6th Grade B day - A reminder that your list of ten multiple meaning words, their definitions, and sentences for each definition are due tomorrow.  Also due tomorrow is the nonsense poem or story that will show your use of context clues.  Remember, the poem should be about a half to three quarters of a page long and the story should be about a 3/4 of a page to a page long.

6th Grade A day - Your homework for tonight is to write down the sentences for the new words you added to the list during class today.  You need one sentence for each meaning!

8th Graders...

Below are the paragraph prompts from Friday.  These are due tomorrow!

You have now read “The Snapping Turtle.”  Reread the author’s background information on page 767.  Write a paragraph to explain how “The Snapping Turtle” reflects Bruchac’s Abenaki Indian values and beliefs.  Use evidence from the text to support your answer.  Look at question #7 on page 779 if you need help writing the paragraph.

•Now read “The Sanctuary of School” on page 976

•Write a paragraph explaining what the author’s main purpose is in writing the essay.  In other words, what is the purpose (to persuade, inform, or entertain), but what is also the deeper purpose for doing one of those things?

•Now explain – how is the author’s perspective shown in the article?

6th Grade (except 2A):  Author's perspective assignment (Due Monday/Tuesday)

For this assignment, you are going to create your own “what my friends think” poster to illustrate different perspectives of one situation from your life.  You can choose a hobby that you are interested in, a sport that you play, a club that you are in, a subject you like…whatever!

You should include at least four squares on your paper:

•What my friends think

•What my parents think

•What I think

•What I really do

Part 2:

 

•Now, choose either “what my friends think” or “what my parents think.”

•Write from the perspective of one of those two groups of people, using their voice.

•The writing should be them explaining how he or she feels about what you do or what he or she thinks you do.

The following is the assignment received today (also due next class):

 

•Write a poem or tiny short story that demonstrates your perspective on sports.  You may play sports and LOVE it, play sports and hate it, only watch sports and not play them, or never want to have anything to do with them.  Your poem or story should show your perspective and use your VOICE. 

8th Grade - Don't forget to bring your Literature book to class every day!!!

All students received a copy of the extra credit assignments last week, but in case you lost your paper, see below.  Your last chance to turn in extra credit is Thursday.  Please check your grades to see if you could use the extra credit!  Also, if you have not turned in your point of view assignment, get that to me ASAP!

6th Grade Extra Credit:

Mrs. Fifield’s Language Arts – 2^nd Quarter – 6^th Grade

Extra Credit Opportunity!

Due:  No later than Thursday, January 16^th.  Please be advised, I will be in the building, but not in the classroom, on Wednesday, January 15^th and Thursday, January 16^th.  I will let the substitute know that some of you may turn in an extra credit assignment and I will make sure a spot in the room is dedicated for collection.  To be extra cautious, you may want to turn in the assignment on Monday, January 13^th or Tuesday, January 14^th.

Complete the following activity and you will receive 50 points, to be added in to the gradebook where needed.  In other words, if you are missing points from an assignment, the 50 points will make up for the missing ones.  For example, if you did not turn in the similes and metaphors chart for “All Summer in a Day,” you have a 0/60 in the gradebook.  If you do the extra credit, that grade would become a 50/60.  If you are not missing any points, you would not receive additional points.

Directions:

This quarter, we have studied the following items:

·       Text Structures

·       Text Features

·       Figurative language

·       Character

·       Point of View

To earn the extra credit, come up with a creative way to demonstrate your knowledge of at least one of the topics we covered.  For the most part, I will leave it up to you as far as what you do.  I do not want an explanation simply written down, nor do I want a PowerPoint presentation.  Those are boring.  Tap into your artistic side – drawings, paintings, poems, songs, videos, etc.  Posters are okay, since you have to be a little more creative with how you put together a poster.  Please do not make something that is any bigger than a poster.  Some of you are very talented, but there really isn’t room in the classroom for a 10 foot tall diorama of a character!

8th Grade Extra Credit:

Mrs. Fifield’s Language Arts – 2^nd Quarter – 8^th Grade

Extra Credit Opportunity!

Due:  No later than Thursday, January 16^th.  Please be advised, I will be in the building, but not in the classroom, on Wednesday, January 15^th and Thursday, January 16^th.  I will let the substitute know that some of you may turn in an extra credit assignment and I will make sure a spot in the room is dedicated for collection.  To be extra cautious, you may want to turn in the assignment on Monday, January 13^th or Tuesday, January 14^th.

Complete the following activity and you will receive 50 points, to be added in to the gradebook where needed.  In other words, if you are missing points from an assignment, the 50 points will make up for the missing ones.  For example, if you did not turn in the Dr. Jekyll essay, you have a 0/50 in the gradebook.  If you do the extra credit, that grade would become a 50/50.  If you are not missing any points, you would not receive additional points.

Directions:

Spend some time at a bookstore, at the library, or browsing online book retailers or book review sites (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Good Reads, etc.).  List three books that you would possibly like to read (ones you have not read before).  For each novel, give a brief summary of the summary that you read on the cover or online AND explain why you want to read that book.  Follow these guidelines to receive the points:

·       Book 1 – You must choose an older or classic novel.  Let’s say…anything written before 1950.

·       Book 2 – Choose a more modern novel, such as one on the bestseller’s lists within the past few years.

·       Book 3 – Choose a novel that has not come out yet.  Retailers (especially online) will promote upcoming novels so that people know what to expect.  OR, you may choose a novel that is brand new – released within the last month. 

6th Grade B day - Don't forget - the "make yourself a character" activity is due tomorrow, along with the paragraphs on "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" and "On Turning Ten."  For the paragraphs, you were to explain who the characters (narrators of the poems) are, as far as personality and emotions (or anything else you can get out of the poems).  Make sure you use support from the text!  For the homework that you will receive on Wednesday, please see "6th Grade A day," below.

6th Grade A day - You are to finish the Reader's Workshop (pages 176-181), making sure to answer all questions in complete sentences.

3A - You also need to read "Eleven" in the Literature book and answer the questions in the margins (A-E).  Then, you are to answer numbers 1-8 at the end of the story.

8th Grade - Don't forget to finish the character chart for "The Monkey's Paw" (due tomorrow).  Also, make sure you bring your Literature book to class tomorrow!  It will count as a grade.

Stay tuned for an extra credit opportunity!

I hope everyone had a wonderful first day of Winter Break!

Please check the grade portal to see updated grades.  Remember the huge stack of papers that was on the corner of my desk?  I finally finished grading them!  If you have a 0 on any assignment, that means you did not do the assignment (or did not turn the assignment in).  If you still have a "no grade," it means I do not have a grade for you because I either know you still have your assignment (such as those that have make-up work), or I know I did not give you the assignment yet (such as the one or two of you that somehow missed a quiz).  If you have below a 73 C right now, you have a scholarship warning for the second quarter.  Let's make sure we stay up to date with assignments in order to avoid these low grades in the future!  See below for Winter Break assignment instructions.

6th Grade A day:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the classwork from before.  2A, 3A, and 4A should all finish the "make yourself a character" activity.  Remember, color the figure to resemble yourself (physical appearance), put thoughts that represent you in the thought bubble, things that you might say in the speech bubble, actions that you do (hobbies, daily routines, etc.) in the starburst bubble, and emotions you frequently experience, desires, or loves in the heart bubble.  Don't forget to answer the two questions on the back of the paper, as well!  2A should also finish the "Tuesday of the Other June" character chart, if not already turned in.  Don't forget to complete the paragraphs on the back.  Remember, you need actual quotes from the story to support your thoughts.  3A and 4A should finish the character paragraphs for "Life Doesn't Frighten Me" and "On Turning Ten."

6th Grade B day:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the character chart for "Tuesday of the Other June," if not already.

8th Grade:  No Winter Break homework except to finish the character chart for "The Gift of the Magi."

Everyone:  Remember to read over the break!  Also, if you are looking for something to do, check out the district's Winter Break packets on the DCPS homepage.  I am not requiring the packet, but it might give you something to do if you get bored (lol).

Have a safe and restful break!  Happy Holidays!

6th Grade students - Remember to finish the characterization chart for "Tuesday of the Other June."  I will collect it next class, if we have time before or after the CGA.  2A only- we will finish the story and work on the chart next Wednesday.  If you are not going to be here on Wednesday, you need to finish the chart over the break.

8th Grade - you do not have homework because the CGA is today.  Make sure you bring your books next class.

I will have grades updated by the end of the weekend, or at the latest, right before the break.  I don't like to put in grades until I have all of an assignment graded for every class, so I have been trying to catch up on the grades.  There will be an extra credit assignment offered at some point after the break.