Miss Coppoletta's Blog

Name Change!

2011-10-03T14:22:00.002-05:00

Please remember that my my e-mail address will change 10/11. My new email address will be:

My classroom blog can now be found at :

http://mrsdefors.wordpress.com/

Thank you for your flexibility during this exciting time in my life! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Cheerleading Half Time Dance!

2011-09-29T10:49:00.003-05:00

Last night, the Lakeview Spartans and the Eisenhower Generals played on Downers Grove South High School's football field. It was a very exciting game! Please enjoy the cheerleaders' half time dance!

Goin' to the Chapel

2011-09-29T08:44:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe that my wedding is next week! The time has flown by! Due to my name change, I want to communicate a few things with you. First, my e-mail address will be changing after next week. My new email address will be:

jdefors@ccsd66.org

Additionally, my classroom blog will also changing. You will be able to locate the blog at:

http://mrsdefors.wordpress.com/

Thank you for your flexibility during this exciting time in my life! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions!

Book Report

2011-09-23T13:51:00.003-05:00

Next Wednesday is the due date for the very first book report of the school year. Students have been given over 4 weeks to read a book and complete a visual and written summary of the book. Below is a detailed description of the assignment and the rubric. Good Luck!

The purpose of this assignment is to tell the plot of your book through pictures.

Procedure:

1. Number 1 - 8 on a piece of paper. Write down, in order of occurrence, the 8 most important events that take place in your book.

2. Leaving space for the title of your book and the author's name, (which you will need to include somewhere on your poster board), divide your poster board into 8 squares to match the number of important events.

3. Now draw your story's plot, using the squares to tell your story in chronological order. Color your pictures. ****Under each picture, write a brief explanation of your picture. (Explain what's happening in your picture) These short explanations should be in final draft form and 2-3 sentences long.

4. Since you won't be able to tell your entire story through your poster board, (you will just be focusing on the main events of your story from beginning to almost the end) you also need to write (in final draft form!) a complete one page summary of your book, which you will give me the day you present your book report.

5. On Wednesday, September 28th, we will begin oral presentations of the poster boards. Your grade will also include your speaking skills. Remember to speak clearly, loudly enough for all to hear, and slowly enough so we can follow along and understand what you are saying. Eye contact is also very important! Please practice your presentation before class!

Poster Board Book Report

Explanation of novel plot (detail, clarity) 16 pts.______

Pictures telling story 8 pts.______

(neat, detailed, colored and blurbs clear and in final draft)

Delivery 6 pts. ______

(enthusiastic, good eye contact, etc.)

Story summary in written form

(clear and in final draft) 10pts. ______

+__________

40 pts.

How Can You Improve your Grade???

2011-09-16T11:34:00.002-05:00

This week marked the "3 Week Grades" time for Lakeview Junior High. I continue to encourage you and your child to regularly check grades on the online grade book. Several students have come to ask how they can improve their grade...

Before you ask, check this list:

1. Are you doing your homework and assignments on time?

2. Do you double-check your work for mistakes?

3. Do those assignments get turned in on time?

4. Do you ask appropriate questions in class?

5. Do you seek assistance before school or during study hall?

6. Do you study for tests/quizzes (more than one day in advance)?

7. Do you take notes on what you read and what we discuss in class?

8. Do you review those notes?

9. Is your binder organized so it's easy to find materials?

10. Are your LA/Reading folders organized so it's easy to find what you need?

11. Do you truly read the assignment?

12. Do you use a dictionary or thesaurus when you don't understand words?

13. Do you use your class time wisely? If you finish early, do you go back and review?

14. Do you practice answering questions on your own?

15. Do you take part in extra credit when it is available? Remember, extra credit is not offered on an individual basis!

TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR RAISING YOUR GRADE!!!

10 Years Later

2011-09-07T06:56:00.008-05:00

It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since September 11, 2001. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Unlike most college students, I took early morning classes, so I was up early getting ready for my classes. It was a beautiful, crisp soon-to-be-fall September day outside. As I was getting ready to walk across campus to class, my phone rang. It was my mom. She sounded panicked. She told me to turn the TV on. A plane had hit one of the World Trade Buildings in New York City. After about 5 minutes of watching the news in horror with my mom connected to my ear, the second plane hit the second tower. That sight chilled my soul. I decided to forgo classes that day and drive home to be with my parents. We were glued to the TV for the next three days.

Most of my students are 13 years old. Thus, they were a mere three years old on September 11th. For many of them, they do not hold the memories, the emotions, the connection that I do. How could they? With that in mind, Miss Cerney, Mrs. Mixon, and I decided to set aside several class periods devoted to September 11th. We held class discussions, watched interviews of first-hand accounts of the day, and analyzed pictures from 9/11.

I cannot even begin to express how impressed I was with the maturity and depth of discussion our classes engaged in this week. As a culmination activity, students were given two options:

1. Write a Point of View journal/diary entry putting yourself in the shoes of someone on 9/11/01

2. Interview a friend/family member about their experience on 9/11/01

I truly look forward to seeing the work my students will be turning in on Monday.

8th Grade Teachers Run the Mile!

2011-08-30T12:12:00.005-05:00

In an effort to support our students both inside the classroom and out, some of the 8th grade teachers ran the mile during 5th period on Tuesday. The weather was perfect: slight overcast, a perfect 73 degrees, westerly wind to cool us down as we ran. As you can tell by our picture, we teachers were excited about running the mile with our students!

(Before the mile)

I truly believe that we inspired a number of students to run their personal best times. After all, what 8th grader wants to be able to say, "My teacher beat me in the mile!" Several times I noticed certain students start to pick up their pace when they saw us gaining on them. It was a great experience, and I could really feel the "team spirit" as students high-fived us upon our victorious finish.

(after the mile)

Welcome

2011-08-24T07:27:00.003-05:00

It's finally here...the 2011-2012 school year! I am very excited to meet all of my new students, and I anticipate a fantastic learning experience. 8th grade is a pivotal year, particularly considering students are gearing up for high school! Whether you are a parent or a student, rest assure that your teachers understand the transition you are making, and our goal is to make it as smooth a transition as possible. Feel free contact me at any time.

Be sure to check the 8th Grade Homework Blog. It is updated daily with each teacher's assignments and can be located at:http://grade8homeworklv.blogspot.com/

Good Luck!

Work Hard!

Enjoy your LAST year as a middle schooler!

WOW Day!

2011-06-03T10:58:00.007-05:00

Today marked the first ever Lakeview Jr. High WOW (Widen our World) Day. Throughout the day, students were given time to work on self-guided, self-selected projects. This day would not have been possible without the enormous effort of Mrs. Foellmer and the WOW day team including...but not limited to Mr. Little, Mrs. Bergman, Mrs. Snodgrass, Mrs. Maass, and Mrs. Boyer. If you walked through the hallowed halls of Lakeview today, it may have appeared to be slightly chaotic. However, once you took a closer look, you would have certainly noticed students completely engaged in researching, discovering, and creating a topic of their choice.

Some of the self-selected projects included creating dance routines, cake and cupcake decorating, creating and setting traps, disassembling and reassembling computers, writing music and lyrics, designing catapults, scrapbooking, face painting, stick-figure animation, tumbling, and creating video-blogs. It was a great way to celebrate the last Friday of the school year.

A few painted bunnies

Wow day was really neat, and I am excited to see how the program develops over the years!

2011-05-22T12:23:00.001-05:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More instrument

Harris Burdick Selections from Today:

2011-05-18T11:39:00.003-05:00

Research Unit Rubric

2011-05-06T11:30:00.001-05:00

Sport Hobby Rubric

Research Unit Project Description

2011-05-06T11:26:00.001-05:00

Reasearch Unit

Research Project

2011-04-29T13:50:00.000-05:00

Research Project

Over the next week, students will be selecting and researching a sport or hobby that they are interested in or want to learn more about. When their research is complete, they will be creating an outline and a demonstration speech that they will present to their classmates!

Need-to-Know Info
*You will be required to turn in a minimum of 15 note cards.

*Your note cards should include the following themes from your sport or hobby.
-History & Origin (where/how the sport originated)
-How To... (This is what you will use for your demonstration speech!)
-Interesting Facts

Important Dates
*Research Days in the IMC
May 9-11

*Writing Days in Class
May 13 and 16

*Work Time to Type Outline & Bibliography
May 17 - 20

*Final Outline and Bibliography
Due May 23

*Presentation Days
May 24 & 25

Give Yourself a Hand!

2011-04-21T10:26:00.002-05:00

Often times, I leave work how I wondering how I "won the job lottery". Don't get me wrong, teaching is very hard work, which takes up far more of my time than the 7:35-3:05 office hours. However, I regularly have to pinch myself when I think of the high caliber of my amazing school district, students, parents of students, colleagues, and administrators.

Yesterday was one of those days for me!

On Thursday, the entire 6th grade class went on a field trip to watch a live performance of short story classics. Students could not have been more well behaved on the bus ride to the venue! Once we arrived and found our seats, the theater experienced a power outage that lasted about 10 minutes. Our students sat patiently and calmly in the cold and dark as the theater workers diligently to reestablish power. Once the power was reestablished, our students were a respectful audience; they listened and applauded when appropriate. After the show, we had lunch at a local fast-food restaurant. I commend the restaurant for serving all 53 of us (plus other patrons) in under 10 minutes. I also commend the students, who made such a positive impression on patrons of the restaurant. I was actually approached by a woman who complemented our group.

I am so lucky to work in Center Cass School District 66!

Bravo students!!

This Week & Next

2011-04-15T14:42:00.005-05:00

So, it's a very "old school" grammer philosophy, however, this week & next week, students will be dissecting and diagramming sentences. I remember when my 8th grade teacher introduced me to sentence diagramming. It's one of the earliest "light bulb moments" I can recall! As a visual learner, diagramming sentences helped me to see how the parts of speech are connected and work together. It helps illustrate the relationship between words in our language.

Below is an example of a diagrammed sentence:

Appearing in most newspapers in America, crossword puzzles are challenging yet exciting games for exercising the mind, and they give literate people with patience exquisite joy.

Here is an example of The Pledge of Allegiance...diagrammed!

Short Story Classics

2011-04-08T12:47:00.003-05:00

In connection with the upcoming field trip, the 6th graders are being exposed to a small selection of classic short stories including The Tell Tale Heart and The Raven, by Edgar Allen Poe. . We have been listening to Vincent Price's renditions of the Poe stories, which students have enjoyed immensely!

Next week we will continue with our final two stories, Sleepy Hollow and Monkey's Paw.

2011-03-25T06:58:00.002-05:00

Just like me, I'm sure you and your children are looking forward to a brief break from the hustle & bustle of school. I plan on taking full advantage of our week of vacation by reading and doing a little wedding planning.

My hope for your families is that you're able to recharge and gear up for our last months of the school year. It always seems like these last few months zoom by. No matter what your plans for the next week are, please encourage you child to read and play outside! Maybe eve pick up a book and read with your child!

Have a wonderful spring vacation!

What 6th graders know about pronouns:

2011-03-21T09:35:00.002-05:00

Today during class, students reviewed everything they know about pronouns using WallWisher.com. Below, please find our wall of "sticky notes" with important information for the quest! I encourage students to use this information to create a 3X5 handwritten notecard that can be used on the quest.

What's Happening Next Week

2011-03-18T14:05:00.004-05:00

Language Arts & Advanced Language Arts

Next week, we will be completing our study of Pronouns. Students will be given a review day on Monday to prepare for their test on Tuesday. During the rest of the week, the class will be completing compare/contrast expository pieces on a topic of their choice.

Reading & Advanced Reading

We will continue our study of short stories in the Language of Literature Series. Students will also be introduced to their next book report: Twitter your Book. This book report asks students to create a 140 character "tweet" on their current book selection.

Here is the information worksheet students will receiving in class. Feel free to print this document as needed from your home computer!

Twitter Book Report

Book Trailer Projects

2011-03-11T09:35:00.005-06:00

Over the past two weeks, students have been creating "book trailers", which like movie trailers, "plug" books. Here are several examples of students' book trailer projects.

They are FANTASTIC!

~Enjoy~

Next Week

2011-03-03T09:34:00.002-06:00

Reading & Advanced Reading:

Next week, students will have a chance to wrap up their book reports. They have been working in the IMC all week, and I'm truly looking forward to what students have created! Once we wrap the book reports up, we will be moving on to a short stories unit.

Language Arts & Advanced Language Arts:

Next week we will begin our study of Pronouns

Book Trailer Rubric

2011-02-28T14:39:00.000-06:00

Book trailer rubric

What to Expect in LA/Reading next week

2011-02-25T09:27:00.002-06:00

There are a lot of interesting things going on in class! Here's what you can expect:

Language Arts: Next week, we will be starting our study of pronouns. I will try to make this fun by including Pronoun bingo and other games to provide a mental relief from ISAT testing!

Reading: This week, students have been working on preparing to make book trailers (think movie trailer) for their literature circle book. Next week, the literature circle groups will be working on producing their book trailers in the IMC using Windows MovieMaker.

Advanced Language Arts: The Advanced LA class will be working on an in-class, creative writing project!

Advanced Reading: We have finished our study of The Giver, and now, students have chosen a project to complete. Students could chose to complete this individually, or with one or two peers.

End of Unit Projects

2011-02-18T12:34:00.002-06:00

All classes have come to the end of our literature circle units! I was completely impressed with the mature and thoughtful discussions many groups engaged in over the past weeks! It always a neat experience to watch students take over and lead discussions without the facilitation of a teacher.

Now that we have come to the end of reading and discussing our books, it's time for students to create a project! Using the knowledge they have gained in Mrs. Foellmer and Mrs. Mass's classes, students will be completing book trailers for their novels. These book trailers will ACTUALLY be used to "plug" the books for the other 1/2 of the 6th grade, which has not read them.

I'm excited to see students' finished products!

Pack the Place Update!

2011-02-11T12:46:00.002-06:00

This has been extremely fun to see creative students and staff dress for spirit days! Please remember to wear a tu-tu on Monday and green on Tuesday for the next Pack-the-Place spirit days.

2011-01-28T07:24:00.005-06:00

Pack the Place Spirit Days

Wednesday, 2/2 : Green Day

Thurs,day 2/3: Mix & Match Pattern day

Friday, 2/4: Crazy Hair Day

Monday, 2/7: Hat Day

Tuesday, 2/8: Tu-Tu-Tuesday

Wednesday, 2/9: Gold Day

Remember to bring 50 cents to buy a ticket for an opportunity to pie a teacher during the Pack the Place games!

Also, snacks will be sold before and during the game. All proceeds will help the cheerleaders to purchase new uniforms!!!

2011-01-21T15:15:00.005-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dEukg6G4AE

copy and paste this link into your browser.

Mrs. Maass and Mrs. Foellmer deserve credit for this video. Together, they helped both students and staff members get excited about the big game on Sunday!

GO BEARS!

Some Super, Super-Hero Teachers!

2011-01-18T07:14:00.001-06:00

Literature Circles in Reading Class

2011-01-17T10:38:00.000-06:00

Literature circles are small temporary groups of students who read the same book. These groups meet on a regular, predictable schedule to discuss their reading. The discussion topics come from students, who use written or drawn notes and questions to guide both their reading and discussion.
The aim of the meetings is to be an open, natural conversation about books, so personal connections, digressions, and open-ended questions are welcome! I will serve only as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor. Therefore, the success of the discussion is truly based on students preparation for and participation in the meetings.
Students will be evaluated by my observation and a self-evaluation. When students have finished their books, they will share with the class themes, summaries, and highlights from their discussions in a creative way. Ask your student about their experience thus far!

Thanks for the GREAT birthday!

2011-01-06T14:08:00.004-06:00

Yep...it's true. I turned 30 today. One of the many perks of being a teacher is how special students and other teachers make you feel on your special day. Not only was I "bedazzled" by Mrs. Mixon, but I also received many heart-felt cards from my students.

Thank you for making my 30th birthday such a special day!

Literature Circles in Reading Class

2011-01-05T07:31:00.001-06:00

The aim of the meetings is to be an open, natural conversation about books, so personal connections, digressions, and open-ended questions are welcome! I will serve only as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor. Therefore, the success of the discussion is truly based on students preparation for and participation in the meetings.

Students will be evaluated by my observation and a self-evaluation. When students have finished their books, they will share with the class themes, summaries, and highlights from their discussions in a creative way. Ask your student about their experience thus far!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-17T13:18:00.002-06:00

I wish you a very peaceful holiday season. May you enjoy these next two weeks with your friends and family! See you all next year :)

Be sure to check back here in a few days. I'll be posting the winning Frosty the Snowman Marketing Campaigns from each class.

Coppoletta 12/13

2010-12-13T14:50:00.001-06:00

LA: Bring materials for Frosty Project

R: RC #1 due Thursday! and 2 Haiku poems

ALA: Bring materials for Frosty Project

AR: RC #2 due 1/13

Image Consultant

2010-12-10T11:10:00.005-06:00

Now that 6th graders have practiced their persuasive skills, they will truly be put to the test! Next week, your child will be recruited as an image consultant to help bring Frosty the Snowman's appearance and song into the 21st century. Students will be working in small groups. However, they will receive individual grades based on an individual paragraph, daily work ethic, their finished image proposal, and a short presentation on Friday. The project will be done entirely in class.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what students come up with!

Rebecca Caudill Books

2010-12-02T06:59:00.002-06:00

Last Tuesday, students were introduced to the 2011 Rebecca Caudill nominated books. This award is unique because the voters are the young readers like our very own from Lakeview. The books have been going quickly so if one is not available from the IMC, check with your local public library. At this point, students should be well into their first book individual book picks for trimester 2. They will have to read at least three books by February 3. I'm truly excited to see their interest and eagerness in the Rebecca Caudill nominees for 2011!

Besides reading these books for their personal enjoyment, students will also take an Accelerated Reader test for each of their three selections and complete one of 5 different short book reports. Should your child lose the copy I passed out, the book report files have been uploaded to my online gradebook page. The due date for the first AR test and book report is is Thursday, 12/16 for reading classes and Monday, 12/13 for the advanced reading class. Students are welcome to turn their projects in early and I will update my gradebook to reflect all AR quizzes and projects as they are turned in.

Bully Beasts

2010-11-22T07:02:00.019-06:00

Over the past week, 6th grade students discussed bullying in their LA and Reading classes. We started off the week getting students acquainted with small groups they would be working for the duration of the week. Students watched a powerful ABC 7 interview about a boy and his family and the effects bullying had on them. Then students were presented with different scenarios/conflicts with which they had to resolve. Finally, we discussed the characteristics of abull-y and how they are much like that of the animal bull. We brainstormed other animals who share bully-like qualities. Students were tasked with the job to create a bully beast by cutting/pasting these animal parts together. They presented their bully beasts to the class, and we discussed how these beasts (funny looking as they may be) are seriously hurtful like a bully. We ended our discussion with a reminder of how bullying is inappropriate and will not be tolerated!

Here are students' Bully Beast Projects:

Introducing the Lakeview Mascots

2010-11-18T17:02:00.003-06:00

Never before has there been so much talent and such interest in trying out for a position as the Lakeview Mascot! Just about 30 students participated in try-outs over the course of the week. The competition was tough. Thank you to every student to tried out! If you did not make mascot this year, I encourage you to try again next year!

Congratulations to the new Lakeview Mascots:

Ally Armato

Michael Blazevich

Cannon Brackett

Kayla Corral

Peter Fish

Kevin Gibbons

Paul Lee

Domnick McCallion

John Luca Moschetto

Emily Qualizza

Ian Wisniewski

Adam Zlotnicki

We will meet Monday during A lunch to come up with a fair schedule!

The End of 1st Trimester

2010-11-12T10:38:00.002-06:00

Today marks the end of the first trimester. Over the trimester, students accumulated many papers. As we begin the second trimester, I encourage all students to clean out their LA and Reading folders. Anything having to do with Dog of Pompeii and adjectives should be kept. All other materials may be recycled!

Scare-A-Mony

2010-10-28T13:18:00.009-05:00

In honor of this SPOOKY Sunday, students wrote scary stories based on the illustration, Just Dessert, from the Mystery of Harris Burdick:

After students developed their stories, they participated in a "Scare-a-mony" where they were allowed to share the stories with their peers. They had a lot of fun, and they created some very scary tales! Great job kiddos!

Parent Teacher Conferences

2010-10-22T14:38:00.003-05:00

It was a pleasure meeting with some of you on Thursday night! Communication is a vital and valuable educational tool, and it is helpful to have active and supportive parents. I view my relationship with you as a team. Together, we can help your child succeed!

Another Great Trip to D.C.!

2010-10-15T12:37:00.003-05:00

Last weekend, Mrs. Maass spear-headed another fantastic 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. Mr. Little, Senorita Bergman, Miss Enzbigilis, and I helped Mrs. Maass chaperone 66 students for a 3 day trip to our nation's capitol. There, we visited most of the monuments, toured the inside of the capital, experienced the Holocaust museum, and walked the grounds of Mt. Vernon. In three short days, we certainly covered a lot of ground!

Neat Little Project

2010-10-08T10:34:00.006-05:00

This week, the advanced reading class has feverishly worked on projects demonstrating their comprehension and analysis of The Watsons Go to Birmingham -1963. One of the project choices is to research music from the 1960's and create a playlist that the family could use on their road trip. Karina created a Prezi (a creative and free online presentation maker) for her project. This technology allows students to organize, develop, and illustrate ideas. Please click on the link below to view Karina's Prezi!

2010-09-30T12:44:00.002-05:00

Greeting Card Project

All students in Reading class have just been assigned a new book report. They selected any book of their choice. After reading their book, students will have to complete the following book report:

Think about the characters in your novel. Imagine that one character is sending a card to another character. What kind of card would that character send and why?

Types of cards you can use: Birthday, Sympathy, Thank You, Get Well, Friendship, Anniversary, Retirement, New Baby, Valentine's Day, Miss You, I'm Sorry

Task: There are TWO parts to this project.
1. Create a card to one character in your novel to another character.
2. On a separate sheet of paper, include the following:
- The title and date of publication
- In one paragraph, explain why you created the card you did.
- In one paragraph, explain the importance of this choice and how the novel would be

different if the card had actually been sent.

Due: October 28, 2010

Watsons Google LitTrip

2010-09-24T12:59:00.004-05:00

As the Advanced Reading class reads The Watsons Go to Birmingham, we will be "going" on the road trip with the family virtually using a Google LitTrip. This incredible application takes us through the journey starting in Flint, MI to Birmingham, AL. We'll be "stopping" along the way to think critically about the text.

For those of you who are interested in following the journey at home, please feel free to access the lit trip at this link:

http://www.googlelittrips.com/GoogleLit/6-8/Entries/2010/3/24_The_Watsons_Go_to_Birmingham-1963_by_XX.html

You will need Google Earth to be able to view and follow along!

Extended Reading Response

2010-09-17T14:07:00.002-05:00

Next week, I will be introducing students to writing an extended reading response (ERR). It is imperative that students master this writing skill as they will be required to write ERRs throughout the school year and on the ISAT. The format Lakeview uses can be completed in 4 easy steps! The following is an overview of the components of the ERR:

1. State the MAIN IDEA of your answer (be sure to restate the question)

2. Provide EVIDENCE from the text to support your answer. Then give your INTERPRETATION of the evidence (ie. what does the evidence mean to you/show you, or how is it related to your main idea?)

3. Provide a second piece of EVIDENCE from the text to support your answer. Then give your INTERPRETATION.

4. Provide an EXTENSION...what is the lesson/moral learned from the story?

Smarty Pants Friday!

2010-09-02T07:12:00.003-05:00

Smarty Pants Friday is an extra credit program that I have developed as a way to encourage students to be responsible for their homework completion and organization. I'm also hoping to encourage students and their parents to take an active and joint role tracking their grades.

Here's how the program works:

Every Friday, 3 students' names will be randomly selected. These three students will have the opportunity to earn 2 extra credit points towards the class of their choice (Language Arts or Reading). Students will be rewarded with an official Smarty Pants certificate if they can fulfill the following requirements:

1 -Students will need to show their LA teacher(s) all of the week's homework assignments completed and organized in their folders.

2 - Students will have to be able to tell their teacher(s) their current LA and Reading grade within one point. Don't worry...I will not be asking your child to say their grade aloud (he/she will write their answer down).

* Students who do not have a computer at home or whose computers are broken need not worry about not being able to participate. All they have to do is meet me in the morning (before HomeBase) when I will show them their current grades.

Welcome!

2010-08-24T15:17:00.000-05:00

It's finally here...the 2010-2011 school year! I am very excited to meet all of my new students, and I anticipate a fantastic learning experience. 6th grade can be intimidating, particularly to students who do not have older siblings who have experienced our wonderful school. Whether you are a parent or a student, rest assure that your teachers understand the transition you are making. Feel free contact me at any time.

To all of my students and parents who are new to Lakeview: Be sure to check the 6th Grade Homework Blog. It is updated daily with each teacher's assignments and can be located at: http://grade6homeworklv.blogspot.com/

Good Luck!

Digital Storytelling

2010-06-21T10:14:00.000-05:00

Here are the digital stories students created during summer school:

Author Skype

2010-05-20T13:36:00.000-05:00

PJ Haarsma, author of the Softwire series, graciously joined our classroom this Thursday. He spent 40 minutes discussing reading, writing, his books, and the very cool, free online game he created. It was such an exciting experience for us! Students generated questions ranging from. "What the grossest thing you've ever eaten?" to "What advice do you have for aspiring writers?". His answers were colorful and entertaining!

Please copy and paste this link into your computer to view a recording of our experience.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7069918

For more information on PJ and his work please visit: http://www.pjhaarsma.com/

Research Project

2010-05-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

Over the next week, students will be selecting and researching a sport or hobby that they are interested in or want to learn more about. When their research is complete, they will be creating an outline and a demonstration speech that they will present to their classmates!

Need-to-Know Info
*You will be required to turn in a minimum of 30 note cards.

*Your note cards should include the following themes from your sport or hobby.
-History & Origin (where/how the sport originated)
-How To... (This is what you will use for your demonstration speech!)
-Interesting Facts

* By only writing ONE fact/step per note card you will be able to meet the 30 note card requirement.

Important Dates
*Research Days in the IMC
May 7 -12

*Writing Days in Class
May 13 – 14

*Work Time to Type Outline & Bibliography
May 17 - 20

*Final Outline and Bibliography
Due May 24

*Presentation Days
May 25 & 26

Run, run, run as FAST as you can...

2010-04-30T06:52:00.001-05:00

Warming up for the mile!

8th Hour PE Class

7th Hour PE Class

This Thursday, the middle schoolers' physical fitness was challenged by running the mile during PE class. This year Mrs. Mesker, Mrs. Mixon, Mr. Windsor, and I decided to participated in running the mile with both 6th grade PE classes. As you can tell by the pictures, it was a beautiful day for a run!

Life 'Round Here

2010-04-22T06:54:00.000-05:00

The Advanced class has finally completed their digital storytelling project. Each multi-media video has been submitted to the "Life Round Here" global initiative. The deadline for the project is in a few weeks. At that time, we will have the opportunity to view other student-created digital stories that illustrate so aspect of their lives. Below, please find some of our completed work.

This digital story was created by three 6th graders. Here they explain the importance of appreciation:

For all you Chicago Sports lovers:

Have you ever wondered what some students think of gossip? Well, here's one group's perspective:

Digital Storytelling Update

2010-04-09T13:40:00.000-05:00

Next week is the last week that the advanced group will have to work on their digital stories. It has been a really neat experience to see this group embrace this project. I am very proud of the completed projects, and I look forward to seeing the projects that are still in production mode!

Please stop by the blog next week...I'll be posting a link to the videos!

2010-03-11T08:47:00.000-06:00

"Digital Storytelling" is an emerging term. It is a way for students to use digital tools to help tell their own 'true stories' in a compelling and emotionally engaging form. The advanced reading classes will be participating a global digital storytelling project called Life 'Round Here:

http://chriscraft.pbworks.com/

Students will write a short (2 minutes) piece and record their voices telling the story. They can add a picture slideshow and music to enhance the story. This project will take us well into April. Please come back and visit as I will be posting completed student projects on my blog.

ISAT Testing is OVER! Wohoo ;)

2010-03-05T12:29:00.000-06:00

Much to the relief of students and teachers alike, Lakeview students have completed the 2010 ISAT tests. Despite having a day off on Monday, the week seemed extra long due testing and a crazy class schedule. I am hopeful that students remembered all of the strategies and tips we discussed in class, and I'm sure they did their best!

Graffiti in the Classroom????

2010-02-26T14:31:00.000-06:00

Next week students will be working on creating literary graffiti. This literary activity combines the process of drawing with analytical thinking about a text by pairing drawing space with writing prompts. This small-group activity will be used as a culminating activity for the Maniac Magee novel study. It will evoke whole-class discussion of the novel, where students use "graffiti," symbols, drawings, shapes, and colors to construct a graphic of a quote from Maniac Magee. Then students will think analytically about the significance of the quote to the story and the world around us.

3rd and 4th Period Grading....

2010-02-19T14:47:00.000-06:00

Mrs. Mixon & I wanted to clear up any confusion regarding our gradebook. Because we have split the class up, we have been working on different assignments according to what the group needed to work on the most. For example, if the group working with me needed practice finding evidence in the text to support their response to a question, their homework would involve practicing this strategy. If students working with Mrs. Mixon needed practice using context clues to define unknown words, their homework would involve practicing this strategy.

If you are looking at your child's grades in Language Arts and Reading and you see an "X" under a column, this means your child was excused from the assignment because they were working on something different. However, if you see a "0" under a column, this means either the student did not complete the work and/or has not turned it in. Regardless of the reason, the student needs to bring the completed assignment to class as soon as possible.

The Giver Project are Well Underway

2010-02-11T13:06:00.000-06:00

Here are a few photos of students at work creating their choice of projects in response to The Giver:

A group of boys recreating the Annex

A group constructing the Giver/Receiver quarters

Creating a new book cover

Another interpretation for a new book cover

Constructing a 3D replica of the entire Village of Sameness

Beginning work on the Village of Sameness

Fund Raising

2010-02-05T09:26:00.000-06:00

Over the past two weeks, students and staff at Lakeview have been working hard to raise money for The American Red Cross. Every penny raised during our Pack-The-Place festivities has been counted, and we're pleased to announce that we raised almost $800!

Here are a few pictures from the week:

Great job to one and all!

Snuggie Day!

2010-01-29T14:58:00.001-06:00

Happy Snuggie Day from the 6th grade team!

Don't forget to wear your ugliest shirt on Monday

for "Ugly Shirt Day"

Pack the Place!

2010-01-28T12:27:00.000-06:00

Lakeview is all abuzz with Pack-the-Place activities. This past Thursday, students and teachers dressed up as twins. On Friday, Lakeview had PJ/Sunggie day!

Next week should be just as fun. Monday is "Ugly Shirt Day", Wednesday is "Green Day", and Thursday is "Gold Day". Lakeview students are also extremely excited for their chance to pie a teacher in the face. Students can buy raffle tickets for $1 for a chance to pie teachers on Wednesday or Thursday before the home basketball games. All proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross!

Modifiers

2010-01-15T14:31:00.001-06:00

We're well into our Modifiers unit. These lessons discuss the application of adjectives and adverb in the English language. Students will be taking their unit test next Friday! As always, your child will be allowed to use a hand-written notecard of grammar rules during their assessment.

Introducing New Novel Studies!

2010-01-08T07:17:00.000-06:00

Reading:

Next week we will begin reading the book Maniac Magee. This newbery Medal-winning fictional novel written by Jerry Spinelli. Exploring themes of racism, homelessness, family, and friendship, it follows the story of an orphaned boy looking for a home in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Two Mills. He becomes a local legend for feats of athleticism and fearlessness, and his ignorance of sharp racial boundaries in the town. This unit of study is one of my favorites of the year!

Advanced Reading:

The Giver is a 1993 soft science-fiction novel written by Lois Lowery. This Newbery Award winning novel is set in a future society where none of its citizens feel pain or loss. The story follows a boy named Jonas through the twelfth year of his life. Through Jonas's eyes readers learn the truth behind this seemingly perfect community. The Giver happens to be on my top five all-time favorite books list. I look forward to studying the novel with my students!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-18T11:27:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that the holiday season is here. I feel like October and November flew by! I have several reminders for students over the winter break:

First, remember to keep reading your Rebecca Caudill books. The second AR is due on January 21st for Reading class, but due on January 13th for the Advanced Reading class.

Additionally, remember that you can always complete a quick write to increase your AR quiz score!

Have a great two weeks. See you in 2010!

Rebecca Caudill Books

2009-12-11T14:13:00.000-06:00

Students should be well into their individual book picks for trimester 2. I'm truely excited to see their interest and eagerness in the Rebecca Caudill nominees for 2010! This award is unique because the voters are the young readers like our very own from Lakeview. The books have been going quickly so if one is not available from the IMC, check with your local public library.

Besides reading these books for their personal enjoyment, students will also take an Accelerated Reader test for each of their three selections. The due date for the first AR test is Thursday, 12/17/2009. I have updated the gradebook to reflect all AR quizzes that have been turned in as of today (12/11/09).

If your child is unhappy with his/her AR quiz score, there are several ways for him/her to improve their grade. First, they may read an extra book. I will only be taking the three highest quiz scores. Every other score will be dropped. Therefore, the more Caudill books your child reads, the greater the chances are to earn higher quiz scores. Second, your son/daughter may complete a short quick-write to help prove that they have read and understood the story. All they need to do is ask me for a quick-write.

Nominees:
All the Lovely Bad Ones by Mary Downing Hahn
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs
Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George
Elephant Run by Roland Smith
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
First Light by Rebecca Stead
Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman
Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass
Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent
The Mozart Question by Michael Morpurgo
The Naked Mole-Rat Letters by Mary Amato
Shark Girl by Kelly L. Bingham
Shooting the Moon by Frances O'Roark Dowell
A Small White Scar by K. A. Nuzum
Someone Named Eva by Joan M. Wolf
The Thing About Georgie by Lisa Graff
The Wednesday Wars by Gary D. Schmidt
The White Giraffe by Lauren St. John

Rebecca Caudill Books

2009-11-20T14:35:00.000-06:00

The Language Arts and Reading department is excited to kick off the Rebecca Caudill Award reading extravaganza. Every year, we ask our students to read a certain number of the nominated books. Students will have from next week through February to read as many books as they can. Then in February, students will participate in a national voting day to be a part of selecting the award winner.

We're looking forward to Miss Hagensee's book talk on Monday!

Stand Up For Kids!

2009-11-12T08:05:00.000-06:00

Lakeview's Student Council and Make A Difference Club are excited to announce our participation in a Stand Up For Kids Drive.

Stand Up For Kids is a nationally acclaimed volunteer organization dedicated to helping homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth in over 42 cities nation wide. They not only feed and clothe children, but also attempt to encourage and motivate them by providing straightforward mentoring , emergency resources, and helping them find the tools they need to get off the streets.

Starting next Monday, November 16 through Tuesday, November 24, we will be holding a donations drive to support Stand Up For Kids. The following is a list of items that would help:

1. Healthy, shelf-stable, single serving food items (that do not need to be cooked) like granola bars, fruit cups, fruit snacks

2. Fruit juice

3. Socks

4. Winter Hats

5. Winter gloves

6. Sweatshirts

For more information, please visit their website: www.standupforkids.org

Thank you in advance for making any donations!

Shelfari

2009-11-06T13:17:00.000-06:00

Mrs Foellmer has turned me on to an incredible website: www.shelfari.com

The site offers many interactive applications for readers. For example, members can create a virtual bookshelf to display the books they have read, the books they are currently reading, and the books they plan on reading. Additionally, the website encourages members to review and recommend books. I am currently working out a way to enhance the experience of reading by connecting my students to meaningful discussions of literature!

A word about grades...

2009-10-23T09:15:00.000-05:00

In light of the high number of absences we're having here at Lakeview, I would like to take a moment to share what I'm doing with my gradebook.

Even if a student is absent, I will be putting zeros in for any missing work. This is so you are aware of graded assignments that your child is missing. I will not be penalizing students for work that is turned in late due to an absence. Adhering to the school grading policy, a student will receive however many days they were absent to make up new work.

JV Basketball Cheerleading and Mascot Information

2009-10-16T07:33:00.000-05:00

Cheerleading:
Clinic: Monday, October 26, 2009 3-5 pm
Try-Out: Tuesday, October 27 3-4 pm

Mascot
Clinic: Monday, October 26, 2009 3-4 pm
Try-Out: Tuesday, October 27 3-4 pm

The JV Basketball Cheerleading and Mascot season is right around the corner. After waiting anxiously for the Winter Athletic Schedule to be published I am happy to announce the try-out information.

The cheerleading squad is open to any 6th or 7th grader who has a physical turned into the office by the try-out date. On Monday at the clinic, cheer candidates will learn a chant (short sideline), a cheer (longer routine), a proper toe-touch, and a short two-eight count dance. The girls will need to practice that night for the next day's try-out. The Try-out will be held from 3-4 pm. Scores will be tabulated as quickly as possible, and they should be posted by 6 pm on Tuesday night.

The Mascot position is open to any 6th, 7th, or 8th grader who is not afraid to get a crowd going. The clinic will be held from 3-4 pm on Monday. At this time, I will explain what a mascot does and what they will be required to do for the try-out. This will include various physical reactions/emotions and a short dance.

Important Reminders...

2009-10-09T14:29:00.000-05:00

There are several things that you should be aware of:

1. All final drafts of the Personal Narrative Composition are due Tuesday. These drafts should be typed in Times New Roman, size 12 font.

2. The second book report project is due on October 23. Students are to create any type of greeting card as one character in their novel to another. There is also a writing component to this project. Students have been given a project description, rubric, and an example from which to work.

Have a delightful long weekend!

New Book Report! Due 10/23

2009-10-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

As students continue to read their new "student-choice" books, I want them to begin thinking about their new book report.

Directions: Think about the characters in your novel. Imagine that one character is sending a card to another character. What kind of card would they character send and why?

Choices of cards: Birthday, Sympathy, Thank You, Get Well, Friendship, Anniversary, Retirement, New Baby, Valentine's Day, Miss You

Task: There are TWO parts to this project.
1. Create a card to one character in your novel to another character.

2. On a separate sheet of paper, include the following:
- The title and date of publication
- In one paragraph, explain why you created the card you did.
- In one paragraph, explain the importance of this choice and how the novel
would be different if the card had actually been sent.

Tableau

2009-09-25T14:48:00.000-05:00

This week the advanced reading class demonstrated their comprehension of text using a non-traditional model known as Tableau. This is a dramatic freeze-frame performance that is motionless. Students started by selecting an important event. Then they recreated the scene in groups.

Tableau Benefits:
- Students learn how to express themselves with their body not their voice.
- Students gain confidence as they present to the class.
- Quiet students may be more willing to participate because there is no talking.
- Students will gain a better understanding of characters in a story.

Here are some of our examples:

Darzee, the bird, is singing loudly, and Rikki-Tikki is annoyed.

Nag, the evil snake, was finally shot in the bathroom...by the toilet.

Teddy and hi mother find an unconscious Rikki-Tikki in the grass on a roadside ditch.

Rikki-Tikki jumps on Nagina's back as Darzee and his wife watch in a tree.

MatheMagic!!!

2009-09-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, October 29, the 6th grade will be taking a field trip to a performance called MatheMagic! Here, a magician will use magic, comedy, and storytelling to engage us in problem solving and exploration of ancient civilizations. The cost of the performance is $7. After the performance, we will be eating lunch at a fast-food restaurant. Therefore, students will also need to bring their own money to cover the cost of their lunch.

Please make checks payable to CCSD 66 or have exact change!

Curriculum Night!

2009-09-11T07:28:00.000-05:00

A BIG thank you goes out to all of you parents who took time out of your busy lives to spend a night here at Lakeview. It was great to meet you and tell you a little bit about my classroom. After 5 years, you'd think it would get easier. However, I still suffer from nervousness. I wonder when I'll get over that?

For those parents who were not able to attend, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how I run the classroom.

I look forward to working with each and every one of you this year!

Smarty Pants Friday

2009-09-08T14:01:00.000-05:00

Smarty Pants Friday is an extra credit program that the 6th grade Language Arts and Reading department has developed as a way to encourage students to be responsible for their homework completion and organization. We're also hoping to encourage students and their parents to take an active and joint role tracking their grades.

Here's how the program works:

Every Friday, three students' names will be randomly selected. These three students will have the opportunity to earn 2 extra credit points towards the class of their choice (Language Arts or Reading). Students will be rewarded with an official Smarty Pants certificate if they can fulfill the following requirements. First, students will need to show their LA teacher(s) all of the week's homework assignments completed and organized in their folders. Additionally, students will have to be able to tell their teacher(s) their current LA and Reading grade within one point. Don't worry...we will not be asking your child to say their grade aloud (they will write their answer down).

* Students who do not have a computer at home or whose computers are broken need not worry about not being able to participate. All they have to do is meet their teacher in the morning (before HomeBase) who will give them their current grade.

Word Snapshot

2009-08-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

This past week, your child worked on a Word Snapshot. This visual assignment gives a detailed picture of a particular period in your child's life...his/her first week of middle school. Items are distinguished with a color code system, and different categories of information are selected by each individual student. I'm excited to see the final products and anticipate this as a great way to get to know your child.

All Word Snapshots are due next Monday, August 31.

Miss Coppoletta's Word Snapshot

Bridge to Terabithia

2009-05-22T14:19:00.000-05:00

On the Thursday, June 4, the 6th grade team will be showing the 2007 Walt Disney movie, Bridge to Terabithia. Below you will find a brief overview of the movie and a link to the Disney website where information about the movie is provided. If you do not want your child to participate in this activity, please contact any member of the 6th grade team.

Movie Overview:
Animation master Gabor Csupo directs his first live-action film in this adaptation of the novel The Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson, whose son David co-wrote the screenplay and serves as a producer. Jess (Josh Hutcherson) is misunderstood. Despite Jess' talents as an artist, the school bullies pick on him, his father (Robert Patrick) belittles his dreams, and his four sisters invade his space in the family's cramped house. Jess' bleak world changes when Leslie (Annasophia Robb) moves into the house next door. Bright, creative and outspoken, Leslie also finds herself an outsider in their school. Soon the two are thick as thieves, spending their after school hours exploring the woods beyond their backyards and on the others side of a creek, which Leslie deems the kingdom of Terabithia. Here, they create their own magical world, complete with a Dark Master and his minions, dragonfly soldiers, giant trolls and a tree house fortress. In Terabithia, the two friends let their imaginations run wild and control their destiny, far away from school bullies and the pressures of adolescence.

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/liveaction/bridgetoterabithia/

The Home-stretch...

2009-05-17T08:29:00.000-05:00

Now that the research is over, students are typing an outline that they'll use when they give their speech. Next on the agenda is creating a bibliography and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!

Important dates:
May 22nd- Brainstorm Prop and Visual Aid Ideas & Rehearse
May 26th -Rehearse, Outline & Bibliography Due
May 27th & 28th - Presentations

In reading, we've been comparing different forms of fiction including realistic, fantasy, and science in the Literature books.

Literature Circles Update

2009-04-30T14:53:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Miss Coppoletta & Mrs. Mixon started literature circles in the classroom.
Each student was put into a group and given a variety of tasks to complete while reading. These tasks require students to pay close attention while reading in order to highlight specific parts of the text. They are responsible for creating a discussion around these particular tasks during their group meetings.

When the groups meet to discuss the chapters, the tasks completed are used as a guide for their discussion. As we've seen recently, students are starting to have true, deep discussions about the text, rather than superficial responses to questions. For example, students are connecting personally, making inferences, and critiquing their novel studies.

We've asked the students to reflect on themselves as well as the group after each meeting. Overall, we've had very positive feedback on this process. We hope to implement literature circles in the beginning of next year with the new 6th graders.

Literature Circles

2009-04-17T11:00:00.000-05:00

Literature circles are small temporary groups of students who read the same book. These groups meet on a regular, predictable schedule to discuss their reading. The discussion topics come from students, who use written or drawn notes and questions to guide both their reading and discussion. The aim of the meetings is to be an open, natural conversation about books, so personal connections, digressions, and open-ended questions are welcome! I will serve only as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor. Therefore, the success of the discussion is truly based on students preparation for and participation in the meetings. Students will be evaluated by my observation and a self-evaluation. When students have finished their books, they will share with the class themes, summaries, and highlights from their discussions in a creative way.

Ask your student about their experience thus far!

4th Period Reading...Interviews were a GREAT success!

2009-04-17T07:19:00.000-05:00

An excited group after having completed our interviews!

Mrs. Mixon and I are so proud of our 4th period reading students and their delivery of the biography project. Students were required selected a peer-partner and person to study. Each pair read a different biography about the same person and took Cornell Notes to record important information. The different perspectives provided an abundance of information from which students turned into creative interviews – one student taking the role of the person discussed in their biography, while the other student became an interviewer. Overall, students demonstrated an ENORMOUS amount of knowledge and creativity in their interviews.

Thank you to all parents who joined the class and observed the presentations!

Compare & Contrast

2009-03-19T14:44:00.000-05:00

Today, we finished our grammar unit on capitalization and punctuation. Next week we learn how to write a Compare-and-Contrast composition.

Here is a list of guidelines to remember when writing a compare-contrast composition:

- Choose two subjects you can compare and contrast easily.
- Write an engaging introduction that names your two subjects.
- Compare and contrast corresponding details for each subject.
- Select a method of organization, and stick to it from beginning to end.
- Use topic sentences to state the main idea of paragraphs.
- Use transitional words and phrases to compare and contrast.
- Write a conclusion that sums up your main ideas in a satisfying way.

Students with have freedom to select their own topic. When they complete their composition, students will present to the class. I am very excited to hear what students come up with.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

2009-03-12T10:41:00.000-05:00

Fun Facts:

- The shamrock, a symbol of Ireland and registered trademark of the Republic of Ireland.

- The shamrock, which has three leaves, is often confused with the four-leaf clover. The four- leaf clover is an uncommon variation of the common three-leaf clover. Traditionally it is a common activity for children to look for these and it is considered good luck to find one

- The word shamrock comes from the Irish word seamróg or seamair óg, meaning "little clover".

- The tradition of wearing Shamrock on Saint Patrick's Day can be traced back to the early 1700s.

- For good luck, it's usually included in the bouquet of an Irish bride, and also in the boutonniere of the groom.

- In the 19th century it became a symbol of rebellion and began to be strongly associated with Irish identity. Apparently anyone wearing it risked death by hanging. People even ate the shamrock in times of famine.

Tableau Vivant

2009-03-06T07:10:00.000-06:00

We can all breathe a sigh of relief as ISAT assessment week comes to a close. It's a taxing job - sitting for 120 minutes with only a short 10 minute break - so I must commend my students for getting through the week.

With the ISAT test in mind, the 6th grade Language Arts and Reading team worked hard to design a week of meaningful instruction that allowed students the opportunity to “get up and move”, to be creative, and to have fun. Recommended by Mrs. Mixon, students created group tableaux as an engaging way to prove reading comprehension. Tableau vivant (plural: tableaux vivants) is French for "living picture." The term describes a dramatic activity where students are asked to physically construct a scene from literature through body placement and facial expressions. Student groups could choose their favorite scene, one they thought was particularly significant, or one they felt a connection to. They worked in class to construct their tableaux, and then presented to the class. These “freeze frames” invite the audience to identify the scene, its importance, and dissect the meaning behind the poses chosen. As you can see, demonstrating reading comprehension has never been SO much fun!

Ashputtle cries near her dying mother as her father and future step-mother plan their future together.

Ashputtle is surprised to discover a bird deliver a beautiful golden dress near the tree by her mother's grave.

In embarrassment, the princess runs up the stairs and away from King Thrushbeard.

The princess rejects King Thrushbeard as the King sits in his throne in shock

King Thrushbeard and the princess get married by the priest.

The princess's earthenware gets destroyed by a hussar

King Thrushbeard kicks the princess out of the palace!

Ready for ISAT Writing!

2009-02-24T14:18:00.001-06:00

You might have noticed the lack of LA homework over the past few weeks. This is a direct result of the AMAZING work your child has been engaged in during our classroom time. Moreover, after months of preparation and practice, I think I can speak for all of the sixth grade Language Arts teachers when I confidently state:

Our students are ready for the ISAT writing assessment!

Two weeks ago we started our review of the persuasive writing format. Students answered a timed persuasive prompt in class. I personally conferenced with EVERY student on the strengths and needs (if there were any) of their writing. Last week we engaged in the same activity for narrative writing. I must say that I was most impressed with students' story telling ability...I had goose bumps while reading many narratives. This week, your child has assumed the role of “teacher”. They have been/will be grading persuasive and narrative sample answers from actual 6th graders. I was thrilled to hear the evaluative discourse of students as they assessed the strengths and needs of the persuasive student samples today. I look forward to hearing what your child has to say about the narrative student samples on Friday!

Maniac Magee Final Project

2009-02-18T07:11:00.000-06:00

Sadly, we have completed reading the novel Maniac Magee. I can state with confidence the fact that my students thoroughly enjoyed the book. Instead of a traditional test, I am giving students a theme-based project. This project will assess students comprehension of the novel as well as their synthesis of a specific theme throughout the story. Below, please find a description of the final project.

Step 1:
Pick one theme from the story Maniac Magee (friendship, family, education, racism, home). Select 4 events that illustrate this theme and neatly draw a colored picture of each scene.

Step 2:
Write a brief paragraph proving how each event shows your theme.

This project will be due on Friday February 20

The Giver Final Project options

2009-02-18T07:05:00.000-06:00

Select one of the following options. On the attached rubric, write your name and the project you pick. This must be turned in with your project!

Create a model of the village of Sameness. This must be colorful, 3 dimensional, and include key places in the village: Jonas's family dwelling, the Auditorium for the Ceremonies, the river, the Annex, and any other places that you believe are important (ie. House of Old, Nurturing Center).
Other option: Create a model of the inside of one of the rooms in Sameness (i.e. The Receiver's/Giver's room, the “releasing room, ect.)
Writing portion: Pick one of these key places and write 2 paragraphs about it. 1st paragraph: explain why this place is important (not just that the characters live there). 2nd paragraph: Explain how you think the story would be different if the place did not exist.

Create an advertisement to visit Sameness. This must mimic a real magazine or newspaper ad. It must include at least one colored picture (hand-drawn), pricing, and a travel company name.
Writing Portion: In your ad, write two paragraphs. Handwriting is acceptable IF it is NEAT! Explain why Sameness would be a great place to visit.

Create a new book cover for The Giver. This must include the title, author, and a hand-drawn picture that hints to some secret in the story.
Writing portion: Part #1: The back cover must give a general summary (that doesn't give anything away) about the book. Part #2: Create three positive book reviews that would entice people to buy the novel.

Write a letter to Lois Lowry. This must follow the standard formal letter guidelines found in your English textbook. Explain what your enjoyed about The Giver. Mention anything that surprised you. Ask any questions that you have left over.

Write a new or alternate ending for The Giver.
Did you feel letdown by the way the story ended? Here's your chance to add on to or change the conclusion to The Giver.

Create a timeline of important events in The Giver. Include important people, places, and the impact of each event.
Writing portion: Select one important theme from the novel (friendship, choices, feelings, ect) and explain how that theme is present through three of the events on your timeline.

Smiley Face Tricks

2009-02-06T07:05:00.000-06:00

Last week, Miss Gabriel and I went to the most amazing conference. The topic was on how to make writing fun while increasing student's writing scores. We had so much fun and were so completely inspired by the presenter, Mary Ledbetter, that we decided to incorporate some of her strategies into our curriculum immediately. You may have seen you child write - more than usual - this week. Have you read any of their work? Our students responded positively to Ledbetter's Smiley Face Tricks.

The following tricks will make your writing come alive with your personal VOICE...

Hyphenated Modifiers – describes a noun, pronoun, verb, or adjective with a series of words “glued” together with hyphens

Example: The teacher shot the class a I-know-this-test-is-going-to-stump-you-all look, as she passed out the quiz.

Magic Three – three groups of words, separated by commas. Each group has its own modifiers. Make sure ALL verbs are in the same tense!

Example: I was scared! My palms became sticky and wet, my back tingled with fear, and my body began to feel weak and cold.

Figurative Language – using comparisons can “spice up” our writing
1. Simile: a comparison using like or as
2. Metaphor: a comparison of two seemly unlike things (not using like or as)
3. Personification: giving human qualities to something inhuman
4. Hyperbole: using an exaggeration that is not totally true, but exaggerates the truth

Example: She was as embarrassed as a kid tripping on the first day of school. She nearly died when the desk walked right in front of her.

Specific Details – instead of vague descriptions, use sensory details to help the reader visualize the topic

Example: The crowd chanted “Mary” loudly as she walked hesitantly towards the table of pies. She regretted buying a ticket to pie Mrs. Mixon, but it was too late now! She was surprised by how cold the pie tin felt on her trembling hands...

Repetition for Effect – repeat specifically chosen words or phrases to make a point, or to stress certain ideas for readers.

Example: I hate writer's block! I can't think of anything to write. I can't come up with words for this stupid assignment. I can't create anything new. I can't, and so I won't!

Humor – making your writing funny can turn a boring paper into something colorful.

Example: Talking to my kid brother is like talking to a wall. It's pointless! No matter how hard I try, he still looks like I'm speaking a foreign language. He sits there, picking his nose, as if I'm not even there.

Coppoletta 2/2

2009-02-02T13:49:00.000-06:00

LA: Study for Adverbs test

R: Maniac Impact 1/2 sheet

ALA: Study for Adverbs test

AR: Read ch. 15-16

Novel Studies

2009-01-30T13:39:00.000-06:00

Maniac Magee Update

Students just began Part II of Maniac Magee. I am SO proud of how many are picking out examples of figurative language in the story. Feel free to ask students about Maniac. There are many powerful themes illustrated throughout the novel. Ask your child how friendship, family, racism, and naivety are used in the book.

The Giver Update

Students are coming upon the turning point in The Giver. We've had some great conversations about the power of government, friendship, and choices. I look forward to discussing their reactions to the upcoming events!

January 16, 2009

2009-01-16T14:10:00.001-06:00

Special Alert!

Just a friendly reminder that all Accelerated Reader #2 quizzes are due January 23. I have updated my gradebook to reflect the AR quizzes that have been turned in to me as of 1/16/09. Please feel free to check your child's grades. If there is no grade entered, that means a quiz has not been turned in yet.

~ Happy Reading ~

INTERPRETATION!

2009-01-09T13:33:00.001-06:00

After reviewing almost all of the persuasive outlines, I have noticed that the interpretation section still seems to be of great challenge! In an effort to arm parents with information that will enable "at-home help", I wanted to post some thoughts about how to write an interpretation...

1. EXPLAIN - an interpretation comes right after a piece of evidence. The first step to interpretation is to EXPLAIN that piece of evidence. Ask yourself, "How does this piece of evidence support my reason?".

2. EXTEND - the second part of an interpretation is to extend upon that idea. Ask yourself, "So what?" Add more information (EXTEND) to this line of thought to strengthen your essay.

Example:

Another reason that smoking should be banned is because it is unhealthy. For example, smoking has been linked to lung cancer. People who have lung cancer have limited abilities. This means that a person with lung cancer may not be able to play a sport or even walk up and down their stairs without losing their breath. This could cause people to become inactive and more unhealthy.

New Novel Studies!

2009-01-08T08:04:00.000-06:00

I am excited to announce our new novel studies...

Reading:

Maniac Magee is a very funny, sometimes touching, story of Jeffrey Lionel "Maniac" Magee, a young man who is a legend in his youth. He performs phenomenal athletic feats, yet he shows wisdom and insight far greater than are normal for his age. The book is a combination of realistic fiction, humor, folklore, and even a little legend. This novel was penned by acclaimed author Jerry Spinelli. The major lessons are about race, prejudice, and the importance of family and friends. These themes are presented in a way that is easy for kids to understand and apply...making a larger impact on younger minds.

Advanced Reading:

The Giver, one of my all time favorite books, will be our next study. Lois Lowry's The Giver tells the story of Jonas, who lives in a futuristic society and who, until the age of twelve, has led a peaceful and normal, albeit regulated, life. There is no prejudice, since everyone looks and acts basically the same, and there is very little competition. Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Jonas will receive the truth with his new job, and we learn that Jonas' world is not so perfect after all!

My book reviews!

2008-12-17T07:35:00.000-06:00

Wow...is it cold and snowy outside! I've got an idea for an activity that will keep you warm:

snuggle up with a blanket and a good book!

In fact, reading will not only keep you busy during these cold winter months, but also, three Rebecca Caudill (RC) books need to be read in the coming months. I'm reading the selections too. So far, I have devoured three books and am well into my fourth.

The first RC I read was Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters, by Leslet Blume. Cornelia is a adolescent girl whose mother is a famous concert pianist away playing in foreign countries. Cornelia loves dictionaries and has a complex vocabulary, which she uses as a defense mechanism to aggravate the people around her. When an interesting neighbor moves next door, Cornelia begins to “take her walls down” and improve her relationship with her mother. I recommend this book to boys and girls...especially students who love learning new and challenging words.

The second RC book that I finished was Shug (pronounced like an abbreviated sugar), by Jenny Han. In this story Annemarie Wilcox, Shug, is coming to terms with becoming a jr. high school student. She feels like her teachers don't like her, boys don't notice her, her parents relationship is a mess, and she is concerned about how her relationship with her closest friends is changing...for the worst. This is a great book for middle school girls, who can probably relate to many of the challenges Shug faces.

The third RC novel that I have completed is A Drowned Maiden's Hair, by Laura Amy Schlitz . Maud Flynn was the worst behaved girl at her orphanage, and the least likely to get adopted. But as luck would have it, Maud was adopted by the Hawthorn sisters: Judith, Victoria and Hyacinth. What Maud doesn't know is that the sisters were just using her for their secret family business, not for love. This book was a great mystery!

I am currently reading Gossamer by Lois Lowry. I look forward to reading Rules, by Cynthia Lord; Alabama Moon, by Watt Key; The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick...and more. Stay tuned for more teacher book reviews!

Poetry Unit Information

2008-12-08T13:28:00.000-06:00

During the month of December, we will be focusing on reading and writing different styles of poetry. Everyday we will be introduced to a different type of poem. We will review the rules and definition of each type together and practice writing them as a class. Independently, students will write at least one poem for each type we study. Daily, students will be asked to share their poems. Everyone is expected to share at least one poem. At the end of the unit, students will type out each poem and construct a book of poetry.

Poem Unit Agenda

Type of Poem Required # of Poems Date Taught
Clerihew 3 Tues 12/9
Diamante 2 Wed 12/10
Couplets 2 (3 couplet) Thurs 12/11
Definition 1 Fri 12/12
Haiku 2 Mon 12/15
Hexaduad 2 Tues 12/16
Limerick 2-3 Wed 12/17
Onomatopoeia 5-7 sentence paragraph Thurs 12/18
Poetic Cryptogram 1-2 (not typed) Fri 12/19
IMC Type Mon-Wed 1/5-1/7

Rebecca Caudill Update

2008-12-08T12:44:00.000-06:00

Hello Parents and Students,

This is just a friendly reminder regarding the upcoming Rebecca Caudill AR quiz due dates. I did a quick spot check to see where students were in their books today in class. I am happy to report that most students are well into their first novel, if not already on to their second and even third!
Please remember that once a student finishes his/her book, he/she should promptly take the AR quiz. The quizzes can be turned in early. However, they will be marked as “late” if they are turned in after the due date.

Rebecca Caudill AR quiz # 1 – Due 12/19
Rebecca Caudill AR quiz # 2 – Due 1/23
Rebecca Caudill AR quiz # 3 – Due 2/13

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T07:10:00.000-06:00

Sometimes it seems like the only purpose of Thanksgiving is to eat turkey, watch football, and, oh yeah, kick off the Christmas shopping season. Sometimes people even call Thanksgiving “Turkey Day.” Thanksgiving is so much more than this, though! Thanksgiving is all about recognizing all we have to be thankful for and spending time with the people we love the most. When I was little, my twin sister and I always argued about which holiday was better. My answer has always been Thanksgiving, while hers was Christmas. Now that we're older we realize that it's not about the gifts or the food, but rather it's about coming together as a family. I hope that your families have a wonderful Thanksgiving and celebrate the gifts you have!

End of First Trimester

2008-11-21T23:24:00.000-06:00

I can't believe that the first trimester is officially over. It seems not so long ago, that I was staring into the eyes of many nervous, new 6th graders. I applaud the transition that your sons and daughters have made. Middle school is very different from elementary school. We expect our students to begin taking on more responsibilities as a way to prepare them for 7th grade, 8th grade, and eventually high school.

I look forward to seeing my students continue to mature and become responsible, independent, and life-long learners!