Thursday, August 29, 2013

Week of 9/2

The short week is a nice break from all the effort you have put into school thus far! Continue to study Unit 2 vocabulary and roots as you prepare for the test on 9/9. In class you will begin wrapping up/typing your essay.

Tuesday 9/3: "A" Day - refer to the "A" schedule you have on the back of your regular class schedule printout. You will be typing your essay, and I will give you the grading
rubric.

Wednesday 9/4: "C" Day - refer to the "C" schedule you have on the back of your regular class schedule printout. I will be distributing an editing packet you will need to keep all year, and will teach you a highly effective method of proofreading.

Keep up with your reading of Out of My Mind and study for the test on 9/9. No other homework at this time.

A sweet, healthy, happy New Year to you and your family!

Friday, August 23, 2013

Week of 8/26 - 8/30

For those of you who have not yet looked up the word flautist, it is someone who plays the flute. Congratulations to Audra, Isabelle M., Gabriella K., Jonah, Austin, and Rip (otherwise known as Max) for earning a bonus point!

We will continue our examination of the main characters in The Watsons by preparing a Compare/Contrast essay developed from evidence in the book. In the V&R world, we move forward to Unit 2: 20 new words and five root meanings this week. On Friday, you will receive Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper. If you have read this book before, please DO NOT share the plot (what happens in the book) with the other students. Additionally, you will receive your Easy Grammar workbook, and will begin using it. I will return the V&R Unit 1 test on Friday as well.

IN CLASS:
Day 1 Vocab/Roots Test Unit 1
Day 2 Continue working on gathering evidence for your essay, and completing pre-
writing activities
Day 3 You will take an ungraded assessment on grammar. This is for me to see what you remember from last year.
Continue writing the compare/contrast essay
Day 4 Prepositions - you will receive your Easy Grammar workbook
You'll receive Out of My Mind and a pacing chart. This book should
be read outside of class time.
I will return and go over the Unit 1 test.

FOR HOMEWORK:
Day 1: Read for 20-30 minutes
Day 2, DUE ON DAY 3: Make your roots cards and complete two vocabulary sections.
Day 3, DUE ON DAY 4: Two additional sections of vocabulary.

Many students have asked when the Video Projects will be graded. It will take me quite a while to complete those, as the uploading is causing delays. I will let you know when I have a target date.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Week of 8/19- 8/23

***UPDATE!!!*** Tutorial for the Unit 1 Vocab & Roots test will be held both Friday and Monday mornings (8/23 and 8/26) beginning at 7:25 in Room 110. Come on by!

I don't know about you, but I had a FABULOUS start to the year! Thank you. What an incredibly polite, fun, and excited group of students you are! We began with understanding why we study language. Miscommunication causes a variety of issues, so the more descriptive and clear you can be in both your speech and your writing, the more success you will have making your thoughts known to others.

Over the weekend, be thinking about a symbol that represents you. It can include your initials, but should not be, for example, a stick figure holding a ball (baseball, volleyball, lacrosse stick, etc.) This is for fun, not a homework grade. You'll be drawing your symbol on the folder of work we will keep in class.

IN CLASS:
Day 1 Complete your Watsons video. When you finish, transfer the symbol you
thought about (see above) onto your classroom folders.
Day 2 You will receive your Sadlier-Oxford vocabulary workbook and roots packet.
I will explain your homework, and how to make roots cards.
I will return, with comments, the short essay you turned in on 8/16.
We will discuss The Watsons go to Birmingham. BRING YOUR BOOK TO CLASS.

Day 3 We continue our discussion of The Watsons.
We discuss language as broken down into its smallest units, then use those
units to build upon.

Day 4 We will walk through the pre-writing process, then will write a
short essay comparing/contrasting the two Watson brothers.

FOR HOMEWORK:
On Day 1 Read any book for at least twenty minutes.
On Day 2, DUE DAY 3 Complete your roots cards
Complete two of the S-O (Sadlier-Oxford) sections
On Day 3, DUE DAY 4 Complete two additional S-O sections

Your first vocabulary and roots test will be on MONDAY, AUGUST 26.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

LA Week of 8/12 - 8/19

Your teachers are all so VERY glad you are here! I am ready to spend the year learning, reading, writing, HAVING FUN! This blog will be a fabulous resource for you as the year progresses. Check back often as I am always adding new gadgets and information. On Monday in class I will explain how to read the lessons for the week.

IN CLASS
Day 1: How does LA "work" in 6th grade?
ANOTHER syllabus...
What exactly IS language, anyway?

Day 2: The Watsons go to Birmingham
You will be creating a video response to the book. I will hand out the rubric
for this project, and will explain what is required. We'll be using the iPads.

Day 3: Keep working on your video.

Day 4: Your video should be complete by the end of the class period.

HOMEWORK

Due on Friday, 8/16
1. Signed syllabus (tear-off portion)
2. At least two well-written paragraphs (you may write OR type) telling me about yourself. These paragraphs are about you, not your siblings or pets.

That's it for now! Shabbat Shalom, see you next week!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Ready...set...GO!

Wow! What a quick but wonderful summer I had. I am looking forward to meeting the sixth graders, and hearing about your summer adventures. We will be jumping right in to Watsons go to Birmingham. Even if you have heard the story before, you should read the book for class. As you will hear from your advisory teacher next week, you will need your binder, backpack, and lunch (if you bring from home) for the first day of school. You won't need to bring Watsons on the first day. I look forward to meeting you!