6th Grade LA/Reading

Week of March 5

2012-03-02T12:25:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wondered why Leap Year exists? Here is some interesting information about it.

Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth's revolutions around the sun. It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days – or 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds (a tropical year) – to circle once around the Sun.

However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn't add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!

Benson 2/10

2012-02-10T12:13:00.000-08:00

LA- workbook 107

ADV RDG- none

RDG- read chp 44-46; complete questions

Week of February 13, 2012

2012-02-10T12:04:00.000-08:00

Book reports for Period 4 are due on Tuesday, February 14. Book reports for Periods 2 & 6 are due on February 21. Be sure to take your AR test before the due date and turn that in with your project.

Accelerated Reading classes will continue reading The Giver this week. A test over chapters 1-12 will be given on Tuesday, February 14. Be sure to complete the study guide and vocabulary for those chapters.

Period 4 will finish reading Maniac Magee this week. The final test will be given on Tuesday, February 14.

Week of January 16

2012-01-13T06:49:00.001-08:00

Here are some samples from the 6th grade Poetry Unit:

Little Lucy

Little Lucy likes to shop
While she licks a blue lolly pop
One day her face turned blue
And all she could say was boo!

Day
bright, sunny
laughing, playing, running
sun, sky-moon, stars
talking, resting, sleeping
quiet, dark
night

Water

So cool and very wet
You make my summer much fun
You are very clear

Benson 12/9

2011-12-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

La- Persuasive article and questions

RDG- write Definition Poem

ADV RDG- none

Week of December 12

2011-12-09T11:01:00.001-08:00

This week's Poetry lessons will be on Hexaduad poems, Limericks, and Onomatopoeia. Students will complete these poems and add them to their Poetry booklets. Remember, adding illustrations to your poems enhance the reader's understanding of your writing.

Advanced Reading classes will begin a unit on Drama. Two stories read will be, "Monsters are Due on Maple Street," and "Defenseless Creature."

Week of November 21

2011-11-18T11:30:00.000-08:00

This week the 6th graders will select a Rebecca Caudill book to read for their next book report. After reading three Caudill books, students will vote on the book they think should win the 2012 Rebecca Caudill Award. Here are some details about the Award:

The Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award is an annual award given to the author of the book voted most outstanding by students in grades four through eight in participating Illinois schools.

The award is named in honor of Rebecca Caudill who lived and wrote in Urbana, Illinois, for nearly 50 years. The award is given in recognition for her literary talent and the universal appeal of her books which have touched the hearts of many children and young adults.

Any school in Illinois with students enrolled in grades four through eight, may participate in the program. Some of books chosen for this year's voting are: The Magic Thief, Masterpiece, Extra Credit, Flygirl, Greetings from Nowhere, and Peak.

November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Halloween- ever wonder the history behind it? Read on to learn more....

No matter what your age, the last night of October is always one to look forward to celebrating. Halloween means kids running around in costumes and family and friends getting together. What other holiday do you have an excuse to eat all the sugar you want and wear whatever you want? Halloween wasn’t always the same celebration we experience today. In fact, Halloween’s origins date back thousands of years to the ancient Celtic festival called Samhain, pronounced sow-in.

Modern day Halloween has also brought some new traditions to the table as well as variations on old ones. Visiting haunted houses is a more modern tradition that most likely started as a commercial venture to earn money. While dressing in costumes for this day dates back thousands of years, today we see an insurgence of costumes inspired by popular culture, such as movie stars or politicians. Americans tend to see more humorous costumes than scary ones in the current times. Additionally, the tradition of trick-or-treating, which infers that if someone is not satisfied with the treat you are likely to get a trick, has evolved into an activity for younger children accompanied by parents.

I hope you had a great Halloween!

Week of October 17

2011-10-14T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here are 4 TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD NARRATIVE ESSAY:

1. Clarity. Ideas should be clearly distributed between sentences and paragraphs.

Example: Although I have never been to the races before, I was very excited to behold them, yet also somewhat nervous, because of the type of people who go there.

Improved: I'd never been to a horse race. I was excited to go, but also a little nervous, since I wasn't sure about the people at the track.

2. Don't describe each and every one of your own movements.

Example: As I went in the door, I turned and saw a TV. I looked around and saw posters on the wall. As I went further in I noticed everyone was watching M*A*S*H.

Improved: I immediately noticed the posters on the wall, though everyone else's eyes were focused on a TV playing M*A*S*H.

3. Avoid the second-person narrative. An important part of the narrative essay is the fact that the writer experienced the events described.

Example: As you go in the door, you will turn and see a TV. You look around and see posters on the wall. As you go further in you notice everyone is watching M*A*S*H.

Writing in the present tense is okay, however.

4. To interest the reader, dynamic word choice is key.

Week of October 10

2011-10-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Happy Columbus Day! Enjoy the long weekend.

This week we will spend time reading various stories related to the plays we will see on our field trip. We will read, "The Necklace," "The Raven," and many others.

Students will also continue working on their narrative essays. Essays will be due the following week. Don't forget to begin your essay with a hook or teaser to entice your reader.

Week of Sept 26

2011-09-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

Thought of the week: If you opened a new department store, what type of merchandise would you feature and why?

On October 18 the 6th graders will be going on a field trip to a local theatre to see a compilation of plays. The permission slip for this trip will be handed out this week to students in Homebase. Be sure to have the permission slip signed and returned to the Homebase teacher by the due date.

Have a great week.

Week of September 19

2011-09-16T12:16:00.001-07:00

This week the Advanced Reading class will read the short story, "A Retrieved Reformation," written by O. Henry. There will be a quiz over the story on Tuesday. Another story, "After 20 Years," also by O. Henry, will be read on Thursday.

Book reports for all classes are due on September 30. Be sure to read a little of your book every day so you can finish with enough time to complete the book report assignment.

Have a great week!

Week of Sept 5, 2011

2011-09-02T10:40:00.000-07:00

Interview projects are due Tuesday. Don't forget to double space, proof read, and spell check your essays. Also, use colored pencils to illustrate your drawings.

Have a great weekend!

Welcome Back!

2011-08-26T12:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Parent(s):

Welcome to a new school year. My name is Mrs. Benson. I began my career at Lakeview several years ago as a student teacher. Since that time, I have taught Language Arts and Reading to regular education students as well as accelerated and gifted students. The following is a brief overview of the homework policy, curriculum, and expectations for this year. Please read the material below. If you have any questions, please contact me via email, sbenson@ccsd66.org or by phone, 630.783.5023.

Homework Policy:
Students are expected to turn in all assignments on time. Assignments 1 day late result in a loss of 25% of the grade, and assignments 2 days late result in a loss of 50% of the grade. When a lesson or unit is completed, students can no longer turn in missing assignments for that unit and will receive a 0 on any work that was not completed during that time.

Books to be used this year:
English, English Workbook Plus, Language of Literature, Buckle Down ISAT, and various novels. Textbook are always available for overnight check out.

Curriculum to be covered includes:
Short Stories, Poetry, Non-Fiction, Essay writing, Grammar, Public Speaking, ISAT Preparation, Journal Writing, Vocabulary Development, Book Reports

Language Arts/Reading 6th grade

Acknowledgment of Responsibilities
Please sign and return this portion to me by September 5, 2011.

I have read and understand the information regarding classroom rules and expectations.

_____________________________

Parent signature
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Student signature