Period 5 & 6

Since we will not have class from Thursday until Tuesday, please read Romeo and Juliet Act II (the whole thing) before class on Tuesday. Make sure you make notes (in book if yours, on sticky notes if not) about your reading. We will talk about Act II and start reading Act III on Tuesday.

Summer Reading

Okay...this is what I can remember for my summer list. I meant to keep better track, but it was hard. I also listened to MANY books on CD. I can't remember all of those!
City of Bones - Cassandra Clare (YA) - fantasy  REREAD (for 4th book of series)
The Realms of the Gods - Tammora Pierce  - fantasy
The Son of Neptune - Rick Riordan - fantasy
                        Short Review: This was interesting because of the Roman point of view. It was                  WAY more action than character.
The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Stewart - mystery
                        Short Review: A good book with action and mystery...great for kids!
Leviathan - Scott Westerfield - science fiction
                        Short Review: A great book for "alternate history" of WWI. A little more YA, but lots of action!
City of Fallen Angels - Cassandra Clare (YA) - fantasy
Behemoth - Scott Westerfield - mystery
                       Book 2 of Leviathan series
The 13th Princess - Diane Zahler - fantasy
100 Cupboards - N.D. Wilson - fantasy
How I Survived Being a Girl - Wendelin Van Draanen - realistic fiction
                       Short Review: HYSTERICAL!
Ashes, Ashes - Jo Treggari - science fiction
The Demon King - Cinda Williams Chima - fantasy
The Man Who Was Poe - Avi - mystery/horror
Bat 6 - Virginia Euwer Wolff - historical fiction

LWW Glogster - Aidan

Tri 3 Book Project - Try something new!

I have added links (see Online Resources menu) for all of the platforms (programs) that are allowed this time. Remember that you are NOT to do a summary. EVALUATE some element of the book (plot, characters, theme, setting, etc), and keep the book in mind when you design your presentation.

These are due next Thursday, 4/12. We will present in class Thursday and Friday of next week. Have fun! Try something new!

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Reflections

All of the 6th grade Language Arts teachers were impressed with the overall level of thought that showed in the students' projects. We did have a day when they were displayed for students and teachers in the Lahguage Arts hall. Here are a few examples:

Debate Information

Our Mock Debate Days: Tues (3/27) & Wed (3/28)

HAL Students will participate on Tuesday morning, regardless of their science class. HAL students need to check their student gmail for their debate day/time.
You will need to turn in your t-chart, your house organizer, and your debate cards to Mrs. White when you finish. You will be graded on these items.

You can find copies of these documents here. Copies of the Pro and Con research articles are also available. Please go to Pioneer Online Library (the page you see at school) and click on the SIRS Issues Researcher link. Once it loads, find where it says Pro/Con in the top of the dialogue box and click on that. Then you can look up articles by topic...

Homework should be abolished.
Cell Phones should be allowed in schools.
Students should be paid for good grades.
Youth sports are too intense.

Your debate cards should be written with one opinion/argument card (Pro on one side, Con on the other), followed by 3 evidence cards (Pro on one side, Con on the other). Watch this video...sorry about the sound.


Remember! You should be prepared to argue Pro OR Con...you have no way to know which one you will be arguing.

Debate Day Topics

Here's the photo from today's lesson: The Lunchroom Murder , for those of you who are determined to solve the mystery.

Please think about which topic you'd like to research and debate:

• Youth sports are too intense.
• Cell phones should be allowed in schools.
• Students should be paid for good grades.
• Homework from school should be abolished.

On Monday, 3/19 you will need to declare your topic (turn in a paper committing to one). We will be talking about argument all next week...there will be NO Reading Response Letter due next week.

No name work...

It's so sad that this pretty piece of work should have no owner... please claim it!

Have you read.....?

Have you read 20 books so far this year? We are about halfway through our school year, and should be halfway through our reading. Please be sure to write down each book you read in your reader's notebook. If you haven't been reading from each genre, here are some suggestions:
 No More Homework, No More Tests by Bruce Lansky - poetry
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - traditional
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban - realistic fiction
Nobody's Princess by Esther Friesner - historical fiction (yes, even for guys)
The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull - fantasy
Maximum Ride by James Patterson - science fiction
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder - mystery
An American Plague by Jim Murphy - informational (nonfiction)
Who Was Marco Polo? by Joan Holub - biography

If you love series, here are some good ones...
The Children of the Lamp by PB Kerr
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz
The Immortals by Tamora Pierce
The Missing by Margaret Peterson Haddix

A book to try...

Most recently, I have been reading Narrative Writing Assignments about the Best Celebrations. However, before that, I read a few books while visiting my grandma... One of my favorite books (series) that I've read recently is Maximum Ride by James Patterson. Several people recommended it to me, and I thought I'd try it. I "read" the first book, Maximum Ride, on CD in my car as I traveled back and forth to school. It is science fiction, which is sometimes hard for me to get into, but I really like the "voice" of the book, the style and tone which the author uses. It's from a first person point of view (Max), and really sounds like a 14 yr old (which can sometimes be hard for grownups to remember). I read the second book, School's Out - Forever, from our library on my trip to South Dakota. It was just as interesting as the first one. I will definitely continue to read the entire series...

Wow! It's been a while...

I will have to clear out the cobwebs here...it's been a couple of years since this blog was used!  We will have spelling lists posted, book reviews, and links to all kinds of online resources. I hope you will bookmark this page at home and use it all the time :)

Book Reports due 3/12

Book Review book reports will be worked on in class and at home for the next couple of weeks. MOST of the work should be done at school, but some finish writing and editing may need to be completed at home. Students have packets with instructions and rubric. Contracts are due THIS FRIDAY.

Persuasive Essays

We will be working on Persuasive Essays for the next two months in writing. One of our assignments will be to write a letter to Mayor MacArthur - this counts toward the Communications Badge for any BoyScouts. See Mrs. White for more information.

New book reports will be assigned next month - please be sure to choose a book at or above your reading level. You have to "stretch" to grow! I have included some websites for some of the more popular books that kids are reading. Some, including Stephenie Meyer's site, have thoughts from the author on how they write and develop characters.

What do you think of Percy? Do you relate more to him, or Annabeth, or Grover? Check out the websites on the menu to the right.

Me Magazine

Students will be writing and publishing a magazine about themselves for the next 4 weeks. Be sure to have Mom and Dad sign the packet so we are all on the same page! We will begin writing Thursday, 11/20.

Thinking about Tuck Everlasting

What do you think about Tuck Everlasting? How would you feel about living forever? What would you miss? What might you be excited about seeing? Would you tell anyone? What might be the dangers of sharing your secret?

Reading logs should be kept daily and turned in on Wednesdays with student and parent signatures. Spelling packets are handed out (usually) on Wednesdays and due the following Wednesday, when we will take the test for those words.
Grammar packets are due every 2 weeks on Fridays.

Our current writing assignment is our Shoe Story. Since we are working on the writing process and our revising and editing skills, please come prepared every day, but don't work too far ahead!

What may come...

This blog will be a place for you to get information, to respond to video or audio prompts about our stories, and to find extra resources for assignments. Please use the Internet responsibly, remember to double check information with at least one other source. I look forward to reading with you, to helping you to improve as a writer, and to our discussions (online and in class) :)