What Makes a Great Compare-Contrast Essay?

A compare-contrast essay compares similarities and contrasts the differences between two subjects.

Remember these guidelines when you write a compare-contrast essay.
1. Choose two subjects you can compare and contrast easily.
2. Write an engaging introduction that names your two subjects.
3. Compare and contrast corresponding details for each subject.
4. Select a method of organization, and stick to it from beginning to end.
5. Use topic sentences to state the main idea of paragraphs.
6. Use transitional words and phrases to compare and contrast.
7. Write a conclusion that sums up you main ideas in a satisfying way.

Adding and Subtracting Integers

The sixth graders are deep into the integer unit. Below are the rules for adding and subtracting integers.

Adding Integers:
1. Same Sign- add numbers and keep the sign
2. Different Sign- find the difference (subtract) and keep the sign of what you have more of

Subtracting Integers:
1. 1st number stays the same
2. Change subtraction to addition
3. Change the sign of the 2nd number
4. Follow the rules of addition.

Pronouns

Sixth grade students have entered the lovely world of PRONOUNS! This week we will be working with Subject, Object, and Possessive Pronouns. The students also took notes on the pronoun's antecedent. Here are some of the notes covered:

• A PRONOUN is a word that takes the place of one or more nouns.
• The ANTECEDENT is the noun that the pronoun refers to.

Subject Pronouns

• Singular- I, you, he, she, it
• Plural- we, you, they

Object Pronouns

• Singular- me, you, him, her, it
• Plural- us, you, them

Possessive Pronoun

• Used Before Nouns- my, your, his, her, its, our, their
• Used Alone- mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs

Tricky Contractions

• its- belongs to it OR it's- it is
• their- belongs to them OR they're- they are
• your- belongs to you OR you're- you are

Integers in Math

The sixth graders started INTEGERS this week.

Integers are whole numbers that can be less or more than zero. Zero is also an integer.

Negative integers are integers that are less than zero. (-2, -124, -12)
Positive integers are integers that are greater than zero. (3, 123, 13)

Words like profit, increase, and above are often used for positive integers.
Words like loss decrease, and below are used for negative integers.

Opposites are two numbers that are the same distance away from zero in opposite directions. (ex: -2 and 2 are opposite numbers)

Students can also compare integers using a number line.
for example:
1. -3 < 7
2. -6 < 0
3. 0 > -4
4. 5 > -7
6. -9 < 9
7. 1 > -5
8. -11> -12
9. -10 < 8
10. -15 > -16