Narrative Writing

The sixth graders are working on writing a narrative paragraph that will lead to a narrative composition. There are five categories we are focusing on with the students.
1. Lead Sentence: introduces the narrative and states or hints at the main idea.
2. Support sentence 1: gives details that supports the main idea (tells what happens first) and EXPLAINS or ELABORATES.
3. Support sentence 2: gives details that supports the main idea (tells what happens second) and EXPLAINS or ELABORATES.
4. Support sentence 3: gives details that supports the main idea (tells what happens third) and EXPLAINS or ELABORATES.
5. Closing sentence: can tell the last event :(, OR exaplains what the writer thought/felt about the experience :), OR repeats the main idea in a new way.

New Math Unit

Today the sixth graders are taking a test on the first unit in math class. We will start unit 2 tomorrow.

This unit includes the following skills:

1. Measuring length-students will use a ruler to draw straight lines, and measure length using customary and metric units.
2. Perimeter and area- use different fomulas to find perimeter (P= 2l x 2w) and area (A=lw)
3. Scale drawings- use rulers to find actual lengths of objects adn use scale drawings to find actual lengths
4. Tables and line plots- students will read data from a table and draw number lines, and create and interpret frequency tables and line plots.
5. Bar graphs- will organize and disply data using frequency tables, and display data using bar graphs.
6. Line graphs- students will plot points on number lines and make bar graphs, and plot points on coordinate grids and make line graphs.
7. Circle graphs- students will interpret circle graphs and make predictions
8. Averages- will describe mean, median, mode, and range.

Extended Reading Response

Today the sixth grade students were re-introduced to the extended reading response. We will be continuing the format used at PV. The extended reading response can be found on the ISAT. The student will need to answer a prompt after reading a selection. The answer to the prompt is in an essay format. We will be continuing the format used at PV. The sixth graders will be practicing this format this week. The format is as follows:

1. Main idea
(Restate prompt)
2. Evidence
(Proof from text)
3. Interpretation
(explains hoe the evidence proves the main idea)
4. Evidence
(Proof from text)
5. Interpretation
(explains how the evidence proves the main idea)
6. Extension
(Restate Main Idea & What can you learn from the story?)

Magazine Drive

On Monday, all the students were introduced to our magazine drive to raise money for our PTO. The students have the chance to win so many amazing prizes. It's very exciting for them. Thursday is the first turn in day. The students can simply turn in completed postcards to send to family or friends in other states. There is no purchase necessary so it's the easiest way to wind a prize.

This Friday is the first day to turn in any magazine sales.

I have some sales I would love to give to the first student who asks. :)

Please encourage your child to tell you about this wonderful fund raiser.

Order of Operations

This week the sixth grade students reviewed the order of operations. We introduces the acronym PEMDAS (Please, Excuse, My, Dear, Aunt, Sally). It stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiply OR Divide, Add or Subtract. So far the student have only practiced problems with mixed up multiplication, division, addition, or subtraction (3 + 4 x 2) or 12 - 8 + 2). They are getting confused on problems that have division before multiplication. We are trying to tell the students to check for any multiplication or division first. If multiplication or division are in the problem, do which ever comes first. Be sure to finish up all multiplication and division problems before moving on to addition or subtraction. Again do which ever comes first.

In this problem for example:
24- 2 x 9 + 2
1. do 2 x 9 first =18
2. then 24 -18 = 6
3. lastly 6 + 2

The students should complete the problem working down and without equal signs. Please see math notes for clarification.