Thursday, October 30, 2008: There has been a slight change in directions for Thursday's homework: For Friday: Complete 2nd draft of Pumpkin Personality Piece. You should bring to class your web/planner, first draft, peer editing sheet from Thursday, and your 2nd draft for Friday's class. We will continue with some more peer editing. I will collect all that has been done so far at the end of class and we will finish these AFTER Nature's Classroom. Wednesday, October 29, 2008: Work on Pumkin Personality Piece. Web/Planning page needs to be completed. First Draft should be fairly complete. Tuesday, October 28, 2008: Prewriting Sheet #3. Monday, October 27, 2008: Nature's Classroom is only a WEEK away. But until then you still have homework. Prewriting Sheet #2. Friday, October 24, 2008: No homework. Read, work on wiki, learn something new. Thursday, October 23, 2008: Writing Warm-up #6. (I am a conference today so be on your BEST behavior for Ms. Hines or Mr. Sieller.) Wednesday, October 22, 2008: Writing Warm-up #5. Tuesday, October 21, 2008: Writing Warm- up #4. You have a separate sheet today upon which to write the quick write part of this assignment. Make sure you have both papers with you tomorrow. Thursday, October 16, 2008: Today is Noah Webster's 250th birthday. Find 2 words in your writing that you know give you a problem. Put each one on a 3 X 5 card spelled correctly along with the part of speech and a definition for each of the 2 words. Please put your name in the upper left corner of the card.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008: Tonight's homework is to write about the author's visit today. You might consider these ideas as you write: what you heard, learned, thought about as the author spoke, thoughts on the books of hers you have read, or even your interest in reading books she has written now that you have heard her speak. You might even consider what you learned about being an author and how this learning influences you as an author (because YOU all are authors!). However, you may have other thoughts after hearing her speak which I didn't consider and which you would like to explore instead of those I mentioned. Tuesday, October 14, 2008: Take the poem about Frankenstein and edit it into one, maybe two, or perhaps three sentences. Don't forget to look at capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and making sense (revision work actually). You have the poem on green paper and it rewritten somewhat on a half of white paper so you don't even have to write it out, just edit it! Friday, October 10, 2008: Think about and answer this question: What areas should we be thinking of as we submit postings and emails (on the wiki and through ePals)? Thursday, October 9, 2008: Work on your goal letter by reviewing the bullet points on the Introduction to 6th Grade Writing Sheet. Make some notes on at least 4 points that you have not yet responded to. What this really means is that tomorrow you will be very prepared when you come to class to work for 30 minutes on this piece about you and the 6 traits of writing. Most, if not all, of your note- taking and planning should be done when you come to class. We will settle right down to putting the piece together. (If you did not bring the sheet home with the questions to answer you can find a copy below as an attachment.) Wednesday, October 8, 2008: Make a posting to the wiki or respond to someone's posting. Remember to be polite. Some of you are forgetting that expectation. Tuesday, October 7, 2008: Quickwrite: Liver! You can draw and write to respond to this "story". Remember to include a proper 6th Grade Heading on the white lined notebook paper. Both sheets will be added to your 6 traits section of your notebook. Monday, October 6, 2008: (Finally we get back to this assignment!) Make a list of words to use in place of SAID. We will see who has words that no one else has. Remember your proper Grade 6 heading and write/print/type neatly.On Tuesday, we will play "The Elimination Game" and see who is left with words on their list that no one else has. Good luck. I think this will be a fun way to make a list of words to use instead of said. Friday, October 3, 2008: Just read over the weekend. And always we are looking for interesting use of words or great sentences to share - so write them down or put post it notes by the sentences when you find them. (And if you feel inclined you may add to the wiki or Mrs. Menton's blog.) I will try to get us into the computer lab next week. Thursday, October 2, 2008: Post one item to the wiki under one of these pages: (Not everyone has done this yet!)
Books We Recommend Page Homework - Written Responses to Various Texts Our Interests Also think about the wiki and let's start a list of other pages we might add. I also would like you to read the To Do List page and see what you might be able to add. Wednesday, October 1, 2008: Writing Warm Up #3. Tuesday, September 30, 2008: No homework tonight. Monday, September 29, 2008: No homework tonight. Friday, September 26, 2008: Well Friday's homework assignment was also changed due to my absence. The synonyms for SAID will be done at a later date. For Monday you hopefully FINISHED your story created after looking at One Day, One Dog. I look forward to hearing and reading what you wrote for stories. Thursday, September 25, 2008: Change in plan due to my absence: Work on writing piece about book Ms. Hines "read" to you. Wednesday, September 24, 2008: Remember that I will NOT be in school Thursday or Friday as I am at a conference in Springfield. I expect a superb report from Ms. Hines and Mrs. Powell about the class each day. Make sure your homework is done and ready to be reviewed together. Homework for Wednesday: Writing Warm-up #2. Tuesday, September 23, 2008: I changed the homework to: write an email to someone. Don't forget to spell out words, check spelling and punctuation and be polite. If you are not polite your email will get deleted and will not count. Since the updated survey link has been sent to your ePals email address, please see about getting this done. I don't believe you need a password but if you do just remember your password for ePals. I have also added it here. I will check to see if you need a password. If you do try the password you use for ePals.
Click'>http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx? sm=rD9l_2fbMDaf7zoIc6dtm9FQ_3d_3d">Click Here to take survey We will be in the computer lab tomorrow. You may also want to check out the blog we will be using along side the wiki. www.mmenton.edublogs.org Monday, September 22, 2008: Change in plans for assignment as I would like you to take the survey you did and now do it on line. Just go to this link to complete it: The survey link will go back up after the survey is corrected. Friday, September 19, 2008: Writing Warm- Up #1. As you do this assignment make sure you READ all the directions. Don't forget to do all parts. You can do #8 and the Quickwrite (explained in the bottom right hand corner) on the back of the paper. If we got into the computer lab today so that I gave you your ePals information and you were able to sign on successfully then you may post your Fog poem response on our wiki (on the correct page). If you don't have access to a computer at this point don't worry we will get back to the computer lab to do some adding of information. I will also be letting you do some of your LA homework on the wiki (but not all can be done that way). There may be times you just have some info to add to the wiki (and that will be GREAT!) If you can't get to a computer don't worry as you may just use paper and pencil as usual. Now let's try this out.
Thursday, September 18, 2008 : Homework: Quickwrite: "Hockey" by Scott Blaine. Read the poem and then on a separate piece of paper (with correct 6th grade heading) write using an idea from the Try this section at the bottom of the page. You may add a sketch to your writing. Both sheets will go into the 6- trait section of your notebook.
Now a comment about Wednesday night's homwork: WOW! Many of you set the bar high for those around you with the poems you wrote as a response to the poem, "Fog". The poetry form was not required, but you wrote in that format just the same - and came up with some responses that I would like to post on our wiki. My next task needs to be getting you into the computer lab so as to give you your ePal email address and then to get you writing to and reading on our wiki. Keep doing your best and getting your work in just like you did last night and today and life will be ever so pleasant and enjoyable!!! Wednesday, September 17, 2008 : Homework: Quickwrite: Read Fog by Janet M. and then on a separate piece of paper (with correct 6th grade heading) write using an idea from the Try this at the bottom of the page. You may also add a sketch. Both sheets will go into your 6-Trait section of your notebook. Tuesday, September 16, 2008: Start a list of topics you know a great deal about or would like to research/learn more about in order to write well about them. The more complete your list is the easier it will be to choose topics when I give you time to write on topics of your choice. This list will be going into your 6-traits section and added to over the course of the year. Friday, September 12, 2008: Homework??? Depends upon you. There is NO assigned homework for the weekend, but IF you are one of the ones who owes me work you should consider completion of that work as your assignment. Let's get all our work in. And if you feel inspired do some writing, you may do so on any topic you choose and then share with me on Monday. I know many of you have yet to turn in your Governor's Reading Challenge sheet. Even if you do not have the actual sheet, all you need to do is take a piece of paper and list the books you read this summer along with your name and a date. Let's see how close to 100% we can get!!! MONDAY:We will be visiting the book fair during the second half of class today! No official homework tonight although you may want to do some reading or writing. If you have any homework you have not turned in you need to get it done. I am still missing:
Parent notes about you (In a Million Words of less assignment) from 4 parents; the parent info sheet (with top of sheet filled in by you) from 3 students; Class Expectations from 2 people; the letter to person of your choice regarding the first week of school from 1 person; permission slips regarding ePals and the wiki from 2 people; and 2 interesting sentences from the book you are currently reading (along with reason why chosen) from 4 people.
The Governor's Reading Challenge paperwork is due soon and many of you have still not put the books you read on a piece of paper along with your name, school, and grade and passed it in to me. IF you read this summer make sure it is counted for the number of books read by MMS students!!!! Tomorrow we will start looking at last year's writing folder and making decisions about your writing for this year. So rest up and come prepared to work hard. On Wednesday we will be in the computer lab especially for those who like to type on the computer instead of doing your work by hand. Thursday, September 11, 2008: Using the book you are currently reading (and should have with you in class every day in case you finish something early), find and copy two (2) interesting sentences on a piece of paper. Then write about why you chose these two sentences. Friday we will share the sentences with each other. (Please make sure you have the book with you on Friday. This is one of my requirements that I have not been checking on, but I could do so at any point and will do so TOMORROW. Plus it will be handy to have if we have a question about one of the sentences. Don't forget one of my other expectations: If you have the words handy as you will with the book and the sentences, all words should be spelled correctly. Friday is also our LAST day to work on our All About Me poster. So bring in at least one picture (remember there are 2 spaces) if you are not using the one I took the other day. If you don't finish during class you will have to come to my office during Period 9 to finish it. OPEN HOUSE is MONDAY. This needs to be done. More positive feedback for this class: YOU ALL got your homework in today!!! Congratulations! I knew you COULD do it! If it happens again tomorrow I may cancel any thoughts of homework for the weekend! Wednesday, September 10, 2008: Using the work sheet handed out in class find words from your All About Me graphic organizer to use as examples for each part of speech noted. The worksheet is attached below. You will need to remember to bring your graphic organizer/rough draft home tomorrow!! Done.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008: 1) Bring parent letter home regarding emails and have parents sign to allow or not allow student to have an ePals email account through school and Mrs. Menton. Done.
2) Bring Wiki Warranty home to review with parents and both student and parent sign and return to school. I will be posting an attachment of of both below as one document should you want a copy. (A copy of the email permission slip and the wiki warranty are now attached below should you misplace them. No excuses tomorrow. Get the homework in so as to not be stressed.) Done. During lunch I was able to get photos of 18 of you for your posters (if you need them). I will try to see who I missed and get the other 3 tomorrow.
Monday, September 8, 2008:CHANGE in HOMEWORK from the original posting which has been moved to Wednesday night as well as revised slightly. Monday should have read: Student Survey (which I had orginally planned to have students do on line thus it was to be later in the week. However I realized I wanted to collect some info now.) I hope this did not cause too much distress at home tonight. I never got back to my computer after class today. I will be more careful in making sure planners and this web page match. (HEADS UP:There will be a notebook check on Tuesday when you come to class. Make sure you have everything in place. See the homework assignment from Friday, August 29, 2008. Plus make sure you also have a spot within your notebook to put your homework. This may be a folder or a pocket or something similar but is MUST be labeled: Homework.) Done.
(Just some feedback to my LA class: CONGRATS on most everyone getting their homework in TODAY and for having your HOMEWORK section added to your notebook. For those of you who did NOT have the homework or were missing either a "folder" in which to put your homework or the notation "Homework" in that area, PLEASE do take care of that NOW -as I will be doing another notebook check soon.) Can you tell you made me smile today! Now let's get all the missing homework in - and keep getting your homework done each night. Friday, September 5, 2008: Write a letter to person of your choice about your first week at Memorial Middle School. (You do need to hand your letter in to ME for review on Monday. Later you can send or give the letter to that person if you want to do so.) Since it is Grandparents Day this Sunday, September 7, 2008 you may want to write to them and just send it late. Thursday, September 4, 2008: Complete the graphic organizer/rough draft copy of the All About Me Poster. Since the actual poster is larger than the graphic organizer sheet you may put the information for the poster on the graphic organizer and continue on the back if needed. Start looking for a picture (space is 4" X 4") to put in the center of the poster. Done.
Additional info on poster: There is a second spot for a picture or drawing related to your life. If you choose a picture the space is also about 4" X 4".
Wednesday, September 3, 2008: What are your expectations for Grade 6 Language Arts class? I would like you to share your expectations for this class for the year. I will continue to share my more of my expectations for this year. Tuesday, September 2, 2008: For parents: In a Million Words or Less (Due no later than Sept. 8, 2008) For students: Bring in a favorite book and be prepared to do a brief book talk on it in front of the class on Wednesday. Done.
Friday, August 29, 2008: Put your LA binder together. (A copy of this homework sheet is listed at the bottom of the page which can be opened and downloaded.) Done.
I will try it this way for now and see how it works.
GOVERNOR'S READING CHALLENGE SHEETS DUE NOW!
Hopefully you ALL read at least ONE book this summer.
No matter how much you read please put this information on a piece of paper or the Governor's Readng Challenge Sheet:
Your Name
Name of School (MMS)
Town you live in
Titles of Book(s) You Read This Summer
DUE no later than FRIDAY, September 19, 2008 Deadline has passed.
I have turned in your sheets to Mrs. Petti so if you still have one you will have to give it to her.
I have recorded all the ones I received as a homework grade.