Holiday for Heroes Christmas Cards

This week in English, the 6th graders wrote Christmas cards to send to soldiers serving overseas. I was very impressed with how sweet and insightful their messages were. I know they will be brightening up many Christmas days for those soldiers! Thanks to anyone who donated cards to Mrs. Becker!

6H showing off the cards they wrote.

The 6th grade cards.

Study Guide

The chapter 1 pre-test/study guide answers are under "Assignment Links" listed above. I am going to write my own test this time so the format will not be exactly the same as the study guide. Studying the homework assignments will also be helpful.

6H test--Monday
6C test--Tuesday

Parts of a sentence

We are almost to the end of the first chapter and will have a test before Thanksgiving break. In this chapter, we have looked at subjects and predicates, subject complements, and direct objects/indirect objects. This time I will be writing my own test which will assess their skills in a way similar to their homework. To study, they will have a pre-test and their notebook of notes and homework. The study guide will be posted under assignment links soon.

This week the 6th graders will have the punctuation test. We will go over a pre-test in class they can use as a study guide. Under the assignment links, I have added the pre-test. This, of course, won't have the answers but they will get those answers in class. The test will follow the same format as the pre-test.

Also, for a little humor, here is a video I showed at the start of our punctuation chapter of comedian Victor Borge and his famous phonetic punctuation skit. Enjoy!

Punctuation and Spelling City

6th graders have moved from capitalization to punctuation. Again, this should be a review but there is already grammar we have learned that the students didn't know. This will be our last week of spelling before we spend next week in our vocabulary books.

I have updated the blog to include the directions for the kids to use Spelling City. It is a great website the kids can use to study spelling words for the week. They can play games with the spelling words, as well as test themselves. Have fun!

It's hard to believe we are almost finished with the second full week of school! The 6th graders have been hard at work in English. I wanted to give a quick explanation of our schedule so you are aware of when standing assignments are due.

Language Minute
*At the beginning of most classes, there will be an extra credit opportunity for students who choose to be in class on time.

Spelling
*Spelling occurs consecutively for five weeks. At the sixth week, we will work on vocabulary.
*A spelling pre-test is given on the first English class of the week. If a student gets 100% on this pre-test they do not have to take the test on the last class of the week. The pre-test does not count as a grade.
*The spelling test is always on the last class of the week. There are two challenge words for extra credit on each test.
*A spelling lesson is assigned for every unit. This assignment is due on the last class of the week. Students do not complete every part of the spelling lesson. They should know which parts they do and which they don't. They must complete the first page in cursive.

Grammar
*A grammar lesson is taught nearly every class. A ten question homework assignment is assigned nearly every class. Students must pay attention to how the homework is set up in class, as I often ask the students to follow my directions instead of the book directions. We always go through at least one problem as an example.
*A test will be at the end of each unit. The class before the test the students do a pre-test in class and we go over the answers to help them study.

Writing
*On Wednesday class days, the focus is on writing. We use the program Step Up to Writing at CCLS. The first months are spent reviewing and understanding the organization process and then small writing assignments are given, usually paragraph in length, leading up to longer writing assignments.

Vocabulary
*Once every five weeks, students work through a specific vocabulary lesson. The vocab lesson will have twenty words. The lesson is due on the last class of the week. There is no test for vocabulary.

Right now in grammar we are learning/reviewing capitalization and then we will move on to punctuation. If you have any questions, please let me know!

Welcome!

Please check this blog throughout the year to get a first-hand look of what the 6th graders are learning and working on in 6th grade English. I hope to update with pictures/videos of activities and projects but also links and videos to supplement homework and learning.

Please notice the tabs at the top of the page. I will be using them as a gathering place for information and links the students will need throughout the year.

Don't hesitate in asking any questions.