In addition to these themes, we will be concentrating on notetaking skills, reading fiction and non-fiction, and writing about historical events.  We will spend some time reading about, writing about, and discussing current events in the world, the nation, the state, and right here in sunny Glenside!
           
You will be expected to read and take your own notes for social studies class.  The assignments will be posted in advance for you to prepare before you come to class.

We will review the information in class so that you can make additions or highlight the most important concepts.  The power point slides will be made available to you a few days before the chapter test on my classroom webpage via a link at the bottom of the page.

I know you are thinking, “Mrs. Foley, will there be projects?” 

Yes, there will be projects!  Oh, joy!  Don’t worry.  You will be given plenty of time to work on the projects both in class and at home.  Time management is your friend.

Integrated Language Arts

We will be continuing to develop reading and writing skills this year.  You will read many different genres of prose as well as poetry.  The topics read are often thematically linked with the topics being studied in the other classes:  social studies, religion, and science.  The reading may also correlate to the season; for example, we read A Christmas Carol during the Christmas season.

You will be working on grammar skills by doing daily maintenance exercises, working in the grammar workbook, and by editing your writing pieces.  You will write paragraphs, essays, short stories, newspaper articles, reading responses, and poems.  Writing assignments are sometimes given in social studies and religion class and students will be graded for both subjects.  You are required to enter at least two writing contests during the course of the year.