Tuesday, November 27, 2012

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. - Meister Eckhar





Hello everyone--
I hope your holiday was family-filled and bounteous.  I didn't get a chance to be with my children and their families as I'd hoped, but I had the good fortune to spend more time with my mother, which was very special.  I am thankful that she is well, and that my family, living in various coastal towns in Maine, are all healthy and thriving. I'm thankful, too, for all that I have here--my Addison family. I truly count my blessings.

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 26 -- 30

Due on Friday, November 30th:   
  1. Independent Book Project, Grades 5 & 6 (Oral Presentations that day) 
  2. Story Map -- Grade 6
  3. Writers Notebooks for November (lots of class time was given for these independent activities)
Language Arts, Grades 5 & 6:

Monday -- wrapping up loose ends
Tuesday -- Poetry Forms: Create two (or more) seasonal Haiku 
Wednesday -- Share Haiku & illustrate for B' Board display
Thursday -- Finish up Haiku project and direction-following activity.
Friday -- Seasonal activity--no assignment (these 2 days are changes)

Social Studies, Grades 5 & 6:

Monday -- ( Mrs. M.'s class) and Tuesday (Mrs. D.'s class)  

Unit 3, Lesson 1  Due at the next class:
  1. Create T-Chart showing geographical features (on left) and ways people adapted to them (on right)
  2. Answer questions 1-5 on page 57
  3. Complete worksheet (page 18)
Wednesday (Mrs. M.'s class) and Thursday (Mrs. D.'s class)  

Unit 3, Lesson 2 Due at the next class
  1. Create compare/contrast chart (see page 58)
  2. Answer questions 1-5 on page 62
  3. Complete worksheet "The Cities of Sumer"
Spelling, Grade 6 -- all assignments due the next day.
Monday -- Task Cards for Unit 2 must be turned today!
Tuesday -- Unit 3 pages 69-72
Wednesday -- Unit 3 pages 73-76
Thursday -- Unit 3 pages 77-80
Friday -- Test and 6 task cards due.


REMEMBER:  REPORT CARDS GO OUT ON FRIDAY--FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO TALK WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT THEIR LEARNING. (Help your child to see that mistakes provide opportunities for learning, and that his or her goal is ultimately to become a self-directed, successful student.)

Have a wonderful week, everyone.
Teri


Happy birthday to Heather (November 27) and Bethany (November 30)!! 

  
Candle image: http://karladornacher.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451638369e20120a6d37c07970b-450wi 
Happy Birthday image: http://img.xcitefun.net/users/2012/08/300946,xcitefun-happy-birthday-4.jpg






Wednesday, November 7, 2012

"Should things go wrong at any time, the people will set them to rights by the peaceable exercise of their elective rights. " Thomas Jefferson





 Hi everyone --

Yesterday grades 5 and 6 spent time reviewing President Obama's and Governor Romney's political platforms via an animated role play and subsequent discussion about the issues.  It was an enlightening experience to watch these young people contemplate complicated issues, offer their views, and thoughtfully exercise their right to "vote."  Your children are amazing.

ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 5--9

WRITER'S NOTEBOOK -- Grades 5 & 6
*  Monday:  Set up Writer's Notebook for November 
*  Assignment for Tuesday: complete 1st of 4 "16-Word" poems based on "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams.  (This work is considered Williams' masterwork--a poem in which he objectively illustrates the importance of the ordinary.) This first poem can be about any topic the student chooses.  
*  Assignment for Friday: complete the other 3 poems, which should focus on 3 academic subjects.  

LANGUAGE ARTS -- Grades 5 & 6
*  Tuesday:  Read about, role-play, and discuss Democratic and Republican political platforms prior to "voting" for the next president.
*  Wednesday through Friday:  Work on "Wonders" brochure--a major grade in both Language Arts and Social Studies.

SOCIAL STUDIES -- Grades 5 & 6
*  Monday & Wednesday -- 5/6 Maynard -- complete "Wonders" brochure (to be worked on in L.A., too)
*  Tuesday & Thursday -- 5/6 DaBica -- complete "Wonders" brochure (to be worked on in L.A., too)

SPELLING -- Grade 6
*  Monday - Wednesday: Unit 2, Part 1
*  Thursday - Friday: Unit 2 Part 2
* Continue working on Unit 2: Spelling "Task Cards" -- due at the end of Unit 2

~

Thank you, families, for attending parent/student/teacher conferences on Friday, November 2.  It was so nice spending time getting to know you / getting together again.  Addison's children are fortunate to have families that are so devoted to them and to their academic and socio-emotional growth and well-being. Together, we will provide the support and encouragement each and every child deserves.  

My best to you all--
Teri





Voting Booth illustration:  http://wac.450f.edgecastcdn.net/80450F/710keel.com/files/2011/03/Cartoon-voting-booth.jpg