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Ms. Calder, Language Arts, 6th

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April 13-17

This week in ELA we will be following this schedule
Monday - regular class
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - Reading CMAS testing
Friday - regular class
 
HMH group:
Students will be reading the third story in Module 9, "You Have to Stop This", and the skills we will be working on are retelling, synthesizing, and critical vocabulary words. 
 
Redwall group:
The students will read Chapter 9-13 in "The Warrior" section, complete vocabulary words, and answer the comprehension questions. 
 
Writing:
Students will continue working on their narrative story.

April 6-9

This week in ELA our schedule looks a little different due to CMAS. 
 
Monday and Friday will be regular days, and Tuesday through Thursday we will have ELA from 11:15 to 11:45 due to CMAS testing. 
 
We will be in Module 9, week 2 reading about King Tut: The Hidden Tomb. The reading skills that we will focus on are Monitor and Clarify, Critical Vocabulary and the Text Structure, Problem/Solutions. 
 
Redwall group:
The students will continue reading Chapter 5-8 in the section of the Warrier working on comprehension skills and they will continue writing a narrative essay of their choice. 

March 30 - April 3

HELLO, FAMILY!
 
We will start Module 9, Mummies and Bones.

Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
archaeology, with a focus on the narrative text genre. We will read 
nonfiction book excerpts, and magazine and newspaper articles 
about human remains and objects that teach us about history, and 
we will finish with a novel excerpt that injects humor into this serious 
topic by way of a mystery. 

Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is 
 learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about 
the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic and work together to find the answers.
 
Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is narrative text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. 
Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 
Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• have a clear text structure (e.g., cause and effect)
• help readers connect to science
 
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words alarmed, remains, relics, and archaeologist in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: Describe the last time you were alarmed. What in our home do you think would be an interesting relic for someone from the future to find?
What Does It Mean? Have your child keep a growing list of the Critical Vocabulary words. Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt Look for words with the roots pyro, archaeo, civ; the prefix 
ex–; and suffixes –full/–less, –ence in books, magazines, online texts, 
and environmental print.
 
Redwall group:
This week the students will begin the last section in the book, "The Warrior".  The goal is to continue reading, answering comprehension questions, learning new vocabulary, and having a discussion over the reading. 
 
They will continue working on the Summary poster for the last section "The Quest"

March 9-11

This week in ELA we will wrap up our Module 8 by taking the Module assessment and in writing the students will complete their "What makes a Champion" and their Hero paper. 
 
Redwall group:
This week the students will finish reading the section "The Quest" and complete the comprehension questions and vocabulary words. They will also be working on the collaborative poster showcasing the big events for this section. 

March 2-6

For ELA this week we will be reading two selections; one on Sports Poetry and the other story "Who Gets a Trophy".  The reading skills will be focusing on Poetry elements and Asking and Answering questions.  
 
For writing the students will continue working on their writing piece, "What makes a Champion"
 
Redwall group:
The students will continue reading all the chapters for "The Quest" and answer comprehension questions and vocabulary.  They will create a summary poster of the key events and characters for the section over the Quest. 
 
For writing the student can choose a genre of choice making sure to follow the story elements into a five paragraph essay. 

February 23-27

Monday the students will finish the Module 7 Assessment and their research paper about their Ocean topic. 
 
Tuesday we will begin Module 8, Champions of the Game
 
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
sports and competition, with a focus on the opinion text genre. We 
will read nonfiction book excerpts and essays that discuss the variety 
of sports that we pursue, the personal qualities of great athletes, and 
what it means to be a good sport. There is an additional feature on 
sports poetry.
 
Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is 
learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic, and work together to find the answers.
 
Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is persuasive text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. 
Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 
Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• present interesting ideas about how sports test an athlete’s character
• help readers connect to health and fitness
 
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words attributes, rivals, leagues, and statistics in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these:
Describe the attributes of a great athlete. Who might be a challenging rival for you in something you love to compete for?

What Does It Mean?
Have your child keep a growing list of the Critical Vocabulary words. Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt
Look for words with the roots scrib/scribe, man; prefixes uni–, pro–, multi– in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.
 

February 17-20

This week in ELA class we will finish the third story for Module 7, "Safeguarding the California Coast" and we will be focusing on Ask and Answer Questions and well as the text structure, comparing and contrasting. 
 
For writing, the students will continue working on the research paper on the sea and the ocean topic of their choice making sure that the essay has five paragraphs and includes sited sources and research. 
 
Redwall group:
The students will continue reading through "The Quest" section reading Chapters 11-20, and they will start a new writing assignment this week. 
 
 

February 9-13

Module 7, week 2 Into the Deep
 
We will read "Poetry of the Sea" and "Ocean Careers" this week focusing on the elements of Poetry, Visualization and Monitoring and Clarifying. We will learn vocabulary words, decoding using prefixes, and grammar using conjunctions. 
 
For writing the students pick a topic under the theme the sea and the ocean.  Next, they create two questions that they would like to research and then began researching. 
 
Redwall group:
The students read up to Chapter 6 in "the Quest" section.  We will continue reading, answering comprehension questions and looking at key vocabulary in each chapter.  For writing the students need to finish their argumentative research essay. The summary poster that the students created for "The Wall" section was an incredible recap. 

February 2-6

We will begin Module 7, Into the Deep. 
 
HELLO, FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about 
seas and shorelines, with a focus on the informational text genre. We 
will read texts and view a video about the immense diversity of ocean 
life, and explore how humans appreciate and interact with the sea 
and its creatures.
 
Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about the topic: 
• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge
Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic, and work together to find the answers.
 
Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is informational text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. 
Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 
Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• explore interesting facts and ideas about ocean exploration
• help readers connect to science topics
 
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words inhabit, aquatic, invertebrates, and vast in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: Name an animal that lives in an aquatic environment. Describe something that is vast.
What Does It Mean?
Have your child keep a growing list of the 
Critical Vocabulary words.
Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt Look for words with the roots terr, hab; and prefixes sub–, 
ir–, octo–, com–, con– in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.
 
Redwall group:
The first section "The Wall" was completed and the group is working on a collaborative poster to showcase the characters and big events that happened in this section.  The group started reading the next section, "The Quest" completing the discussion questions and vocabulary words. 
This group has also been working on writing and argumentative research paper. 
 
 

January 26-30

We will continue with Module 6, week 1. The story is "Who Wants to Move to Mars". The reading focus will be on vocabulary words and the reading strategy making inferences. 
 
Redwall group will begin "The Quest" reading, answering comprehension questions and exploring vocabulary words. 
 
For writing the students will continue working on their Argumentative Research paper rough draft, edit their paper and turn in their final essay on writable by Friday!

January 20-27

This week we will be reading the second story in Module 6, a story about Neil Armstrong.  We will be focusing on asking and answering questions as well as the critical vocabulary words. 
 
The students will continue working on their argumentative research paper by searching sources that would support their view and siting their sources. 
 
Redwall group:
The students will continue reading the first section in this book and become familiar with the vocabulary words for each chapter and answer comprehension questions.  We will have discussions for all the chapters. 

January 12-16

Welcome back!
 
We will be starting Module 6, To the Moon and Back. 
 
HELLO, FAMILY!
Over the next three weeks, our class will build their knowledge about space exploration, with a focus on the opinion text genre. We will read nonfiction book excerpts and essays that tell the stories of space pioneers and the inspiring technology and human achievement that can be unlocked when we shoot for the moon and beyond.
 
BRING IT HOME! Learning fun for the whole family!

Discuss the Topic
Set aside time daily for your child to share with you what he or she is learning. Use these ideas to help build your child’s knowledge about the topic: 

• Talk about the ideas your child has added to the Knowledge Map each week.
• Ask about the texts your child is reading and what he or she has learned from them.
• Share with your child your own questions about the topic and work together to find the answers.

Explore the Genre
The genre focus in this module is persuasive text. Discuss with your child the characteristics of this genre. 
Ask your child to read to you each day and make time to read together. 

Look for texts that
• spark your child’s curiosity
• tie to the module topic
• present interesting ideas and different techniques authors use to share an opinion
• help readers connect to science
 
Build Vocabulary
Use these ideas to help your child build a rich vocabulary. 
The Big Idea Reinforce the topic words craters, satellite, orbit, and launched in everyday conversations with your child. Use prompts like these: How do satellites affect our lives? Describe what you would see if you were launched into orbit around the earth.
What Does It Mean?
Have your child keep a growing list of the Critical Vocabulary words.
Quiz each other on their meanings.
Word Hunt Look for words with the roots cosmo, astro, orbit, hum, mit; the prefix de–; and suffixes –ion, –ism in books, magazines, online texts, and environmental print.

December 15-19

In ELA this week we have finished Module 5 and we are going to work on some reading and writing activities to help support our International Towne field trip. 
 
On Monday, we will read and discuss Natural Disasters. 
Tuesday the students will conduct country meetings in preparation for International Towne.  They will be focusing on collaborating and communicating with their team to create norms for their country. 
Wednesday will be math MAP testing
Thursday will be the field trip to International Towne
Friday we will wrap up and have a discussion about our field trip and do some Holiday reading and writing activities. 
 

December 8-12

This week in ELA we will be reading the last story in Module 5, "Children of the Great Depression" and the reading focus will be on finding the Central Idea and Visualization as well as vocabulary. 
 
In the area of writing, students will write a new Formal Letter.
 
Thursday the students will be taking the reading MAPS assessment to celebrate their learning!  Please encourage the students to get adequate sleep and good nourishment.  Thank you for your support! :)

December 1-5

We will continue working in Module 5.
 
Reading we will read the stories "Men of the Woods" and "Stories of the Great Depression. The reading focus skill will be working on asking and answering questions along with the vocabulary words. 
 
Writing:
The focus will be learning to write a formal letter.