It's I-Search Time!

The students have been hard at work on their I-Search research projects. They have chosen their topics, read articles, taken notes, conducted interviews, discussed with their peers, and are now gathering their learnings for their papers and presentations.

Here is the schedule for the I-Search Research Conference on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

Here are some resources that the students have been using and that are also posted on Google Classroom.
I-Search Paper Rubric
Pecha Kucha Guidelines/Rubric
Ms. Richer's Sample Pecha Kucha

**Everything - the I-Search Research Paper and Pecha Kucha - are due June 8. This way the project can be wrapped up before the end of the school year. **

Wrapping up Caminar

Now that we've finished reading Caminar, we are going to be comparing the representation of Guatemala in the novel and in the textbook that we use for Social Studies. The students will compare/contrast using annotations, a graphic organizer, then writing a letter (or some other creative piece) to show what was included and/or left out. This will allow them to practice their critical reading skills as well as show their learning in a format besides a typical essay.

Also, we are continuing with our blogs (you can have your student log into their account and send you a link to follow their blog). Each week, the students should be reading their Independent Reading book at least four times and jotting notes about what they are tracking. Here is an example of a tracker...

Date	Character Name	Important Action (in my own words)	Quote that shows the action (with page number)	My thoughts about why that action matters

Here's the document I used to introduce the blogs...

 Blogging our Reading and Thinking

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Here's a document with some sentence starters and ideas about something they might look for...

 Blog Sentence Starters

Back in the Swing of Things!

Last week, the students finished up their Argument Letters and I was able to grade them this weekend. Now comes the family homework! Students will receive their original version, revised version, and rubric today. On the back of the rubric, they wrote a prompt for someone at home: "What is something that impressed you about this writing?" and left a spot for a signature. This should be returned to school by Wednesday 1/11/16.

Also, just another reminder that Grammar Practice packets are due tomorrow, 1/10/16. The students had a week to work on them, so hopefully they used their time wisely and don't have much left to do!

Upcoming, the students will be putting together Action Project pitches related to plastics. They will be presented in class later this week. Each class (6-1, 6-2, 6-3) will choose one project to put forward to the grade. The students will then vote on a winning project that the whole grade will work on. I'm excited to see what the student come up with! 

Welcome 2017!

Sixth grade is ready to rock in the new year! Over vacation I was able to look at all of the students' argument letters and provide lots of feedback. We will do some small group lessons about appealing to our audiences, improving organization, adding transitions, and get some extra grammar practice.

For the grammar practice, we will be using a series of videos and IXL practice questions. Click here for the assignment that is posted in Google Classroom. Students may complete the work online or print it as a packet to write on. What's most important is that they are figuring out what way works best for them. I will be looking at both the written responses as well as the Smart Scores.

• Smart Scores below 85 - on track for a 2
• Smart Scores from 85-95 - on track for a 3
• Smart Scores from 95-100 - on track for a 4

All Grammar Practice work will be due next Tuesday, which means the students will have to use their week wisely. There might be some extra time in class, but the students will be planning out when they will complete their work when we go over the assignment tomorrow.

Stay tuned for a final deadline for the argument letters. The revision process is always in flux, so it is difficult to determine a due date at the moment.