6th Grade Language Arts
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Week of December 1 - 5, 2003
Welcome back to school! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving break!! Now, back to work...

This week in reading, we will be reading a short story titled "Zlateh the Goat." It is a heart-warming story about a boy and his goat and how they learn to depend on each other to survive a terrible winter blizzard.

Monday - We will become familiar with our new story. I will provide a vocabulary list of 12 words for students to define. Homework will be to complete a vocabulary practice worksheet.

Tuesday - Today, we will begin by checking the vocabulary worksheet and reviewing our definitions. Students will read the story silently. Homework will be to complete the "Quick Check" review worksheet. Students should have time to complete this in class.

Wednesday - We will follow along while listening to the story on tape today. We will review the story by checking the "Quick Check" review sheet and completing workbook pages 24 and 25. The test on the story content and the vocabulary words is tomorrow, so homework tonight is to study for the test.

Thursday - Today, after a quick review, we will complete the test on the story and the story vocabulary. After the test, students will complete a practice sheet on "Word Meanings Across Subjects."
*Students will need to bring their scissors to class on Friday. No homework tonight!

Friday - Today, we will finish/check the worksheet on "Word Meanings." Student will make snowflakes to display to create our very own blizzard!

In addition to the above, my 2 advanced classes will also complete Unit 8 in Vocabulary Workshop.
Mon. - go over the words on pages 91-91; write the words in the blanks; homework - pages 94 & 95
Tues. - check pages 94 & 95; homework - page 96 & 97
Wed. - check pages 96 & 97; homework - study Unit 8 words for tomorrow's test (test format will be matching words to their synonyms)
Thurs. - Unit 8 test
Fri. - none

FYI:
-Don't forget that 6th grade is going to the Christmas Ballet this Friday after lunch!
-the extra credit book report is due Dec. 12 (not the 18th)
-the Lang. Arts mid-term test will be a regular weekly story test on Wed., Dec. 17

WE ARE TRYING TO ENCOURAGE ALL STUDENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY! PLEASE HELP US WITH THIS! IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO BE HERE EACH AND EVERY DAY!!

6th Grade Language Arts
Mood:  special
Now Playing: Week of Nov. 17 - 21
This week continues the plan from last week!

We will not have any Daily Reading or Vocabulary Workshop this week!!:)

Monday - We will check workbook pages 30-31, discuss similes, and review the story, "La Bamba." We will begin the test on "La Bamba," including story vocabulary. Homework tonight is to "restudy" anything you didn't know on today's test because you will be allowed to check over and/or finish it tomorrow!

Tuesday - We will finish our test, complete a vocabulary word find, and complete a worksheet on "jargon." Tonight's homework will be to prepare for our Talent Show, which begins in class tomorrow!

Wednesday - We will begin our Talent Shows!

Thursday - We will finish up our Talent Shows! Afterwards, we will finish watching the 4-H Talent Show or watch the video of our talent show!!

Friday - Today, we will visit the school library and work on laptops!! Students will be given certain websites to look for on the Internet! Students will have to find answers to some questions about Ritchie Valens and Rock n' Roll!

Happy Thanksgiving! And try to stay well!!:)

6th Grade Language Arts
Mood:  special
Now Playing: Week of Nov. 17 - 21
This week continues the plan from last week!

We will not have any Daily Reading or Vocabulary Workshop this week!!:)

Monday - We will check workbook pages 30-31, discuss similes, and review the story, "La Bamba." We will begin the test on "La Bamba," including story vocabulary. Homework tonight is to "restudy" anything you didn't know on today's test because you will be allowed to check over and/or finish it tomorrow!

Tuesday - We will finish our test, complete a vocabulary word find, and complete a worksheet on "jargon." Tonight's homework will be to prepare for our Talent Show, which begins in class tomorrow!

Wednesday - We will begin our Talent Shows!

Thursday - We will finish up our Talent Shows! Afterwards, we will finish watching the 4-H Talent Show or watch the video of our talent show!!

Friday - Today, we will visit the school library and work on laptops!! Students will be given certain websites to look for on the Internet! Students will have to find answers to some questions about Ritchie Valens and Rock n' Roll!

Happy Thanksgiving! And try to stay well!!:)

6th Grade Language Arts
Mood:  bright
Now Playing: Weeks of November 10-14 and November 17-21
Welcome to the web!! Thanks for visiting!!:)

For the next two weeks, we will be reading the story "La Bamba" in our reading textbooks. This is a fun short story about a boy who reluctantly volunteers to be in his school talent show. He plans to lip-sync to the old Ritchie Valens classic hit "La Bamba." After reading and testing on the story, we will have an "in class" Talent Show of our own! Each class will have their own show! See the information sheet sent home about this.

This is how the next two weeks will proceed:

Monday, Nov. 10 - After introducing the new story, we will watch a video taping of the 1998 Ouachita Parish 4-H Talent Show! I thought this would get us in the "talent show frame of mind!"

Tuesday, Nov. 11 - Today, we will define and discuss vocabulary words that will be in this week's story. Students will write the definitions to these words as we discuss them. Homework tonight is to complete a vocabulary practice worksheet. Students who write sentences using each of these words will earn extra credit!! Just show them to me Wednesday!

Wednesday, Nov. 12 - After checking our voc. worksheet and reviewing these words, we will begin reading our story. We'll probably have to finish reading it tomorrow! No homework tonight!

Thursday, Nov. 13 - Today, we will finish reading "La Bamba" and discuss it. We will answer the questions on page 225 to review the story. Homework tonight is to complete reading workbook pages 30 and 31.

Friday, Nov. 14 - After checking our workbook pages, we will further review/discuss the story. Our test on this story and its vocabulary will be Monday. I will let students "study" some more on Monday night and then "finish" or check over their test on Tuesday. (Sorry...I don't like Monday tests, but this way seems fair!:)) **Be sure and get things ready for the talent show for next week! I will confirm each student's act today.

Monday, Nov. 17 - After a quick review, we will begin the test on "La Bamba" - story and vocabulary. Homework tonight is to study story/voc. tonight, if necessary. *Talent Show is Wednesday!!

Tuesday, Nov. 18 - Today, we will finish our tests and get things ready for tomorrow's Talent Show!! No homework tonight, except getting ready for the show!

Wednesday, Nov. 19 and Thursday, Nov. 20 - We will hold our classroom Talent Shows in each class period on these two days!! I will be videoing the shows, so we can watch them later! No homework on these nights!!

Friday, Nov. 21 - Today, we will visit our school library once again!! We will be working on laptops searching the web for facts about the history of Ritchie Valens and other rock-n-roll trivia!!

I hope the students will enjoy and learn from these 2 fun weeks in Language Arts! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me at school.

Extra credit this time is.....Find the words to the song "La Bamba" and translate them into English! Provide a copy of the song, where you got it, and the translation. Good Luck!!

Thanks to all that help make our Good Hope Family Fun Day a great success! I was glad to see so many of you there!

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Language Arts - 6th Grade - Mrs. Aulds
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: Week of November 3 - 7, 2003
Welcome to November! Can you believe how quickly this school year is zooming by??

This week in Language Arts, we will be reading the story "The Boy Who Lived With Bears." This story is an old Indian folktale about a boy who goes to live with his uncle. The uncle mistreats the boy and leaves him in the woods to live on his own. That is how this boy came to "live with bears." This folktale teaches a lesson about treating others, especially family members, with kindness and respect.

Monday - We will preview the story (p. 148) and learn several new vocabulary words and phrases that will be used in the story. Students will define these and for homework, there will be a vocabulary practice worksheet.

Tuesday - Today, we will review story vocabulary and phrases before reading our story. After reading the story, students will complete reading workbook pages 20 and 21. These will be finished for homework, if necessary.

Wednesday - After checking workbook pages, we will orally go over textbook page 154 to further review our story. We will discuss and practice "retelling" a story. We will learn what a "circular" story is. Homework tonight will be to study story vocabulary and phrases, review the characteristics of a folktale, and review story for tomorrow's test.

Thursday - Today, we will complete a test on this week's story and story vocabulary.

**For advanced classes, in addition to the above:
Vocabulary Workshop - This week is another review week in voc. wksp....we will complete pages 81-83. Monday night homework is page 81; Tuesday night homework is pages 82-83. No test this week!

Friday - It's LIBRARY day again!!:)

*Don't forget if you are completing a 2nd six weeks' book report for extra credit, it's due Friday, Nov. 7.

*2nd six weeks grades will cut off this week!

Extra points for this week: Research and find out if any humans have actually ever been raised by animals. Write a brief report on your findings and what sources you used.

Have a great week! Send my an e-mail if you have any questions or concerns.

PS. Please be advised that this website does not take the place of finding homework assignments and other information posted in my classroom. If for some reason any information gets left off this website, it is still necessary to be informed about what's going on in class. Some students do not even have access to a computer, so all needed information is available in the classroom!

Language Arts
Mood:  mischievious
Now Playing: Week of October 27 - 31, 2003
This week in Language Arts, we will be reading a nonfiction expository selection about Koko the Gorilla!

Koko is a very special gorilla that has learned to communicate with humans through the use of sign language. I will show the class different websites that they may want to visit to find out more about Koko!

Monday - Today, we will be introduced to the story and the story vocabulary words. We will look these words' definitions up in our textbook, glossary, and dictionaries. Homework will be to complete these defintions, if necessary, and to complete a vocabulary practice sheet.

Tuesday - We will go over and review new story voabulary words. We will talk about how animals and humans communicate. Just think.....what if animals COULD really talk!! Students will read this short selection silently. A review worksheet will be given out to be completed for homework, if necessary.

Wednesday - Today, we will review, review, review what we read about Koko. Students will complete workbook page 23 in class. We will further discuss what expository text is and complete an outline. This might have to be finished for homework tonight. Tomorrow, we will have a test on the story voacbulary and the selection. Students will NOT be allowed to use their textbooks during this test. So study those vocabulary words tonight!!!

Thursday - Today, we will complete a test on the story and the vocabulary. No homework tonight! BUT...don't forget that tomorrow is the final due date for the "Through Other Eyes" projects! (One of choice for a grade; the other for extra credit, if so desired!)

Friday - Today, we will watch a National Geographic Video called "A Conversation with Koko."

Bonus Points for this week.....Find out and list 5 different websties that give information about Koko. Then, visit some of them and find out what you can do to help "Save the Gorilla!" (Turn in the list of 5 sites.)

Have a great week! Send some candy!! Happy Halloween!!:)

What's New in 6th Grade Language Arts?
Mood:  hug me
Now Playing: Week of Oct. 20 - 24, 2003
This week, in language arts, we will be studying idioms.

Monday - We will finish our tests on "Brother Wolf" and "Why Dogs are Tame." Then we will become familiar with some idioms. Each student will choose an idiom to research for tonight's homework. They should write it down, find out what it means, and be able to report their findings to the class tomorrow!

Tuesday - Today, we will hear students tell what they found out about the idiom they researched last night.
Homework tonight will be a practice worksheet on idioms.

Wednesday - We will finish listening to students' idiom research, if necessary. I will pass out an idiom study guide with 35 common idioms and their meanings on it. These will be tested on Thursday. Homework tonight is to study. This test will be matching the idioms to their meanings.

Thursday - Idiom test; no homework

**Don't forget that students have a project due. If they are doing both projects, try to turn one in tomorrow (Friday, Oct.24). As long as I have one or both by Oct. 31, that will be fine!:) *see hand out for details

Friday - Today, we will get to visit our library again!! This week has been "Teen Read Week" in the library with all kinds of fun things going on! Hopefully, while we are in there today, students can participate in any of the contests still going on!

Bonus points for this week: Find an idiom that is very unusual (one that we have not had yet) and write it down with its meaning and turn it in to me! Tell me where you found it! Be sure and put your name, date, and period on it.

Have a great week! We could use some more candy!!:) If you have old magazines at home that I can have for use in the classroom, please send them this week or next. Thanks!

6th Grade Language Arts
Mood:  celebratory
Now Playing: Week of Oct. 14-17, 2003
This week, we will be starting Theme (Unit) 2 in our reading textbooks, "Through Other Eyes." Students will be given a handout explaining 2 projects that go along with this theme. One project is for a test grade, and the other project is optional for extra credit. Students may choose which project they want to complete for the grade. I also handed out a copy of the grading sheet I will use when grading these projects. These projects are due on or before Oct. 24 and Oct. 31. In other words, by Oct. 31, I must have anything students want to turn in! If you have old magazines at home that we could have, please send them to school with your child!

Tuesday - We will become familiar with our new theme. We will get a list of story related vocabulary. Homework tonight is to complete the vocabulary worksheet, if necessary.

Wednesday - We will review our story vocabulary. We will read 2 selections. No homework!

Thursday - We will finish reading selections, if necessary. We will discuss and review both - Quick Check review sheet, text review questions, and workbook pages 16-17. Homework tonight is to review vocabulary and story for tomorrow's test.

Friday - test on both selections and vocabulary

Advanced classes will complete Vocabulary Workshop Unit 5 this week, in addition to the above.
Homework:
Tuesday - p. 62
Wednesday - p. 61
Thursday - pgs. 64 & 66
Friday - none

6th Grade Language Arts

What's Going On in Language Arts?
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: Week of Oct. 6 - 10, 2003
We have completed our study of poetry. We have written some really great poems! Come by our 6th grade hall and seem them on display!

Monday - We will begin a new story, "The All-American Slurp." This story is about a Chinese family that moves to the United States. They will have to adjust to some unusual American table manners!
Today, we will visit a website page about Chinese chopsticks. We will become familiar with the new story vocabulary words. Homework tonight is to complete the vocabulary practice worksheet, if necessary.

Tuesday - We will first review understanding a Web Site by completing an activity sheet. Then, we will read our story aloud (pgs. 40-48) and discuss it. Homework tonight will be to complete the Quick Check review sheet, if necessary.

Wednesday - We will be reviewing the story today by checking the Quick Check worksheet, going over textbook page 49, and completing workbook pgs. 7-8. Tonight's homework is to review the story and the story vocabulary for tomorrow's test. Students will be allowed to use their textbooks while taking the test! We need to practice our searching skills!

Thursday - Today, we will complete a test covering this week's story and story vocabulary words.

Friday - We will go to our school library today!

Advanced classes will follow the above agenda, with the addition of Unit 4 in Vocabulary Workshop.
Mon. - go over pages 51-53; hw. page 55
Tues. - check hw; tonight's hw. - pages 45 & 56
Wed. - check hw; complete pg. 56; test tomorrow on Unit 4 (It will be matching words to their definitions...it will be open book! - due to short week)
Thurs. - Unit 4 test
Fri. - none

Hope to see you at Open House Tuesday night!!:) Have a great week!

This week's extra credit is: one page report or a poster on table manners!!:)
Other options for extra credit: see the Extension Activities on the Media Connection worksheet - do any of the 3 choices given