WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL. Information about supplies, rules, and expectations are sent home the first few days of school. Please sign and return any necessary paperwork.
IT WAS A PLEASURE WORKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN THIS SCHOOL YEAR. HAVE AN ENJOYABLE AND RELAXING SUMMER!
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We are working on paragraph organization, structure, and mechanics. Students are "visualizing" the parts of a good paragraph by color-coding the parts. In addition, they are learning about the use of transitions to connect ideas together. Learning about cause-effect has allowed students to avoid writing fragments, and they have been able to generate complex and compound sentences.
We will be starting to read our first novel Number the Stars. Background information will be given on WW II and the Holocaust. Students will use post-its and reading strategy throughout the unit.
Welcome back! A list of required materials was sent home. Please have materials by Tuesday, September 8. Thank you.
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We recently went over background information for our next novel Number the Stars. This included information on WW II, the Holocaust, and countries in Europe (especially Denmark). Throughout the month, the students will learn about various reading strategies as they read the novel.
Reminder: PARCC EOY for grade 6 is May 5,6,7.
Argumentative writing is the current topic in LALB. We are discussing parts of an argumentative essay, how it is different from a persuasive essay, and the parts that make up the essay. We have watched The Lorax and have taken sides of either the Lorax or Once-ler. Evidence, supports, and reasons for each side are being developed, and a debate will follow. In addition, we will be reading and discussing short stories. This will allow us to practice and reinforce literary analysis, using context clues, summarizing, and using various reading strategies. We will starting our next novel shortly: Number the Stars.
Currently, we are working on our Greek mythology unit. During this time, we will read some common (and not-so-common) Greek myths. We will learn about the various gods and goddess of Mount Olympus. Of course, we will also touch on the Greek monsters.
We recently finished our unit on Nonfiction Text Features, and we will begin our first book titled Bud, Not Buddy. Students will learn about cause-effect, and they will be given background information on The Great Depression.
Our grade 6 language arts class will be going to the media center on Thursday, 10/23. If your child would like to purchase books and/or snacks, please send in money on that day.
9/23 and 9/24- students will have their media center orientation. Part of orientation will be learning how to use Google Classroom. More details to follow...
Currently, we are working on learning about the various genres. We will then continue on to literary devices and short stories.
Language Arts: Please bring in summer reading assignments by Friday, September 12.
Don't forget to work on summer reading. Graphic organizers were given in class, and the link is on the homepage. Enjoy your summer!
June: The school year is quickly coming to an end, but we are still learning! We just started reading HOLES by L. Sachar. Most of the reading will be done in class, but there will be times when chapters are assigned for homework. Please note that HOLES in audio version can be accessed on YouTube. This is a helpful way for students to follow along in the novel as they listen to the text.
May: We recently finished reading FREAK, THE MIGHTY. After, we viewed THE MIGHTY and discussed how the novel and movie were alike.
In April, we will be working on various types of writing: argumentative and explanatory. We will discuss organization, thesis statements, use of transitions, and effective elaboration of details. This type of writing is required for the NJASK. In addition, we will be reviewing the ReOPEN strategy and practicing writing OER (open-ended responses).
Our next novel after the NJASK: Freak the Mighty. More information to follow...
February-March: We will be reading the novel Number the Stars. Much of the reading will be completed at home. Please make sure your child keeps the novel in a ziplock bag (for protection). In addition, please make sure your child has post-it notes (2 packs standard size). These will be used to write questions/take notes using reading strategies. Please make sure the novel comes back to school each day. In addition, if your child forgets his/her novel in school, I have shared a copy of the novel on Google Docs. Simply go to the "student" tab on the Schuyler webpage. This will show a link for Google Apps for Education. Click on this to access Google Docs.
December/JanuaryWe are currently reading stories from Greek mythology. Stories include "Echo and Narcissus," "Arachne and Athena," "Demeter and Persephone" and others. We are learning how our language has words derived from mythology. In addition, we are discussing the lessons that are to be learned from these myths. A mythology webquest will also be part of the activities.
We will be starting the novel Bud, Not Buddy the week of 11/11. This will include discussions on the Great Depression with an accompanying "online scavenger hunt,", the 1930s, and cause-effect. The novels will not go home; reading will either be done orally or silently in class. If reading is assigned to be done at home, copies of the required reading will be sent home with students.
