Writing Skills: Sixth Grade Proficiency

In preparing for the Sixth Grade Writing Proficiency, we are working towards developing a wide range of skills:

• Writing process

1. pre-planning, planning and
2. writing first draft, every-other-line
3. revising (using BLUE ink traditionally) by using powerful words, feeling words, adding transitions, creating sentence variety, building tight paragraphs (working on ‘foggy writing’), etc.
4. editing (typically using RED ink) by removing redundant words, checking grammar, word usage, punctuation, and spelling. [Re-write the much-revised and edited work, every-other-line, for the next 'draft', and then read it aloud to yourself or someone else.]
5. publishing the final copy after it has been polished and perfected many times.

• Planning a Story or Narrative must include descriptions of the characters and setting(s), a series of rising actions leading to the climax of the plot, with resolution of the conflict or problem in the falling action. Avoid writing “The End” or any equivalent redundant expression.
• Planning for an essay must include:

1. Introduction paragraph that starts with a ‘hook’, leading information that introduces each main idea paragaph, a strong thesis sentence, and a transition to the first main idea paragraph.
2. Main Idea Number 1 paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, a couple of supporting ideas, and extensive details that support the main idea. Anecdotes are welcome as well as statistical facts. Of course, using transition words is important!
3. Main Idea Number 2 should build on the thesis of the introductory paragraph with another main idea, supporting ideas, and details.
4. Main Idea Number 3 should also support the thesis of the essay. Supporting ideas, and details are essential; transitions are imperative.
5. A Conclusion is one option for the final paragraph; a Summary is the other option. The easiest is probably the summary, since it is a restatement of the main thesis, and the three main ideas with a concluding sentence. In a conclusion, the thesis is restated, with the position clearly restated, and the acknowledging of opposing positions.

Math Benchmark & Review Portfolio

We are reviewing for the Sixth Grade Math Proficiency, which will be given next week. All review materials, quizzes, tests, and practice benchmarks are to be assembled into a portfolio with a table of contents. (Glossary is optional)

Please study Math every day, since moving information from first-exposure into working memory and then into long-term memory is best acomplished by regular study  and review, over several days. That allows the brain to process the information during REM sleep time for recall.

One very important strategy: get a good night’s sleep every night, especially the night before a test!

Mister Roach

Walter Roach

(Log in at http://no.schoolloop.com to see grades)

First Trimester – 2nd Half

The cutoff for the First Trimester is November 10, 2009. No late work after that date can be added to the grade book for report cards. There are several quizzes in each subject at varying schedules, up to almost daily in Mathematics, for example.

About half of the grade points possible are in quizzes and tests, based on what is learned and memorized. The remainder comes from portfolios assignments, posters, group participation and projects. In essence half comes from what you know and half from what work you do.

The following portfolios and tests are expected during the next few weeks:

• Writing: Descriptive Essay – How-To — 10/9
• Wrting On Demand Prompt: Descriptive Essay — 10/16
• Writing: 5 paragraph essay – History topic — 10/23
• Writing: 5 paragraph essay: – Science topic — 10/30
• Writing: ‘Polish one of your writings into a gem’ — 11/6

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• Reading: “True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle” Portfolio — Due 10/12
• Reading Theme Test “Courage” (covers all 4 stories; review practice pages and the 7 Questions for each story.) 10/14/2009
• Reading: “Amelia Earhart: First Lady of Flight” Portfolio — Due 10/20
• Reading: “Girl Who Married the Moon” — Due 10/28
• Reading: “Dinosaur Ghosts” — Due 11/5
• Reading Theme Test “What Really Happened” (covers all 3 stories; review portfolios) 11/06/2009

—– [Blue Math Group]

• Math6: Chapter 3 – Algebra: Linear Equations & Functions Portfolio — Due 10/14/2009
• Math6: Mid Chapter Quiz 10/08/2009
• Math6 Test – Chapter 3 — 10/20/1009
• Math6 Chapter 4 – Fractions, Decimals, & Percents Portfolio — Due 11/4/2009
• Math6 Chapters 1, 2, & 3 Review Test 11/21/2009
• Math6 Review Test on Chapter 1 & 2 — November 5
• Math6 Review Test on Chapters 3 & 4 — November 6
• Math 6 Comprehensive Review Test of Chapters 1-4 — 11/10/2009

—– [Green Math Group]

• Math7: Chapter 2 – Algebra: Linear Equations & Functions Portfolio — Due 10/14/2009
• Math7: Mid Chapter Quiz 10/08/2009
• Math6 Test – Chapter 3 — 10/20/2009
• Math7 Test — Chapter 2 — 10-21-2009
  
• Math7 Chapter 3 – Fractions, Decimals, & Percents Portfolio — Due 11/3/2009
• Math7 Chapter 3 Test 11/3/2009
• Math7 Review Test on Chapter 1 & 2 — November 5
• Math7 Review Test on Chapters 1, 2, & 3 — November 6
• Math 6 Comprehensive Review Test of Chapters 1-4 — 11/10/2009
• Math 7 Comprehensive Review Test of Chapters 1-3 — 11/10/2009

—–

• History: “Ancient Mesopotamia” Portfolio — Due 10/21/2009
• History Test – Chapter 3 — October 19, 2009
• History: “Early Empires” Portfolio — Due 11/9/2009
• History Test “Early Empires” Chapter 4 — 11/10/2009

—–

• Science: “Volcanoes” Portfolio — Due 10/20/2009
• Science Test Chapter 8 “Volcanoes” — 10/20/2009
• Science “Shaping Earth’s Surface” Portfolio – Due 11/6/2009
• Science Test Chapter 9 “Shaping Earth’s Surface” — 11/9/2009

—–

Missing portfolios – Late Work

Several students have missed turning in portfolios of assignments for several chapters in various subjects. As a reminder, a portfolio (and its accompanying checkbric) are due for each chapter. Since it is a learning process, Mister Roach allows students to turn in late work for a modest penalty in points (10%) during the first trimester. The late work cutoff is November 4, 2009.

All portfolios of assignments span at least one week, and most of them are 2 weeks of work or more. Not turning it in causes a ‘ZERO’ in the grade book, which is a very low grade! In case a reminder is needed, portfolios have been assigned to date for:

• Reading: “Hatchet”
• Reading: “Passage to Freedom”
• Reading: “Climb or Die”
• Math6: Chapter 1, Lessons 1-6 – Algebra & Functions
• Math6: Chapter 1, Lessons 7-9 – Algebra Expressions, Equations, Properties
• Math6: Chapter 2 – Integers
• History: Chapter 1 – Tools of History
• History: Chapter 2 -
• Science: Chapter 6 – Plate Tectonics
• Science: Chapter 7 – Earthquake

Any of these that were graded and returned incomplete for just a few points may be re-submitted. Any that are missing may be completed and turned in. The absolute cut-off for late work acceptance is November 4, 2009.