This week we started learning about Realistic Fiction.  We learned about the elements of fiction and the setting.  Students should have a paragraph in their writer’s notebook with a setting they will use when they begin writing their own story.  The stories will be due on April 8.

The AM class is reading either The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle or Surviving Antarctica.  Literature groups will meet March 28.  If students are reading The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, they should read chapters 1-9.  Surviving Antarctica split into two groups.  One group will read pages 1-87 and the other group will read pages 1-192.  Students could choose how quickly they will read the book.  All students should have three reactions in their literature notebook to bring to literature group.

The PM class is reading, Wonder.  One group will read pages 1-80.  The other group will read pages 1-167.  Again, students will choose which group they’re in and will have three reactions in their literature notebook ready when they come to literature group.

The state testing for language arts will be on March 27 and 28.  Studies show students who are rested and have had a good breakfast perform better on these tests.  The students are looking forward to showing what they know!

Spring Break!  Enjoy!

Our class received two generous donations this year, and I was able to purchased six class sets of literature books. It is so exciting so have such a wonderful selection of books to read.  Our room is like a mini library!

Students did a great job of completing work this week!  The AM Group finished their book, Wonder, and the PM group completed, Brown Girl Dreaming. Each class will begin another literature book when we return from Spring Break.

Students completed their poetry books, and they were wonderful!  Such creativity!  If your child hasn’t shown you the poetry book, ask to see it.  You will be impressed!  We have two writing projects left to complete during fourth quarter, a realistic fiction story and a persuasive essay.  The students also complete a personal piece of writing each quarter.  We will have a busy writing quarter!

Enjoy your time during Spring Break!  I hope it is filled with relaxing, learning, and sunshine!

This is our last week before the end of the quarter.  Although it is exciting to know Spring Break is just around the corner, it is important to take care of business and turn in assignments next week.  For literature groups, students need to finish their current book and write a Bio Poem about one of the characters from the book.  The AM group should finish Wonder, and the PM group should finish Brown Girl Dreaming.

We had only two new poems this week.  On Monday students wrote,  “I Wonder,” poems and on Tuesday, they wrote Opposite Poems.  The students turned in their poetry notebooks today for a formative grade.  On Tuesday, the students will turn in the final copy of their seven best poems for a summative grade.  The rubric for how this book is being graded is on Google Classroom.

Each quarter the students work on a piece of personal writing of their choice.  This should be handed in by Friday, March 8.

Hopefully, everyone will work hard this week and get everything handed in, and then can enjoy a relaxing or fun-filled Spring break!  Maybe the weather will cooperate, too!  Wouldn’t that be great?!!

Mrs. Hudson came into the classroom on February 22 to talk to the students about registration for seventh grade. Each student received a green sheet containing information about what seventh grade will look like.  If you have any questions after looking over the sheet, be sure to contact Mrs. Hudson.  She will be happy to help!  What an exciting time for our sixth graders!  This year is going by so quickly!

We are continuing our poetry unit.  The poetry notebook are due March 1.  The notebooks should be labeled with the date and type of each poem along with the student’s example.  Some poems should have two examples depending on the type of poem.  The students should choose their best seven poems to publish into a poetry book.  This book is due March 4.

The students wrote the following types of poems this week.

Monday – Month Poem

Tuesday – Bio Poem

Wednesday – No School, Snow Day

Thursday – “Whatif” Poem

Friday – Choice poem from, Kick in the Head.

The AM group is reading, Wonder.  The students decided to break into two groups.  One group will read pages 168-248.  The other group will complete the book.  Literature journals should be complete and brought to literature groups on February 28.

The PM groups is reading, Brown Girl Dreaming.  There are three groups for this book.  The pages are as follows: 80-159, 160-241, or 242- end.  Literature groups will meet February 28, and journals should be brought to group.

The weather is calling for another big storm this weekend.  It has been a great winter to curl up and enjoy a good book!  Stay safe and keep reading!

The students are continuing the poetry unit.  This week’s poetry lessons were as follows:

Monday – Cinquain

Tuesday – Concrete Poems

Wednesday – Diamonte

Thursday – List Poems

Friday – Sense Poems

Literature groups will meet February 21.  The AM groups is reading, Wonder.  They should have read to page  82 – 167 by Thursday and have three journal entries in their literature notebooks.

The PM group is reading, Brown Girl Dreaming.  One groups just got the book and they should read pages 1-79.  The other group got their book the previous week and they should have read pages 80-159 by Thursday.  Both groups should have three entries in their literature journal when they come to their literature group.

Conferences were February 5 and 7.  It was wonderful talking to so many parents!  If you missed conferences, don’t worry!  You can check in anytime though email.  I will be happy to answer any of your questions!

In writing we started a poetry unit.  Students will need to keep a writer’s notebook. They will be given 100 points (formative) for a complete notebook that is dated, titled, and includes an example or two of each type of poem.  At the end of the unit, they must also turn in a poetry book with their seven best poems.  This will be 100 points for a summative grade.

Writing Lesson for February 4-8

Monday’s Lesson:  Poetry vs. Prose

Tuesday’s Lesson:  Choral Poems

Wednesday’s Lesson:  The Power of Poetry

Thursday’s Lesson:  Service Project for Clark Jeary

Friday’s Lesson:  Figurative Language

Literature Assignments

The AM Language Arts class is reading the book, Wonder.  They should be on page 80 by February 14.  Some PM students are completing, Counting by 7s.  Other students are starting, Brown Girl Dreaming.  They should be on page 79 by February 14.  The students do not have to complete a literature journal for February 14, but journals will be due again on February 21.

It is hard to believe that we are getting close to the end of the semester!  For writing the students are completing book reviews, a scrapbook on a literature book we read this year, and their second quarter personal writing. Book reviews should be complete on December 7, the scrapbook on December 14, and the quarter writing piece is due December 20.

Next week, on December 11 and 12, students will take the MAP  – Reading test. If students are not able to complete the test during that time, they will be given the additional time they need to complete the test.

The AM students are reading, The Bridge to Terabithia.  On December 6, the students will discuss pages 1-84.  They will complete the book for the discussion on December 13.  The PM students are reading, Summer of the Monkeys.  On December 6, they will discuss chapters 9-14.  They will also complete the book for the discussion on December 13.

Please let me know if you have any questions.  We have had a great first semester, and I am hoping for the students to complete the assignments on time and finish strong!

It was been a great August!  Students are comfortable with the building, have mastered their lockers, and have learned classroom expectations.  We are ready for September!

The morning group finished The Cay and have chosen their second book.  Students chose either Timothy of the Cay, Tall Tales, or Hatchet.  Literature groups will meet Thursday, and students should bring their books and their literature notebooks to groups.  In the literature notebook students should write three reactions they had while reading.  Students need to include page numbers and specific examples from the text to support their answer.  All answers need to be in complete sentences with proper capitalization and punctuation.

The afternoon group will finish Al Capone Does My Shirts by Thursday and will choose their new book after literature groups meet.  The expectations for literature groups will be the same as for the morning group, which is explained in the previous paragraph.

MAP testing will take place next Wednesday and Thursday during language arts.  It was supposed to happen this week, but there were some glitches that needed to be worked out.  Hopefully, things will go smoothly next week!

Enjoy the Labor Day weekend!

Today was an exciting day for 6B students; students got their Chromebooks during first period.  Please remember to charge the Chromebook each night, so it’s ready for use the following day.

Students in both Language Arts classes checked out their literature books today.  Students reading The Cay should read to page 68 by Thursday for literature groups.  Students should come to literature groups with their book and their literature notebook.  The notebook should have characteristics of Phillip and Timothy.  They also need to have at least three reactions to their reading.  Students reading, Al Capone Does My Shirts should read to page 70 by Thursday.  In their notebook they should have characteristics of Moose and Natalie and at least three reactions to their reading.

Remember, picture day is August 21. Be sure to bring your money on Tuesday or pay online.

Happy First Week of School!