Mrs. Floyd’s Classroom

Monday

Labor Day holiday

Tuesday

We will review Sentence & Sentence Fragments worksheet page 2 and vocabulary lesson 1 pages 5 & 6.

Students will do Sentence Fragments page 1 independently.

We will read Dollhouse Murders as a class while adding to our character sketches.

Wednesday

I will bring the students to the computer lab to type their blog post.

Thursday

I will show the students how to view fellow student’s blogs and make positive comments.

As a class we will read Dollhouse Murders and add to their character sketch.

Students will take a comprehension quiz over material read from Dollhouse Murders.

Students will use a dictionary to do lesson 2 vocabulary on pages 9 & 10.

Friday

I will read the short story Tripping Over the Lunch Lady to the students.

I will introduce subject and predicate.  We will read together and do exercise 3 from the language book page 305 & 306.  Students will independently do exercise 4 on pages 306 & 307.

TEKS that will be covered: 6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 6.8, 6.13, 6.14, 6.16, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.26

Monday

We will go to the library to check out our Language books to be taken home.

We will work together as a class to form a social contract.

Students will organize their in class notebooks.

Tuesday

I’ll introduce what a sentence is.  Together the class will read and do the activities on pages 302-303.  Students will independently do page 304 Exercise 2.

I’ll introduce the novel Dollhouse Murders to the class by reading a short bio about the author and then I’ll introduce the genre mystery to the class.  As a class read chapter 1 and students will start a character sketch for the characters from the book.

Wednesday

Students will type their blog post about their most memorable moment of summer.

Thursday

The class will read chapters 2-4 of Dollhouse Murders while adding to their character sketch.

Students will read their AR books independently.

Friday

As a class review Exercise 2 page 304 from the language book covering sentence and fragment.  Then as a class do Review A together.  Students will independently do worksheet page 2 Sentences and Sentence Fragments.

Students will use a dictionary to do lesson 1 vocabulary on pages 5 & 6.

TEKS that will be covered:  6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 6.8, 6.13, 6.14, 6.16, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.26, 6.28

I am excited to share that we here at the middle school have the same online Accelerated Reader program as the intermediate school.  There are many Accelerated Reader tests that are available to students to allow them to have the choices they want in what they read.  Students also have an opportunity to build their vocabulary with the vocabulary tests available.

One thing we can all agree on is that you only improve your reading skills by reading. If the students can have a broader choice of reading resources, they are more likely to read. Also, I am aware many students are hesitant to read in school because they realize there is an AR test awaiting them, and they might not fare well on it. They know it will hurt their reading grade if they do poorly. If that is the main barrier to reading, I want to eliminate that barrier.

I will NOT be taking an AR grade from my 6th grade language arts students.  Instead, I will utilize the AR program to help me diagnose reading concerns with students and to challenge growth in their reading. Students will not only need to continue reading and taking tests, it would actually be better if they read more and took more tests. This allows me to give them better feedback concerning their reading abilities. Yet, they will not have the fear of it hurting their six weeks grades. Yes, the program will share their test grade with them at the end of each AR test, but I will not be putting any of those in the gradebook. I will only be monitoring their progress and noting the skills they are struggling with to better help them with their reading improvement.  As a parent/guardian, you can follow along with the parent portal. The parent portal even lets you sign up for email updates.  Every time the student takes a test, it will send you an email with the details of the test.  You can log in and see how your child is progressing as it relates to the goals for points, grade level of books tested on, and overall AR test average.

Students understand that I am not doing away with the AR program. Instead, it is actually an important part of our curriculum. If a student decides to not read and take the AR quizzes, I reserve the right to require them to prove their reading abilities in alternative manners. For example, students will be required to do a book report and a class presentation (oral report) over what they have read for the 6 weeks. Regardless, they need to continue to read so that I can help them become even better readers.

As a reward for the students that have worked hard and reached their reading goal for each 6 weeks they may choose from many prizes that are available.  I have received much support from the community in motivating and rewarding students to read.  They may choose movie tickets, D.Q. blizzards, Subway kid’s meals, Pizza Hut gift cards, Chick-fil-A sandwiches, Putt-Putt golf, Lunar Golf, and Ty Beanie Babies.

Let me lay it out clearly so everyone understands what will happen this year in my classes with AR tests:

1. NO grades will be taken from the AR program and put in the gradebook.

2. Students will be required to read outside of class. I will expect reading and tests taken to help them and me. This is NOT a free pass on either of those.

3. I will be conferencing with students weekly about their AR work to ensure progress is being made toward their AR goal.

4. Parents can follow along through the parent portal, receive email updates, and even motivate the students as well.

You can find which books have tests here – http://www.arbookfind.com

You can see your student’s scores and sign up for email updates here https://hosted251.renlearn.com/704172/HomeConnect/Login.aspx using your student’s login username and password that they have been given (click on Email Setup at the top of the page after you are logged in). On my blog site floydm.wonecks.net I have links to both of these websites.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I look forward to my students growing even more through the use of our AR program.  Students should be reading at least 20 minutes per day to strive towards their reading goal each 6 weeks.  Their reading goal is based upon their individual reading level.

P.S.  Please sign up for the parent email of student’s test scores. Your involvement is the most important element in student success.

Sincerely,

Monica Floyd

This year students will be encountering new uses for technology in the classroom.  The students will have opportunities to create their own blogs to begin their online portfolio of writing and reflection of what they are learning.  Students will also learn and practice their presentation skills in many podcast that they will do.  Students will present in their podcast various works they have written and topics they have researched.

Students will be expected to read 20 minutes independently every day.  Our library is filled with many wonderful books on various topics.  We will be visiting the library every Monday in class to allow the students to check out and recheck their books.

We will begin the year reading Dollhouse Murders from the mystery genre.  We will also read about and research the Holocaust.  Number the Stars is another novel we will read that ties into our research.  A few of the other novels are The Cay and Things Not Seen.  If time allows we will also add in the play called The Miracle Worker.

The past 3 years my students have competed in the Creative Communications writing contests.  They have done so well that many of my students were selected to be published in the essay & poetry anthology.  Students will do a lot of writing this year, and they will be proud and amazed in their accomplishments.

This year will be a time of growth, learning, and making new friends.  I am very excited about meeting my new students and their families.  I believe in close contact and working together for the betterment of the children, so don’t hesitate to contact me for questions and concerns.

Monday

I will discuss the classroom rules and discipline plan.  I will introduce adjectives to the class.  We will play the Name Game by first listing on the board positive adjectives to describe people.  The class will next sit in a circle to play the game.

Tuesday

We will go to the computer lab for the students to take the STAR test and Study Island pretest.  Students will prewrite about their most memorable moment of summer.

Wednesday

Students will write their rough copy of their most memorable moment of summer.  I will give the students their reading goals and ZPD for the 6 weeks based upon their individual reading level.  We will go to the library to check out 2 books.  I will read the short story called Tripping Over the Lunch Lady.

Thursday

Students will set up their blog post.  Students will edit/revise their composition about their most memorable moment of summer.

Friday

Students will finish setting up their blog post.  They will type their 1st blog post about their most memorable moment of summer.  If students are unable to have a blog, they will type their composition in Microsoft Word.

TEKS that will be covered:  6.1, 6.2, 6.6, 6.8, 6.13, 6.14, 6.16, 6.19, 6.20, 6.21, 6.26