Manzanar: an end to Day One

Thus ends another wonderful day of learning on a 6th grade field trip. Today we visited Manzanar relocation center, located near Lone Pine, CA. Today we explored the relocation center and saw the result of how one foolish decision can affect generations of people. Lives were turned upside down overnight simply out of fear, prejudice and ignorance. People like us caused these things to transpire, and it is our duty to protect future generations from being put in or causing such things to happen. It starts small; an offhand comment, a silly prank, and can become something much more harmful. Think about it. How can you be the bigger person? The challenge is to set an example and show the rest of the school that although you are older, you still want to love and respect them. Please think about it.

On the road....

2 hours and counting!

Manzanar trip: day one

Aaaand we're off! On another 6th grade adventure. There will be daily/ nightly posts as to what our location is and a summary of the events that the students have been a part of. Please pray for traveling mercies for us on our trip. Thank you!!!

Circus Day!

Tomorrow is CIRCUS DAY!!! Don't forget to wear your best circus-themed outfit!  Popular costume ideas: Clowns, ringmaster, circus animals, etc.  Everyone must participate! Please feel free to ask me if you need any costume ideas. :)

Raffle Prizes needed!

The harvest carnival is only a few weeks away, and we are still in need of Raffle prizes for our carnival booth!!!! Please stop by the school to donate items or pick up letters to give to businesses.

Thank you for your help!!!

Disneyland Field trip 9/29

Sooo excited for Disneyland!

We love learning!

Yay Power of Ideas!

Team building excercise

Kind of dangerous...

Don't peek!

Chris and Kris

Our group

The castle

Souvenirs

On the way home

Car Wash Sign-Ups!

We want YOU...to help out!

     Hello! Just a friendly reminder from your favorite 6th grade teacher that we will be having a car wash on October 8th from 8 am to 2 pm.  Please sign up for a time slot! We still have many available times left, so please feel free to drop by the school and sign up.  A needed supplies list for the Car wash will be posted shortly.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the school or stop by.  The students were sent home with carwash tickets yesterday afternoon.  Please if you need any more, please let us know.  It will be at Highland Tires, located on 2536 Highland Ave in Highland, CA 92346

Summer Reading Club: Field Trip Photos!

     Here is a little bit of what the students saw on the reading field trip yesterday!  Thank you to all of the parents who drove, and thank you to those students who came!  It was a blessing to be involved with the Summer Reading Club, and I look forward to many more summers of fun!  More is to come in the way of photos, however this is just a quick slideshow of what wondrous things we saw yesterday.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

     This story is told through the use of words and pictures.  Here is the movie trailer of the novel we are reading in class.  Here are a few review questions you can ask yourself as we read aloud:

• This novel has almost as many pictures in it as words. How did the art affect your experience of reading the book?
• How is the book set like a movie, or how does it remind you of movies?
• What was the most surprising thing so far in the story?
• The story takes place in Paris in the 1930s. Do you think this story could have taken place somewhere else or at another time, and still have the same effect? If so where, when and why?
• How are machines and technology important in this story?
• Why was the notebook so important to Hugo?

Happy reading!

6th Grade Book Club

     What better way is there to start learning to love books?  This year along with the normal reading curriculum, we will be starting many exciting mew things in the category of reading. There will be a sign-up sheet posted downstairs for any eager 6th grader who loves books and wants to read! The Book Club will meet once a month during lunch and talk about the books we have read, what we liked about them, etc.    Please think about which book you would like to read, and bring it to the next meeting!  Meeting times will usually be on the last Friday of the month.


*More information to follow. Sign-up sheet to be posted by Friday*

September Food Drive: Top Ramen

Let's make a difference!

     DRCS would like to take action against hunger this year.  Many families in our community go hungry every day.  We hope to alleviate that pain and give back to our community.  This month we will be starting a food drive to send to those families in need.  The Church and school will be collecting Top Ramen in the month of September.  The class that collects the most food per month will receive a special prize.  We can begin collecting food as early as Tuesday, September 6th.  Please feel free to drop your items by at anytime during school hours.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.  
     Thank you for taking the time to give back to the community!  

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.

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!

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 sentence—from 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.

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?

Jacob Have I Loved: Discussion Questions

The cottage on Rass Island

In the novel  Jacob Have I Loved, Louise is struggling with her faith while learning more about herself as she battles self-esteem issues, jealousy, broken friendships, and the normal feelings that comes with growing up. 

1.    How do these trials affect her relationships with others?

2.   In what ways can you learn from her struggles and apply them to your life as a Christian?

3.   Think About It: Although Caroline is considered to be the artist in the Bradshaw family, Louise is described as the sensitive one. In contrast, Caroline is less likely to observe and question her environment. What might be some reasons for this?

4.   Compare/Contrast: What are some disadvantages of Louise being viewed as the stronger sister as she is growing up?  What are some advantages?

Incoming Student Supplies List

Hello!  You should have received a letter detailing the list of supplies that your student will need for the upcoming year.  Please feel free to bring these supplies to orientation on Thursday, September 1^st, at 7:00 pm:

     1.      New International Version Bible (Other versions are acceptable)

     2.      Webster’s Dictionary & Thesaurus (Desk Size)

     3.      Two 1-Inch Three Ring Binders

     4.      One 2-Inch Binder (For homework)

     5.      Two packages (200 sheets) of college ruled notebook paper

     6.      Three sets of 5-tab dividers

     7.      One spiral notebook to journal in. (80 sheets)

     8.      One package of 10-12 plain wooden plain pencils (Will be shared with the class)

     9.      Backpack

   10.  Pencil Box

   11.  Pencil sharpener (To keep in your desk)

   12.  Red ball-point pens (2-3)

   13.  Two large erasers

   14.  Package of Markers

   15.  Colored Pencils

   16.  Student Scissors

   17.  One bottle of glue

   18.  Two boxes of tissues

   19.  Bottle of Anti-bacterial gel

   20.  Compass and Protractor

   21.  Ruler

   22.  One package of Dry-Erase markers (Will be shared with the class)

Some of these supplies will need to be replenished periodically throughout the year.

 If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at the school.

A Wrinkle In Time: Tesser-what?

While watching this video, imagine yourself at the center of the cube.   If this were really happening, you would be hurtling through time and space at nearly the speed of light.  This is a digital version of what Mathematicians think the Wrinkle in Time portal would look like.   In the novel, the concept of a 'tesseract' is something like what in science-fiction is called a wormhole; a kind of portal that creates an opening through space and time and from one place to another.  This is how the three Mrs. W's are able to take the children to rescue their father, and how their father first finds himself trapped on a foreign planet.

1. What are the most important lessons that Meg learns over the course of the novel?
2. In what ways does Camazotz resemble Meg's neighborhood on Earth?
3. How are Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which distinguished from one another?
4. SPOILER ALERT: Why do you think the author  represents IT as a large disembodied brain? 
5. Think About It:Describe what makes Charles Wallace so extraordinary. How do these traits both hurt and help him on Camazotz?

Extra Credit Question: Who says this quote in the novel?

"God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty...."

20,000 Leagues:Novel Notes

          In the novel, Captain Nemo repeatedly mentions that he is seeking revenge. You as the  reader must consider that while Nemo’s violence seems senseless and evil, he is not any different from the rest of humanity when we stray away from God.   He has good moments and seems to not be entirely evil; he makes large donations to people in need, and comes to the aid of those he believes are worthy.Could Nemo's good intentions redeem his evil ways?  

Discussion Starters:

1. What is your impression of Nemo so far in the novel?

2. What do you think happened to the Nautilus after the incident with the whirlpool? If it did not survive, how might the end have been for Captain Nemo? If it did, where did he go next?

3. Making Connections: Imagine yourself as one of the crewmen. How did you meet Nemo? Why would you want to give up your life to serve on the Nautilus? Do you miss the land? 

4. What do you think happened to Aronnax, Conseil and Land when the voyage was through? Did Land ever return to sea? Did Aronnax become rich and famous? Did Conseil continue to be a servant?

5. Think About it:  The use of the Nautilus  i an example of how technology can be used for good or for evil.  If you were to invent something, what would it be, and how would you use it?  Would you use it to help others?

The Power of Words

Words are meant to be used.  It is how we use them that makes all the difference.  Take a look at this video clip and reflect a moment on how two phrases can have the same meaning, but are not equal in power.

"I wrote the same... 

but in different words."

Pride and Prejudice: A glimpse into the era

In Jane Austen's day,  families of the Gentry, or the noble class, usually had breakfast around ten o'clock in the morning.  Dinner would be served around 4 or 5 in the afternoon, and Supper usually followed at ten in the evening.  Towards the end of Austen's life, the Supper hour gradually became later and later so that the Gentry eventually began serving a Lunch in the middle of the day, and had their Dinner later in the evening.  A formal dinner at such a large house such as Pemberley usually included two main courses and one dessert course.  Depending on the hosts, one course could have up to 25 separate dishes; whatever would please even the most eccentric of guests. After dessert, the ladies would usually withdraw into drawing rooms, and the men would stay in the banquet hall and discuss assorted matters.  Later, the men would join the ladies for tea and cakes before the night was out.

Discussion starters:

1. What is your impression of Elizabeth so far in the novel?
2. How would you describe Elizabeth's relationship with her parents?
3. Literary Concept: The term dramatic irony refers to the contrast between what a character knows, and what the reader knows.  Try to find an example of dramatic irony in your first few chapters.  How did this irony affect your opinion of the characters?
4. Making Connections: How does your eating schedule compare to those in the novel?  Try to keep track of what you eat and at what time.  Do you think Elizabeth ate the same way you do? What do you think her favorite food was?

How to read a book

Here are some helpful tips for readers who are having a hard time with their story.  Remember, every great architect,  artist, musician, or writer all began their masterpieces with one thing: An idea.  The idea is what needs nurturing and care to grow into something more.  Everything in life that is important will take time.  The key is to be patient and work at your task diligently, and at a pace that will suit you.  We read because we want to learn, and as we learn we fall more in love with reading.  Remember to take your time!!  Books are meant to be enjoyed.  So have fun!

Pride and Prejudice: Spark Notes!

Need some extra help?  Never fear!  Your Sparks Notes are here! The students that have chosen to read Pride & Prejudice will have this book available for them at the school.  I will have them in the 6th grade classroom, and students and/or parents are more than welcome to come and pick them up.  This book is designed to supplement the novel by explaining certain main events, themes, and motifs that might seem obscure to the younger reader.  It also comes with a glossary of terms and a quiz section to test your student's comprehension.   I will be calling home to remind the students that have taken Pride & Prejudice to come and pick up their Spark Notes.  Please feel free to come and pick them up at your earliest convenience!

Summer Reading: A Brief Overview

Jacob Have I Loved- Katherine Patterson: With wry humor, Sara Louise recalls her turbulent adolescence on Rass Island and her intense jealousy of her own twin sister, Caroline. Sara was the youngest of the two sisters, and has always resented being in her older, prettier sister’s shadow. However, Sara soon discovers her own strengths, and begins to learn more about herself and how she can help others.

A Wrinkle In Time- Madeline L’Enlge: Meg's father mysteriously disappears after experimenting with the fifth dimension of time travel. Meg is determined to bring him home, yet soon discovers this is task is more then she could ever have realized. Meg and her friends must outwit the forces of evil to save their world on this heart-pounding journey through space and time.

20000 Leagues Under the Sea- Jules Verne: Dr. Aronnax and his colleagues embark on an expedition to hunt down a vicious sea monster, who they believe is responsible for the attacks on their ships. Soon they are only to discover the creature is not a giant sea monster, but instead the Nautilus, a remarkable submarine built by the mysterious Captain Nemo. Together Nemo and Aronnax explore the seafaring marvels and forge through the underwater wilderness amongst the ruins of Atlantis. But Captain Nemo's vengeful nature begins to show, and the captives must fight their way to freedom.

The Last Unicorn- Peter S. Beagle: Hidden away in her own sanctuary, the unicorn has little cares for the world due to her magic and immortality. However, when she hears that she might be the only unicorn left in the world, she sets out on a journey to see if there is any of her kind left. After being captured by a circus freak show, and tossed into a series of hilarious events that teach her the true meaning of friendship.  The unicorn and her new-found friends head out on a quest that will take them into the dangerous realms of the unknown. It will be here that the last unicorn will have to face her nemesis, the Red Bull, in order to set free the rest of her kind.

Pride and Prejudice-Jane Austen: “It is very often nothing, but our own vanity that deceives us.”  Possibly one of the greatest stories of all time.  When Elizabeth Bennet meets the handsome Mr.  Fitzwilliam Darcy, she immediately dislikes him.  He seems proud, unfriendly, and disagreeable.  But, as their lives become intertwined in an unexpected adventure, she finds herself captivated by the very person she swore she could never love.  Can Elizabeth set aside her own pride long enough to see William for who he really is?  

Dear Parents: Just a note to say......

So very much!!  It has been a privilege to teach your students over the past few months.   Thank you for instilling in your children the desire to learn, the courage to stand up for what is right and the passion to live each and every day for Jesus.  Although we teachers try our best, this simply would not have been possible without wonderful parents and family like you.  Thank you for all you do, and continue to do for your children every day.  God bless!!

"I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. "

Psalm 16:8