ELA is on the Way!

The ELA Exam starts Wednesday, January 21! Make sure that you finish your ELA packet and that you keep reading over the break!

elapacket

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Homework Before and During Break

Students should keep reading--and keeping track of their reading--for the next Reading Reward Contest, which will be announced after break!

All classes will be given an ELA packet to complete during vacation. It will be due the first class back from break (January 5 for 6B, 6C, 6D; January 6 for 6A) and will count as two homework grades. (The packet will be graded for effort--if you try your best, you will get full credit!)

Have a happy and safe holiday!

Yo! ELA Raps!

Manuel performs a rap version of "Bad Poem" by Douglas Florian in the style of P. Diddy (or whatever he calls himself these days). Check out the tribute to Biggie Smalls at the end!

Take-Home Test!

The take-home test is due on Monday, December 22, for 6B, 6C, and 6D; it is due Tuesday, December 23, for 6A.

The test is posted below!

Take Home Test

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Homework assignments will be graded over break!

Homework Assignments for December

6B, 6C, 6D: These assignments will be collected on Monday, December 22.
6A: These assignments will be collected on Tuesday, December 23.

Assignments in Reader's and Writer's Notebook

* Re-write definitions from plot mountain.
* Pick a character from a book you are reading and make a stick figure character and physical trait chart. If your book does not have characters, please pick a person you know very well.
* Write a paragraph about the conflict in your book. Is it external or internal? How has it been foreshadowed by the author?
* Identify theme of independent reading book and give evidence for why you think it's the theme.

"Loose" assignments (please place in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook)

* Find a newspaper article (it can be short). Underline the main idea in each paragraph.
* Underline the main idea in every paragraph of the Barack Obama article.
* Complete the Context Clue Organizer with words from "The Manatee" article.

These are the ideas you'll need to know for the take-home test!

plot
setting
character
exposition
rising action
falling action
resolution
setting
foreshadowing
conflict
external conflict
internal conflict
major (main) characters
minor characters
character trait
physical trait
evidence
theme
poetry

prose
line
stanza
tone
metaphor
simile
symbol

main idea
fact and opinion
context clues
inferences

SQ4R

Take-home Test Coming Up!

Read for 30-6o minutes. (Keep track on your reading log sheets--these will count toward the next contest!)

Study your pages of literary terms, which should be written in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook.  I will give you a test to take home on Friday. It will NOT be a test of definitions. Instead, you will be asked to SHOW your knowledge of the literary terms and concepts we have covered in class over the past few weeks. The test is due on Monday, December 22, for 6B, 6C, and 6D; 6A will turn in the test on Tuesday, December 23. This test counts as a major project grade!

A list of the words will be posted soon!

"A Noise in the Night" and "Lucky Byrd" in Packet

Finish answering questions to "A  Noise in the Night" (in the packet). Then read "Lucky Byrd Instead of Lucky Lindy" in the packet and answer questions. 6B, 6D: due Wednesday, December 17; 6A, 6C: due Friday, December 19.

Keep reading for the contest! Last day to collect reading logs for party: Thursday, December 18!

Read!

Read for at least 15-30 minutes and mark your reading logs! (Last day to turn in sheets for the party is Thursday, December 18; invitations will be given out on December 19 during living group!)

Read (and maybe get to attend a nice breakfast)!

Read for 30-60 minutes. Keep filling out your reading logs! Last day to turn in reading logs to qualify for the Reading Breakfast with Ms. Megan and Ms. Xeni is Thursday, December 18!

Context Clue Homework

Read for 15-30 min. Find at least three words in your independent reading book. Using the context clue organizer format, use context clues to figure out the meanings. Then look up the meaning in the dictionary and compare with your own. (If you have internet access, try wordcentral.com, a great dictionary for middle school students!) 6B, 6D: due Thursday, December 11; 6A, 6C: due Friday, December 12.

If you prefer, you can define words from the manatee article. Here are some words you can pick:

• propel
• resembling
• navigation
• calf
• herding
• grazing
• surface
• envy

Context Clue PDF

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Keep Reading!

Read for 15-30 minutes. Keep track on your Reading Response Log!

Newspaper Article Main Idea Homework

Read for at least 15-30 minutes and mark your reading sheet (see below).

Also, find a newspaper article (it can be short). Underline the main idea in each paragraph or write it in if necessary. 6B, 6D: due Tuesday, December 9; 6A, 6C: due Wednesday, December 10.

Our NEW and IMPROVED Reading Program and Contest!

Ms. Megan and Ms. Xeni are delighted to introduce their NEW and IMPROVED Reading Program--which also happens to be a CONTEST!* Students will fill out a box on their reading log for every fifteen minutes they read. In each box, they must write at least a full sentence responding to the reading (for example, they can make text-to-self or text-to-text connections or jot down something the reading makes them think of or note a part that's confusing--among many options). Every student who fills 10 boxes by Friday, December 19, will be eligible to attend a congratulatory breakfast on Monday, December 22!

*This program takes the place of the old, not-so-easy-to-understand program. Extra credit will be given for any work completed for that program.

The Reading Response Log follows below. Hard copies are available in Room 103.

Reading Response Log

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