For or Against?

Well, we began class with Reader's Workshop. This was your first opportunity to share a little something with me about the book you are reading. Continuing on, we will discuss three types of books: Holiday, Just Right and Challenge Books.

Then, we will begin pulling together our reading journal. This journal will come with you to class every single day from now until eternity. It will be like your security blanket. One cannot read a book without one's journal. We will add in our current read -Are you reading a Holiday, a Just Right or a Challenge? and then we will tuck the journal away and save it for another day.

Ask and you shall receive, I have book order forms. These forms are photocopied, not that pretty, but useful nonetheless. But hurry, if you want to order books, this week IS IT! Plus, we'll choose a class book you would like me to purchase for our classroom.

For or Against? That's the name of the post and the theme for the week. Today, we are going to discuss protagonist and antagonist. What are they you ask? Well, patience my dear sweet children, all will be revealed.

Have you ever read or know the story of the "Three Little Pigs?" Oh they were such delightful creatures and we are going to become even better acquainted with them today.  You will even have some new vocabulary you need to focus on. If you do not study, I will huff and puff. . .well, you know the story.

VOCABULARY:

• perspective
• protagonist
• antagonist
• pro
• anti
• agon

Rockin Readers

Today we will discuss a change to the reading program here in 6th grade. We will begin readers' workshop where you will choose the books you read, you will set goals and I will give mini lessons and check in with you daily. This means. . every single day at school, you will read for 40 minutes. Bring a pillow, a blanket, your favorite cuddly. . . whatever you need to be comfy cozy.

You also need to set a goal for how many books you will complete this year. Will it be 15? 25? or perhaps 60? Any big readers out there going for an even 100?

Every night you are expected to read at leasts 30 minutes of a novel-your choice, in English. You will report back to me the next day on what you read, how many pages were completed, etc.

VOICE

We will begin class with a 15 minutes journal entry:

If you had to describe yourself to someone else, what would you say? Do you think they would agree with you? Why or why not?



THEN. .. . 

We will take part in a short activity where we try to guess who the speaker is. Are we able to? How do we know who is speaking? What is unique about the way they speak?

All of this will lead us into how to add voice into our writing. Voice shows the writer's personality. It contains feelings and emotions so that the writing doesn't sound like a text book. The writing should be done from the heart-feel it!

Suggestions on how to add voice to your writing (from Kim'scorner4teachers)

• Voice isn't as hard as it seems, just be yourself. Otherwise, the voice won't be your own
• Think of your audience. Voice changes as your audience changes.  For example, the way you would tell your friends you wrecked your mother's car is not the same way you tell your mother. If you feel that you have no personal connection to the reader, pretend you are writing for your best friend--the one you can tell anything.
• Think  of your topic. How do you feel about it? Put those feelings into your writing. Get emotional, but don't tell your reader how you feel, show him/her how you feel. Do not hold back!  (However, please remember to keep your writing appropriate for school.  You have to watch your choice of words.
•  What is your opinion? Don't be afraid to share it. Opinions give us our voice. If you truly believe in something, prove to the reader that your are right. Support your opinions with specific details and reasons. 
• Look at your topic from different angles, and choose the one you are most comfortable with presenting. Humor, seriousness, sarcasm, and mysteriousness are just a few of the angles you can use. If you get stuck, try using an unexpected angle. For example, if you are writing about a serious topic, like taking you test, approach it with humor.

What do you think? Are you ready? Can you do it? Let's go back our writing and see if we have voice down pat!

Write, Write, Write!

Today we will review the process words you took home last Friday night. Please make sure the words you do not know are highlighted.

Then, we will write, write, write. That's right folks, lots o writing coming your way. We will continue on our name piece of writing. You will star the absolute best of the four introduction sentences. Then, you will go back through your writing and attempt to ELABORATE on your ideas. Elaborate means to extend or continue. We want details people! Lots and lots of details. We want to feel what it is like to be an Amanda, Daman or Austin. Can you do it? Are you up for the task? Let's see shall we.


Tonight

• Read for 30 minutes in English
• Write for 20 minutes

Let's Start At the Beginning

We will begin with a journal entry. Today you will write for 20 minutes, be prepared to share.  Please get out your journal and begin. ..

What do you think are your biggest strengths as a writer? What do you think you need to improve on? How do you think you could improve your writing.

Your journal should be written in paragraph form. This means you do not simply put #1 and answer the question, then go on to #2. How could you blend it all together so that your ideas flow from one to the next?


THEN. .. ..

We will go over your rubric (how you will be graded/assessed) for the Name Writing assignment. You will get out your writing and we will discuss how to draw your reader in. After all, your reader IS KING! You must bow down to the reader when you write. What can you do to make sure the reader wants to actually read what you've written. Well, you must begin with the beginning. . . creating an interesting opening sentence.

There are many ways to create an interesting opener. Here are a few suggestions:

• Begin with a surprising fact
• Use humor
• Use a quote
• Peak someone's curiousity
• definition
• anecdote
• end with a good beginning
• figurative language (ie: similes, metaphors, onomatopea)

You will take your Name Writing Assignment and rewrite your opening sentence. . . .many times. I would like to you try to choose at least 4 different suggestions from above (or perhaps you have your own) and write an opening sentence for your writing piece. Identify which suggestion or tactic you are using. 

This will be due on Monday, but we will be stopping early to talk about what you have so far. 

Same and Different

AAAhhhh in the wonderful world of English, we like to use crazy vocabulary like compare and contrast, for how are they the same and how are they different? So, you will need to become very familiar with this new vocabulary. Today, you will be able to get some experience using these words.

1. You will get out paper and write down a series of 10 questions you would like to ask another person about themselves. For instance, "do you have any brothers or sisters? Do you like to watch TV. . ."
2. You will find a person to interview in the class. Write down their answers, as well as their name.
3. Go back to your desk and create a venn diagram. How are you similar and how are you different from her classmate?

After that, we will tackle the HUGE pieces of paper outside in the hall. Again with that silly comparing and contrasting. .. .So, here's what you'll do. You will use the other half of the paper to draw a tree. Yes, a tree, you got it. Branches, trunk, roots, everything about a tree will be on that paper. It's almost as if half of you will be a tree and the other half will be a person. Pretty cool right? I think so. 

Names, Names Everywhere

As we begin class, please write to this prompt in your journal. You will write for 20  minutes, beginning now.

8/13--don't forget to date your entry
"If you were the boy named Sue, what would you do when people made fun of you? How would you feel?"

Last week we listened to the song, "A Boy Named Sue" and discussed how the main character's perspective on his name changed by the end of the song. Today we are going to look at naming traditions throughout the world and how names have different meanings in different cultures--again, dealing with perspective. We will compare and contrast (tell how they are the same and different) naming traditions. Then, we will use our class handy dandy mimio machine to create a venn diagram to organize our thoughts.

Here are the notes from today's class:

What's in a Name Anyway?

In our quest to learn more about ourselves, we are going to start at the beginning. Before we received our two darling girls, we had their names picked out already.

Xian Odile and Sage Lynn. Xian was named after the city in China, meaning peace, where I went to University, and Odile is Frank's mother's name. Sage was named because, well, we loved the name Sage and loved that her name means wisdom; while Lynn is a family middle name (as well as my own). There were many conversations had in our house about what we would name our two little girls as we waited for the call saying they were available for us to pick up. We also had the additional task of giving them Chinese names. We settled on 喜安  and 喜智 peace and wisdom.

Today, we are going to explore what makes a name great, or not so great. We will begin with a discussion, first in our journals, then in pairs and finally as a class. Then, I have a fabulous song and video to share with you about a not so great name.

"Boy Named Sue" by Johnny Cash

We will also be pulling similes from this song. What is a simile? Well, a simile is when you compare two things using the words like or as. For instance, "he eats like a pig." Is the boy a pig? Well, no I certainly hope not. What is this simile trying to say?

Homework: 

1. You will talk with your parents about how they chose your name (English or otherwise). Please bring notes in with you tomorrow.

Speaking of You. ..

Since this quarter's theme centers entirely around you, it is time to construct yourself. Well, not yourself exactly, but a partial image of yourself. These images will also be used in your Science class.  Here's the task for today:

1. Pair up with a friend (or 2 if needed)
2. each person get one piece of butcher paper
3. fold your butcher paper in half vertically (that's the long way)
4. Once everyone in your group has their paper folded, decide who will go first
5. Lay down on the paper, half of your body will be on the paper, the other half will be off
6. Make sure your arm, hand, and full leg/foot are on the paper
7. Have your partner trace your outline
8. Switch it up and help your partner out
9. Once finished, clean up the edges and outline in black maker

That's it, you're all finished and ready to move on with the science portion! Homework. . .Nope, enjoy your evening.

All About You

That's right folks, this first quarter here in Middle School is going to be ALL ABOUT YOU!! What better topic of conversation, right? Today we will begin by looking at alliterations about. . . you. So, what is an alliteration exactly? ideas, anyone? An alliteration is when you take the beginning sounds of each word and make them the same. For instance, sensational sixth graders, or miraculous middle schoolers. The possibilities are endless.

For the first assignment, you will come up with an alliterative name for yourself. Perhaps mine might be creative Krista, crafty Krista, or even crazy Krista. Use the puzzle piece provided and print your alliterative name on it, then decorate the piece with illustrations, photographs, words that symbolize or are important to you.

That's it, all for today. Please bring your completed puzzle piece to class (full color, of course) by Friday.