Ms. Wejman

Miss Wejman’s

Peek at the Week

Week of January 3^rd-11^th

Reader’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. 

Because of the short week, all reading work will be due on Friday, January 11^th.  Guided reading groups will discuss theme.  Bingo Sheet activities will focus on plot. As your sixth grader is reading his or her independent book ask where the plot is on “Plot Mountain.” The Plot Mountain is a visual tool used to describe the elements of a plot.  The sixth graders have all been introduced to the different terms involving plot.

Writer’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.

January’s writer’s workshop focus will be on working on the independent projects that were started in Ray University.  During this first week, every sixth grader will focus on identifying the questions that they had about the topic.  They will identify the sources that they have previously used and identify what additional references they may need.  When identifying sources, the sixth graders will be instructed on how to use the correct APA format.  Throughout the month, the majority of class time will be spent on providing research writing instruction. 

Social Studies

Common Core Standard: Describe how a text presents information

During the month of January, the sixth graders will be learning about the ancient civilizations of the Asia and the Americas as presented in Chapter 5 of the social studies text.  The students will be introduced to the text through completing an anticipatory guide which will activate prior knowledge as well as provide a purpose for learning about these ancient civilizations.  They will preview the text by identifying the purpose of the text features.   

January 3, 2013

This week for homework, read Onward by Dolores Johnson.  By Friday January 11th, you should complete three tic-tac-toe activities in your homework notebook.  At the top of each page, you should write the date and title of the story.

Miss Wejman’s

Peek at the Week

Week of December 17^th-21^st

Reader’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot. 

Conversations in our guided reading groups will focus on the theme of the text.  Every reader will have the opportunity to identify the theme with specific text evidence.  At home, you may want to ask your child the theme of his or her book. 

Writer’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the argument presented. 

All persuasive essays are due on Thursday, December 20^th.  Throughout the last week, the students have been drafting their persuasive essays.  As always, I will do my best to meet with every sixth grader to conference with them about their writing.  I will gladly conference with students before or after school as well. 

Social Studies

Common Core Standard: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources. 

All of the sixth graders will take the social studies test on Friday, December 21^st during the regular scheduled language arts time.  As usual, the test will consist of ten multiple choice questions, five vocabulary questions, and an essay question.  The essay question will be: “Discuss how the Nile River was important to the ancient Egyptians.” The answer to the essay needs to have a topic sentence, three supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.  In addition to the usual parts of the test, the student will also have to read about a modern day problem.  They will then have to identify the needs and come up with a solution to the problem. Finally, the students will have to read a statement about ancient Egypt.  They will then draw a conclusion based on the statement and from what they previously know.  We will practice drawing conclusions in class.   

December 17, 2012

This week for homework, read Airborn by Kenneth Oppel.  By Friday, you should complete three tic-tac-toe activities in your homework notebook.  At the top of each page, you should write the date and title of the story.

Every morning students are expected to be at school at 8:45 for morning fitness.  To ensure that every student is at school on time, each student will have to check in with his or her homeroom teacher.  Students who check in with the teacher after 8:45 will be marked tardy. Participation in morning fitness is part of each student’s physical education grade assessed by the homeroom teacher.  If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about morning fitness, please talk to your child’s homeroom teacher.

December 10, 2012

This week for homework, read Star in the Storm

By John Hiatt Harlow.  By Friday, you should complete three tic-tac-toe activities in your homework notebook.  At the top of each page, you should write the date and title of the story.

Miss Wejman’s

Peek at the Week

Week of December 10^th-14^th

Reader’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced in a text. 

When the students meet in their guided reading group, they will each identify when an event or character is first mentioned in the story.  Through the identification, they will then elaborate on its significance to the plot. 

Writer’s Workshop

Common Core Standard: Support claim with clear reasons and relevant evidence using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. 

Writers’ Notebooks will be collected and graded on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, the students will receive the rubric stating the requirements of the persuasive essay.  The essay will be due on Thursday, December 20^th. 

Social Studies

Common Core Standard: Integrate visual information with other information in print and in digital text. 

As the students are reading about the Nubians and Kushites, they will use the text features to enhance their learning of this culture.  The student will answer the question: “Which picture in Lesson 3 (pages 132-137) best helps you to understand the Nubian or Kushite culture?  Why do you think this? Write a paragraph explaining your thoughts.”  I will use a picture from Lesson 2 to model this essay writing experience.  All three social studies groups will take the test on Friday, December 21^st during reading.  More information regarding the test will be available in next week’s blog. 

Ray University

Please visit http://friendsofray.cuipblogs.net/ to consider donating. 

To conclude our unit on Ancient Egypt, the sixth graders will go on a field trip to the Field Museum on Monday, January 14^th.  We will leave Ray School at 9:30AM.  Both classes will take a guided tour of the Ancient Egyptian exhibit (Room 512-10:30 and Room 503-11:30).  While one class is on the guided tour, the other class will take a self-guided tour of the gems to complement what is being taught in science. 

_____ I am able to chaperone for the field trip.  _____ I am not able to chaperone.

Parent Name: _________________________ Student Name: _________________________

Parent email: __________________________