Similes and Descriptive Writing

This week we are finishing up our unit on Visualization. We are now focusing on adding descriptive detail to our writing to make our readers best be able to visualize what we are writing about. To do this, I have taught the students about similes (see our Shared Reading this week for a poem that is full of similes: comparisons of two things using the words 'like' or 'as'). After reading through this shared reading poem and identifying the similes, I presented the class with a large collection of Pet Shop Animal figurines. In small groups each student practiced describing a mystery figurine in enough detail to have the others in their group guess which animal they were describing. Now that they have had enough practice with their oral descriptions, they will choose one figurine to write three descriptive sentences or similes about to help me guess which figurine they are describing.

I am currently working on a duotang to send home with each child to help review their word wall words at home. In it, you will find a list of all the words we have already learned, as well as a collection of word wall games and activities we have used in class to practice spelling these words. There will also be a space for the new words to be added each week. Every so often, I will send home new games or activities that can be added to the collection to keep the learning fresh and interesting. I am sure that the students will love teaching you the games that we have played, and it will help to give you some ideas of how you can help your child review their words at home as needed. I hope to be able to send home these duotangs next week.