Classroom Newsletter

March 26, 2015

Dear Families,

I look forward to seeing you at Parent Teacher Conferences.  Your conference time has been emailed to you and there is a paper copy of the conference time in your child’s Friday folder today, as well.

With spring well under way, it is important that your child have boots to go outside. In the warmer weather, we may have an opportunity to go outside at the end of the day, but all students must have a pair of boots in order for us to go out.  It will be a while before the fields on the playground are dry.  Thanks for your help with this.  It also keeps the inside of our new building clean!

As I write this on Thursday, I am looking forward to seeing all the 3-D human body projects tomorrow.  From 2:30 to 3:30 on Friday, we will have other classrooms in the building touring, looking at the presentations and listening to the “experts” talk about their particular system.  Please join us if you have time at the end of the day!

In math, we are working on measuring angles and learning about the different kinds of angles: obtuse, acute, reflex, right and straight angles.  Students completed the opinion writing pre-assessment in writing.  We will begin in earnest our opinion writing work next week. We are wrapping up the human body science unit and will move onto the Middle Ages, our next social studies unit.

Students were also assigned a new quote response, “Happiness”.  This quote response is due on Wednesday, April 1.  While it is wonderful to discuss the quotes and the questions with your child, students should write the responses themselves.  It is important for 6^th graders to have opinions and ideas, to be able to clearly articulate their opinions and ideas, and to be able to give evidence to support their opinions and ideas.  Having well thought opinions and ideas, supported by clear evidence, is an important skill for students to develop. 

Please remember that there is a 12:30PM dismissal time on Thursday April 2 and Friday April 3 for parent teacher conferences.   

Have a wonderful weekend,  Ellen

Friday March 13th Newsletter

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6^th Grade Class Newsletter

March 13, 2015

Dear Families,

Here are some upcoming dates to keep in mind!

            -Friday March 20^th: grade 5 and 6 Dance at EMES.

-Monday March 23^rd: Technology Quote Response due.

            -Friday March 27^th:  Human Body 3-D Project due.

            -Thursday April 2 and Friday April 3 Parent Teacher Conferences.  There will an early student dismissal at 12:30pm each of these days.  More information about Parent Teacher Conferences will be coming home next week. 

Hood Museum Field Trip:  Students were able see ancient artifacts from the Greeks and Romans today at the museum.  We also toured other parts of the museum to look at the permanent collection of the Hood Museum including a Picasso!

Math:  In math we are working on determining the volume and surface area of rectangular prisms and cylinders.  We will have a test next week on these formulas.   

Writing:  We are working on quote responses.  Our next one, based on technology, is due Monday March 23.  While it is helpful if you discuss the quotes and what they mean with your child, it is important they complete the writing themselves. We also looked at inference in writing and how writers use inference to “show” the reader, rather than “tell” the reader.  We will continue our look at inference next week.  We are also working a Comma Boot Camp.  These exercises break down where and when to use commas in writing.   

Science:  We are continuing our look at the amazing human body.  Students chose a topic for their 3-D project and were given a written copy of the assignment and the rubric for the assignment.  We also watched a great video on hypothermia and how our body reacts to cold. 

Please be sure your child has two pair of shoes in school.  The playground is wet and muddy.  Thanks so much for helping to keep our classroom clean!

Have a great weekend.      Ellen

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6th Grade Classroom Newsletter
March 5, 2015
Dear Families,

It was a short but productive week.

Students were given their scores for the Graphic Novel Final Rome Assessment Project and the Independent Book Cover Project.  I was impressed with the level of effort for both projects.  Ask your child about their score on these two assignments.

In math, we are having a final test on area and perimeter of rectangles and triangles, the circumference and area of circles and the order of operations.  This will take place Friday March 6th. Students worked on a pretest Wednesday and Thursday.  The hardest formulas for students to remember seem to be the two used for determining the circumference and area of circles.

In science, we set up two experiments.  One experiment, using bread, is about pathogens and the other one uses apples to show us how skin protects us from infections.  We will be checking on them and observing any changes.  We also learned about the digestive system.  On Friday, we will measure our digestive system.  Did you know that the digestive system in an adult is as tall as a four story building?  The human body is an amazing thing!

In writing, students were assigned a quote response.  Students have a quote journal specifically for the quote responses.  They have a rubric glued into the cover and the assignment is glued into the journal, as well.  Students were given 5 quotes about time and must choose one to base their response on. This quote response is due Monday March 9th.

Please remember the return the permission slip for the Hood Museum trip next Friday, March 13th.  If your child is going to purchase lunch at the restaurant we are stopping at, they should also turn in a check or cash in the amount of $8.88.  All checks should be made out to EMES.

It will be great to have the extra light at the end of the day beginning on Sunday.  Remember to turn your clock ahead!

Take Care,   Ellen