Welcome Back to 6th Grade!

Parents & Students Welcome Back!
As we begin the year there is LOTS of information to read through.  Please be aware of the School Handbook and the 6th Grade Orientation Packet information.  Students should have brought in both signature pages from these packets.  If you have questions please email one of the 6th grade team members.

For Literature: Please have text books covered with a protective 'stretchy' cover or brown paper bag cover.  These books are well used and the better we protect them the longer they last for future students.

LIT LOGS: As we begin the year students will read outside of class.  The lit logs are for the purpose of reading quality books and expanding the independent reading experience.  The directions, due dates and template can all be found under Laura's Links. 

5 Stories in 5 Days!

For a quick review of our literature elements we are challenging ourselves to read 5 short stories in 5 days.  We are also focusing on the big picture of reading for understanding.  Readers should be using their Active Reading Skills (THINK, predict, question, connect, visualize & respond)! 

Students are working each day in class on PRE-reading activities like making quick previews and discussing predictions.  Looking over vocabulary and making connections to a few synonyms, antonyms, or collaborate by using the vocab in different sentences.

Students are encouraged to read & re-read the short stories.  They will have the full class period to read aloud with each other, but may not complete the entire story ~ depending on discussions DURING reading.

POST-reading activities are to be done outside of class on the wiki.  We have a private wiki for a digital workspace for all students to respond to their short story readings. 

Talk to your child about our challenges & new technology tools!

The Oral Tradition- Storytelling

The Oral Tradition ~ Storytelling

We are beginning our unit on the oral tradition of storytelling with a look at tales from around the world.  We will be studying Active Listening Skills along with plot, characterization, and point of view.  Students will be reading some tales multiple times and will need to remember to read outside of the classroom. 

Our class lessons will focus on the characteristics of storytelling and some essential elements that must be part of a telling.  Our stories will come from our Prentice Hall Literature Books.  We will still be reading, but also working on speaking.  The students will be responsible for titles, authors, story origins, vocabulary, and comprehension.  We will be doing some group work with this unit as well as some writing and performing.

Talk with your student and check out the daily work on the MGS JH Homework site: http://mgs.metamora.k12.il.us/

Sept 19 - Sept 23

9/19-9/23

Monday: Trail Drive from The Adventures of Midnight Son by Denise Lewis Patrick: Vocabulary Due.  Interview A Word class activity. Keep working on lit log reading and writing.  Projects should be chosen and started.  We will be talking in class about projects and presentations.

Tuesday: Skill: Characters & Characterization: mini-lesson on discovering character traits.  Study 5 minutes a night and try to look for character traits in your reading.  Continue on Lit log - ALL parts of lit log #1 are due on SEPT 28th.

Wednesday: Comprehension: Partner & Small Group Reading for The Trail Drive. Reader Response pg. 585 due Thurs.  Continue with lit log project.

Thursday: Comprehension: Class discussion- The Trail Drive : characters & character traits, generalization, sequence of events, setting, and summarizing. Prepare for story quiz- study vocab, skill box & review comprehension.

Friday: Half Day ~ Homecoming MTHS!

Quiz- The Trail Drive from The Adventures Of Midnight Son by Denise Lewis Patrick

9/6 - 9/9

Monday: No School   Happy Labor Day!
Tuesday: Summarizing, Introduction to The Land of Expectations from The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.  Summary of beginning of lit log due Friday for Spot Check.
Wednesday: The Land of Expectations - vocabulary discussion; finish defining vocab p.546 for class Thurs.
Thursday: Read The Land of Expectations & discuss for comprehension
Friday: Conclude The Land of Expectations - Assignment: Discussion questions p.565 due Monday