This is a reminder that Compass Odyssey is due on December 2nd.  Please make sure you complete this as soon as possible.  There are sometimes instances when the website is unavailable.  If you wait until the very last minute and then the website does not work, I can not be held responsible.  Do a little bit every day and it will not seem like a lot.

We are continuing to work on The Giver and assignments related to the novel in class.  Today, students took a pop quiz on chapters 3-5.  This will not be the last pop quiz, so make sure you are paying attention and completing assignments!

Thanksgiving Break Homework

Don't forget that you may purchase a copy of The Giver if you want to have your own copy.  This might be very helpful to you as we work on assignments (and sometimes don't finish them in class).  It is not required to purchase a copy because we will be reading in class from a set.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, you were given (B day will be given) a packet that contained instructions to read Chapters 4 and 5.  While reading the two chapters, make sure you annotate the text with interesting observations, comments, or questions you might have.  This "conversation" with the text can help you become a better, more active, reader.  After reading, complete the compare and contrast activity.  You should be able to fill most of this out without the book and simply from memory alone.  Of course, if you have your own copy or go to the library to get the book, there should be no excuse for not doing the work.

Additionally, if you did not finish the questions for Chapters 1 and 2, these should be completed and turned in at the same time you turn in the packet (November 27/28).

Compass Odyssey is due December 2nd!!!!  Don't forget that this will count as two different grades.

Progress Reports will go home next week.  I will be grading papers like crazy over the next few days so that I can update the grades.  Thank you for your patience in this matter : )

Finally, cold season is in full swing, and sniffly noses are running all over the place.  Our tissue supply is low, so we would greatly appreciate donations of tissue (we have enough hand sanitizer, I believe).   We will also always accept donations of copy paper, in any color.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Odyssey assignment

Please check Compass Odyssey for an assignment for November for Language Arts.  When you enter Odyssey, click on "Language Arts" (there will be a yellow circle around it).  You are to complete all of the activities you see in that folder.  You will receive a grade for completion and a grade for accuracy.

Note:  I did not inform my A day classes of this assignment today, nor will my B day class officially find out tomorrow.  Officially, this assignment will be given out next week (Tuesday and Wednesday).  If you see this post before then, feel free to get a head start and begin working on the assignment this weekend.

This should be completed by Sunday, December 2nd at midnight.  I will not accept the work any later than that!

2nd Quarter Beginnings

I hope the second quarter had a great start for everyone!  I apologize for not updating my blog, but there really hasn't been homework : )

I have a few things to grade over the next couple of days, so my grades will be updated soon.  These first few grades will be telling as to which students are keeping up with work and which students need to refocus.  A busy time of the year is approaching for everyone, so now is a great time to really get organized and prioritize your tasks.

Next week, students will take the post test for Unit 2.  Studying notes and work from this unit (compare and contrast, conflict, and character) will most certainly help on test day.

Also next week is the school spelling bee.  Congratulations to my students that made the school bee:
K.B, L.F., J.E., A.F., and S.D.  Good luck next Thursday!

1A and 2A homework and EXTRA CREDIT

1A and 2A - Both classes need to finish the extended response for "Nadia the Willful" and "Tuesday of the Other June."  The response is as follows, if you lost it...

Extended Response – Compare and Contrast Character and Conflict

The characters of Nadia (“Nadia the Willful” pg. 336) and June (“Tuesdays of the Other June” pg.204) both deal with some sort of fear and conflict.  Identify the similarities and differences between the two girls and write to explain how the characters first perceived and then resolved the conflicts they faced.  Then, explain how you would have perceived and resolved one of their conflicts differently, or explain why you would have reacted the same way.

Note:  Unlike typical extended responses, you may write your response in three or more paragraphs that connect to each other (for example, write about Nadia, then June, then yourself).

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY: 

Complete the following for 50 extra credit points to be added into the gradebook.  These points will go into the grades wherever you need points.  For example, let’s say you never did one of the summer reading assignments.  The extra credit would go into that grade to make up for it.  If you only have a few points missing here and there, I will insert points until there are no points left that could be made up. 

Choose one of the poets we have read so far (Eve Merriam, Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson,    Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, Billy Collins, Pat Mora, or Alice Walker) and find out about the poet.  Write a page that tells about the person and his or her life.  Make sure you cite where you found the information.  Then, find one of his or her other poems (one we have not read).  Print the poem and analyze it, much as we do in class, looking for figurative language, words you don’t know or questions you have, interesting points, vivid images, etc.

You must have both of the above elements in order to receive the extra credit.  In other words, if you just do the biography and not the poetry analysis, you will not receive points.

This is due on  October 22 (A) and October 23 (B), same day the reading logs are due!

Don't forget...Amnesty day is Thursday, October 18 (A) and Friday, October 19 (B).

1A, 2A, 5B, 6B - No Homework
7B - Finish the Extended response revisions for "All Summer in a Day."  This is something we were never able to get to a couple of weeks ago.  Students have the opportunity to improve their paragraphs or to write the response if they never wrote it before.  If they do not revise the paper, never turn one in, or turn in a new response that is equal to the score they previously received, the grade will not change.  Please refer to the Extended Response guidelines I gave to the students today for help.


Check the previous post for important dates!  I will have extra credit posted soon...

Grades and upcoming dates

I have just posted the grades for the Unit 1 post test.  I removed four of the questions and entered in grades that reflect that.  Numbers 4 and 5 were standards that were not tested on the baseline, number 6 was more of an opinion, and number 15 did not have an entirely correct answer choice.

Amnesty day will be Thursday, October 18 (A) and Friday, October 19 (B).  On amnesty day, you will be able to complete up to three of your missing assignments for half credit, based on the score you receive.  For example, if you missed an assignment that was worth 50 points, you may only receive 25 points back, IF EVERYTHING IS DONE CORRECTLY.  You must bring work that you are missing with you.  I do not have extra copies of worksheets.  Those were your responsibility to maintain.  I will give instructions again, as needed, for certain assignments.

Reading Logs will be due on Monday, October 22 (A) and Tuesday, October 23 (B).  This will give me a couple of days to put the grades into the gradebook before report cards.  This is a 100 point assignment, so make sure you bring your log with you!

A day students - no homework this weekend besides reading!  Oh, and study for the Unit 1 Post Test that we will take on Tuesday (figurative language and making inferences).

5B - Finish reading "Same Song" and "Without Commercials" and make an inference at the end of line 85.  Also, make inferences using the questions labeled with the "G" and "H," as well as #s 4, 5, and 6 on page 397.  We will take the Unit 1 Post Test on Wednesday.

6B - Complete your alliteration paragraph.  You need twenty words that have the same sound as your name (first, middle, or last) and then you need to compose a paragraph that mostly uses that same sound.  Try to make your paragraph make more sense.  We will take the Unit 1 Post Test on Wednesday.

7B - No homework besides reading.  We will have a lot of work to cover on Wednesday, so come to class prepared to buckle down and work!

1A and 2A Homework - Finish your alliteration "tongue twisters"/paragraphs for next class.
5B - Tomorrow, you should turn in your revised extended responses from "All Summer in a Day."  If you never turned one in, this also gave you an opportunity to make up that grade.  For Thursday, you will create an alliteration paragraph (you will receive instructions tomorrow).
6B - Hyperbole homework is due tomorrow.  In class, we will work on revising the extended responses from "All Summer in a Day."  We will talk about what a good extended response should look like and model ours after the example.  If you never turned in a response, you will have the opportunity to write one tomorrow.
7B - Last class, we worked in groups to analyze three poems in the exploratory journals.  You should have made it to the extended response on personification, as well, but I understand that some did not make it there.  We will work on those tomorrow, as well as on hyperbole.  You will most likely receive homework on hyperbole tomorrow, to be due Thursday.

Gradebook Change

While updating grades today, I realized that I needed to make a change to the gradebook.  I had decided to begin the year by making the gradebook weighted, so that assignments as a whole were worth more than tests, for example.  I was under the impression that individual assignments under each category would be weighted within the category, depending on the number of points given.  However, each assignment in a category is given the same weight, so that a 10 point assignment ends up being the same as a 50 point assignment.  I don't like that, so I'm going back to a points-based system.  Each assignment that has more points will be worth more in the gradebook.  As a whole, this should improve most grades at the moment.

Sorry for the confusion!

Please follow the homework for your class (some classes are at different points):

1A/2A/5B - You received a worksheet on personification last class.  There are two parts to the worksheet and it is due on Friday (for A day students) or next Monday (for B day students).

6B - Finish your reflections for "All Summer in a Day."  Don't forget that you need to answer everything the prompt asks (see the last post for the prompt) and give support!

7B - Finish filling in the similes and metaphors chart for "All Summer in a Day."  We found all of the similes and metaphors...you just need to finish explaining what they mean.  Also, you need to complete the reflection for "All Summer in a Day" (see the last post for the prompt).  This is an extended response, so you should fill up most of one page with your thoughts and support for  your thoughts.

**Don't forget that I do not accept late work.  Some of you have already discovered this firsthand and your grades will, unfortunately, suffer a bit because of it.  Please make sure you have everything ready to be turned in AND WITH YOU (not "at home") when I ask for it.  Stay organized by keeping a notebook.  I gave you instructions for organizing your notebook on Day 1!

Grades are now updated!  You will notice that I put in your Unit 1 Baseline grade, but I saved it as "uncalculated."  This means that it should show up when you look at your grades, but it is not factored into your grade.  The post test WILL be factored in.  I also added two points to anyone who turned in BOTH the essay and the book in a bag within the first two days of school.  You will see those two points added to the book in a bag grade (52/50 points).

Over the past two days, we have begun studying similes and metaphors by reading "All Summer in a Day," by Ray Bradbury.  We also began our exploratory journals with the poem, "How to Eat a Poem," by Eve Merriam.  A-day students received homework today, as follows.  B-day students will receive this homework tomorrow (A-day: due Monday, B-day: due Tuesday):

1.  Finish your extended response reflection for "All Summer in a Day."  The prompt is as follows...

What do you think Margot will do once the other children let her out of the closet?  How will she feel?  Be specific!  How would you feel if you had waited for something for so long – and you wanted it so much that your life nearly depends on it – only to have that thing taken away from you?

Your papers should NOT look like this:

Margot will be sad and mad.  I would be sad and mad because that would not be fun.

2.  Complete the Similes and Metaphors handout that you received in class.
3.  As always, add to your reading logs by reading every day.

Here is a copy of the reading log, via scribd.com:

Reading Log for Mrs. Fifield
http://www.scribd.com/doc/105141162

Paperwork, etc.

Parents:  The following items were sent out for your review over the past four days:
---My curriculum paper (please sign and send back with your student)
---Important Information (a white piece of paper)
---The Million Word essay

Please make sure you read over all of those items to ensure that your child has the correct supplies and knows the procedures.  Please email me the million word essay whenever you get a chance.  These are very helpful for me while getting to know the students.

All classes except my 7th period have also received the Reading Logs and should start working on those this weekend to get a head start on the thousand page requirement.

Summer reading assignments, if they have not been turned in already, are due the Tuesday (A day) and Wednesday (B day) after Labor Day.

Tomorrow and Monday, we will take the first baseline assessment of the year for Unit 1.

Summer Reading Assignment and Books

All students should have been working on their summer reading assignments over the summer break.  The requirements are on the JLCP website if you have not seen them yet.  The summer reading assignment may be turned in on the first day of school (A and B days). There may be a bit of a reward for turning the assignment in on the first two days because that shows that you were proactive!  However, it is officially due no later than September 4th (A day) and September 5th (B day).  I will NOT take any after those days.

On another note, I have a class set of Literature books this year, so you do not need to bring the copy you received at orientation back to school.  If you left the book in your locker, you may go ahead and take it home after the first day.

Please see the previous post to ensure you have all of the necessary supplies!  I look forward to seeing everyone bright and early on Monday!

Supply List 2012-2013

Attention new students and parents:  Please use the following supply list when purchasing new school supplies.  This is also listed on the JLCP website.   Have fun shopping!

Fifield Supply List 2012

Final Grades are posted! Please note that extra credit is marked under each of your assignments. You may also notice that I gave everyone the four points for the hall passes, even if you already used them, because I forgot my attendance sheet (where I keep up with hall passes) at school. So, my gift to you is that you all get those four points. After everything was added in, I also went ahead and dropped one of your low grades IF you had below a B. Final exam grades are also posted.

It has been a wonderful year teaching everyone! I hope you have a safe and exciting summer vacation! See you next year...

Reading Logs

Since we have had less time for the fourth quarter and we have been so busy with other things, I am only requiring 750 pages to be read. The assignment will be worth 75 points in the gradebook, so if you have only read 600 pages, for example, your grade will be a 60/75. I will collect your logs next Tuesday and Wednesday (the 29th and 30th), so don't forget them.

Also, all classroom library books must be turned in by these days. There are many of you who still have books out...most of which are overdue. Do not forget that when you signed the syllabus at the beginning of the year, you agreed to be held responsible for any books that are lost or stolen. If you know you lost the book, go ahead and purchase a new copy of the book (or a similar book of equal value) and give it to me to make up for the one you lost. There have been quite a few items that have been broken or stolen from my room over the year --- do not let my books be one of those things! You go to a school of leadership; please show that with your actions. Parents, all of my books have "Fifield" or "Hollo" written on the edges. If you see a book with this on it, please send it with your student.

Don't forget, the FOCUS extra credit work is due this Thursday and Friday!

Parents: Progress reports go home today, so make sure you ask for them!

Students: I have told A day (and will tell B day tomorrow) about the homework assignments and extra credit. The assignments are as follows:

Go to www.florida-achieves.com and you will see FCAT Explorer on the left and FOCUS on the right. Log on to FOCUS using your FCAT explorer information.

In the middle of the screen, you will see activities to complete for Reading/Language Arts. You are to read the passages and answer the questions by clicking on the bubbles. Additionally, you must turn in your answers on notebook paper, along with a SPECIFIC explanation as to where you found your answer. For example, if a question asks "Which word best describes the mood of the story?" and you choose A: Gloomy, your explanation might look like this:

The answer is "gloomy" because line 3 states that the weather is "dark, with giant stormclouds on the horizon." Additionally, line 12 describes the character as having a "tear-streaked, gray face" because of the discovery that her best friend has died.

In class: You will work with a partner to complete CAUSE AND EFFECT, TEXT STRUCTURES / ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS, ANALYZE WORDS IN TEXT, AND FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE. Please remember that since you will be logged into only one person's account to complete the assignment, the other person will need to log in separately and fill in his or her answers.

For homework: You will individually complete AUTHOR'S PERSPECTIVE, AUTHOR'S PURPOSE, CONTEXT CLUES, MAIN IDEA, AND PLOT DEVELOPMENT. This is due on May 18 (A day) and May 21 (B day).

For extra credit: You may complete any of the other assessments for 10 points extra credit each. I will accept up to 100 points (so, 10 extra assignments), to be added into your grade where needed. If you only turn in one, you will receive 10 points; turn in 2, 20 points, etc. This is due no later than May 24 (A day) and May 25 (B day).

What a crazy couple of weeks we have had : ) 1A and 3A - You should have worked on the yellow workbooks in class and have received notes (taken notes) on Points of view. Your homework for over the weekend is to do the reader's workshop on pages 176-181. You are to read and answer questions in the margins. 4B, 5B, 6B - You also should have worked on the yellow workbooks in class, but you have not yet had the lesson on point of view. Your homework is to finish the author's perspective assignment. After illustrating the four points of view (what your parents think, what your friends think, what you think/wish, and what really happens), you are to write a paragraph from each perspective. Cut out the four squares of your drawings on three sides so that it forms a flap. Then, glue a blank sheet of computer paper onto the other side so that there is space for your paragraphs. Copy the paragraphs onto the paper so that when you flip up the drawings, the perspective is written under them. FCAT Explorer is due today! Please make sure you finish that for your two grades. I am working on adding grades to the gradebook. I should get it updated at some point this weekend. I wanted to make sure I had a few grades before putting them in. Parents: Flyers went home today regarding "Mom and me" lunch, World of Nations, and Spring Pictures. Progress Reports are coming soon... Have a wonderful weekend!

FCAT Explorer, etc.

In case you lost your username, it is your last name, 1st initial (ALL CAPS). Your password is the number 16, the first four letters of your last name, then your birthday (ALL CAPS). For example, if your name is John Smith and your birthday is April 2nd, your username would be SMITHJ and your password would be 16SMIT0402.

You should have 100% of the program completed by Friday, April 27th. Keep in mind that you have had since before Spring Break to work on these items. Many of you have not so far shown that you have taken my constant reminders (both verbally and on the board) seriously. When you have read all of the following stories and completed the questions, you have done 100% of the program:

--Coyote Folktales
--The Shadow
--Individual Medley
--The Sky King's Turtle
--The Cave
--Emily's Story
--Sawadee Krup
--An Unknown Land
--The Arnum Cove Mystery
--The River Snake
--The Responsibility of Pet Ownership
--An Outdoor Classroom
--Read Treasure Island
--The Merlin Family
--6th Graders in Space
--Lefties
--SQUID: Aliens on Earth?
--Saving Frogs Helps Humans
--Spotlight on Hiking
--Sinkholes
--Space Exploration is Worthwhile
--Game On
--An Interview with Mary Lescher
--Pocahontas
--The List
--Visit Florida Caverns
--Back on Track

I will count the FCAT explorer work as two grades. The first grade will be completion. If you completed 100% of the program, you will have a nice 100% in the gradebook. If you completed only 65% of the program, for example, you will receive a 65% in the gradebook. Unfortunately, you cannot see a percentage, but you can keep up with which stories you have read. Basically, keep going until it tells you that you are finished. I have heard of students completing the program over a weekend, so this is feasible!

The other way the FCAT explorer work will be graded is by the actual grade – the amount you get correct. For example, if you get 60% correct without instructional help AND 20% correct with instructional help, but you also get 20% incorrect after instructional help, your grade in my gradebook will be an 80%.


*On another note, 4B and 6B…I forgot to put the answers to the second test online over the weekend, so we will work on that in class. Don’t fret!
*Please remember to bring your textbooks to class! I am sure that your classmates do not like sharing, especially when taking quizzes.
*Make sure you are doing your test corrections – these count as a separate grade from your test and are to be the first grades of the new quarter.
*Do not make the same mistakes in this fourth and final quarter! Make sure you use your agenda every day, make sure you check the boards and the blogs, always pay attention, and get your work turned in on time!

Reading Logs will be due 3/29 (A Day) and 3/30 (B Day)! Don't forget this important item! Also, make sure you are working on FCAT Explorer over the break! This will give you some good practice in both FCAT skills AND working on the computer. We want to do everything we can to make this year's FCAT a successful one! This will count in the gradebook. I will post on the blog in the next couple days to let you know exactly what I'm looking for.

I will still gladly take donations of construction paper and/or cardstock! Thank you to those that have already donated.

Just as a reminder, the author's purpose paragraphs are due tomorrow (A day) or Thursday (B day). For this assignment, you were to write three different paragraphs about your favorite food. That first paragraph should persuade someone else to eat the food, the second paragraph should simply inform the reader about the food, and the last paragraph should be an entertaining story about the food, or present the food in an entertaining way.

The Ides of March extra credit assignment is due on Thursday, March 15th. Please scroll down to see the instructions.

Parents, I sent home progress reports the last two days. Please make sure you take a look at it, sign it, and return with your student. This is a small assignment for the gradebook.

Finally, if anyone would be willing to donate construction paper, I will gladly take some. I am running very low. Multicolored cardstock is also a useful material to have on hand. Thank you in advance for the donations!

Homework for 4B – Finish the movie clips handout (the back). This is due next class!
5B and 6B – Finish your mood and tone stories! We will staple them to the construction paper next class (a really short class due to testing and early release) and then work on the collages on Friday.

***Check the previous post for an extra credit opportunity and make sure you are keeping up with your reading logs!

Extra Credit for the Third Quarter

The end of the third quarter is rapidly approaching, so you might want to take advantage of the following extra credit:

In order to earn 50 points extra credit, to be placed into your grade wherever needed, complete the following assignment:
Research the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March.” Write a one page essay explaining:
• What the phrase means
• Where it comes from
• Who said it
• The historical context of the phrase (why is it significant?)

You need to include a works cited page that shows where you got your information. No Wikipedia, please!

Please understand that if you do not need the 50 points, the credit will not be placed on top of your grade, only where you are missing points.

Due no later than Thursday, March 15th!

Students today and tomorrow should finish up the Movie clips worksheet (focusing on mood, tone, and imagery) that they received in class today (or will get tomorrow on B day). We have just started Units 5 and 6, which focus on mood, tone, imagery, author's purpose/perspective, and main idea.

If you were absent on Thursday or Friday of last week, please see me about making up the baseline assessment that you missed!

Reading logs should have about 500 pages logged by now!

B day students: Here is the assignment for today. You should finish this for homework if you did not already finish. Due Wednesday, along with the work we did during the story (finding the clues to historical fiction and clues to theme).

• Draw a plot mountain and fill it up with events from “The Dog of Pompeii.” You might want to start with the climax of the story and work from there. You should have at least five events for rising action and two events for falling action.
• On page 325, do questions 4, 5, 7, and 8. Write in complete sentences.
• You can next either:
o Do the “Create a Dialogue” assignment at the top of page 327. The dialogue should be between Tito and Bimbo and should be at least a page long (front of a piece of paper). Remember that dialogue in a book or story is very rarely just dialogue; you should have some narrative information, as well.
o OR, continue the story where it leaves off with Tito. Now that he has been taken away by boat, without Bimbo, what will his life be like? What happens next? Note that this is not an alternate ending to the story, but a continuation of Tito’s story. This should be at least a page long.

A day students should finish their work for "The Dog of Pompeii." The work was to answer numbers 4, 5, 7, and 8 on page 325. Then, they were to create a dialogue between Bimbo and Tito (see directions on page 327 where it says "Short Response - Create a Dialogue") OR continue the story from where Tito calls out for Bimbo. This is not an alternate ending to the story, but a continuation of Tito's story. Each of these should be at least a page long. B day students have not received this assingment yet, and may have a slightly different one, so should not begin until given instructions to do so on Monday.

Additionally, thank you to everyone who donated magazines. We now have plenty to use in different activities and do not need more!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Here is the reading log link, once again.

Extra Credit Opportunity!

Even though the third quarter just began, it is nice to have some extra credit in your back pocket. Bring in any appropriate, old magazines that you or your parents don't want anymore and you will get one point for each one (up to 10 points). These points will be added in as needed. In other words, they will not go on top of your grade like the hall pass extra credit does at the end of the quarter, but will be used to make up points that you are missing. I will keep track of how many extra credit points you have earned. Feel free to bring in more than 10 magazines, even though you won't get credit for them! I am hoping to do an activity with them soon...

A day students should have worked on the plot mountain and "comic" for "The School Play" over the weekend, and B day students will receive that assignment today. Reading logs are due today for B day students and tomorrow for A day students. This is a significant portion of your grade! Extra credit for unused hall passes will be applied by the end of the day on Thursday (when I finalize my grades). Hall passes will begin again on Monday. You will also start new team time groups on Monday.

Just a reminder that reading logs are due on Tuesday, January 17th (B day) and Wednesday, January 18th (A day). Please utilize the 3 day weekend to catch up with your reading. This is a LARGE percentage of your grade because it is an ongoing assignment throughout the entire quarter. Don't forget!

Extra Credit

Since winter break is over, the way to find the winter break packet is a little differnt. Now, on the home page for duval schools, scroll down the page until you see the "Fast find." Search for "winter packets." Click on the first search result and that will take you to the winter packets page. Select 6th grade Reading and complete for extra credit. Again, this is due on January 9th and 10th. I will not take it after those days.

Additionally, reading logs will be due on January 17 (B day) and 18 (A day). You should have logged a thousand pages on your reading logs. If you need a new one, scroll down the blog for the posting where I have linked to the forms.


On another note, you should have completed your planning for the essay we started in class for homework, and some classes should have gone ahead and written the counterargument paragraph. Tonight, A day students will need to finish the "Show, Don't Tell" work we started in class (B day will probably need to finish this over the weekend).