Sixth Grade Chatterbox
Volume 2, Number 4 December 2012
LITERATURE STUDY
We are still working with our students on stamina. Our goal is to READ, READ, READ. We are practicing the “Daily 5”.
We have finished our unit in Historical Fiction and the projects turned in were phenominal. When they books created by some groups are bound, we will have a sign up if the students would like to sign them out and share them at home.
We have moved on to Biographies. We are reading several biographies. . .
At Her Majesty’s Request
Guion Bluford
The World at His Fingertips – Louis Braille
Wilma Ruldolph
Sky Pioneer – Amelia Earhart
Helen Keller
Harriett Tubman
We will be doing all kinds of work around who were these unique individuals and what was their contribution to the world to make it a better place. We should be finishing this unit by the holidays.
WORDS THEIR WAY
We continue to study how words are created with prefixes and suffixes. Also discussions of base words to extrapilate the meaning so if they see the base word they will be able to identify the other word parts and create meaning. We are continuing to do word sorts to help us gain knowledge and have student lead discussions about the words.
SPELLING
Our students will have Monday/Friday tests. These lists are “High Frequency Words.” They are words that are most often used in the English language. They may seem easy, but will always be expected to be spelled correctly. On Monday, if a student received a 100% on the pre-view, they will not have to take the review on Friday!
SHARED READING
We are working on several different topics. . . poems, Alliterations, and grade level text. We read news articles, write about what we are reading or perform. He lastest was a play before Thanksgiving, called “A Turkey Takes a Stand” . We had fun performing, planning on costumes and perhaps writing a sequel.
EVERYDAY MATH
We have moved on in Everyday math are will be getting ready to finish Unit 3 up in a week or so. The students are working hard on learning how to write expressions (without an equal sign) and equations (with an equal sign), how to pick and define a variables, etc. The 6th graders are doing a great job.
HANDS ON EQUATIONS
We are moving along, and the students have been doing a wonderful job with the pawns and cubes. During Math night, we had some of the 6th grade students demonstrate using the pawns and cubes to parents. It is unbelievable the equations they can solve by drawing the problems and doing a series of “legal moves”
PREAMBLE of the Constitution of the United States.
The students have memorized this and are still working on saying it within the classroom to their teachers.
SOCIAL STUDIES
Ms. Keaton’s class just finished Chapter 11 – to Declare Independence or Not . . .Comparing Loyalists and three prominent Patriots, and I’m happy to say, that our class did not change the outcome and we are still an Independence Country after the Debate. Mrs. Bruner’s and Mrs. Brown’s classes will be gearing up for their debate before the holiday.
SCIENCE
We will continue our investigation into variables by exploring PLANE SENSE. This will begin the first week in December in Ms. Keaton’s class and shortly thereafter in the other two 6th grade classes.
The Sixth Graders have begun to memorize their 6th grade Pledge . . .
I am safe.
I am respectful
I am responsible
We are here to learn
Therefore,
I will do nothing to keep the teacher from teaching and anyone from learning.
By acting this way,
I am taking charge of my future,
I believe
I will achieve
I will succeed.
VALLEY EVENTS:
November 29 – December 7 – Valley Book Fair
December 5th- Holiday Concert 7:00 pm
December 10t-17th- Secret Shop
December 13th- Advanced Orchestra Concert- Struble 7 pm
December 14th- Valley Pride Day
December 24th- January 2nd- Winter Recess