Week of Oct. 11

Hello all!
Our Fairytales unit, somewhat sadly, has come to an end. Although, I'm pretty sure they all lived happily ever after :) Students seemed to enjoy reading, writing and learning about them. Most students wrote a really solid fairytale, although many (especially 6th grade) failed to turn one in on time. Please check with your student (and read their agendas) to see that they turned one in. This was a 200 point assignment. I am enjoying reading the stories!

Reminders to all: Please remind your student of the importance of following the no-talking rule during testing. I am very strict regarding this and will throw out a students test if they talk during testing. It breaks my heart to do it, but students must learn self-discipline. EOG results can be canceled for the entire school if protocol is broken.
Oct 15: the first theme book review and project are due. This assignment includes a book review (typed 1-2 pages, 12 point TNR font), a project and a brief presentation in class (no more than 5 minutes, unless you work it out with me)

Social Studies: Students will complete their Native American unit this week and we will move onto colonial America. Students voted to participate in a writing contest about Paul Revere held by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The essay is due Dec. 1. We plan to have a Thanksgiving celebration in November, melding what we learned about Indians with what we learn about colonial Americans. Should be fun.

5th grade will begin a poetry unit this week, as is reflected in their spelling/vocab words. I will begin to grade spelling tests a little differently this week. Students will now receive 2 points for using the word correctly and 1 point for spelling it correctly, for a total of 3 points a sentence(instead of the current 2). This reflects my emphasis on the importance of meaning. Many of 6th grades words will be the same as last week, as they didn't seem to learn them as well as I'd like them to. Last weeks results will be tossed for the 6th grade spelling/vocab test, unless, of course, your student did well.

6th grade will read a story in the Junior Great Books series and do activities associated with the story, "Through the Tunnel" by Doris Lessing. We will also do some focused lessons on vocab, as that seems to be a weak spot.

This weeks words:
Spelling/Vocabulary
6A
Week of Oct.11
Patterns: ie/ei and prefix: dis: meaning apart, not. Vocabulary from reading this week
Repeat words from last week:
conceited
seize
retrieval
unwieldy
grievance
deceitful
dissuade
disengage
discord
indispensable
New this week:
contrition
rigorous
sputter
promontory
continuous

Spelling/ Vocabulary
5B
Week of Oct. 11
Pattern: poetry terms
rhyme
haiku
alliteration
quatrain
couplet
sonnet
antagonist
protagonist
denouement
elegy
kigo- means: a seasonal word, used in haiku
hyperbole
resolution
simile
metaphor
ballad
stanza
foreshadowing

Spelling/ Vocabulary
5A
Week of Oct. 11
Pattern: poetry terms
rhyme
haiku
alliteration
quatrain
couplet
sonnet
antagonist
protagonist
denouement
elegy
kigo- means: a seasonal word, used in haiku
hyperbole
resolution
simile
metaphor
ballad
stanza
foreshadowing