Homework for December 21-22

Due to the shortened week, the Home Reading Log is optional. Please use this as an opportunity to turn in missing Home Reading Logs and other past-due homework!

Monday: Please bring in the 5 Ws worksheet and the Slide Show Planner tomorrow. They will be collected as part of your Holocaust Slide Show project. The project itself, created on Google docs, should be shared with me at xfragakis@archimedesacademy.org by Tuesday, December 22.

Tuesday: A Vacation Packet will be handed out today. It should be completed by Monday, January 4.

Wednesday: This is a half-day with a modified schedule. ELA classes will not meet.

Homework for December 14-18

Home Reading Logs are due this Thursday!

Monday: Please complete the Mad Lib word list. Due tomorrow!

Tuesday: Continue your Home Reading Log.

Wednesday: Please complete your Presentation Graphic Organizer. Also, the Home Reading Log due tomorrow!

Thursday: If you have a computer, work on your Holocaust Biography project over the weekend.

Holocaust Biographies

Link to Holocaust Biographies

Wacky Web Tales (click on link below)

Click here for Wacky Web Tales

Homework for December 7-11

Home Reading Logs are NOT due this Thursday. If you have been keeping track on your HRL, you can turn it in for extra credit this week!

Monday: Please complete the Mad Libs homework. It will be passed out in class! Due Tuesday, December 8.

Tuesday: Finish the K and W columns on your K-W-L chart. (K=What you know about the Holocaust; W=What you want to know). Due Wednesday.

Brainiacs: Also, please start reading selection "What Will Happen to Me Now That the Nazis Are Here?" from Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.

Wednesday: No homework.

Thursday: Continue Home Reading Logs!

Homework for November 30-December 4

As always, the Home Reading Log should be completed EVERY DAY! It's due on Thursday!

Monday: Due Tuesday, December 1, for Masterminds, Geniuses, and Smarties: Please use the following 11 spelling words in a paragraph:

to
too (also)
two (the number)
threw (like a football)
through
son (someone’s child)
sun (gives off heat)
bored (nothing to do)
board (you write on this)
off (opposite of on)*
of*

Extra Words for Brainiacs: their, there, they're

Due Tuesday, December 1 for Brainiacs: Same assignment as for Masterminds, Geniuses, and Smarties but you must use the words in a very short story that includes all the elements of a plot (exposition, rising action, etc.).

Tuesday: Continue Home Reading Log. Complete Jeopardy Question worksheet.

Jeopardy Questions

Wednesday: Home Reading Log due tomorrow. Study for tomorrow's Vocabulary and Spelling Test! The vocabulary that will be tested is listed below. You should have the definitions in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook!

1. sentence
2. sentence fragment
3. horror
4. mystery
5. fantasy
6. science fiction
7. adventure
8. plot
9. exposition
10. rising action
11. climax
12. falling action
13. resolution
14. setting
15. conflict
16. foreshadowing
17. suspense
18. dialogue
19. transitions
20. thesaurus
21. synonym
22. antonym
23. figurative language*
24. metaphor*
25. simile*
*Brainiacs only

*Brainiacs only.

Thursday/Friday: Continue Home Reading Log over the weekend.

Homework for November 23-25

NOTE: The Home Reading Log for this week is due on TUESDAY, not Thursday, because of the shortened week!

Monday: Tomorrow, you must turn in the following assignments:
1) Final draft of short story or comic book.
2) Rough draft of short story or comic book.
3) Plot Mountain for your story or comic book.
4) Home Reading Log.

Tuesday: No homework. Enjoy your break!

Homework for November 16-20

Home Reading Logs are due, as always, on Thursday! Students should be reading every day!

Monday: Dialogue Punctuation Worksheet is due tomorrow. Also, please edit dialogue in your short stories.

Dialogue Punctuation Worksheet

Tuesday: Please revise the lead for your story.

Wednesday: HRL is due tomorrow.

Thursday/Friday: Revise short story/comic book using Peer Editing Checklist. REMINDER: Final draft of story is due on Tuesday, November 24.

Scary Story Rubric

Homework for November 9-13

Home Reading Log is due, as usual, on Thursday!

Monday: All classes should complete their "show, don't tell" charts for their Plot Mountain Charts. Students should take each bubble on their plot mountain and expand it by adding details that "show" instead of "tell." If the assignment is completed correctly, each bubble will be expanded into about a half-page on loose-leaf paper. The total assignment should yield at least 2-1/2 pages of writing on loose-leaf! The Exposition, Rising Action, and Climax bubbles are due on Tuesday, November 10.

Tuesday: Please complete the "show, don't tell" charts and include dialogue. Due Thursday, November 12.

Wednesday: No school. Home Reading Log due tomorrow.

Thursday: No homework except HRL.

Homework for November 2-6

Here are pumpkins that Ms. Xeni and her husband, Alex, carved this weekend!

The HOME READING LOG is due every week on THURSDAY. It should include summaries or observations for reading completed on Thursday, the weekend, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday!

Monday: Complete Fragment Correction Worksheet #2. Due Wednesday, November 4.

Tuesday: NO SCHOOL.

Wednesday: Write a first draft of your short story (it can be scary but does not have to be!) using the Plot Mountain graphic organizer. Even if you are planning to write a comic book, you need to complete this graphic organizer as your first step! Due Thursday, November 5.

Thursday: Masterminds, Geniuses, and Smarties: Read "The Hook" and write a new ending for it. (It should be at least one paragraph long.) Due Monday.

Brainiacs: Write two paragraphs comparing and contrasting the ending of the story version of "All Summer in a Day" and the ending of the movie version.

Homework for October 26-30

Monday: Homework for Masterminds, Geniuses, and Smarties: Complete 6-10 on p. 244 of Fragment Worksheet in Reader's and Writer's Notebook. Due Tuesday, October 27. Continue Home Reading Log.

Homework for Brainiacs: Complete Exercise 4, 1-10 on pp.245-246. Continue Home Reading Log.

Tuesday: Add all vocabulary from plot mountain worksheet to the vocabulary section of your Reader's and Writer's Notebook. Due tomorrow, Wednesday, October 28. Continue Home Reading Log.

Brainiacs: Also, please read "All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury.

Wednesday: Finish your Response to Literature paragraph. Continue Home Reading Log, which is due tomorrow, Thursday, October 30.

Thursday: Come up with three more "What if . . ." situations for homework. Due Monday, November 2.

Homework for October 19-23

Monday: No homework except to continue Home Reading Log.

Tuesday: Sentence Fragment Homework. Please complete Exercise 2, 1-10, on p. 242. Due Wednesday, October 21. Continue Home Reading Log.


Wednesday: Home Reading Log due tomorrow, October 22.

Thursday: Continue Home Reading Log.

Obama Poster Maker

Hey, Brainiacs (and other classes that might be interested)! Here's the Obama Poster Maker I mentioned. You can add any message you would like.

Obama Poster Maker

There's another web site where you can upload your own photo and make it look "Obamaish."

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Homework for October 13-16

Tuesday: Write ten sentences using the spelling words from the list below. The homework is due Wednesday, 10/14. Continue HRL. Vocabulary and Spelling Test on Monday, October 19.

Spelling Words
1. embarrassed
2. first
3. I [not i]
4. loose [not tight]
5. lose [not win]
6. problem
7. tired [sleepy]
8. tried [made an effort]
9. trouble
10. writing

Vocabulary
theme--an idea that keeps coming up in a book, movie, poem, etc.
nonfiction--a genre based on facts, real events, and real people
fiction--a genre that describes imaginary situations and people
realistic fiction--fiction that's like real life
autobiography--the story of a person's own life; this genre usually deals with many events]
memoir--a genre that deals with a specific event or time in a person's life
narrative--writing that tells a story
conflict--the problem in a story
sensory details--writing that uses the five senses
lead--the opening sentence or sentences in an article or story

Parts of a Paragraph:
topic sentence--tells what the main idea of the paragraph is
details--gives information that supports your main idea (there are usually three of these)
concluding sentence--reminds your reader what the paragraph really means


Wednesday: Continue HRL. Due tomorrow, 10/15. [Other homework may be posted.]

Thursday/Friday: Continue HRL. Study for Vocabulary and Spelling Test on Monday, October 19.

Book Wizard Link!

Here is a link to the Scholastic Book Wizard. You can find books similar to the books you already like using this link!

Scholastic Book Wizard

Homework for October 5-9

Monday: Write 3 leads for your memoir and choose one to add to your draft. Continue revising your draft. Bring draft with revised lead to class on Tuesday, October 6.

Five Kinds of Leads

Tuesday: Work on paragraphing; also, make any final cuts and additions to your draft. Due Wednesday, October 7.

Wednesday: Edit your draft. Editing should include corrections to spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and paragraphing. Due Thursday, October 8. HRL also due.

Thursday: Choose a title for your memoir. Prepare final copy of your memoir on loose-leaf, single-spaced. Due Friday, October 8. [PLEASE NOTE: Geniuses and Smarties do not have class on Friday. They MUST stll turn in the assignment by the end of school, FRIDAY!]

Memoir Rubric (2009-2010)

Friday: No homework except HRL. Congratulations on finishing your memoir!

Homework for September 29-October 2

Tuesday: Work on "Show, Don't Tell" charts in Reader's and Writer's Notebook for Top Bun Paragraph paragraph; due Wednesday, September 30. Continue Home Reading Log (HRL); due on Thursday, October 1.

Top Bun Paragraph

Tell Show Chart (Ms. Xeni's Example)

Wednesday: THIS IS A HEAVY HOMEWORK DAY--PLAN AHEAD! Work on "Show, Don't Tell" charts for Hamburger Patty Paragraph and Bottom Bun paragraph; both due Thursday, October 1. Continue Home Reading Log (HRL), also due Thursday, October 1.

Thursday: Add details from your Sensory Details Chart (which we'll work on in class) to all three of your Show, Don't Tell Charts. Then re-copy your revised charts onto loose-leaf, skipping a line between every line. This is due MONDAY, OCTOBER 5! It is VERY important--I repeat, VERY important--that you have it ready on Monday!

Sensory Details

Homework and Classwork for September 21-25

Monday: Continue Home Reading Log. Due Thursday, September 24. Pick an idea for your memoir and write down as many details about it as you can. You will need to be able to tell your partner the story tomorrow.

Tuesday: Finish Beginning-Middle-End Hamburger graphic organizer. Due Tuesday, September 22. (The organizer will be posted shortly!)

Hamburger Graphic Organizer

Wednesday: Continue Home Reading Log. Due tomorrow, Thursday, September 24. Use the paragraph graphic organizers to write the "top bun" paragraph for your memoir. Due Thursday, September 24.

Paragraph Graphic Organizer

Thursday: Continue Home Reading Log. Use the paragraph graphic organizers to write the "hamburger patty" and "bottom bun" paragraphs for your memoir. Due Tuesday, September 29.

Friday: See Thursday's homework.

Spelling Sites!

These are great sites for practicing spelling!

funbrain.com spelling: This site is good for practicing random words.

spellingcity.com: This site offers a great way to practice words that you know you have trouble with.

Homework for September 14-18

Monday: Students will be keeping weekly reading logs. The Home Reading Log is due every Thursday in class.

Home Reading Log

Tuesday: Continue keeping track of reading on the Home Reading Log.

Wednesday: Free write for one page in the Reader's and Writer's Notebook about a time you didn't fit in. Continue keeping track of reading on the Home Reading Log. (If you were not in class, complete a brainstorming web on the topic of "A Time I Didn't Fit In")

Brainstorming Web

Thursday: Continue reading and start new Home Reading Log sheet. Continue working on "Fitting In" story.

Friday: Continue keeping track of reading on the Home Reading Log.

Homework for September 9-11

Wednesday: Please return information sheet and bring in supplies no later than Monday, September 14.

Grade 6 ELA Information Sheet

The supplies are as follows:
2 marble composition books
pens (black or blue ink) and pencils
1 two-pocket folder
loose-leaf paper



Thursday: Please bring in an independent reading book no later than Monday, September 14.

"That's how we handle things."

Ms. Xeni's living group, the Hopper Girls, had advice to give to next year's seventh graders.

Homework for June 22-26

No homework this week EXCEPT to bring in any books you borrowed from the classroom library or from Ms. Xeni this year!

Homework for June 15-19

PLEASE NOTE!!! The Book Trailer Project is due Thursday, June 18. It must be emailed to Ms. Xeni (see instructions below) no later than 9 PM on June 18. Homework is to work on the project.

Projects should be emailed to Ms. Xeni at xfragakis@archimedesacademy.org any time on Wednesday, June 17. (If you need an extension, please speak to Ms. Xeni as soon as possible.)

Instructions for Sharing Your Book Trailer with Ms. Xeni

When you are completely done with your Book Trailer . . .

1)Click Preview/Save one last time and make sure the version you want to send has been saved!

2)Click on Publish.

3)Name the book trailer whatever you want.

4)Click the “Public” button.

5)Click the “Send to” button.

6)Write xfragakis@archimedesacademy.org in the email box.

7)Click Send!

JayCut.com Instructions!

Jay Cut Instructions

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Homework June 8-12

Day 1: Work on your book trailer at home, tech, or AIS. You should have uploaded all your photos and music and completed all your text slides. (For 6C, skip to Day 2 homework.)

Day 2: Please arrange all your photos, text slides, and music in JayCut.com. You should be done uploading photos, creating text slides, and uploading music at this point!

Day 3: If you have internet access, continue using JayCut.com to add transitions and effects to your book trailer. If you are behind, ask your AIS teacher or tech teacher whether you can use the computer to work on the project.

Day 4: Please edit any confusing sections and add finishing touches to your book trailer.

Homework for June 1-5

Day 1: Complete Storyboard Worksheet 2. (You will revise the first storyboard on these sheets.) Due next class.

Storyboard 2 Files

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Day 2: Work on uploading photos in jaycut.com if you have internet access at home. If you are behind on your storyboards, please complete these.

Link to jaycut.com

Day 3: Work on creating text slides in jaycut.com if you have internet access at home. If you are behind on your storyboards, please complete these.

Day 4 (6C only): Work on creating transitions if you have internet access at home.

Homework for May 26-29

Day 1: Please complete the "picture" boxes on the Storyboard Worksheet. You must describe and/or draw TEN pictures that you would might include in your book trailer. (They don't have to be in order yet!)

storyboardmsxeni

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Day 2: Please complete TEN text boxes on your Storyboard Worksheet. 

Also, study for the test on Day 3! It will be an open-book, open-note test on your literature circle book. You will be tested on many topics, including:

Audience

Mood

Theme

Characters

Setting

Events

Sequence

Conflict/Problem

Solution

Day 3: No homework. Finish Storyboard Worksheet if necessary.

Homework for May 18-22

Day 1: Just a reminder that these assignments will be collected on Thursday (6B and 6D) or Friday (6A and 6C): 1) second visualization worksheet (where you picture a conflict in your book), 2) one page about a commercial or other advertisement, and 3) a list of 3 songs for movie soundtrack for your book. (For more details, see the homework descriptions for last week!)

Day 2: Complete the chart below.

Retelling Chart

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Day 3: Finish a one-page retelling of your book in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook or on looseleaf. Your retelling should be . . .

. . . be about a page long.

. . . include the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution.

. . .  tell the story in sequence.

. . . use transitions (first, then, afterward, later on, etc.).

Day 4: No homework.

REMINDER!!! The test next week will be on Thursday, May 28, for 6B and 6D and on Friday, May 29, for 6A and 6C.

Accidents Can Be Funny

Here's a very amusing comic book by sixth grader Diana Marino. Do you recognize anyone?

Diana Comic School

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Book Trailer Link

Click on the link below to view some student-created book trailers.

Book Trailer Link

NEW LATE WORK POLICY

Dear students and parents:

I am revising the late work policy in ELA. As of May 18, late work will not be accepted if it is turned in more than 5 school days after the due date. Please make a note of this change.

If a student is absent from school, I will make exceptions to the 5-day rule. These students should make sure to get any missed assignments from me and/or the class blog immediately upon their return to school. I will make arrangements for an appropriate due date.

If you have any questions about this policy, please feel free to get in touch with me.

Homework for May 11-15

REMINDER: Homework for the past two weeks is due on Monday, May 11. Here are the assignments that should be turned in:

• Two paragraphs comparing and contrasting yourself to Walter Dean Myers.
• Paragraph describing the setting in your book.
• Letter of Advice to a main character in your book.
• Paragraph about a theme in your book.
• Visualization worksheet.

Day 1: Finish your conflict visualization worksheet. You will be tested on your book at the end of next week. If you are falling behind, please let me know in class or by email TODAY.

Visualization

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Day 2: Watch a television commercial tonight. Write a page in which you describe the product, who you think the audience for the product is, and what in the commercial would make the product attractive to that audience.

Day 3: Please make a list of at least three songs that you would use in a movie version of your book. Explain why they match the theme and/or content of your book.

Day 4: No homework.

Homework for May 4-8

Day 1: Name at least one theme in your book (you can pick from the list we saw in class). What has happened in the book to make you think this is the theme? (1/2 page in Reader's and Writer's Notebook)

Some possible themes (posted per Gerardo's request):

• Growing up is hard to do.
• It can be difficult to fit in.
• Sometimes you have to have the courage to stand up for what you believe in.
• Friendship can be complicated.
• It’s important to be loyal to your family.
• Lying can lead to problems.
• Trust your friends.
• Don't let bad people influence you.

Day 2: No homework. Use this night to make up any missing assignments in the Reader's and Writer's Notebook, which will be graded next week.

Day 3: Please finish casting your book. For this assignment, you should pretend you are directing a movie version of your literature circle book. You should cast at least 5 roles and explain why you cast these people/actors in these roles. (at least 1 page in the Reader's and Writer's Notebook)

Day 4: NOTE: This assignment has been changed! For homework this weekend, please complete any of the following assignments that you have missed. They will be collected on Monday, May 11. Please place any loose papers neatly in your Reader's and Writer's Notebook. If you do not have a Reader's and Writer's Notebook, all work must be stapled and each page must have your name and class on it. The assignments are:

c Paragraph describing setting in your book.

c Letter of Advice to a main character in your book.

c Paragraph about a theme in your book.

c Cast for your book, plus explanation.

c Visualization worksheet.

Homework for April 27-May 1

Day 1: In your Reader's and Writer's Notebook, write one paragraph describing the setting in your book. Write another paragraph explaining how you think the setting might affect the characters.

Day 2: No HW.

Day 3: Bring a poem or song lyrics for "Poem in Your Pocket Day"!

Day 4: Finish your letter to the main character in your book. 

•Write a letter to the main character in your book. In your letter, you must give your character advice about how to deal with the problem or problems he or she is facing.
•Your letter must be 1) at least a half-page in your Reader’s and Writer’s Notebook, 2) name the character, 3) give advice, and 4) identify the problem/conflict the character is facing.

Walter Dean Myers Web Sites

For this in-class activity, each pair of students will research Walter Dean Myers on the internet. The assignment follows below:

1) Read the biography of Walter Dean Myers at http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-myers-walterdean.asp. Write three facts that you consider important or interesting about Walter Dean Myers's childhood.

2) Go to http://www.adlit.org/second_chances. Listen to at least one interview with Walter Dean Myers. Write down the title of the interview and two interesting or important facts from the interview.

Homework for April 20-24

Day 1: No HW.

Day 2: No HW.

Day 3: In your Reader's and Writer's Notebook, please write two paragraphs. In one paragraph, explain how you are like Walter Dean Myers (pictured above). In another paragraph, explain how you are different from him.

In class, we will complete an on-line activity in which we research information about Walter Dean Myers. This assignment will soon be posted  on the blog.

Day 4: No HW.

Homework for April 6-8

Day 1: No HW. If you are out, however, you must make sure to complete the Hot Seat Activity Worksheets 1 and 2!

Day 2: No HW.

Day 3: No HW over the break. Have a great vacation!

Help a Friend!

If you know someone who can't see my blog, tell them to update their Internet Explorer 7 web browser to Internet Explorer 8. All they have to do is a Google search for "Internet Explorer 8," then click on the first link that comes up!

Here's the link, in case you need it!

Link to Internet Explorer 8 Download

Firefox works, too. If you need that link, let me know!

Homework for March 30-April 3

Day 1: Possessives 3 Worksheet. Due next class.

Possessives 3

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Day 2: No HW.

Day 3: No HW. 

Day 4: Complete Hot Seat Worksheet 2 for homework. Due next class. This counts toward your MAJOR PROJECT grade! Make sure you complete it!

Hot Seat Worksheet 1 will be completed in class. Hot Seat Worksheet 2 is for homework. Both will be posted shortly.

Hot Seat 1 and 2 PDF

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