Class Newsletter

June 6, 2015

Dear Families,

As of this writing there are 8 action packed days left to the school year.  Mr. Q and I are keeping an eye on the weather for our Thursday June 11^th trip to Ogunquit beach.  We will make a determination about the trip on Wednesday June 10^th ,  before kids leave for the day, if the weather forecast is not good for Thursday.  Right now, the weather looks promising but you never can tell with the weather.  We will keep you posted.  If we need it, the rain date is Monday June 15^th. 

Since we are leaving so early in the morning to go to Ogunquit, it will be difficult to order a lunch from the school cafeteria.  However, if your child absolutely needs a lunch from the cafeteria for the trip, please let me know by Monday so I can work something out with the kitchen. 

Also, if it is a hardship for you to have your child at school by 6:00am on Thursday, please let me know by Monday so I can help you work something out.  There may be another family driving by your house that would be willing to drive your child to the school as well.

Here are a few other important notes:

Middle Ages Open Book/Take Home Test:  The Middle Ages Open Book /Take Home Test is due Monday June 8^th! 

Final Quote Response is due Wednesday June 10^th!

Math:  Students were given their last word problem of the year on Friday.  Most have the computation already completed and now have to just wow me with their explanation.

Literacy:  Students are reading the book, Stones in Water, written by Donna Jo Napoli.  Students are to read to page 146 by Monday June 8^th and should finish the book by Friday June 12^th.  I have finished scoring the post opinion assessments and all students did a great job, with many students showing strong improvements.

Science Oceans/Sustainability:  We learned about the tides and currents of the oceans.  Students are now working on an independent project (in class) on an ocean/sustainability topic.  Students are investigating the perils that may surround that topic, such as sea birds eating the plastic that litters the ocean, and then creating a presentation for their classmates. 

On Tuesday, June 9^th, we will travel to U32 for Unity Day.  Students will meet their classmates from the other sending schools and will spend the day in their core at U32.  Lunch will be provided by U32, so no need for a lunch that day. 

Have a great weekend, Ellen

May 29th Class Newsletter

May 29, 2015

Dear Families,

I was very impressed with the hard work all students put into their opinion post writing assessment.  There were a variety of opinions students were writing about.  Opinions about such topics as a ban on smoking, animals in zoos, movie stars making too much money, the legalization of marijuana, and that students should be taught about the ingredients in food were ferociously defended. 

In math we are working on understanding multiplication and division using the area of a rectangle model, the partial product model and the standard algorithm model.  We are also continuing with math word problems that are a review of what we have learned this year. 

In social studies, students were assigned a final open book test on the Middle Ages.  Students may chose to write answers for each question or they may choose to take notes on each question and present the answers orally to me.  This is due by Monday June 8^th.

If you have not returned the permission slip for your child to attend Unity day at U32 on Tuesday, June 9^th, please return it on Monday June 1^st.  Your child will not be able to travel on the bus to U32 without the permission slip filled out. 

Please read the information about the upcoming Ogunquit Oceans Field Trip on June 11^th.   If you have any questions about the trip, please contact me.

Information regarding graduation and how you can help make this a meaningful evening for all students can be found on the Grade 6 homepage on the EMES school web site.  Please consider calling someone who has volunteered on one of the committees to see how you can help.  Volunteers are what it takes!

 As of this newsletter, there are 13 days of school remaining.  Yikes, it is winding down fast!

Have a relaxing weekend.     Ellen

Castle Project Photos and May 22 Newsletter

Mrs. Knoedler’s 6^th Grade Classroom

May 22, 2015

Dear Families,

I was greatly impressed with all the hard work that students put forth in their castle presentations.  I am sure they are more than happy that the due date is here and I can erase that homework assignment from the board!  Thank you for your support for this project.  Photos of the castle presentation follow this newsletter posting! More to come soon! Enjoy!

Unity Day/Move Up Day:  On Tuesday June 9^th, 6^th graders will be going to U32 to in-coming 7^th grade activities.  A permission slip was sent home in your child’s Friday Folder today.  Please sign and return to school.  Thanks.   

Graduation:  The Sixth Grade Graduation will be held Tuesday evening at 6:00pm.  Please consider volunteering for a committee to help.  A list of committees and the people on them was sent home today in your child’s Friday Folder.

Literacy:  Next week we will be working on our Post Opinion Writing Assessment.  On Tuesday, students will research supporting evidence to use to support their opinion.  We will be writing the post-assessment on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Math:  We are continuing to review units from this past year. 

Have a restful Memorial Day weekend.  Take care, Ellen

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