ight. 
	Day 2
	Students will warm up, then work on jumping moves while practicing word families from day one class.