Happy holidays to all sixth graders and their famlies

Those who had to retake the spelling test took it today.

Instead of going to computer lab in science, we finished our lab we started yesterday.  When we come back from the break we will do the lab again, but with a full can of soda this time.

I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas!

Writers learn writing tools in workshop

Today in writer's workshop we had a lesson on the writer’s toolbox. The kids learned how writers use nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, dialogue, and focus.

In science we did another lab similar to the last one, where the height of the ramp was our independent variable (what we changed on purpose). This time, however, we used four different balls, with each one having a different mass. We will finish this tomorrow. We took three trials on each ball and found the average, so it took a little longer.

Please help your child remember to remain at his/her best behavior as some are forgetting we are still in school.

Class takes language arts test

We took our language arts test today. Most did very well on it. It just shows how doing writers’ workshop helps them in all aspects of writing.

In science those who didn’t finish their 9 weeks test had the opportunity to do so today.

Students enjoy field trip at museum

All of sixth grade visited Science Museum Oklahoma this week, courtesy of the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board.  We got the free field trip because I teach an OERB-sponsored unit on Oklahoma energy resources as part of our science curriculum.  I do workshops throughout the state on that curriculum, which I helped to write, as part of my work as one of OERB's Master Teachers.

The students were really great and represented Broadmoore well. Ask your sixth grader about all the activities and special programs at the museum today.

Science Museum field trip is tomorrow

For those that are doing spelling this week, we wrote our words in alphabetical order.

In science we took our 9 weeks test.  If your child didn't finish, he/she may do so on Wednesday.

Tomorrow is our field trip.  A pink note came home today with important information.  Please remind your child that he/she is representing Broadmoore.   

Sixth graders look at homonym pairs, complete story timelines

In spelling we took our test.  This test was over homonym pairs.  Some did very well.  Others did not.  So the plan for next week is to use the same words.  If your child made an “A”, he/she does not have spelling.  He/she will be able to work on other things.  If they don’t have anything I will find them something, if they choose not to use their time well.  If your child made a “B,” he/she had the option of keeping the grade or trying again, with the understanding that the higher grade will go into the grade book.  I wrote on the test what each child with a “B” chose and had each sign his/her name.  Anything below a “B” the child did not get a choice.  He/she will be retaking the test and having spelling next week.

In writers’ workshop, we finished our timelines.  Monday we will start showing how to tell the same story, but from different starting places.

In science, we were in the computer lab.

Students continue to work on retelling a story in writer's workshop

Today we worked again with our spelling words, using them in sentences.

In writers’ workshop I put the students in pairs. Each pair will read a Christmas book and then create a timeline for display. Many children have trouble retelling a story without almost telling every little detail. This is a good way for them to visually see the important details of a story.

Look for notes about next week’s field trip in tomorrow’s folders!