6^th Grade Newsletter

August 31-September 13

Religion—Mr. Walt Tabory

In sixth grade religion class, students are testing their knowledge of Chapter 2, “God's Word Within Us.” As we continue with Chapter 3, we'll explore a Bible story from the Book of the prophet Baruch.  He wrote to the people of Jerusalem who were forced to leave their homeland by an occupying army.  Baruch tried to help them understand how this happened and how to find true happiness and hope.  We'll connect this story to refugees around the world who are suffering the same fate as the Israelites and learn how a poem written thousands of years ago can be so relevant today.  We'll also learn ways of "breaking open" the stories of the Bible.

Language Arts—Mrs. Patti Dearth

¶ Vocabulary

Our first two tests covered the use of the prefixes “mono” and “inter”. This week we are studying words with origins in literature. Class favorites have been malapropism, jabberwocky, and lilliputian. We will return to the study of prefixes next week with “intra”.

¶ Reading

This week we learned about the hardships of the Alaskan Gold Rush as experienced by 14-year-old Walt Masters in Jack London’s short story, “King of Mazy May”. Students have been learning about the elements of plot by using graphic organizers to map the conflict, developing action, climax, and resolution of several short stories. We will be reading a few more short stories in our anthology, and then begin our first novel study with Christopher Paul Curtis’s The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963. We are halfway through our read-aloud book, The Library Card, by Jerry Spinelli. Students will be allowed to take the AR test if they would like.

The last day to take AR tests or to turn in pre-approved projects is Wednesday, October 17. Students are given one class period to read independently during our Quiet Fridays. AR points will count as the equivalent of one test grade. I strongly encourage students to read for at least 20 to 30 minutes each evening. To break up the routine, and help them practice fluency, ask them to read one of their favorite passages to you while you are preparing dinner or folding laundry. Or, if they prefer, they could read you an article of interest from the newspaper.

¶ English

We are finishing a quick review of writing paragraphs that have clear main ideas, either implied or stated through a topic sentence, and strong supporting details. Next, we will develop paragraphs in one of four ways: compare/contrast, evaluative, narrative, and descriptive. Grammar and usage are addressed in our daily board work, otherwise known as Smart Start. Students are also doing journal writes once, or if schedules allow, twice a week. We will be doing some expository writing in conjunction with our short story reading.

I think your children are settling into the routine of sixth grade nicely by this point. A few students are still struggling with getting assignments turned in on time. Half credit is given for late assignments. Students are expected to make an entry in our Homework Diary when they are missing work, which makes it easier for all concerned to see what needs to be made up. In an effort to keep parents informed and to encourage our sixth graders to take responsibility for their work, we will attempt to have your child email or call you. Currently, we are doing this in social studies, science, all language arts classes, and some of the math classes. This takes just a few minutes, is done at recess before they go outside, and gives them keyboarding practice as well!

A big thank you goes out to parents of my homeroom for providing a snack on your child’s Friendship Circle day. This short activity, which starts with a prayer chosen by the student, gives the kids practice in giving and receiving compliments graciously. The compliments must be specific and unique. I have been impressed by how articulate these children can be! Thank you again for your support and if you have any concerns, please contact me at school at pdearth@stpeterskc.org or by phone at 523-4899, ex. 323.

Math

Ms. Mary DiGiovanna

The students are currently studying measurement and statistics in Chapter 2. Topics include scale drawings, frequency tables, line plots, line graphs, bar graphs, circle graphs, and the measures of tendency—mean, median, and mode. A chapter test is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24.

Mrs. Diane Marrin dmarrin@stpeters.kc.org Voice Mail X 326

Sixth graders are studying measurement of length in both customary and metric units, using formulas to find area and perimeter of rectangles, and using scale drawings. They will also be displaying data using various graphs and finding measures of center. You have probably noticed the degree of your child’s success at the sixth grade level from the first chapter test. Some students have not yet understood the requirements of completing math assignments on time or have not been able to focus well in class. Tomorrow there will be a binder check. Please sign the checklist before binders are turned in.

Mr. Walt Tabory

In sixth grade mathematics class, students are focusing on measurement and statistics.  Combined with their studies of the metric system in science class, they should be mastering the units of measurement in the Customary System that we use in the U.S., as well as the Metric System used in most other countries.  Metrics are less difficult since the system is based on the place values that students have studied for a few years in the Base 10 System.  So review with them the place values found in the red- bordered mathematics page found in their student planners.  The page contains conversion and multiplication charts, as well, in case a student is rusty with his/her multiplication tables.  Multiplication is critical as we measure perimeter, area, and volume as well as begin our study of graphs.  Encourage your student to use benchmarks (objects that can be used as references when estimating measurements of other objects with similar units of measurement. For example, people measuring horses with their hands used their hands as benchmarks.)  We'll test on Chapter 2 during the week of 9/24/07.

Science & Social Studies—Ms. Laura Ginder

You can check the homework link each day for assignments (“Homework Pages” link on parish website: www.stpetersparishkcmo.org).

Health—Mrs. Tina Wendling

The sixth graders have been busy analyzing the influence of the media on our consumer choices. Ask your son or daughter to define “quackery” for youJ. We have had lengthy discussions about how advertising, culture, and fads influence our buying decisions. As you are aware, the students have been comparing the differences between brand name and generic products. This assignment has spurred some absolutely fabulous class discussion—thank you for cooperating in this assignment with your child. This week, they are creating their own advertisements for one of the generic products they evaluated and showing through that ad why the generic item is a smarter consumer choice. We have talked about truth in advertising as well and also about how some companies, like Dove, are working to improve the way their products are advertised. Their website is really interesting if you’ve never checked it out. Two of the classes saw a snippet of a video entitled “Evolution,” which is definitely worth checking out. You can see it at www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.