What is the question really asking me for? We looked at the following 10 words or phrases and how they might appear in questions on the ISTEP next week.

Clarity/Clarify – To explain something in an easy to understand and true form. To tell what something is.
Combine – To blend them or make two or more things into one.
Compare / Contrast – To examine how things are the same or different. Compare is looking at the similarities,while contrast is looking at the differences.
Describe– To tell someone what something looks, smells, tastes, feels or sounds like. Giving detail using senses.
Explain– To put in a way that can be understood.
Express– Show the way one feels or give your true opinion.
Revise– To change into a better form. Making changes to improve something, not necessarily to correct something.
Sequence– To put things into steps or correct order.
Summarize – To make a long story short – review of something that shortens it without leaving out the important facts or details.
Supporting Details / Use of Evidence – To use facts and examples from the text to prove our points or opinions.

We then used our expanded understanding of these terms to look at the homework assignment, Save It for the Finish (gold). We talked about why some answers were stronger and more complete than others. Mrs. Scales suggested that during the ISTEP we read the passage, read the questions and then reread the passage with the questions in mind.

Class time was also give to finish our Literary Circle Chunk 1 Forum posts.

Wednesday’s homework packet (salmon) is another ISTEP writing prompt. Mrs. Scales explained that we should be taking at least an hour to carefully complete the homework packet. The packet is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

There will be tutoring today after school, until 4:30.