This class is designed for advanced second grade and third grade level students.  It is divided into 4 sessions, each lasting 8 weeks.  We will target challenging spelling patterns such as diphthongs, homophones, contractions, and easily misspelled words.  We will strengthen reading comprehension skills such as locating information in text, using non-fiction text features, inferring, predicting, sequencing, evaluating, and more to truly understand what is read.  We will work to strengthen writing skills by applying correct language arts standards for capitalization, punctuation, composition, and organization.


This class will make use of three Spectrum workbooks as a guide to navigate these subjects.  We will discuss each topic, explore multiple examples, and have multiple opportunities for students to practice newly learned skills both with teacher assistance and independently.  

Students should have a solid mastery of short and long vowel spelling patterns, digraphs, and consonant blends, along with a minimum reading level of DRA 24/Fountas and Pinnell Level L/Lexile 530 to have success with this level of instruction.  

Classes will be held over Zoom with a combination of teacher slides and projected pages to enhance learning.  We will have a lot of discussion and interaction as well as the possibility of publishing one or more writing pieces.  My behavior expectations are that students will be polite to others, prepared each day with completed assignments, and know how to utilize the Zoom features such as chatting, pinning, and annotating.  Spelling quizzes will be given using whiteboard.fi and students should be able to follow directions for accessing that site.  Materials for class should be readily accessible for each class period and students should come to class eager and ready to work.

Course Agenda
Week 1
Spelling - Words with the -ed and -ing Endings
Reading - Soccer Blues, Mom to the Rescue, Power Snack
Language Arts - Parts of Speech:  Subject, Parts of Speech: Predicate

Week 2
Spelling - Words with the /oi/ Sound 
Reading - And it's Out of the Park!, History of Soccer, Why Soccer?
Language Arts - Sentence Fragments and Run-On Sentences

Week 3
Spelling - Words With the /ou/ Sound
Reading - A Teacher's Journal, A Student's Journal, The Great Volcano Debate
Language Arts - Combining Sentences:  Subjects and Objects, Combining Sentences:  Verbs

Week 4
Spelling - Words with the /aw/Sound
Reading - The End of the Volcano Tale, Volcanoes
Language Arts - Combining Sentences:  Adjectives, Review

Week 5
Spelling - Homophones
Reading - And the Next Unit is, So Many Ideas, Forest Mammals
Language Arts - Capitalizing First Words, Names, and Titles

Week 6
Spelling - Contractions
Reading -  Snakes:  Love Them or Leave Them?, Redwood Giants, Problem Solved
Language Arts - Capitalizing Place Names, Dates, and Holidays

Week 7
Spelling - Easily Misspelled Words
Reading -  The Hamster from Room 144, Caring for a Pet Hamster
Language Arts - Capitalizing Book, Movie, and Song Titles

Week 8
Spelling - Words with spl-, spr-, and str-
Reading - Skyway Sweeper, Rooftop Keeper, The Dirt on Soil
Language Arts - Punctuation