Welcome Note

Welcome to the 6th Grade Page! Each post below pertains to something the class is currently working on, or something they will be learning about within the week. Homework for the week will be posted on or before every Monday.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Summer Reading Club Field Trip

Are you as excited as I am?
          The Summer Reading Club field trip has been decided!!  We will be going Whale Watching on Thursday, September 15th!  If you haven't already done so, please feel free to turn in your summer projects at any time.  We would like to take as many students as possible.  Do not be discouraged!  Please continue to work on those projects and turn them into the front office.

Whale Watching Tour List of What To Bring With You

★Hat
★Sunglasses
★Sunscreen
★Binoculars (optional)
 
★Camera
★Extra batteries (if your camera batteries are not re-chargeable)
★Water Bottle (no glass bottles please)
★Snacks
★Wear flat shoes with a rubber bottom ( preferably tennis shoes)
★Jacket or Windbreaker
★Gloves (optional)
Costs:
Students: FREE!!!
Adults: $11.00
Please bring money for lunch and/or souvenirs!
We will NEED drivers! Please! You can contact the front office to volunteer driving services.  Thank you!  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the school office.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Modge Podge: Morals

           The fall quarter is almost here, and the teachers have been working so hard at getting the classrooms ready for this next school year.  Here is a glimpse of some of the decorations you will get to see and help contribute to during 6th grade.  We are starting something new called the 'Morals Wall'.  It will be where we display the life lessons learned by the characters in the books we read and how these lessons will contribute to our daily lives as we learn from them.  Take a look!
Step One: Get Organized!
Step Two: Cut and Paste
Step Three: Paint and Decorate!


Come see the finished board and lovingly decorated classroom at Orientation!  I look forward to seeing each of you then.  Have a blessed day!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The 7+1 Habits of Exceptional Writers

          Becoming an exceptional writer will take time and a sincere effort.  Here are the 7 Habits that I believe contribute to making exceptional writers.  Writing is a gift, and using this gift effectively will be one of the many things we will work on throughout the year.  

1. Begin with one, strong idea—and stick to it.You can make yourself a better writer almost immediately by avoiding the biggest mistake people make: They try to cram too much into their writing.  Less is more!  Base your writing on a single, strong and interesting idea.
2. Write about what you know.Ideally, the people who read your work should learn something from that experience. Verify the facts you use.  When you have to write about something you don't have all of the facts for, research until you are the expert.
3. Make an outline.Most 'bad' writing happens because not enough thought was put into the creation. Avoid this all together by making a basic outline first. This will help you stay on track and most importantly, on topic.
4. State your main idea in your first paragraph. If you have something important to say, make sure you say it at the beginning in your thesis statement. Support it with specifics information and conclude with a re-stating of your original thesis.
5. Remember: LESS IS MORE.A smaller, simpler word will serve you better than some fantastic synonym. The primary purpose of writing is not to impress: it is to communicate. Wherever you can, use the simplest, clearest words possible, and cut out unnecessary words and phrases.
6. Clean up your work.Here are three techniques you can use polish your work:
    • "Proofread every sentencefrom the top to the bottom, then to the bottom up.  The initial proofread will help you find many errors.  The second time, read your work the opposite way.  Start with the last sentence and work backwards. You’re more likely to catch errors this way, because when you’re reading backwards it is much more difficult for your eye to jump ahead. Make sure you do this sentence by sentence, or it will not make any sense.
    • Put it away for a day.  When you come back to your writing later, you can see it with fresh eyes and notice things you never saw before such as typing errors or Over-wordy sentences. 
    • Read your piece out loud.  If you find yourself catching your breath several times, your sentences are too long. CUT AND TRIM. If some of the phrases or sentences sound awkward, or sound strange to say out loud, REVISE until they sound right."
7.  Read good writing.The books and magazines you read influence your writing much more than you think. If you would like to improve your writing skills,simply start by read well-written novels or stories.  I can give you many excellent titles. You will see the difference in your writing style almost immediately. 


          In standard educational practices, they will stop here and explain how important writing is for someone on a personal level, and how it can help them in the future.  This is quite true. However,   I believe that the cultivation of writing on only the personal level is thinking too small.  That being said,  I felt it necessary to add my +1 to this list:


 7+1. Glorify the Lord. Writing is a gift from God.  It would be inconsiderate to out Lord and Savior if we did not give him the credit.  He inspires us and is the reason for our very existence, let alone our talents as writers.  The last habit of an exceptional writer is to acknowledge this.  No list would be complete without Him.  It is then the writer's responsibility to use that gift to glorify His kingdom.  This will certainly not happen overnight, yet this accomplishment is quite within our grasp!  Let us strive to become exceptional writers for God.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Last Unicorn: Sea of Metaphors

The Last Unicorn
"Heroes know that things must happen when it is time for them to happen. A quest may not simply be abandoned; unicorns may go unrescued for a long time, but not forever; a happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story."
 -Prince Lir from The Last Unicorn
     
          In the novel The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, we are presented with no ordinary fairy tale.  The unique use of description and metaphor is what gives this story its unique and eerie feel. The magical unicorn discovers that as time passed, she is now the last of her kind. As a last hope to find the truth, she journeys in search for other unicorns. Unicorns are normally portrayed as very peaceful and innocent animals, but Beagle gives the unicorn of his story a bolder and prideful manner. In the novel many of the other beings become frightened at the unicorn's presence, simply because she is so unique and was thought only to exist in legend.  

Discussion Questions:
1. Serious Significance: "Eyes" are mentioned repeatedly throughout the novel, especially when relating to the meaning of their color.  What significance do you think 'eyes' have in this story??

 2. Think About it:Does immortality become more meaningful when it requires different characteristics?

3. Why can't the unicorn weep once she becomes immortal again? Does Beagle think one can exist as an immortal and still feel human emotions?