Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Take a Break
For just a minute, let your mind go on a short vacation to this abandoned bridge in Germany.
Image from Abandoned
@TheSickDrawings
Labels:
Break,
Reading Workshop
Thursday, December 8, 2016
MAP Testing
Three times each school year students take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Test in reading, math, and science. The first test is within the first two weeks of the school. They then test again near the middle of the year and at the end of the school year. The last two test measure the amount of growth students make during the school year.
Taking all of the tests that are required is no fun. Students don't like them. Teachers don't like them. At least though, we can celebrate when we see excellent growth. A lot of this is due to the hard work of the students in the hallway.
For each subject that students meet their growth target, they earned a reward. Students get a movie party for one test, movie and pizza for two, and movie, pizza, and an hour of extra recess if they reach all their targets for reading, math, and science. This is our way of rewarding them for their hard work.
GREAT JOB TO THE SALT CREEK SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS!
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Comparison to the Main Character Letter
For this project you will be writing a Dear Mr. McGuire letter. The topic of the
letter is "How would the book be different if I was the main character?"
The letter should have an opening paragraph that states basic
information like the title and the main character's name. It also should
connect with the reader.
For the second paragraph, start with the main character and build from there. Tell about the main character in
the book you are reading. Describe him/her. What makes him like he is?
How does he act? Think? Respond? Feel?
The next paragraph should be a compare/contrast between you and the main character. You might tell how you are alike or how you are different. You need at least one example to make your point clear.
One of the main keys to doing well on this project comes next. This paragraph needs to describe in detail how the book would be different if you were the main character. Specific details of differences will strengthen your letter.
Please use details to support your writing. For example, if you state
that the main character is brave, you should have a detailed scene from the book that
proves your claim.
Whatever you do, DO NOT RETELL THE STORY! This assignment is to write a letter to me about how the main character compares to you and how the book would be different if you were the main character. If you summarize or retell the book, you are not following the directions! The best
essays will be written by a writer than gets inside the book and the
character.
Labels:
Letter Writing,
Writing
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
A Little Help with Rhyming
So what do you do when you need to rhyme? How about going to Rhymezone?
When you are writing a poem and you need a word bank to help you,
Rhymezone is a great resource. All you do is type in the word and it
gives you a bunch of choices. Don't forget though, a poem still has to
make sense and be meaningful.
Labels:
Poetry,
Reading Workshop,
Rhyme,
Rhymezone
Room For All
Image from @thebradmontague
Labels:
Free Verse Poems,
Friendship,
Kid President,
Kindness,
Reading Workshop
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Swear to Howdy Poems
In Reading Workshop I recently finished the read aloud of Wendelin Van Draanen's book, Swear to Howdy. Students had to write a poem based on something from the book. Here are a few examples.
From Karlie
It really happened
Me and Joey
We really killed her
We killed Amanda Jane
We didn’t mean to
We just wanted to make “the lost ghost”
It really happened
Me and Joey
We really killed her
We killed Amanda Jane
We didn’t mean to
We just wanted to make “the lost ghost”
At First we were all ok
Sissy cried all the time
Longing for her best friend
And I longed for mine too
No One was the same any more
Especially Joey
We just weren’t the same anymore
Our friendship was breaking apart
then one night I heard the secret knock …Sissy cried all the time
Longing for her best friend
And I longed for mine too
No One was the same any more
Especially Joey
We just weren’t the same anymore
Our friendship was breaking apart
From Blayton
Tank
Tank the fat, dark green, frog
Sat on the huge, muddy, muggy bank
Spewed and gushed out
Bright green, slimy, soaked tomaters
From Tayla
A Promise
Joey and Rusty go together
like PB & Jelly
they are such good friends
making promises
having the best times
like playing in the river
on hot summer days
never forgetting
the day that Joey got bit
but no one will know because
they made a promise
From Jersey
A True Friend
A true friend will have your back until the end
A true friend will not listen and do what you say
But will go out of their way to do the best for you
You may hate what they do but still love them
And when you lose them you always regret it.
You know you’re a true friend when you accept them
You know you’re a true friend when you are not to judge them
or talk behind their backs meanly
Not to judge them for what their family acts like
Or what your friend doesn’t have that you have
You know you’re a true friend when that does not matter.
You can’t be a true friend if you hold grudges more than memories
you can’t be a true friend if you look back instead of forward
And you can not stay mad at them for more than a minute
It is in the name friend end is the last part
so they will be with you until the end and will never leave you
A true friend will not listen and do what you say
But will go out of their way to do the best for you
You may hate what they do but still love them
And when you lose them you always regret it.
You know you’re a true friend when you accept them
You know you’re a true friend when you are not to judge them
or talk behind their backs meanly
Not to judge them for what their family acts like
Or what your friend doesn’t have that you have
You know you’re a true friend when that does not matter.
You can’t be a true friend if you hold grudges more than memories
you can’t be a true friend if you look back instead of forward
And you can not stay mad at them for more than a minute
It is in the name friend end is the last part
so they will be with you until the end and will never leave you
Labels:
Free Verse Poems,
Read Aloud,
Reading Workshop,
Swear to Howdy
Monday, November 14, 2016
A Best Moment
During the school day, everyone has some time when they like it best. When is that for you? What is your favorite moment at school? What puts a smile on your face?
Friday, November 11, 2016
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Who Do You Admire?
Who do you look up to in your life?
Click on the picture below to see some amazing responses.
Click on the picture below to see some amazing responses.
Labels:
Hero,
Padlet,
Reading Workshop
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Make Your Poetry Zing
Is your poetry alive? Or does it just lay there squashed and ragged, like a mushy apple smashed on the road? Maybe it needs a little "ing" put into it.
Good poetry is alive, bringing the reader inside and making him think, or wonder, or laugh, or cry. And to bring the reader in nothing works better than action verbs. Thus the need for some "ing."
Screaming, shouting, racing, zinging, glistening, clinging, spinning, howling, catching, hooting, buzzing, violating, falling, sprinting, vaulting, pouncing, scaling, attacking, lunging, foraging, galloping, whipping, creating, gambling, whaling, slashing, wondering, listing, faking, destroying, escaping, dreaming, visualizing, imagining, bouncing, scraping, flailing, editing, revising, writing . . .
Labels:
Free Verse Poems,
Poetry,
Reading Workshop
Celebrating the Success of Others
I just want to give a shout out to the students that can celebrate when someone else is selected Reading Workshop Student of the Day. You make their success your success when you can feel good about your classmates.
Labels:
Friendship,
Reading Workshop,
success,
Teamwork
Monday, October 31, 2016
The Power of Poetry
Taken from the famous basketball movie, Coach Carter, this is an excellent example of Spoken Poetry and the power of poems.
Timo Cruz:
Our deepest fear
is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
that most frightens us.
Your playing small
does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened
about shrinking
so that other people
won't feel insecure around you.
We were all meant to shine
as children do.
It's not just in some of us;
it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously
give other people permission
to do the same.
As we are liberated
from our own fear,
our presence automatically
liberates others.
Labels:
Free Verse Poems,
Poetry,
Reading Workshop,
Youtube
Friday, October 28, 2016
Make it Yours
In Reading Workshop we have been studying figurative language this week. For today, take this starter poem and see what you can do. You can use idioms, similes, metaphors, repetition, action verbs, imagery, onomatopoeia, or anything else you can think of to make your poem great.
I walked down the hall
very slowly
because my name was called
to come to the office.
I walked down the hall
very slowly
because my name was called
to come to the office.
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Reading Assignment
Students
are required to read at home as homework. Students must read 20
minutes each night Monday – Thursday and one time over the
weekend (Friday – Sunday) for 20 minutes. Students should have a
time every night to do their reading homework. Students that do not
complete this will have serve detention to make up for missed time.
Students'
Weekly Reading Assignment rewards effort. Students choose a book that
they want to read from home, the library, or the bookmobile. The only
requirement is that they log the title, time read, and pages.
Any
time students read it counts towards their weekly minutes. They will
read each day at school during SSR--Sustained Silent Reading time
(10:55-11:10). In addition, they can read at home, on the bus, while
they are eating breakfast, once they finish a test or assignment in
another class. Any time they read it counts towards their grade.
Reading
Assignment Grading Scale
A = 180 + Minutes
B = 120 - 179 Minutes
C = 60 - 119 Minutes
F = Less than 60 minutes and/or less than 4 times a week.
A = 180 + Minutes
B = 120 - 179 Minutes
C = 60 - 119 Minutes
F = Less than 60 minutes and/or less than 4 times a week.
Extra
credit will be given for students that read more than 225 minutes in
a week.
Labels:
grades,
Homework,
Read at Home,
Reading,
Reading Logs,
Reading Workshop
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Friday, October 7, 2016
Opportunity v. Obligation or Don't Be Average
Labels:
Eric Thomas,
Hard Work,
Reading Workshop,
success
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Friday, September 23, 2016
Never, Ever Give Up!
Image from @WeAreTeachers
Labels:
Determination,
Hard Work,
Reading Workshop,
success
Monday, September 19, 2016
Dear Students
Dear Students,
This has been a great start to the new school year. Students have been working hard with great attitudes. Also, it seems like this has been a record start for smiles. By now, everyone should know how I feel about smiles--they make our world a better place. Language arts class this year has been the best.
Our language arts class is built around books. Knowing this, when I see students making great choices, I know they will have a good year. Book selection is so important in determining how students feel about language arts and reading. I have seen students talking to each other, talking with Mrs. Blubaugh, and asking me about good books.
As I am sure you have noticed already, students do a lot of writing in Reading Workshop. Some of the writing will be based on the book students are reading, but they will write on many topics throughout the year. In every assignment, quality is based on the details. Writing supported with evidence always means more, but like everything else, this takes work.
I hope all students have a fabulous sixth grade year. Please keep in mind, two factors control success--hard work and a great attitude. Make these a priority and choose good books and it will be a year to remember.
Take care,
Mr. McGuire
Labels:
Books,
Letter Writing,
Reading Workshop,
Writing
Kid President Says Get Along
The latest video from KP talks about how to disagree without being disagreeable.
Labels:
Kid President,
Kindness,
Reading Workshop,
success
Thursday, September 8, 2016
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Celebrate National Read a Book Day!
Today I am reading _________________ on National Read a Book Day, #ReadABookDay.
Please share the title of the book you are reading in a comment below. I am reading Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
Please share the title of the book you are reading in a comment below. I am reading Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix.
Labels:
Fiction,
National Read a Book Day,
Reading,
Reading Workshop
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
A Different Thought on Being a Leader
You hear a lot of discussion on being a leader. What do you think of this view? Is being the first follower just as important?
Labels:
Leadership,
Reading Workshop,
success
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Writer's Voice
When writing, there must be a consistent voice. The Point of View should not change throughout the essay. Most blog posts are written from a personal standpoint and should be in first person. This means using pronouns like I, me, she, we, and our.
Labels:
Point of View,
Reading Workshop,
Writing
Could This Be You?
If this looks like how you feel this morning, look at the bright side. There is a three day weekend coming up and you have already survived nine days of school this year. Keep working! Good things will come!
Labels:
Hard Work,
Humor,
Reading Workshop
Monday, August 29, 2016
Is This Freedom of Speech?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kapernick sat during the playing of the Star Spangled Banner before a football game. Is this freedom of speech?
Here are the opinions of a few people from Twitter:
Veterans fought to protect the rights guaranteed in the Constitution, not the flag. #ColinKapernick
So no one read #ColinKapernick say it was "bigger than football" watch the news! Police brutality will not be swept under the rug anymore.
Shame on #ColinKapernick... Many Patriotic Americans & Vets are Not Pleased w/your refusal to stand for the Anthem
Demanding #ColinKapernick stand during a song is against the very foundation of freedom those making the demand pretend to believe in.
Is the @NFL proud of #ColinKapernick? Proud of him disrespecting our flag, our Constitution, and our military, who protect his/our freedom?
Don't worry #ColinKaepernick, this hero will stand on your behalf during the national anthem.
What do you believe, Reading Workshop students?
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Writing an Essay
Reading Workshop students are beginning the first writing project. All writing should use a format of introduction, body, and conclusion. Here is Mr. Heath's videos that explains the process.
Labels:
Mr. Heath,
Reading Workshop,
Writing,
Youtube
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Maya DiRado, Gold Medals, and You
Your assignment, Reading Workshop students is to write a blog post describing your "gold medal" year? What will it look like? What steps will you take to make it happen? What goals do you have? What problems will you have to overcome to be successful? How will you persevere when it gets tough? In the end, how will you know that you have achieved at the highest level?
Maya DiRado, Gold Medalist Swimmer |
What motivates you as you train and compete?
I’m motivated by seeing how good I can be. That applies not just at race time but during every practice: I prepare as well as I possibly can, even when we’re nine months out from the big meet. I set high goals for myself and then enjoy the process of working toward them. Maya DiRado, August 2016
Award Ceremony
DiRado Gold Medal Ceremony
And some more of the gold medal winners
USA Gold Medal Winners
And some more of the gold medal winners
USA Gold Medal Winners
Image from http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/13/sports/olympics/maya-dirado-katinka-hosszu.html?_r=0
Labels:
Character,
Hard Work,
Maya DiRado,
Olympics,
Reading Workshop,
Student Blogs,
success
Monday, August 22, 2016
Take Control
Hey sixth grade Reading Workshop students, take control of your life. Make yourself great!
Labels:
Reading Workshop,
Students,
success
Friday, August 19, 2016
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Weekly Reading Assignment
Each week students have an assignment to read at home. Students choose a book that they want to read from home, the library, or the book room. The only requirement is that they log the date, title, time read, and pages. Students are responsible for filling out this bookmark/chart each week as they read. All minutes read outside of language arts class count towards their grade. Occasionally, students will have longer than a week when the school schedule is affected by holidays.
Students can choose to earn the grade they want. The more they read, the higher the score. A large part of their language arts grade is based on this weekly assignment.
This is the grade scale:
A = 180 + Minutes
B = 120 - 179 Minutes
C = 60 - 119 Minutes
F = 0-59 Minutes
Although students have no direct assignments associated with the Read at Home assignment and the Reading Log, many of the activities and projects in class are based on the book they are reading.
The best part of this system for monitoring reading, and increasing reading time is how students can control their grades. If they are willing to work hard, their grades will show it.
Students can choose to earn the grade they want. The more they read, the higher the score. A large part of their language arts grade is based on this weekly assignment.
This is the grade scale:
A = 180 + Minutes
B = 120 - 179 Minutes
C = 60 - 119 Minutes
F = 0-59 Minutes
Although students have no direct assignments associated with the Read at Home assignment and the Reading Log, many of the activities and projects in class are based on the book they are reading.
The best part of this system for monitoring reading, and increasing reading time is how students can control their grades. If they are willing to work hard, their grades will show it.
Labels:
grades,
Read at Home,
Reading,
Reading Workshop
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
A Little Bit of a Stomach Ache
Do you have a little bit of a stomach ache this morning? I do.
You see, my grandson, Carter aka Zoom starts kindergarten today. Now I really think he will be OK, but I'm just a little worried. Thoughts are running through my head: Will he like school? Will he work hard? Will he keep out of trouble? Will the teacher like him? Will the other kids like him? Does he know enough? Will he be successful?
Reading Workshop students, you might be wondering by now, what does that have to do with me? Well really, it has everything to do with you. There is someone feeling the same way about you. It might be your mom or dad. I might be a grandparent, aunt, or uncle. Hopefully for all of you there is someone whose stomach has a little knot hoping for the best for you.
To tell you the truth, I am a little nervous with a knot in my stomach, worrying about you on this first day of school. I want you to have an amazing year. I want you to love school. I want you to work harder than you have ever worked and learn more than you knew was possible. I want to be proud of you and I want you to be proud of yourself.
It's a lot harder for you than it is for Zoom though. School is new to him. You have a history. You know a lot about school. There are things you like and things you don't. You are better at some things than others. You have had some successes, but maybe a few failures along the way.
The thing is, only you can control your success. Others may worry, but you are the one in charge. You make decisions that determine if this is the best year of your life. So choose success this year. Make it an outstanding year. I believe in you. Let's work together to make this an amazing year and when it's over, we'll know there never was any reason to have a little stomach ache today!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Blueprints?
Blueprints?
By Sara Holbrook
Will my ears grow long as Grandpa's?
What makes us look like kin?
and where'd I get my chin?
Where'd I get my ice cream sweet tooth
and this nose that wiggles when I talk?
Where's I get my dizzy daydreams
and my foot-rolling, side-step walk?
Did I inherit my sense of humor
and these crooked, ugly toes?
What if I balloon like Uncle Harry
and have to shave my nose?
How long after I start growing
until I start to shrink?
Am I going to lose my teeth,
some day?
My hair?
My mind?
Do you think
I'll be tall or short or thin
or bursting at the seams?
Am I naturally this crazy?
Is it something in my genes?
I'm more than
who I am,
I'm also
who I'm from.
It's a scary speculation--
Who will I become?
This poem is from the book, Am I Naturally This Crazy. You can buy it HERE.
Labels:
Poetry,
Reading Workshop,
Sara Holbrook
Friday, May 13, 2016
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Welcome Back From Camp
Today is the first day back in school after the trip to Camp Oty Okwa for three days of outdoor education. This video explains a little about the experience.
Labels:
Allan Sherman,
Camp Oty Okwa,
Youtube
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