Upstander project and Home of the Brave read aloud project

6th: Today we began class by explaining the next steps in the Upstander/Perpetrator research project. Ms. D explained how students would write the expository essay and gave out this packet in order for those who were finished with research to go ahead and begin drafting the essay. Students completed research and began to draft their essays.
Homework: If you have not completed the research, you need to have it ALL complete by the start of class tomorrow.

7th: Today we began class by introducing the Home of the Brave read aloud project. Students chose their partners and then got together with their partners to read their assigned chapter of the book, annotate the text, write a summary of what happens in the chapter or poem, and draw something that was visualized based on figurative language.
Homework: If you did not complete all of the steps mentioned above, you need to do so tonight for homework and come prepared with them for class tomorrow.

Upstander research and Throw Down Your Heart

6th: Today we began class with a Thanksgiving warmup. Then, we used the rest of the class period to complete our upstander project research. Students completed note-taking, checked their notes with Miss D, shared notes with a partner and got feedback from him/her, revised notes and research questions, finished the KWL and submit notes for a grade. Those who did not complete this process must have it complete by the end of the class period tomorrow.
Homework: Work on research.

7th: Today we began class with a Thanksgiving warmup. Then, we used the rest of class to finish watching the movie, Throw Down Your Heart, which we began on Tuesday.
Homework: none

African and European feast days, research and a movie!

6th: Today in 6th grade we began class by sharing out some of our foldables from last night's homework. Then, we had the EURO feast! We ate delicious things like Black Forest cake from Germany, Irish soda bread, Danish candies, French pastries. Thank you to all of you who volunteered to bring food! For the remainder of class, we conducted our research for our upstander project.
Homework: Have a great break!

7th: Today we began class by discussing the ways in which European contact with Africa impacted the continent. From there, we had our Africa feast day. We had amazing foods such as Groundnut stew, fried plantains, Ethiopian injera bread and more. When we returned from lunch, we watched the Life in the Congo presentation and the movie, Throw Down Your Heart, while taking notes.
Homework: Have a great break!

Upstander project research & Africa presentations and assessment

6th: Today we began class by discussing research- what the students already know about conducting research. Then, we discussed how research would be conducted in this upstander project. We got index cards, wrote the research question at the top of each index card and then practiced writing things we read in our own words so that we did not plagarize. Then, we conducted research for the rest of the class period. The students did great!
Homework: Bring food for Euro feast tomorrow! Complete foldable reading response, due tomorrow.

7th: Today, we began class with the remaining presentations. Then, we used all the notes we had taken on African history throughout the presentations and completed an assessment to demonstrate what we knew. Then, we began on our homework- the African vocab we'll be discussing tomorrow.
Homework: Complete Africa vocabulary. Bring food for Africa feast tomorrow!

Upstander projects, IR and African History Presentations

6th: Today we began class by practicing with an adjective game. We completed the K and W sections of our KWL charts and did independent reading. After returning from lunch, Miss D taught the students how to make a "foldable" for their next reading response, due Tuesday. Students did independent reading and used the foldable to show understanding for the rest of class.
Homework: Students who did not complete the K and W section of the KWL will do so for homework. Remember- Euro Feast on Tuesday!

7th: Today we began class by setting up for the African History project presentations. We watched several group presentations and took notes on what we learned. We still have 2 presentations to go on Monday- African Kingdoms and the Europeans and Life in the Congo. Be ready to present on Monday.
Homework: Those who still need to present, be ready on Monday.

Upstanders & African History presentations!

6th: Today we began class with a writing diagnostic to help kids set writing goals for the rest of the school year. Then, we took a short visit to the 8th grade poetry exhibit down in the library. We came back, got together with our upstander project partners, chose a European historical figure to study and brainstormed all we knew and wanted to know about this person.
Homework: Reading response in readers' journal due at the start of class tomorrow!

7th: Today we began class by preparing for presentations. Then, we had 2 groups do their African History presentations. Excellent work to the exploration and transatlantic slave trade groups. We also went to check out the 8th grade poetry exhibit and give our feedback to the 8th graders.
Homework: Complete partner book letter tonight. Be ready if you are presenting your presentation tomorrow!

Adjective assessment, project presentations, upstander project & planning African History presentations!

6th: Today we began class with adjective practice. Then, students took their adjective assessment. Afterward, the remaining students did their BC project presentations and we took notes. From there, we discussed this upcoming upstander project.
Homework: Tonight, students should look at the CHOICES sheet and rank their top 3 historical figures they are interested in studying.

7th: Today we began class by taking a short writing diagnostic that will be used to help students set goals in writing this year. Then, we used the rest of the class period to prepare for our teaching presentations on the African History projects. Students will present Thursday and Friday.
Homework: Make sure you're prepared for Thursday and Friday presentations, depending on the day your group presents. Also- remember, partner book letters are due Friday.

Adjectives and African history projects

6th: Today we began class with adjective practice. We collected our adjective practice check-sheets and those who made it to the CREATE level of adjectives shared out their projects. Then, we worked independently and with classmates to do the adjective practice packet to prepare for tomorrow's adjective assessment.
Homework: Be sure you've studied and reviewed and are prepared for the adjective assessment.

7th: Today, we peer edited essays one final time. Students will use the feedback received to modify essays to write a final draft tonight if they did not do so in class today. Then, we used the remaining time to work on our timeline artifacts and plan teaching presentations.
Homework: Final essay due tomorrow. Complete yours for homework.

BC project presentations & African timeline artifacts

6th: Today we spent the class period presenting our book club reading and research projects. Students in the audience took notes on what they learned about each others' books and research topics. We will continue presentations tomorrow. All adjective work was turned in.
Homework: none

7th: Today we created a rubric for how we would assess African history teaching presentations. Then, we had the whole class period to work on our visual timeline artifacts. These will be officially due on Thursday. We will have no more class periods to work on them.
Homework: Work on African timeline artifact, due Thursday.

Adjectives, book projects, peer revising and artifacts- whoo hoo!

6th: We began class by practicing with adjectives. We spent time working to achieve our goal- 6 checks in 3 different categories. We did amazing with adjectives today. All adjective practice work is due on Monday. Students who are working to exceed standards need to present their CREATE project on Monday as well. Then, we worked on book projects for the rest of the class period. Book project presentations will be on Monday. Be ready with the project and presentation.
Homework: Work on book project work and adjective work and make sure both are ready to go for Monday!

7th: Today we began class by checking over the recording of our reading this week and Miss Devine conferenced with each student to discuss the number of pages read this week. Then, we did these things today: completed peer revising and editing, got together with our groups to work on brainstorming and planning for the timeline visual artifact, got our ideas approved and then began to build the artifact for the timeline.
Homework: Read for 30 minutes.

Miss Devine will be out tomorrow. Have a great weekend.

Work on book projects and Peer Revision of Essays!

6th: Today we began class by making a to do list of all the things we needed to accomplish with our book club groups in order to have a finished project presentation:
-KWL research charts complete for everyone
-Book reflections complete for everyone
-Book project planning page complete for everyone and approved by teacher
-Complete product used to teach class about book and what was learned in research
-A planned-out project presentation for which everyone has a role and is prepared and knows what they will present about

Students had class time to work on their projects. Miss D moved the project presentation date to Monday. Students will have 1/2 of the class tomorrow to work on these and no time on Friday.
Homework: Read 30 minutes and record in log. Do anything you need to do to work on your book project at home.

7th: Today, we began class with the last of the book talks. Good work to all who presented! Then, we broke off into partners to peer revise our essays. Most students finished the peer revise and edit process. Those who did not will finish tomorrow. Don't forget: buddy book letters are due tomrrow!
Homework: Buddy book letter. Read for 30 minutes and record it. Miss D. will check your weekly pages tomorrow.
book commercials, peer revision, visual timeline

Adjectives, IR, Star Test & African Essays

6th: Today we began class by checking IR books. Did you have yours? Then, we spent some time working our Bloom's Taxonomy adjectives activity. Students got their sheets signed off as they made progress. (Remember- adjective assessment on Friday!) Then, we took the STAR retest. Afterward, we discussed the new expectations for IR in Humanities. Students will be required to read for 30 minutes each night, record nightly reading in a reading calendar and submit a reading log response in their mini-journals each Friday. The first is due this Friday. We met briefly in book clubs and planned out what we need to do to complete our project by Thursday's due date.
Homework: Read for 30 minutes, record it in reading calendar.

7th: Today we began class by stating our current status in the writing process. We did the read aloud and then students worked on their essays: conferencing, drafting and beginning the peer revision process.
Homework: Complete draft of essay by tomorrow. Read 30 minutes and record it.

Adjectives, Book project work & African history essay drafting...

6th: Today we began class with adjective practice. We worked for the first half of class on our individual adjective work, getting the teachers to sign off as we progressed through our adjective practice. Then, for the next half of the class period, we got together in our book club project groups to: complete the KWL research chart, plan for our book project and then (with teacher approval) begin work on our book project. Book projects will be presented this Thursday.
Homework: Bring an independent reading book tomorrow. Do any work you need to do at home on your group's book project.

7th: Today we began class with the read aloud and then book commercials. A reminder to the following students that the last day for book commercials is Wednesday and these students will present: Khalil, Andrew, Ewan, Emma, Duvan. Then, we took the STAR test in the computer lab. From there, we worked in class on either prewriting, conferencing with Miss D or on drafting our writing for the African History essay.
Homework: Do any work you need to do at home in order to have a draft of your African History essay by the end of class tomorrow.

7th graders, do you have last year's upstander project?

Hey 7th graders: do you still have your European Upstanders project from last year? If so, Miss D would love to have it this week. Bring it in and receive a something special for being so organized and orderly with your academic work.

Thanks!

Book club research & Prewriting and drafting: African History essays

6th: Today we met in book clubs and we worked to complete our KWL chart with our research. Then, after our KWLs had been checked by Miss D, we began to come up with our book project ideas, or how we would teach the class about our book and our topic.
Homework: have a great weekend!

7th: Today, we began class with book commercials. Great work, Ava and Spencer. Then, we discussed prewriting for our African history essays. A couple of students modeled how they decided they would organize the information to write their essay. Unlike last year, students will not given a scripted format for how to organize their writing. Instead, they were presented with various options and graphic organizers for organizing their ideas and are to choose what they believe is the best format. After prewriting, students conferenced with Miss D or Ms. Cannon to move on to the drafting stage.
Homework: Write your reading letter to your buddy! Due Monday.

Book commercials, researching African history & Researching historical context in book clubs

6th: Mr. Kerly subbed this class. Students turned in their term 1 reflections, completed their book club book reflection sheet and got together in groups to create their KWL charts for their research topic.
Homework: none

7th: Today we began class with book commercials: Mark, Caston, LaBrittney, Kalei, Maya and Jory: good work! Then, we worked on our African research project. Some students completed research notecards while others began prewriting for their essay and actually began the essay.
Homework: Make sure you are recording your reading in your reading log. We will check it tomorrow.

Reading "On the Front Lines" narrative & Research wrap-up

6th: Today we began class by organizing all of our "On the Front Lines" project work and then we collected it. From there, we switched narrative stories with Ms. Glow's class and read articles written by her students. We then wrote a letter to the author of the story we read, giving him/her positive feedback and constructive criticism. Then, students began their "6th Grade Humanities Term one reflection." This is to be completed tonight for homework. Finally, Miss D introduced the book club book project. Students worked with their book club to complete the "book reflection" page on their book.
Homework: Complete term 1 reflection. Due tomorrow.

7th: Today we began class by doing term 1 reflections. Students who completed these in class turned them in. If you did not finish, you need to complete it for homework. This is to help Miss D write your end of term report based on your reflections about your learning experience. We skipped the book commercials today, so if you were scheduled to present, you will do so tomorrow. Then, we met in research groups, and groups finished up all of their research and made sure each group member had a copy of EACH research notecard so they can begin writing essays with the information.
Homework: Make sure your term 1 reflection is complete. Due tomorrow.

Atlanta Challenge!

Today was the 6th and 7th grade field trip to Atlanta Challenge. It was great! The kids had fun and we all learned a lot.