May 8th Newsletter

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6^th Grade Classroom Newsletter

May 8, 2015

Dear Families,

It has been a busy week for your 6^th grader.  Students worked very hard on the math portion of the SBAC on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Every student put forth their best effort.  You should be proud of their perseverance.  With the testing completed, we will resume our regular classroom schedule. The only long range project on the horizon is the Middle Ages Castle Project that is due Friday May 22^nd. 

In math, look for the math word problem to resume.  Students will be given this on Monday with a due date of Friday. 

We are continuing with our class read, Crispin:  The Cross of Lead. Chapters are assigned and it is critical that students keep up with the reading so that they can participate in class discussions. 

In writing, students continue working on opinion writing.  Students are working on their own opinion piece and we have starting looking, as a class, at the topic of the death penalty with regard to the Boston Marathon Bomber. Students are reading articles and trying to craft an introduction that states their opinion. The nest step is to find evidence to support their opinion.  We are having some interesting conversations. 

Please remember that the Graduation Planning information Meeting will be held Monday May 11^th, at 6:00PM, in my classroom.  I hope to see you there. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help.  After Monday’s meeting, I will send home a list of committees and the people who have volunteered, so that the planning can begin in earnest.

Have a wonderful Mother’s day weekend.   Ellen

Friday May 1, 2015

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6^th Grade Class Newsletter

May 1, 2015

Dear Families,

Kudos to all of the students for working incredibly hard on the SBAC testing this week.  I was so impressed with everyone’s stamina.  We finished the English language arts and will move on to the math portion on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 5^th and May 6^th.  Thank you for not scheduling appointments during this time. 

            Today in your child’s Friday folder is some very important information about two upcoming events:  6^th Grade Graduation and the Oceans/Sustainability Field Trip to Ogunquit, Maine.  Please read the information and return the forms to school. 

            Sixth grade graduation will be held Tuesday, June 16^th  at 6:00PM.  Information regarding graduation and the various committees that will be needed to organize the graduation festivities is coming home in your child’s Friday folder today.  Please consider volunteering for one of the committees to help make this a meaningful night for the 6^th graders.  There will be an information meeting about the graduation planning Thursday, May 5^th, at 6:00PM in my classroom.  If you are not able to attend the meeting please fill out the form about joining one of the committees and have your child return it to me.  Thanks so much. 

            Our final unit of the year will be Oceans/Sustainability.  To go along with this unit we will take a field trip to Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit, Maine on Thursday, June 11^th.  We have a rain date of Monday, June 15^th.  If you are interested in being a chaperone for this trip we will have room on the bus for chaperones.  If we have more chaperones than room on the bus, we will draw names out of a hat.  You must already have the proper paperwork on file with Jane in the office for Level One.  Please return the permission slip for your child and the chaperone information by Friday, May 8th.

            After the SBACs end on Wednesday, May 6, we will get back to our normal routine.  Right now the only big homework assignment is the Castle Project that is due Friday, May 22.  Students should also be completing the assigned readings in the Crispin book.  In literacy, students are continuing their work on their opinion writing piece. 

            As of today, there are 32 days of school left.  I am encouraging students to make each of their final days as a 6^th grader at EMES count!  Have a restful weekend.    

            All the best, Ellen

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6^th Grade Classroom Newsletter

April 17, 2015

Dear Families,

I hope you all have a restful break next week.  This will be a short newsletter. Students have been working diligently on writing opinion pieces, learning about the Middle Ages, and reviewing math skills. 

The one big assignment on the horizon is the Castle Project due Friday May 22.  Also, please remember that on the Tuesday after we return, April 28, we will begin the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) testing.  Please try to make sure your child has a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast.  The testing days for the 6^th grade are:  April 28, 29, 30, (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and May 5, 6 (Tuesday and Wednesday).  If possible, try to schedule medical appointments around these dates.   It is important for students to be in school on those dates. 

See you in a week!  Ellen

April 10, 2015 Newsletter

Friday April 10, 2015

Dear Families,

Thank you for the wonderful parent teacher conferences.  The next few months of school will be passing by very quickly for your 6th grader.  

The date for graduation will be set soon.  As soon as I find out the date, I will let you know.  There will also be information coming out soon about how parents can help with the graduation planning.   

Social Studies:  We are in the midst of the Middle Ages.  We are learning about the daily life of the people, their social structure, as well as, the importance of religion in every aspect of life.  Reading this information text involves specific topic vocabulary.  Some of these words are new to students, but understanding the definitions and how some of these words have morphed into words we use today is very interesting.  Our read aloud, Catherine, Called Birdy and written by Karen Cushman, is the diary of a young girl in the Middle Ages with all her observations of daily life.  It is at times comical and irreverent.  Students also watched an excellent video on castles.  There were many examples of castle defenses mentioned that could be incorporated into the castle project that is due May 22nd.   Students generated a list of defenses and that list is hanging up in the classroom.  

Literacy:  Students are reading Crispin: the Cross of Lead, written by Avi.  In keeping with the Middle Ages theme, this book is “an action-packed historical narrative that follows the frantic flight of a 13-year-old peasant boy across 14th-century England.”  It is full of twists and turns and mystery.  The vocabulary in this book is very specific to the Middle Ages.  Some homework includes having students define words, as this will increase their understanding of the text.  

Writing:  Students have started writing an opinion/argument piece.  We discussed ways to begin an introduction in this writing genre.  We also talked about how arguments have to be based on more than gut reactions.   They have to be backed up with evidence.  Students will be researching their argument to find facts to support their opinion and to refute counterclaims. Students were also given a basic outline to use to begin their writing.  After that, adding elaboration and details will bring their writing to life.  I look forward to reading these opinion pieces!  

Math:  In math we are reviewing what we have learned from the beginning of the year, from adding to subtraction to multiplication to division to fractions to percents to decimals and everything in between.  We will continue measuring angles and negative and positive numbers next week.  

Next week the weather is slated to be in the 60’s.  This means that the playground will continue to be wet and muddy.  Thanks for having your child have two pair of shoes at school.  It helps to keep the school and the classroom clean and sparkling.  

Next week is School Spirit Week!

  Monday- Camo and Glitter/Bling Day
  Tuesday- Crazy Hat/Hair Day
  Wednesday – Favorite Book, TV or Movie Character Day
  Thursday- Dress-Up Fancy Day
  Friday- Comfy, Cozy Day

Have a great weekend!   Ellen

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