SMS 6th Grade Team Lopez Newsletter
GENERAL REMINDERS/HIGHLIGHTS:
· Mix it up with Menchie's & Shuksan Middle School PTSA Menchie’s Fundraising!
Saturday, April 26th and Sunday April, 27th Please show the Shuksan coupon to get the fundraising funds. The coupon is on our website which you can print. You can go to either Menchie’s to get the discount . 20% of your frozen yogurt purchase will support athletic activities, scholarships and field trips! It’s a Take Over!!
Principal Jay Jordan will be the mix master of Menchie’s Bakerview from 1 – 3 PM on Saturday the 26th.
· There will not be a rehearsal on today for the Talent Show. The Stage Crew & MC’s need to be here at 6:00 pm on Friday and all other cast members need to come at 6:15. Parents and Families are invited to come to the Evening Talent Show on Friday April 25th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Please join us for an evening of talent and fun in the Shuksan Cafeteria!
· Buy your yearbook and get a prize! Yearbook staff has purchased some very cool purple pens as an incentive for students who pre-order their yearbook. Yearbooks are for sale in the morning between 8:45-9:10 and during student lunches at Mrs. Foster's window.
· The Boys and Girls Club will be closed Wednesday through Friday of this week to prepare for their annual auction.
· Open Gym:
Open Gym for Students and Families! Noche De Gimnasio para los estudiantes y sus familias!
Every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m.
Todos los miércoles a 6-7:30 p.m.
We have been having a blast at open gym each week! Please come join us!
Nos estamos divirtiendo cada semana, asi que por favor, venga a jugar con nosotros!
Students can sign themselves and their family up in the lunch room during school.
Los Estudiantes, regístrate para ti y tu familia en la cafetería.
· Buy your yearbook and get a prize!
Yearbook staff has purchased some very cool purple pens as an incentive for students who pre-order their yearbook. Yearbooks are for sale in the morning between 8:45-9:10 and during student lunches at Mrs. Foster's window.
CLASSROOM NEWS:
MATH
Mr. Finlay: [email protected]
Content Overview: Our math classes are getting started on a new unit: Statistics and Probability. The two Daily Math Review “flavors” include Ratio and Rate and Geometric Shapes with a quiz on Friday April 25. You’ll see that these two flavors are the focus of the practice on the Weekly Homework Page for Monday and Tuesday nights. Depending on the page (form B or not), there is a crossword puzzle for Wednesday night. Our current Weekly Homework Page is due on Thursday April 24.
Learning Targets:
- I can determine the probability of an event happening.
- I can determine the measurements of a rectangular prism (box).
- I can use the four operations with positive and negative integers.
- I can use all four math operations to solve “real-world” math problems.
- I can practice and memorize all multiplication facts and division facts 1-12 (see website http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-6 for helpful drills).
Talking Points:
Look for the blue or red “checkmark” stamp for last week’s Weekly Homework Page in your student’s planner. This indicates whether the homework was completed to standard. Blue means it did meet standard; red means it didn’t. Also, any items that are circled in the math square in the planner mean that they are being checked the next day in class and will be either stamped blue (meets standard) or left unstamped (not meeting standard for completion or accuracy).
LANGUAGE ARTS and SOCIAL STUDIES:
Mrs. Strow: [email protected]
This week in Mrs. Strow’s Core:
LANGUAGE ARTS
Deadlines: Reading Log #28 was due yesterday, Tuesday, April 22. Please ensure your student is reading at least five days per week for at least 30 minutes each day. If your child is struggling to stay focused on their chapter book for 30 minutes at a time, try having your child read for 15 minutes before school and 15 minutes after school.
They're Back! Crossword Puzzle Vocabulary Lesson 7 was due today, Wednesday, April 23 and Lesson 8 is due this Friday, April 25.
MAKE-UP READING LOGS? If your student is missing past reading logs, please have them answer the weekly question on the backside but do not have your child do extra reading. Reading logs are entered in the grade book for meeting deadlines and following directions so it makes more sense for your student to focus on completing their reading logs for this last quarter of 6th grade.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Ancient Egypt
Yesterday Ms. Bruyn supported students as they read an article about whether ancient history is worth learning in school, in preparation for today's Socratic Seminar. Please ask your student their perspective on whether ancient history is important enough to be taught in school or not.
Ms. Jurgensen: [email protected]
www.jurg6.weebly.com
This week in Ms. Jurgensen’s Core:
Language Arts:
This Friday, we will be celebrating the completion of our short story unit by having a Publishing Party. Students with completed final drafts will get a chance to share their writing with an audience and receive feedback from their peers about their story. This is a positive and fun activity and I’m very excited to hear our 6th grade authors share their work!
We started previewing the novel Hatchet for our last unit of 6th grade. We will be spending May and June reading Hatchet as a class and studying the character development, voice, and plot development of a novel.
Students received their first Homework Letter assignment on Tuesday. Please see the letter for more information or download a copy from the Skyward grade book.
Learning Targets:
- I can set a purpose for reading.
- I can explain the new vocabulary words: agony, turbulence, lurch, and drone.
Talking Points:
-Talk to your students about what a meaningful sentence is. Can the reader tell that you know what the vocabulary word means by reading your sentence?
-Ask your student about Hatchet. What is our purpose for reading Hatchet? What did we learn when we previewed the text?
HOMEWORK:
Reading homework letters will be due Tuesday, April 29. See Skyward to download an extra copy if you need one!
Make-Up Reading Homework? If your student is missing past reading logs, please have them answer the weekly question on the front side but do not have your child do extra reading for the log on the backside. Reading logs are entered in the grade book for meeting deadlines and following directions so it makes more sense for your student to focus on completing their reading homework letters for this last quarter of 6th grade.
Social Studies:
Content Overview: We continued our study of ancient Egypt by learning about what different types of houses the Egyptians lived in during the Old Kingdom period. Students created a representation of a house that their “character” might have lived in based on their occupation and wealth. We also began mapping non-fiction text to review and practice identifying the features of non-fiction text. We will be having finishing up our Egypt unit this month before moving on to ancient Greece in May.
Learning Targets:
-I can define vocabulary words: papyrus, mummy, delta, and hieroglyph.
Talking Points:
-Ask your student about writing a RAVE answer.
-Ask your student about the different types of homes in which ancient Egyptians lived.
SCIENCE
Mr. Robinson: [email protected]
Science Content Overview: We are winding up our investigation into energy, machines, and motion this week by doing an investigation with Mousetrap cars. The students will be looking at energy changes, as well as the forces and laws of motion involved. There will be a final test on this unit next Monday. We will then start focusing on the science of geology, in our Earth History unit.
Learning Targets:
* I can list Newton’s Law of Motion
* I can recognize the different laws of motion in different examples.
* I can recognize different forces acting on a moving object.
* I can explain the energy changes happening in a mousetrap car and fan car.
Talking Points:
Ask your child to explain the mousetrap car, and how it works.
Assignments for this week:
There is a Teach a Topic this week on Speed and the Fan Car, which is due Friday
READING: (Ms. Strommer) [email protected]
If you haven’t seen your child’s R Skills test report please ask him or her to dig it out for you. We are working on our third workshop, Identity Crisis. This workshop addresses literary elements using poetry and short stories. We’ll focus on vocabulary at the beginning of the week Our focus vocabulary words are: identity, unique, deceive, recognize and secure.
Not all students are reading within their ranges. The range is 100 points below their lexile score to 50 points above. You and your child can check the lexile level of most books on lexile.com. If your child doesn’t remember his or her lexile score please check with me.
Each student has a long-term goal of raising their lexile score on the June SRI test. Each student also has a short term goal that we’ll measure at the end of April. Please ask your child how he or she is doing on progressing toward these goals.
6th GRADE RESOURCE TEACHER:
Ms. Bartz: [email protected]
ELECTIVE COURSES:
MEDIA APPS: Ms. Larson: [email protected]
Content Overview
Students will continue to practice their PowerPoint skills this week. Monday students will finish up their reformatting assignment in which they make specific changes to an existing PowerPoint. As students finish their reformatting assignment, they will begin planning their own Vocabulary Review PowerPoint.
Talking Points
· Ask your student if they have learned any new tools, tricks or shortcuts with PowerPoint. If not, what is something they haven’t learned how to do yet with PowerPoint that they would like to try out (encourage them to share their ideas with me either in person or via Edmodo)
ART: Mrs. Heywood: [email protected]
Physical Education: [email protected]
Remember to come prepared each day in PE with proper running shoes, shorts and Shuksan PE shirt.
Mrs. Diaz: [email protected]
ORCHESTRA:
Mr. Stanage: [email protected]
Reading Support
GENERAL REMINDERS/HIGHLIGHTS:
· Mix it up with Menchie's & Shuksan Middle School PTSA Menchie’s Fundraising!
Saturday, April 26th and Sunday April, 27th Please show the Shuksan coupon to get the fundraising funds. The coupon is on our website which you can print. You can go to either Menchie’s to get the discount . 20% of your frozen yogurt purchase will support athletic activities, scholarships and field trips! It’s a Take Over!!
Principal Jay Jordan will be the mix master of Menchie’s Bakerview from 1 – 3 PM on Saturday the 26th.
· There will not be a rehearsal on today for the Talent Show. The Stage Crew & MC’s need to be here at 6:00 pm on Friday and all other cast members need to come at 6:15. Parents and Families are invited to come to the Evening Talent Show on Friday April 25th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Please join us for an evening of talent and fun in the Shuksan Cafeteria!
- Social Action Club: Wednesday at 8:00 am and Thursday after school in Mrs. Strow’s room!
· Buy your yearbook and get a prize! Yearbook staff has purchased some very cool purple pens as an incentive for students who pre-order their yearbook. Yearbooks are for sale in the morning between 8:45-9:10 and during student lunches at Mrs. Foster's window.
- Bellingham Parks and Recreation is hosting an open swim for middle-schoolers! Slide, swim, soak, splash around, dive, play water polo, and hang out with friends. We provide a safe and supervised setting for boys and girls to spend their Friday night. Fridays: April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6, 13. 9:00pm-10:30pm. Grades: 6-8 Cost: FREE
- Coding club Thursday mornings in room 104!
· The Boys and Girls Club will be closed Wednesday through Friday of this week to prepare for their annual auction.
· Open Gym:
Open Gym for Students and Families! Noche De Gimnasio para los estudiantes y sus familias!
Every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m.
Todos los miércoles a 6-7:30 p.m.
We have been having a blast at open gym each week! Please come join us!
Nos estamos divirtiendo cada semana, asi que por favor, venga a jugar con nosotros!
Students can sign themselves and their family up in the lunch room during school.
Los Estudiantes, regístrate para ti y tu familia en la cafetería.
· Buy your yearbook and get a prize!
Yearbook staff has purchased some very cool purple pens as an incentive for students who pre-order their yearbook. Yearbooks are for sale in the morning between 8:45-9:10 and during student lunches at Mrs. Foster's window.
CLASSROOM NEWS:
MATH
Mr. Finlay: [email protected]
Content Overview: Our math classes are getting started on a new unit: Statistics and Probability. The two Daily Math Review “flavors” include Ratio and Rate and Geometric Shapes with a quiz on Friday April 25. You’ll see that these two flavors are the focus of the practice on the Weekly Homework Page for Monday and Tuesday nights. Depending on the page (form B or not), there is a crossword puzzle for Wednesday night. Our current Weekly Homework Page is due on Thursday April 24.
Learning Targets:
- I can determine the probability of an event happening.
- I can determine the measurements of a rectangular prism (box).
- I can use the four operations with positive and negative integers.
- I can use all four math operations to solve “real-world” math problems.
- I can practice and memorize all multiplication facts and division facts 1-12 (see website http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-6 for helpful drills).
Talking Points:
Look for the blue or red “checkmark” stamp for last week’s Weekly Homework Page in your student’s planner. This indicates whether the homework was completed to standard. Blue means it did meet standard; red means it didn’t. Also, any items that are circled in the math square in the planner mean that they are being checked the next day in class and will be either stamped blue (meets standard) or left unstamped (not meeting standard for completion or accuracy).
LANGUAGE ARTS and SOCIAL STUDIES:
Mrs. Strow: [email protected]
This week in Mrs. Strow’s Core:
LANGUAGE ARTS
Deadlines: Reading Log #28 was due yesterday, Tuesday, April 22. Please ensure your student is reading at least five days per week for at least 30 minutes each day. If your child is struggling to stay focused on their chapter book for 30 minutes at a time, try having your child read for 15 minutes before school and 15 minutes after school.
They're Back! Crossword Puzzle Vocabulary Lesson 7 was due today, Wednesday, April 23 and Lesson 8 is due this Friday, April 25.
MAKE-UP READING LOGS? If your student is missing past reading logs, please have them answer the weekly question on the backside but do not have your child do extra reading. Reading logs are entered in the grade book for meeting deadlines and following directions so it makes more sense for your student to focus on completing their reading logs for this last quarter of 6th grade.
SOCIAL STUDIES- Ancient Egypt
Yesterday Ms. Bruyn supported students as they read an article about whether ancient history is worth learning in school, in preparation for today's Socratic Seminar. Please ask your student their perspective on whether ancient history is important enough to be taught in school or not.
Ms. Jurgensen: [email protected]
www.jurg6.weebly.com
This week in Ms. Jurgensen’s Core:
Language Arts:
This Friday, we will be celebrating the completion of our short story unit by having a Publishing Party. Students with completed final drafts will get a chance to share their writing with an audience and receive feedback from their peers about their story. This is a positive and fun activity and I’m very excited to hear our 6th grade authors share their work!
We started previewing the novel Hatchet for our last unit of 6th grade. We will be spending May and June reading Hatchet as a class and studying the character development, voice, and plot development of a novel.
Students received their first Homework Letter assignment on Tuesday. Please see the letter for more information or download a copy from the Skyward grade book.
Learning Targets:
- I can set a purpose for reading.
- I can explain the new vocabulary words: agony, turbulence, lurch, and drone.
Talking Points:
-Talk to your students about what a meaningful sentence is. Can the reader tell that you know what the vocabulary word means by reading your sentence?
-Ask your student about Hatchet. What is our purpose for reading Hatchet? What did we learn when we previewed the text?
HOMEWORK:
Reading homework letters will be due Tuesday, April 29. See Skyward to download an extra copy if you need one!
Make-Up Reading Homework? If your student is missing past reading logs, please have them answer the weekly question on the front side but do not have your child do extra reading for the log on the backside. Reading logs are entered in the grade book for meeting deadlines and following directions so it makes more sense for your student to focus on completing their reading homework letters for this last quarter of 6th grade.
Social Studies:
Content Overview: We continued our study of ancient Egypt by learning about what different types of houses the Egyptians lived in during the Old Kingdom period. Students created a representation of a house that their “character” might have lived in based on their occupation and wealth. We also began mapping non-fiction text to review and practice identifying the features of non-fiction text. We will be having finishing up our Egypt unit this month before moving on to ancient Greece in May.
Learning Targets:
-I can define vocabulary words: papyrus, mummy, delta, and hieroglyph.
Talking Points:
-Ask your student about writing a RAVE answer.
-Ask your student about the different types of homes in which ancient Egyptians lived.
SCIENCE
Mr. Robinson: [email protected]
Science Content Overview: We are winding up our investigation into energy, machines, and motion this week by doing an investigation with Mousetrap cars. The students will be looking at energy changes, as well as the forces and laws of motion involved. There will be a final test on this unit next Monday. We will then start focusing on the science of geology, in our Earth History unit.
Learning Targets:
* I can list Newton’s Law of Motion
* I can recognize the different laws of motion in different examples.
* I can recognize different forces acting on a moving object.
* I can explain the energy changes happening in a mousetrap car and fan car.
Talking Points:
Ask your child to explain the mousetrap car, and how it works.
Assignments for this week:
There is a Teach a Topic this week on Speed and the Fan Car, which is due Friday
READING: (Ms. Strommer) [email protected]
If you haven’t seen your child’s R Skills test report please ask him or her to dig it out for you. We are working on our third workshop, Identity Crisis. This workshop addresses literary elements using poetry and short stories. We’ll focus on vocabulary at the beginning of the week Our focus vocabulary words are: identity, unique, deceive, recognize and secure.
Not all students are reading within their ranges. The range is 100 points below their lexile score to 50 points above. You and your child can check the lexile level of most books on lexile.com. If your child doesn’t remember his or her lexile score please check with me.
Each student has a long-term goal of raising their lexile score on the June SRI test. Each student also has a short term goal that we’ll measure at the end of April. Please ask your child how he or she is doing on progressing toward these goals.
6th GRADE RESOURCE TEACHER:
Ms. Bartz: [email protected]
ELECTIVE COURSES:
MEDIA APPS: Ms. Larson: [email protected]
Content Overview
Students will continue to practice their PowerPoint skills this week. Monday students will finish up their reformatting assignment in which they make specific changes to an existing PowerPoint. As students finish their reformatting assignment, they will begin planning their own Vocabulary Review PowerPoint.
Talking Points
· Ask your student if they have learned any new tools, tricks or shortcuts with PowerPoint. If not, what is something they haven’t learned how to do yet with PowerPoint that they would like to try out (encourage them to share their ideas with me either in person or via Edmodo)
ART: Mrs. Heywood: [email protected]
Physical Education: [email protected]
Remember to come prepared each day in PE with proper running shoes, shorts and Shuksan PE shirt.
Mrs. Diaz: [email protected]
ORCHESTRA:
Mr. Stanage: [email protected]
Reading Support