Wednesday and Thursday:
Reminder: On field trip permission slips, both the permission slip AND the waiver need to be filled out and returned. The medical slip is only if the student takes medicine during the day or would need medicine on stand-by. So, each student returns two green slips and money. Thank you!
After silent reading, all classes learned about writing an introduction for their research book and its chapters. This is a fine art, but students are getting so used to this type of writing, it was easy! The put all their chapters together with their partners so the book is ready for turn-in on Friday. They highlighted the following from their most factual, outstanding, well-written chapter:
Research tag and Evidence: light yellow
Thought Prompt and Explanation: light green
Data (within the text): light purple
H/W:
Field trip money due May 11
Be ready to submit research book on Friday
Enjoy your evening!
***Did you like today's video? Look under links to watch it again!
Monday, April 27, 2015
Monday and Tuesday:
If you need to find your SRI/Lexile scores for the social studies and science honors application , please go HAC, click on grades, then test scores. We have taken the SRI test twice this year.
Today we had block schedule...just like the old days! It felt good! We began with silent reading and students looked for strong examples of writing using a dash, parentheses, and a colon. Students have been learning to use these in their research writing.
After that, students did a gallery walk to read classmates' research papers and document the informational features they used well and/or need to add to their writing. They were little research detectives and offered some useful suggestions and positive comments. Then, they took their feedback and spent time revising their papers.
For the last chunk of class, I reviewed the data I pulled together from their last acuity test, and we looked at problem questions specific to their class. It is so imperative that students use CLOSE READING when answering the ISTEP questions. Don't assume you know the question! That was the biggest lesson I learned in middle school!
H/W:
-Research papers will be due Thurs./ Friday
-Field trip money and permission slips due May 11
- Rest up for ISTEP this week and next week!
- If you received an orange packet from me, remember that you bring a lunch tomorrow and meet me in my room for a make-up quiz.
Thank you!
If you need to find your SRI/Lexile scores for the social studies and science honors application , please go HAC, click on grades, then test scores. We have taken the SRI test twice this year.
Today we had block schedule...just like the old days! It felt good! We began with silent reading and students looked for strong examples of writing using a dash, parentheses, and a colon. Students have been learning to use these in their research writing.
After that, students did a gallery walk to read classmates' research papers and document the informational features they used well and/or need to add to their writing. They were little research detectives and offered some useful suggestions and positive comments. Then, they took their feedback and spent time revising their papers.
For the last chunk of class, I reviewed the data I pulled together from their last acuity test, and we looked at problem questions specific to their class. It is so imperative that students use CLOSE READING when answering the ISTEP questions. Don't assume you know the question! That was the biggest lesson I learned in middle school!
H/W:
-Research papers will be due Thurs./ Friday
-Field trip money and permission slips due May 11
- Rest up for ISTEP this week and next week!
- If you received an orange packet from me, remember that you bring a lunch tomorrow and meet me in my room for a make-up quiz.
Thank you!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Happy Friday!
Today all students received a permission slip and information about the Amish Acres field trip on May 21. Please read the information carefully. The permission slip, waiver form, medical form (on other side of waiver) are due May 21. This trip is always a fun day for students and staff! We have enough staff to cover the trip, and I will ask for volunteers if we need parent coverage. Thank you!
Our ISTEP block scheduling begins next week. Next week is in math, and students will be testing with their math class. Monday students will have periods 1, 2, and 3 only. Tuesday will be periods 4, 5, and 6. Each class will be about two hours long. Lunch times will vary between 12:00 and 12:30.
Students, remember your reading books!
Today we covered the purpose of using parentheses, dashes, colon and commas in writing. Students learned the difference that these simple punctuation marks can make for a reader. Some bring strength to the meaning of words, others don't. If you were absent you can get notes from a classmate when you return. Most classes had time to get onto their research papers and revise with creative punctuation!
H/W:
Today all students received a permission slip and information about the Amish Acres field trip on May 21. Please read the information carefully. The permission slip, waiver form, medical form (on other side of waiver) are due May 21. This trip is always a fun day for students and staff! We have enough staff to cover the trip, and I will ask for volunteers if we need parent coverage. Thank you!
Our ISTEP block scheduling begins next week. Next week is in math, and students will be testing with their math class. Monday students will have periods 1, 2, and 3 only. Tuesday will be periods 4, 5, and 6. Each class will be about two hours long. Lunch times will vary between 12:00 and 12:30.
Students, remember your reading books!
Today we covered the purpose of using parentheses, dashes, colon and commas in writing. Students learned the difference that these simple punctuation marks can make for a reader. Some bring strength to the meaning of words, others don't. If you were absent you can get notes from a classmate when you return. Most classes had time to get onto their research papers and revise with creative punctuation!
H/W:
- I am looking for the research books to be finalized by the next Thursday or Friday. I am so excited to see the fantastic books you have been writing!
- Amish Acres permission slip, waiver, and money ($18.50) due Monday, May 11.
- If you received an orange packet from me, return the paper with a parent signature and bring your lunch on Tues.
Have a great weekend! Rest up for ISTEP on Monday!
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Hello!
Today is a meeting day for me, so students have a guest teacher.
All classes went to the IMC, and Ms. Snyder gave a book talk about the features of Informational Books. Then they went on a scavenger hunt to find specific features in nonfiction books. After returning to the classroom, students added features they had learned about in the IMC to their research books. This assignment will be graded.
Field Trip: On May 21, 6th graders will be going to Amish Acres to see a musical and enjoy a yummy lunch! Please keep this date in mind when scheduling appointments.
H/W: Please have the rough draft of you remaining book chapters completed for tomorrow. We will be adding to these.
Thank you! Have a nice day!
Today is a meeting day for me, so students have a guest teacher.
All classes went to the IMC, and Ms. Snyder gave a book talk about the features of Informational Books. Then they went on a scavenger hunt to find specific features in nonfiction books. After returning to the classroom, students added features they had learned about in the IMC to their research books. This assignment will be graded.
Field Trip: On May 21, 6th graders will be going to Amish Acres to see a musical and enjoy a yummy lunch! Please keep this date in mind when scheduling appointments.
H/W: Please have the rough draft of you remaining book chapters completed for tomorrow. We will be adding to these.
Thank you! Have a nice day!
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Tuesday...
Today we reviewed and discussed the quiz as a class. I explained that the writing format of the Research quiz was exactly how they should be constructing their informational books. After that, students worked on a plan for the remaining chpaters of their books.
I want to remind everyone to go to the Module on Canvas that lists strategies for your book: Informational/Research strategies. Also remember that it should take several pieces of evidence and examples to support a fact in your paper - one piece doesn't do it!
H/W: Have the rough draft of the remaining chapters ready for Thursday.
Thank you for a good day - even if the projector light did expode!
Today we reviewed and discussed the quiz as a class. I explained that the writing format of the Research quiz was exactly how they should be constructing their informational books. After that, students worked on a plan for the remaining chpaters of their books.
I want to remind everyone to go to the Module on Canvas that lists strategies for your book: Informational/Research strategies. Also remember that it should take several pieces of evidence and examples to support a fact in your paper - one piece doesn't do it!
H/W: Have the rough draft of the remaining chapters ready for Thursday.
Thank you for a good day - even if the projector light did expode!
Monday, April 20, 2015
Happy Monday!
Today all classes took a differentiated assessment for Informational Research Writing. This covered the skills and techniques used in research writing which the students are using to author their informational book. There was a bit of time left for them to look at their research books after the assessment. We will grade part of the quiz together in class tomorrow, and the other part I will grade tonight.
H/W:
With your partner, plan how you can get the basic rough draft writing of your remaining chapters finished by Thursday. Please know that you will be going back to these chapters often to add skills and techniques you will learn this week and next week. But, in order to do that, you need to have some rough draft writing already completed.
Thank you for working hard today!
Today all classes took a differentiated assessment for Informational Research Writing. This covered the skills and techniques used in research writing which the students are using to author their informational book. There was a bit of time left for them to look at their research books after the assessment. We will grade part of the quiz together in class tomorrow, and the other part I will grade tonight.
H/W:
With your partner, plan how you can get the basic rough draft writing of your remaining chapters finished by Thursday. Please know that you will be going back to these chapters often to add skills and techniques you will learn this week and next week. But, in order to do that, you need to have some rough draft writing already completed.
Thank you for working hard today!
Friday, April 17, 2015
Happy Friday,
I was not able to be at school today, but here is an summary of the plans I left for our guest teacher.
Students completed a study guide for the Research Writing Quiz on Monday. If you were absent, the study guide can be found on Canvas under Modules/Information Research Resources/Study Guide for Research Quiz. The first version is for periods 1 and 5, and the second version is for periods 2, 3, 6. You will need to print out the guide to complete it. Students did a pencil and paper version, so on the printed version I numbered each underlined area; it has a total of 20 answers. You will need to add these. Here is what you need to know for the quiz:
- All classes will have a quiz on MONDAY (this is a change from the original day, Friday). The quiz will cover the strategies used in research writing. Know the strategies listed below and:
- Know when and why they are used in research writing.
- Know where they would be placed in paragraphs.
- Know which paragraph they would be used in.
- Strategies:
- definition
- claim
- supporting bullets (parallel points)
- topic sentence
- evidence transitions (For example, the researcher states...)
- evidence and its punctuation
- thought prompts
- explanation
- concluding sentence
- restatement of claim and bullets
- worldly statement/quote/thought for the reader
- data/dates/statistics
Also, partners worked on their informational books. You should be moving on to the next chapter and have a clear idea of what should be included in those. I LOVED conferring with all of you on Thursday and seeing your amazing books!
Have a beautiful weekend!
Thursday, April 16, 2015
Quick update:
Look on yesterday's post for the list of words you are responsible for on the Research Strategies quiz on Monday. You will be doing a study guide in class tomorrow.
GREAT work on your informational books! I got to confer with (just about) every student today. Keep adding those informational images and charts! And, after today's lesson, I should start seeing transition words. Look on Canvas under Modules for the Recommended Research Transition List- it is the last document under Information/Research Resources.
You and your partner should be starting chpt. 3 for Monday. Thank you, everyone!
Look on yesterday's post for the list of words you are responsible for on the Research Strategies quiz on Monday. You will be doing a study guide in class tomorrow.
GREAT work on your informational books! I got to confer with (just about) every student today. Keep adding those informational images and charts! And, after today's lesson, I should start seeing transition words. Look on Canvas under Modules for the Recommended Research Transition List- it is the last document under Information/Research Resources.
You and your partner should be starting chpt. 3 for Monday. Thank you, everyone!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Wednesday!
Thank you for your attention and focus with the ISTEP Practice today. I am very grateful we have the opportunity to practice; it is a valuable use of our time! If you were absent, you will be making it up at the end of the week.
Thank you for your attention and focus with the ISTEP Practice today. I am very grateful we have the opportunity to practice; it is a valuable use of our time! If you were absent, you will be making it up at the end of the week.
- All classes will have a quiz on MONDAY (this is a change from the original day, Friday). The quiz will cover the strategies used in research writing. Know the strategies listed below and:
- Know when and why they are used in research writing.
- Know where they would be placed in paragraphs.
- Know which paragraph they would be used in.
- Strategies:
- definition
- claim
- supporting bullets (parallel points)
- topic sentence
- evidence transitions (For example, the researcher states...)
- evidence and its punctuation
- thought prompts
- explanation
- concluding sentence
- restatement of claim and bullets
- worldly statement/quote/thought for the reader
- data/dates/statistics
H/W: Be ready to show the strategies you added to chpts. 1 and 2 in your research. These are the strategies we learned in class on Tues. I will be checking those for a grade tomorrow. Please highlight them or use a brightly- colored font show they are easy for me to check. For the list of strategies, go to Canvas, click on my class, Modules, Information/Research Resources, then under that click on Information/Research Strategies.
See you tomorrow!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Hello!
Today all classes looked at an informational text (text only, no images) and analyzed for strategies the author did and did not use. This was done initially as whole class and then divided into partnerships. students shared their finding, and I created a list from the common findings of the class. After that, students compared the complete text with images to see examples of what they could use in their research chapter books. I really like what students are noticing! They even noticed the paradox of setting changes in two paragraphs!
To view the list of research strategies, go to Canvas modules and look under Informational Research Resources. Then click on "Informational/Research Strategies" and you will see the entire list.
To view the Malala article used today (with images), copy and paste this link into google:
http://www.whsd.k12.pa.us/userfiles/1560/Classes/7992/Malala%20Class%20Handouts.pdf
H/W:
Look at your two completed chapters for your research book. Use some of the strategies from the list to enhance your written chapters. You probably have many items from the list, but add the strategies that would make your chapter more interesting. Be prepared to show your changes on Thursday because tomorrow is ISTEP practice in the computer lab.
Thank you for a great day of learning!
Today all classes looked at an informational text (text only, no images) and analyzed for strategies the author did and did not use. This was done initially as whole class and then divided into partnerships. students shared their finding, and I created a list from the common findings of the class. After that, students compared the complete text with images to see examples of what they could use in their research chapter books. I really like what students are noticing! They even noticed the paradox of setting changes in two paragraphs!
To view the list of research strategies, go to Canvas modules and look under Informational Research Resources. Then click on "Informational/Research Strategies" and you will see the entire list.
To view the Malala article used today (with images), copy and paste this link into google:
http://www.whsd.k12.pa.us/userfiles/1560/Classes/7992/Malala%20Class%20Handouts.pdf
H/W:
Look at your two completed chapters for your research book. Use some of the strategies from the list to enhance your written chapters. You probably have many items from the list, but add the strategies that would make your chapter more interesting. Be prepared to show your changes on Thursday because tomorrow is ISTEP practice in the computer lab.
Thank you for a great day of learning!
Monday, April 13, 2015
Welcome Back!
I hope all parents and students had a relaxing spring break! Students did a good job today of trying to get back in the swing of things; I understand that "rusty" feeling of transitioning to a regular schedule!
Our plans changed this morning, so students did not have the ISTEP practice test as scheduled. It looks like we will do this on Wed. Instead, students reviewed their Teen Activism papers that I graded over break. They reviewed my feedback and made a list of Research Writing Goals. After that, they revised some parts of their paper, and then they made sure those writing goals are being incorporated into their Teen Activist Informational Book. They met with their partners to plan strategies for finishing their next book chapter.
H/W: Finish chapter 2 for class tomorrow. I will check for two written chapters during class. Our plan is take a good look at those chapters and make a list of the options you can incorporate to make the chapters more informational.
**Remember: Don't waste you readers' time! Every picture, image, caption, graph, chart, and quote should be placed to enhance the readers' knowledge. Have a specific purpose for everything you add that is not text. Then it will be awesome.
See you tomorrow!
I hope all parents and students had a relaxing spring break! Students did a good job today of trying to get back in the swing of things; I understand that "rusty" feeling of transitioning to a regular schedule!
Our plans changed this morning, so students did not have the ISTEP practice test as scheduled. It looks like we will do this on Wed. Instead, students reviewed their Teen Activism papers that I graded over break. They reviewed my feedback and made a list of Research Writing Goals. After that, they revised some parts of their paper, and then they made sure those writing goals are being incorporated into their Teen Activist Informational Book. They met with their partners to plan strategies for finishing their next book chapter.
H/W: Finish chapter 2 for class tomorrow. I will check for two written chapters during class. Our plan is take a good look at those chapters and make a list of the options you can incorporate to make the chapters more informational.
**Remember: Don't waste you readers' time! Every picture, image, caption, graph, chart, and quote should be placed to enhance the readers' knowledge. Have a specific purpose for everything you add that is not text. Then it will be awesome.
See you tomorrow!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Happy April!
Today all students took Acuity #3. I explained their scores should show growth throughout the year. Acuity is another benchmark we use to determine a student's class placement for the following year. Students will also have tomorrow to complete their acuity assessment.
For the informational book, you should be making progress. Everyone should have one chapter finished and revised. This should include images and hyperlinks. Remember, evidence and data is essential! If you can't find data for a particular chapter, then make sure you are using research facts. A fact is not a fact unless you can find it documented in three reliable places.
H/W: Keep working and communication with your partners. You have all been doing a great job with that! I will be checking for completed chapters.
See you tomorrow!
Today all students took Acuity #3. I explained their scores should show growth throughout the year. Acuity is another benchmark we use to determine a student's class placement for the following year. Students will also have tomorrow to complete their acuity assessment.
For the informational book, you should be making progress. Everyone should have one chapter finished and revised. This should include images and hyperlinks. Remember, evidence and data is essential! If you can't find data for a particular chapter, then make sure you are using research facts. A fact is not a fact unless you can find it documented in three reliable places.
H/W: Keep working and communication with your partners. You have all been doing a great job with that! I will be checking for completed chapters.
See you tomorrow!
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