Week of December 18 to 22

Welcome to the last week of school for 2017!

There will be no journal prompts this week. We will only work to complete our best Character Essay about Squeaky from "Raymond's Run" and one other short story that we chose.

As always, read as much as you can and at least two hours a week outside of school reading time.

There will be math homework most days, check your assignment book.

Remember that we go bowling/pizza eating/laser tagging on Wednesday. We leave at 10 and return around 1:30.

Week of December 11 to 15

Welcome to the weekly post

This week for homework, we will read only and create a short/half page journal entry in our READING journals. This will be checked daily in class Tuesday through Friday. 

Word study can be homework, but we will plan to have 15 minutes to start class with updating reading logs, showing journal entries and word study work.

I will leave it to Mr. Wills to post periodically about what is going on in math.  We do have math homework most nights that is recorded in our assignment books at the end of each day.

We have no homework on Fridays to allow for make ups on reading, word study or journals.

We will have occasional deadlines for writing and socials studies projects, so that may appear in the weekly update.

We are continuing our reading of Making Thirteen Colonies, The History of US, by Joy Hakim. This will be the basic background for our Colonization Unit which will begin in January. This will include reading, writing, and National History Day Project. We will be creating a website this year under the national theme which is "Conflict and Compromise."  There was a lot of that during the colonial period, so we will have not trouble finding suitable topics. (Any student with a yen for a different topic is encouraged to do so and perhaps join Mrs. Babbitt's NHD club in the library.)

HOMEWORK:
DAILY READ and post a journal entry of your choosing about your daily reading in your READING JOURNAL. Prompt ideas
What is a big problem
What is the main character like
Who is the antagonist and what do they want
What theme is emerging

Changing to one post per week

I have been having trouble keeping up here and I noticed that no one is complaining. This leads me to think no one is reading this blog.

Therefore I will post once per week, on Sunday or Monday. If there is an urgent need for you to see something, I will make a group email.

Cate

Tuesday 12-5-17

Hello all,

My apologies for being blog negligent. I have no good excuse. I want to let you know two things.

1) We put report cards in the mail yesterday (probably went out today.) Maybe that is why I kept forgetting to blog. If you see any errors or do not understand something, please email us right away.

2) We have planned a celebration field trip to Spare Time in Colchester on Wednesday December 20th. We will have two hours of bowling, a pizza lunch and a game of lazer tag. The cost is $16 per student. PLEASE let us know if you need help covering the cost. Send a note or email. Permission slips went home today. Please send in the signed slip and $16 as soon as you can.

Homework:
LA - no journals this week - focus on word study completion - tomorrow have sort 1, sentences, sort 2 and word hunt - entire packet due Thursday

Read for 30 minutes

Math: there was a worksheet packet - it may have been percents - I'm a little foggy.


We began a new writing unit today - literary essays. Today we wrote an entire essay in class about the 3rd little pig. Tomorrow we will look at some models and try a new draft using persuasive language and evidence.

In social studies we started thinking about our next video letter to our pen pals in Sardinia. This time, the focus will be geography - the sites and activities of Vermont.

We also continue our study of colonization.

Friday 11-17-17

Here is a link to a slide show of our fantasy celebration

Have a great vacation everyone and happy Thanksgiving.

Thursday 11-16-17

I was out yesterday. I had a stellar report from Mrs. Waite. Considering we had much to do, that was a great report.

Today we finished our last Fantasy reading workshop. Tomorrow we celebrate. Students are encouraged to dress up as a fantasy character from on of the books they have read during the unit and give a one minute book talk on why we should read that story.

Homework tonight:

Journal: Vacation
Read for 30 minutes
Math: Skill sheet
Other: Party permission and $5
costume
finish post card from class today

Tuesday 11-14-17

Friday we are having a fantasy celebration to end our unit. Students are encouraged to dress as any character from a fantasy book they have read during the unit. They will then give a one minute book talk to get us interested in reading the book.

Homework:
Math 3.1 ACE 1-8 (I think)
Journal Prompt: Thanksgiving
Read for 30 minutes
Permission for party and $5 if you are going (It's this Friday)

Monday 11-13-17

I have to write this during the day. I seem to be very forgetful if I do it after school.

This is the last week of third trimester. Report cards will be coming home sometime after December 4th when they will be mailed out.

In writing, we rely primarily on the final personal narrative completed in class. We prepared for this in class today (and tonight for homework). Student may work in class Tuesday, homework club - if they are here at school - and Wednesday during our writing/reading retreat if needed.

Homework tonight

Read for 30 minutes
Journal - no choice tonight, come with an idea and a story arc with inner and outer thinking - ready to write a complete draft in class tomorrow

Math Skill sheet

Wednesday 11-8

Late Start Day

I remember I haven't blogged all week.
This week we are continuing our Global Read Aloud and our fantasy unit. Yesterday we retooled our groups and now are off on our last book club book of the unit.

Next Monday we will have an assessment day to write our final small moment personal narrative, so be thinking of a good topic.

Each night we have a journal prompt. Students may choose to write to my prompt or choose their own topic. Kids writing for NANOWRIMO can count their novel progress as homework.

Monday journal:
Trick or treating
Tuesday
Something you are grateful for
Wednesday - Recess
Math tonight: 2.2 packet page 51 7-10

Friday

Not only did we see a fabulous performance yesterday by the drama crew, today we did our classroom play Geology Rocks! Since we were trying to keep in low stress, it was more of a readers theater sing along, but it was fun. Here are a few photos.

Thursday 11-2-17

We saw the school play today. It was funny sketches and a cute re-do of fairy tales. Congratulations to our thespians, Jailyn, Emmeline and Owen. Great job actors.

In reading workshop, we are working on upping the level of our writing about books. We will continue this work tomorrow. Word study will hopefully start next week.

Homework tonight:

Math: None
Reading: Read your book by flashlight if you must - 30 minutes - you should be on your second fantasy novel

Writing prompt, should you choose to accept it: Trick or treating (you can substitute Nanowrimo or any other idea)

Wednesday November 1st

After our unexpected break, and trick or treating hang-over, we managed to get a lot of work in today.

We continued with our reading workshop, focusing on themes that are universal. In seminar we finished our math homework so that kids who are still without power would have that off their list.

Tonight's homework:

Journal topic: the storm

Read: your first book club book should be finished by tomorrow. You are now, hopefully, reading your second or third.

Math: None, finished in class

Thursday 10-27-17

Hello,
Today we wrote to our friends in Sardinia. It was very exciting to get their letters and to write ours.

Homework today:

LA Journal: Quests
Read your fantasy novel
Math ACE page 27-29
A 5-15 B 10-15

Wednesday 10/25/17

Check out our video . (I have a typo on the first slide...better version coming soon.)

This is our introduction to our friends in Sardinia that we will be pen pals with. Our first task is to write a short introduction letter. Then we will make our own videos to share.

Homework tonight:
LA journal prompt: Life lessons
read your book group book
Math: 1.3 packet A and B
FINISH 5 C's if not done

Monday/Tuesday 10-23/24

Monday was a day of upping the quality of a reading/talking and journal writing in reading workshop. Remember that we aim to finish the book before November 2nd as we start a new literature circle group on November 3rd.

Today we discussed dragons in fantasy literature, both real and metaphorical.

In social studies, we are all working on our artifact projects to answer the question: What can studying this artifact tell me about life in early colonial America?

Tomorrow we will finish projects and post.

Ms. Lamb is checking journal homework and noticing some of us are not doing it. Students are expected to produce a journal entry Monday through Friday. There is a daily prompt - take it or change it.

Monday prompt - What if you were a character in your book?
Tuesday : Dragons

Math: packet 1.2

Read your book group book

Thursday 10-19-17

Sorry for the lack of blogger. Meetings every day after school have thrown me off. I will do better next week.

We had a FANTASTIC time at Shelburne Museum on Wednesday. Many many thanks to our wonderful chaperons: Brian Rippie, Mary Morey, Jim Arpey, Rachael Beauchemin, Megan Cole, Jamie Brillhart, Anna Vaserstein and Susan Dodd. The trip would not have been as fabulous without their able guidance.

Homework from Monday
Journal: Monday - a time you were mad, Tuesday - Halloween costume, Wednesday - Shelburne Museum.
Math test happened Tuesday - it seemed to go well
Read your fantasy group novel. You should be 3/4 finished by next Friday. I believe this requires a fair amount of reading over the break for some of you.
Have a fantastic 4 day weekend!

Thursday 10-12-17

Today we started fantasy book groups. Along with discussing our Global Read Aloud book The Wild Robot, we will also be reading, with one to three partners, and discussing our own fantasy novels. Titles include: Splendors and Glooms, The Lightning Thief, The Sisters' Grimm - Fairy-tale Detectives, The Wish Spell, The Dragonslayers Academy, Wings of Fire The Dragonet Prophecy and probably one or two that I have forgotten.

We read daily and talk daily and write daily.

We also met, by video, our friends and soon to be penpals in Sardinia. Tomorrow, we will make our first group introduction video. Students will then begin working on their own videos and will be assigned penpals (and video pals.) Note: This is a separate project from our Global Read Aloud.

Tonight's homework:

Math: skill sheet and 4.1 (I think)
LA prompt: Imagine you can talk to animals...
Read for 30 minutes (you have an expectation from your group today)

Wednesday 10-11-17

I just realized I never hit publish on yesterday's blog. Oops.

Today was our second late start day. We got a lot done considering the cramped schedule. In LA we took a pre-assessment for our fantasy reading unit. We read a story and watched a video and responded to some questions.

In the afternoon we all went to the library together and Mrs. Babbitt told us about some great resources on the library web page. Overdrive is the newest one. We can download e books and audio books!!

In social studies, Ms. Lamb convinced the class that she is ACTUALLY going to check the journal writing homework and you ACTUALLY need to do it. We will have a journal prompt Monday through Friday. You can write to it (7 minutes of writing 3/4 page to whole page unless you are getting your poetry on) OR you can write to your own topic. If it is a required topic, you will know.

So far:
Monday - required - write something about Mills River Park
Tuesday - write about an island
Wednesday - Write about survival

Tonight's homework:
Math - 4.1 I think - this was on the board  and I can't remember it
LA: Journal prompt
Read for 30 minutes

Tuesday 10-10-17 (Very Late)

Homework today:
Journal: Write about an island - story, poem, report - you choose real or imagined
Read for 30 minutes
Math: Skill sheet

We looked carefully at our second personal narrative including reading it outloud to our seat partner, then applying the checklist. The last step was to post on google classroom. This must be done by Thursday.

Monday 10-9-17

Today Ms. Lamb is out and Mrs. Turcotte is in as a guest teacher. We carefully reviewed computer expectations and students are working to finish their second personal narrative.  Tomorrow we will take one last look together and read it aloud to a partner before posting on google classroom. This round, Ms. Lamb will be publishing to the bulletin boards and we will all get a chance to read each others' work. I know it is all worth reading.

We will complete our post assessment on this unit on November 13th in class. In the meantime, we will have a daily prompt to write in our journals. Computer composing is allowed. Students are asked to create a folder called writing journal and share with Ms. Lamb.  Students are always welcome to make up their own prompt or writing idea. We will write daily Monday through Thursday. Occasionally there will be a no choice prompt (like for social studies or science.)

We took our Diagnostic Spelling Assessment on Thursday. We will start regular spelling sometime this week - probably Wednesday or Thursday with a mid week to mid week rotation this year.

Tonight's homework:

LA prompt - use your notes from our visit to Mills River Park on Friday. Create a short report, story, poem or any kind of writing piece that moves you. We will be publishing these also to kick off our prompt writing. (This may have been finished in class today.)

Read for 30 minutes

Math: (sorry, I don't know this, check homework assignment book)

Tuesday 10-3

Today we progressed with our Global Read Aloud (The Wild Robot) and posted again to writeabout.com, but this time with an illustration. We did not all get finished, so we will tomorrow. We are practicing and learning about the site.

I see a lot of pangea puzzles going on in science.

In LA, we worked on our second personal narrative. We spent a while reviewing the checklist that Ms. Lamb completed for everyone on their first personal narrative. Even though there were no compliments on each piece due to time constraints (trying to assess 38 pieces in one night), they were all pretty great first efforts. Now we know more of the particular expectations and we all have a great new idea.

Homework tonight:
LA finish your flashdraft of your second personal narrative

Read novel for 30 minutes

No math tonight

We had a brief discussion at closing meeting regarding the terrible tragedies of the week including the mass shooting in Las Vegas. We talked about what was known at this point and the dangers of getting overwhelmed with fear or hearsay about the circumstances.

Monday 10-2

We started The Wild Robot today, our Global Read Aloud book and try to make our first post on writeabout.com. The internet had different ideas for one class, but we will get there tomorrow.

In LA we wrapped up our first personal narratives and posted on google classroom. We also got to see some of our classmates'. Tomorrow we start our second personal narrative that will be finished by the end of the week.

Tonight's homework:

LA: Try out a new personal narrative in your journal or come with a list of ideas

Read for 30 minutes

Math ACE 1-8, 16-22 evens (for all)

Wednesday Thursday 9-27 and 28

Rats. I forgot to write the blog yesterday. Just move on. We are working on that here on Team Legend.

Yesterday and today we worked hard on elaborating our personal  narrative and stretching out the important parts and speeding over the unimportant parts. These stories are getting good. We FINISH these stories for Monday. On Monday we will apply the checklist and make any edits we can, then turn them in on google classroom.

We will then complete a second personal narrative in one week. Ms, Lamb will work on some good prompts to get us going like:
Write about a time you got hurt
Write about a time you had an adventure with a relative or a good friend
Write about a really cool field trip you went on
Write about the best ride you ever were on
More to come....

We will finish this unit on Friday and move to our fantasy reading unit the following week. We will, however, start reading our Global Read Aloud book The Wild Robot on Monday. We will be connecting with our friends in southern Ottawa.

Homework
LA - work to FINISH your personal narrative due on Monday
Math - work on math packet 2.3
Read for 30 minutes
Have your 10 x 20 ready to present tomorrow

Tuesday 9-26-17

Open House is tonight. We hope you can come by.

Here is our mini-presentation if you can't make it. (click on the word in blue)

Today we entered into the murky and difficult world of revision in writing workshop. We looked at our bit by bit outer story and the inner story of ideas. We continue this work all week. Students should be working on this at home for at least 15 minutes per night. This piece will be due to present on Monday and Ms. Lamb with apply the rubric/check sheet.

In social studies, we looked at the website of Mary Lacy, our artist and residence and former 6th grade student of Ms. Lamb. Here is her website http://www.marylacyart.com/

We are all trying some Mary Lacy inspired art. Tomorrow we have a visit with Mary in the library at 9:40.

Homework:

LA work more on your revision

10 x 20 is due on Friday (to present)

Read for 30 minutes and jot at least once

Math finish 2.1 worksheet

Open House, bring your parents

Monday 9-25-17

It's really late and I'm finally remembering to blog so you won't see this until tomorrow.

Today we dove into revision on our personal narratives. This included making sure our "tool kits" were in order. This is the section of our binder with all of our writing helpers.

Students made a goal for the day like adding specific detail or creating a compelling beginning. This is work for tonight. We will work on this piece all week.

Homework for the week in LA (you can bet I will forget again to blog)
Finish your 10 x 20 and be ready to present on Friday
Continue working on your writing - revising takes time, work on this a little more each night
Continue to read for 30 minutes per day OUTSIDE of school this is IN ADDITION to the time we read in school - sorry for the yelling. Do not believe any student that says they completed their reading at school. This is impossible.

Open House is tomorrow TUESDAY 9-26. Please come. Visit our classroom from 7-7:30 pm

Math homework tonight is completing a worksheet. I think it was called 2.1

Thursday 9-21-17

Today we started bend 2 in writing. This is where we will take a story from start to finish. We prepared by practicing different kinds of beginnings and looking at a mentor text from a published author and tried to use some of his methods.

In social studies we worked on our 10 x 20 presentations for the last time. These are due to be presented next Friday. They will be homework from now on. They look really interesting and I can't wait to see them. We will learn a lot about each other.

Tomorrow we will walk to the park. Wear good footwear.  We might do a mystery skype with our Global Read Aloud partners if it works out with them.

Homework:
LA - writing journal (or computer) try out one more beginning from class. Come tomorrow ready to flash draft an entire story.

Read for 30 minutes and jot at least once

No math tonight

Wednesday

Homework
LA continue writing new story or one from class
Read for 30 minutes and jot
Math 1.3

Finally, I'm remembering to blog.
BREAKING NEWS, we are hoping to go for a walk to Mills River Park on Friday from 1 to 1:45. Get your good walking shoes ready.

Today we had our first library reading and writing retreat! We get to spend a half hour writing and a half hour reading in our wonderful library. Ms. Lamb, Ms. Archambeau, Mrs. Parker and Ms. Nicolle finished up Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessments - well, we didn't 100% finish, but we don't need to take anymore specific seminar time for them. These are reading level assessments that we use along with Star Reading to get kids into reading books just on their level. It is important to read as much as possible on your level to improve. Reading above level can work with assistance like recorded books.

It is VERY IMPORTANT that students ARE READING EVERY DAY AT HOME as well as at school. Sorry for the print yelling, but I feel very strongly about this.

Heads up, BRMS Open House is next Tuesday evening. Legend will be expecting you from 7 to 7:30. We will finalize our decision to go to Ottawa, so come or email us if you feel strongly one way or the other about this trip. Most parents have let us know they are pro Ottawa (so far.) We will also talk a bit more about curriculum and expectations in sixth grade.

We finished our video about the era of colonization in the U.S. We will start some reading in our textbook, A History of US: Making Thirteen Colonies: 1600-1740.

Monday and Tuesday 9-18/19

I have someone lost my blogging memory and missed two days in a row. Here is the late news.

Homework tonight was

LA - continue short small moment stories to get a large collection of ideas. We pick one to finish in a couple days

Read for 30 minutes and take at least one jot (note on sticky notes)

Math: Work on packet for 20 minutes more if not done

In LA we continue to work on our ideas. We are writing many short memories, small moments, important persons, times I learned something, first time last time, etc. Keep collecting in journal. Tomorrow we have a library reading and writing retreat and Thursday we pick a story to work on for a few days.

In social studies, we are applying our jotting skills to a video about the early colonies of the U.S.

I promise to be a better blogger.

Thursday 9-14-17

Greetings,
In LA today we refocused on the gathering of short small moment stories in our journals. Many of us have excellent collections and a few of us didn't. We spent some solid time writing ad catching up with our idea lists and starts to stories. REMEMBER, every night, M-Th, you are writing something in your journal for homework.

In Social Studies, we actually gave over some of our time to reading. We learned how to jot and practiced jotting while we read. Everyone has sticky notes in their book, but it's also okay to jot in your journal. You jot so you have something to talk about with your partner and something to write about in your journal.

Homework tonight:

In your journal, write another entry based on one of your ideas from anywhere

Read for 30 minutes. Try jotting something at home.

Math: none today

Tuesday/ Wednesday 9-12&13

Well, you just experienced my first day of forgetting to blog. I was at professional development with ELA teachers all day, so that throws me.

Yesterday in LA kids made neighborhood maps as a starting point for writing about important places. Today we talk more about where we get our true story ideas from.  We think important places, important people and first times and last times we did something. We also talk about small moment writing rather than everything about it (sometimes called a bed to bed story.... I got up, I went downstairs,.........then I went to bed.)

In science I see great geologic timelines that we finished in seminar today after our Star Reading (online) Assessment.  Students also finished up  Scope Magazine visual response and checked out the videos and audio readings on the Scope website.

Today's homework:

Start a new special moment journal entry. Try to focus on just that moment.

Read for 30 minutes (Oh, Ms. Lamb has put comic books and graphic novels on a short hiatus while we choose appropriate chapter books)

Math (will update later)

Monday 9-11-17

We had our first Monday today.

In LA we started our personal narrative unit. We looked at a student journal example and tried to get some writing techniques to try like using similes an including action and thoughts and dialogue.  Try a new entry tonight.

In social studies we finished reading an article about Cedric and Francois who escaped from war in Aleppo, Syria and moved to New York state.

Math was working on divisible numbers.

Homework:
LA: Write a new true story. Try out some of Ai's techniques.
Read your novel 30 minutes
Math: Divisibility worksheet (may have finished in seminar today)

That's all for today.
Tomorrow we have a sub for Ms. Lamb. Mr. Joslin will be in. Ms. Lamb briefed everyone on the plans.

Thursday 9-7-17

Today we did what we call a "pre-assessment" in writing, but it's really just sitting down and writing a whole story in class. You might revise this later, or leave it and write new story during our personal narrative unit. Ms. Lamb will read the stories over the weekend and we will be ready to start our writing unit on Monday.

We had our first science and social studies classes yesterday and today (one section met each day.) In science, we are studying geologic time and in social studies we are looking at colonization.

I see a lot of multiplying going on in math.
This is the last day of completing homework at school. It comes homes next week.
Homework:

Edutyping 15 minutes (done at school)

Read novel

Math

Scope article - read something - you choose

Wednesday 9-6-17

Today we got new seat buddies in Ms. Lamb's room. These will last for about two weeks.

Ms. Lamb read the story Our Tree Named Steve to get us thinking about personal stories as tomorrow we will write our pre-assessment personal narrative or short true story.  Ms, Nicolle gave us a copy of ideas in our journals.

In Seminar, Mr. Wills shared a great list of study ideas. We are asking students to share this with a parent at home and get it initialed that yes, they shared it and yes, that person read and understood it and maybe even discussed it a bit.

Today's homework:
LA: Finish decorating your writing journal. Be ready with a topic for tomorrow's writing in class (a short, true story)

The Day Before: Tell students “Tomorrow you will have one writing workshop session to write a personal narrative/small moment story that tells others about your special moment or topic. You will want to choose a topic that is important to you, something you have written about before, or something you have experienced (i.e., somewhere you went, something you like to do, something that happened to you...).”

Read for 30 minutes
Study skills: get a parent to initial the study skills paper
No math today

Tuesday 9-5-17

Every have one of those days when things were conspiring against you? Well, we started with having our pictures rained out. New date for those is Thursday 9-7. Then the assessment for reading inexplicably would not work. So we decided to get to our edutyping accounts, and that didn't work either. So, on to plan C, we worked out our reading and reading logs and got them into our binders.

EVERY DAY, students will read at school and at home and we will log every morning to keep up. This is done in pen or pencil in our binders on paper.  One class had time to do another journal entry.

In the afternoon we began writing our class constitute, or "how we want our class to be" by suggesting guidelines. A small group will pull those together to present tomorrow and we will all sign.

Mr. Wills and Ms. Lamb then gave some work time. We had some things to finish from last week and homework to do. Tonight's math homework has some of us off balance. That is 6th grade for you. (It was division.)

Homework today:
Writing Journal: Rules - what is good about them and what is bad about them?
Read your novel 30 minutes or more if you can
Math:  fidget worksheet
Permission slip update for those not in yet
Remember - pictures are now on Thursday

Thursday 8-31-17

We had another great day...although we are all a little tired. This school business takes some getting used to.

If you made it to the breakfast, it was great to see you. If not, we need some permission slips signed. Here they are: Permission for Shelburne Museum and Mills River Park

We introduced Math and LA today. We established our reading journals and started a math autobiography.  We also listed to A Day With the Robinsons.

Tonight's homework:
LA: Writing Journal - write a story about something that happened to you this summer. This can be real or imagined or even include illustrations
Read for 30 minutes or as long as you can
Math - complete your math autobiography worksheet

Math Autobiography

This assignment should may be written in paragraph format or as individual responses as long as it answers the questions below.   

1. What are some of your likes and dislikes about math?
2. How do you feel you learn math the best?  Think about group size and how the information is presented (e.g. visual, hands on, in a game, etc.)
3. What are some of your best math experiences in the past and why were they successful for you?
4. What are some of your worst math experiences in the past and why were they unsuccessful for you?
5. Who were some of your favorite math teachers and why?  What made that person such a good teacher for your learning style?
6. Any other information that you think would help me in getting to know you and help you succeed as a math student this year?

Due: Friday, September 1st

Other: Bring back permission slips

Here are some pictures of us working on our toilet paper roll self portraits

FIRST DAY!!

We had a fabulous first day, but we are tired!  After a long CPR where we played a little, talked a little and did some housekeeping tasks, i.e. bathroom, attendance, schedule, we had our first task. We played Kings in the Corner - a card game with a randomly assigned group of kids. This had all kinds of challenges like understanding the directions, working with an unchosen group and persevering. We did a great job.

We had a great organizing time opposite of one homeroom going to music and the other going to PE. All the cubbies and binders are set up and each person has a homework folder.

The afternoon was library with Mrs. Babbitt and homework.  Homework this week and next will be completed AT SCHOOL, but kids may work more at home if they choose or did not finish for one reason or another.

Homework today was:
Write in your journal about a goal for the year.
Complete a one goal summary for the bulletin board
Read novel
Get paperwork in homework to parents - book orders, picture forms, invite to breakfast TOMORROW, our schedule

PLEASE come to breakfast tomorrow. We will have permission slips for upcoming trips and talk about a potential trip to Ottawa.

Kate reads a picture book to friends during library time.

Welcome Letter and Supply List

August 11, 2017

Dear Parents and Guardians of 6th Graders on Team Legend,

We hope you have had a wonderful summer of learning, sleeping, playing and being. It is time to start thinking about school starting on August 30th. We know some of you are dying to hit those back to school sales, so below is a *supply list.

 

• Two 1-inch three-ring binders, two different colors; one for math and science, and one for social studies and language arts.  We recommend that you get good quality as many students have had their binders fall apart before the end of the year. Please DO NOT get the big 3” kind as they don’t fit into the cubbies and are difficult to tote around in backpacks.
• Two journals for LA (reading and writing) hard-covered marble type please
• A calculator for math and science (does not need to be fancy)

• A ruler with both inches and centimeters (clear ones work better) optional (we have many here)
• Pencils, pencils, pencils! (100 is not too few, but use your judgment)
• Pens
• Pencil Pouch
• Set of colored markers and colored pencils optional
• 4-8 pocket folders (we use often for project organizing)
• Lined notebook paper (just one small packet is probably enough)
• 2 sets of subject dividers

*We will have a few extra of all of the above and there will be a reuse zone of gently used items from last year

All students will be given a red assignment book at the beginning of the school year, which will be kept in their binders all year long. Students are required to use the assignment book.

This year, we are having a team welcome breakfast for parents and family members on THURSDAY morning (8/31) from 8-9. You can come any time after 7:30 am. We will provide juice, bagels and muffins. Bring your own coffee/tea if you want. You will get to meet Justin Wills and Ms. Lamb again and see the other parents. Pre-school kids are welcome.

Feel free to email us with any questions. We may be out of town for few days before school starts, but we will get back to you soon.

Sincerely,

Ms. Cate Lamb and Mr. Justin Wills

cate.lamb@cesuvt.org

justin.wills@cesuvt.org

Friday 6-16-17 Summer Reading

Greetings parents of legend students,

Our marvelous 7/8 teacher Janette Roberts sent this letter to home with her students. It is EXACTLY what I want to say, so she is allowing me to share it with you. We also have a three book expectation for summer reading.

Students are allowed to check out up to 10 books from our Legend library for the summer. I just ask that they sign them out on a paper (in the front of my room) and return them in August at the start of next year. I also set up a seesaw.com page for everyone to share their reading (and other activities) on. It is https://app.seesaw.me/#/class/class.1b6285d7-743f-44c7-8f3a-04b400147eb5. It is called Legend Summer Reading. Students log in with their school google credentials. I have emailed students directions and will reply to them with any questions they email to me. Have a great summer.

Summer Reading

 

This is what I’ve heard over the last few weeks—

• Do we have to read over the summer?
• Why do we have to read this summer?
• It’s our break. We shouldn’t have to do any school work.

Hopefully, these images from summerlearning.org and firstbook.org address the importance of reading. Studies show that kids who don’t read during the summer lose ground and fall behind the kids who do read. Studies also show that kids’ reading skills improve when they have access to books over the summer.

According to Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch up. Over time, the summer learning slide can add up to the equivalent of three years of reading loss by the end of fifth grade, which proves the saying “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”

 

In order to continue to grow as readers, Team Journey students are expected to read at least three books over the summer.

Where to get books?

• Borrow books from

 our classroom library.

• See Ms. Babbitt to borrow library books for the summer.
• Visit your town library.

In addition, you might consider the following opportunities:

• The Summer Book Nook Club -- BRMS students have the opportunity to borrow a Nook for the summer from our library. Each week, Ms. Babbitt will share a new book, and via email you may share your thoughts about the books.
• Phoenix Books Bingo Card -- Take part in this reading challenge, and you might win a gift certificate.

Thursday 6-15-17

We finished almost all of the presentations tomorrow. Just a few to do tomorrow.

Tomorrow is clean out the classroom day. Bring an empty bag or backpack.

A few people need to finish bio cards. These are due at the beginning of Friday. I will be keeping some people from some fun if they don't have it done. (Hey, that rhymes!)

Math test tomorrow: formulas and charts and tables review the first 20 pages of unit 8 on creating tables and graphs

Wednesday 6-14-17

Today we began our end of the year presentations. They are great so far.  We had a lot of work time for projects and bio cards.

Projects are all due tomorrow (unless you presented today.)

Bio cards are due Friday

There is a science article to read tonight.

Monday 6-12-17

We are teaching all the way through this week. Kids are hanging in and we appreciate it.

On the plan for the week:

A mini research project bio card on one other explorer (besides Columbus) that came from Europe to the Americans in the "Age of Exploration."  We chose from 13 explorers today and were given a one page biography and the directions for the card, which we will start tomorrow.

ALSO, our end of the year project presentations will begin on Wednesday. We will sign up for slots tomorrow and continue with the presentations through Friday if need be.  These are also mini research projects, but we are using the model of National History Day and presenting in a tri-fold, digital format (which we are allowed to do slide shows even though NHD does not allow), or a live performance.  We will have time in class Tuesday to work on this.

I hear in math they are working towards a test on Friday morning.

In science they continue with water studies.

Tonight's homework:

LA - finish the one page reading and note-taking for your explorer
Prepare for your end of year presentation

Read your novel for 20 minutes

Math: Finish page 15 and 16 to hand in tomorrow

Friday 6-9-16

I have been a poor blogger lately. I need to reestablish my good habits and blog at the end of each day.

We have been a little light on homework this week. Students should have been catching up on reading.

Today we finished our post assessment arguments and science posters. Student also took the final star math assessment for this year.

Next week will have some time to organize our end of year projects to present on Wednesday.  We will also be completing a bio-card for an explorer (a mini-research/art project).

Mr. Wills will be coming to our CPR today. He asked me to post and email this letter of introduction.

Hello Team Legend Families!

My name is Justin Wills and I'm excited to return to BRMS this fall to fill in for Jay Meadows as your student's 6th grade math and science teacher.  For some of you I am already a familiar face.  From 2012 to 2015 I taught seventh grade along with Maria Germano at BRMS.  In the fall of 2015 I returned to graduate school in Montreal to pursue studies in philosophy.  Having now completed my MA, I am taking a year to apply to PhD programs which allows me the great opportunity to spend a year on Team Legend.  

I live in Fairfax with my wife Emily, also a middle school teacher, and our quite spoiled golden retriever, Posey.  I spend a lot of my time reading and I love to learn new things, but when I am not buried in a good book I also love to cook and play guitar.  

I will be working closely with Mr. Meadows to make sure that we have a smooth transition as I continue with the great work he has done with students this year.  I'll be making a few appearances on the team over the next few weeks so that students can get to know me and I look forward to getting started with everyone in the fall.  

Justin Wills

Monday June 5

Homework:
Columbus essay
Read

More later....

Tuesday May 30th

Summer is here. Well, we're allowed to wear white, that's something.

Anyway, we continue to work on our Christopher Columbus arguments. This unit also serves as a practice inquiry into social studies, a practice we intend to pursue in the future. We have definitely gotten quite excited about it. Is he a hero? Is he a villain? Is here some of each? Does it depend who you are?

Today we work on making a powerful introduction (while we continue our research and power quote finding.)

Ms, Lamb has updated her upcoming assignments, so you can check that link. Here is what is says now:

Finished Christopher Columbus Arguments Friday June 2

Presentations End of Year Project June 13-16

End of year assessments:

Star Reading

Star Math

On Demand Argument (sit and write it in class in one to two periods)

Social Studies Explorer Bio Card (takes about two days of class time)

Tonight's homework:

LA Spelling is finished for this year. Ms. Lamb may do a quick assessment, but will save the DSA (100 words) for the beginning of 6th and new group placement.

Christopher Columbus essay - work for 10-15 minutes at home each night if you have access to a computer for writing. If not, read something new from the packet.

READ - for at least 20 minutes per day - more is better - this will continue as a summer reading expectation

(More may get added tomorrow - I'm posting this Monday night)

Thursday 5-25-17

Sorry, I forgot to post yesterday, too many after school meetings and too weak of memory.

Homework tonight:

Math: Skill sheet is due tomorrow

LA: Finish ALL of words study packet

READ for 20 minutes - many people are not doing this. It is very very important to your future as a reader.

In LA we worked on raising the level of our arguments about Christopher Columbus. Is he a hero or a villain (or some of each)? You can't just say one piece of evidence. Find it in several places or more details about it. Make your argument even stronger.

Columbus Text Set Ms. Lamb even printed out several articles and walked us through them. All (and some more videos) are in the text set.

We continue to research and elaborate tomorrow.

Remember, we have Monday off for Memorial Day.

Tuesday 5-23-17

Tonight's homework:
LA - Day 3 of word study or second sort - note first sort and sentences should have been done
Read for at least 20 minutes, more if you didn't read last night

Math - skill sheet due Friday
Finish pages from class today

Today we took notes from our text book on Christopher Columbus's 4 voyages and what Europe was like right before he set sail (printing press, sailing school, compass developed). Then we watched a video called Animated Hero Classics: Christopher Columbus which predictably gave a very positive view of our topic.  We collected more notes in preparation for tomorrow's flash draft of our position paper, which we will write in class.

All project plans in the form of Worksheet #1 should be posted on google classroom.

More water was tested in science class.