Announcement

Parents and Students,

I am sorry to say that tomorrow, Friday, is my last day teaching at Jefferson Academy.  It has been one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I decided to stay home to raise my daughter.

I will always be thankful for the experience my students have given me.  They may never know how much they have contributed to my life and I want to formally say thank you.  Because of the wonderful experiences they have given me, I am very motivated to teach again one day.

The new teacher is Mrs. Kearney.  I met her today and will talk to her tomorrow about what I have already taught the students, what I planned to teach them, my rules and procedures and anything else that will help her take over my job.  She will stay on track with what I have been doing and make necessary changes only when the students are comfortable with her.  

Mrs. Kearney seems like a great teacher with a lot of experience.  I am excited for the students to learn from her.

Thanks again for everything you have done.

Mrs. Martin

History Fair: 6th grade history

Parents,

I sent a brief email about the History Fair for Jefferson Academy.  I want to let you know that your students have brainstormed topics for the theme:  Turning points in history.  They can research any person, event, or idea that they can prove is a turning point in history.

So far, students have come up with a lot of good ideas.  Tomorrow, their specific "issue" is due.  They will have to take their broad topic and narrow it down into a specific issue that they feel is a turning point in history.

One student is interested in music and believes it is a turning point in history (rightly so).  That topic is way too broad to research for this project.  He narrowed it down to the Beatles.  That is a good, narrow topic.

The next step is to research how the narrow topic is a turning point in history.  Students have until December 21st (the day before Winter Break) to come up with a thesis statement answering the question as to why their topic is a turning point.

All of the research will be done at home.  There is no time in class to complete this research.  Please remind your child to continually research.  I will teach them how to write a thesis statement appropriate for this project, but the actual process will be done at home.

During Winter Break your child will pick a way to present his/her research.  There are five ways (these are listed in my PowerPoint in assignments).  I have gone over all five options in class, but I will go over them again before the break.

If you have any questions, you can email me, but there is also a plethora of information on the PowerPoint in my assignments.

Thank you,
Mrs. Martin

Week 4 November 26 - 30

Monday

English

Bell work:
In your handbook write answers to the following questions:
1.  What is a dangling modifier?
2.  What is a squinting or two-way modifier?
3.  What is a misplaced modifier?

Objectives:
Read the short story "God Sees the Truth but Waits" by Leo Tolstoy.
Answer the following questions on the white half-sheet of paper that I handed out:
1.  What is/are the setting(s).
2.  Who is the protagonist and who are the antagonists?
3.  What is the denouement?
4.  What is one theme you can see?  (There are many themes.)

Homework:
Short story is due tomorrow.  We will be reading them in class.  Be prepared to read some or all of your story.

Finish reading the short story (posted on my website) if you didn't finish in class.  The answers are due tomorrow.

History

Bell Work:
No bell work.  Get out your homework and turn it in.  Homework is the handout I gave you for the history fair.  You needed to decide on a specific issue you will research for the history fair.

Objectives:
Alexander the Great.  There is a page reading on Alex the Great.  Posted in assignments, term two.  Follow the instructions.  If you are absent, fill out the first four things you learned and stop there.

Homework:
Continue researching for the history fair.  Your research should be helping you find out why your "issue" is a turning point in history.

Tuesday


English

Bell work:
No bell work.  Get out your short story and keep it on your desk.

Objectives:
Vocabulary:  Lego/lectum, Locus, Loquor
Start reading short stories out loud.

Homework:
Read for 20 minutes.

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Wednesday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Thursday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Friday


English

Bell work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History

Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Second Quarter, Week 2: November 5 to November 9

Monday, November 5

Language Arts
Bell Work:

Substitute:  I will grade your reader's journals and check your 30 minutes of writing tomorrow.

Objectives:

1.  Read short story: "An Honest Thief"  I cannot post this on my website because there is no free version online.  If you are absent, you need to come in and read it during lunch and before school.

The substitute will read out loud with the class.  Focus for this story is setting:  How does the author describe or show the reader where this story takes place?

Homework:

Read for 20 minutes
Vocabulary and spelling test on Thursday
Short story due November 27th
Sonnet due December 4th

History
Bell Work:
None.  Substitute will continue with last Friday's assignment.  Notebook check on Friday.

Objectives:
Finish Greek philosophers

Homework:
If you had to agree with one of the following three philosophers, which one would you agree with most and why.  One paragraph (not a list).  20 points for name and period.  30 points for grammar.  50 points for answering the question.

Tuesday, November 6


Language Arts
Bell Work:


Objectives:

1.  Dangling modifiers activity.

Homework:
Read 20 minutes.
Weekly word study due Thursday.
Reader's journal due on Friday.

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:


Wednesday, November 7

Language Arts
Bell Work:
1.  What is a modifier?
2.  What is a dangling modifier?
3.  How do you fix a dangling modifier?
4.  Fix this sentence:  Running for the bus, my book fell in the mud.

Was the book running for the school bus? It's the only nearby noun beside mud

Objectives:

"Apparently with no surprise" Emily Dickinson

Homework:
Read 20 minutes.
Weekly Word Study due tomorrow.


History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Thursday, November 8

Language Arts
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

Friday, November 9


Language Arts
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework:

History
Bell Work:

Objectives:

Homework: