We hope that you and your families had wonderful, relaxing, rejuvenating time together over the Christmas vacation. All three of us had a great break, but it sure was nice to see all the kids again. Do they look older to you? They sure do to us!
Reading– So, how many books has your child read this year? Is it more than they have ever before? Are they talking about books with you? I sure hope so! Our goal of 40 books is coming into focus.
At this point, we should be reading approximately one book each week. Students at 6th grade should be able to read 20-30 pages every 30 minutes. If we’re reading 30 minutes 5 X each week in class and at least 30 minutes 5 X each week at home, then that would equal 200—300 pages each week!
Ask you student to show you their Reading Record. Ask them to tell you about their reading log and how many pages are they reading every 30 minutes. Ask them about what books they’re choosing to read and what they like/dislike about them. I encourage you to even read with or read the books they’re reading so you can talk books with them:)
We are currently working on a character analysis project. Your student is diving deep into understanding a character of their choice by evaluating their characters choices, motivations, attitudes, and other’s opinions. Don’t be surprised if your reader starts to sound like their character of choice, maybe even look like him or her, while were doing this project. (This is a reading test grade.)
Math: I have a story to share with you of a childhood memory of mine. My father used to have me recite the multiplication facts, in order, zeros through tens every night before I went to bed. At the time, I just thought he was helping me get through third grade! Well, that is one of the many simple skills my father taught me that I thank him for today. So many more things come much easier if a student knows the basic math facts.
We will be working with fractions, and students need to know the multiplication facts in order to perform all operations with fractions. Any practice your child gets outside of class will help him or her to be more successful.
Learning Connections: As always, I would encourage you to help your student study their weekly spelling words as well as basic multiplication facts.
We have begun to focus our attention on note taking. We are using our social studies text books to work on this skill. Eventually, we will move on to forms of research that will incorporate these note taking skills.
Note taking and research skills are very important for our students as they move towards the Middle School!
Writing: Before break, we turned in our character sketch writing sandwiches. Students who didn’t get a 80% or higher were encouraged to rework their character sketch for a better grade. This rework was due by the Friday before break. Students have the choice to do the extra work for the regrade.
We have started now on developing the setting for our narrative story. Students have drawn a picture of the main setting and filled out of 5 Senses organizer.
We will be working on writing the setting sketch using the show-not-tell technique when detailing what is seen, heard, felt (emotionally and physically), and smelled in our setting. These setting sketches are due Tuesday, January 17th by 3:45.
To complete their polished copy, students can use their keyboarding time, computer class with me, team time, or type at home (file needs to be at school via flash drive, cd, or e-mail).
Social Studies: We are continuing our study of geography in Social Studies. As we move on in the year, we will begin to use the information we are covering to our very own country. Students will develop all aspects of their country: location, climate, resources, products, government, culture, etc. Please make sure to ask your student about upcoming test and quiz dates.
Science: We will spend January digging into our geology unit and will spend February looking at parts of our heart. Look for volunteer slips to come home with information on our heart dissections.
Spring Party Helpers: 6th grade Team will have our next party this coming spring. We have a parent who has volunteered to be the coordinator but we need some volunteers to help. If you are interested, please let your child’s homeroom teacher know or e-mail, kclark@gpsk12.net. Thanks:)
Camp Pinewood (May 9th-11th)
As you are aware, our students have been working on fund-raising for camp to bring down the $85.00 per student for our 3 day/ 2 night stay at Camp Pinewood less. Our doughnut sales the 2nd Friday of every month is bringing in about $200 per month. Our larger sale of a variety of products (thanks to our parent committee and to those small businesses for donating all their earning to our camp fund), raised approximately $1,100.
Here’s the $ break down: 68 students X $85.00= $5,865— $2,000 (approximately)= $3, 865/69 students= $60.00 per student (if we add in the bus costs).
Some of our students have already begun to earn money towards camp. A few have had Christmas $ put towards it, some are making crafts and selling them, others are just doing chores. Please contact your students teacher if you feel there will be a problem with paying the $60.00 by the end of April. We have scholarships for students if needed. We want everyone to be able to have this wonderful experience.
**Also, adult chaperones will cost $8.00 per meal. If we can do more fund raising, we may be able to help off set that cost, but as it stands now, we don’t have money for that.
IMPORTANT DATES:
January 16: No School/In-service for teachers
January 26: PTC meeting: 6:30 pm
February 17-20: Mid Winter Break
HOME/SCHOOL CONNECTION:
Office phone: 254-6041
e-mail: kclark@gpsk12.net chorton@gpsk12.net btravis@gpsk12.net mbassett@gpsk12.net
***Make sure to check your student’s academic progress on INFINITE CAMPUS.
***Also, check out our 6th Grade Team Blog site by visiting the front page of the Cummings Blog site. There is a daily update of the agenda letting you know what homework is and many other things.
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