Today (Monday, January 30th) students are starting a three-week unit on How-to Speeches. We (myself included) are very excited to start this unit because it ends with students getting to perform their very own how-to speeches for the class! This unit will have some great lessons on public speaking, sequential order, listening skills, introductions/gaining viewers attention, and choosing an appropriate topic.

Requirements and checkpoint sheets will be handed out to students on Thursday, February 2nd and final speeches will be presented Wednesday, February 15th-Tuesday, February 21st (depending on class size and time restrictions). Students will need to bring in a visual aide (poster, props, computer presentation, etc.), so I want to thank parents in advance for your help!

As always, please let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. I am so excited to get this unit underway and help facilitate student learning!

Miss Kunde

Students have already started their last unit of the semester, Poetry. We will be reading and writing poetry throughout the month of December, finishing up before the semester break. So far, students are doing  a wonderful job of being excited and motivated -- and building their poetry knowledge from reading class. Throughout the unit, students will be trying many examples of poetry, but will only bring one (their favorite) to publication for a grade.

We will again use a checkpoint system for grading to keep all students on track. There will be five (5) checkpoints for this three week study. Students did a wonderful job completing their in-class work for the last product study, and will be expected to do more work outside of class for this next unit. Details for the 'checkpoints' and study will be handed out on Thursday, December 8. Also, there is a digital copy located on this website under Downloadable Documents. Deadlines will be announced and written in the students' planners, but please check my Lesson Plans for the most up-to-date assignments.

I encourage all parents to show an interest in what their student is writing about, and contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Miss Kunde

Beginning November 1st, students will be starting their next product study of the year for writing. Students will be expected to publish one review on a movie, book, or product of his/her choosing.

We will again use a checkpoint system for grading to keep all students on track. There will be five (5) checkpoints for this two week study. Students did a wonderful job completing their in-class work for the last product study, and will be expected to do more work outside of class for this next unit. Details for the 'checkpoints' and study will be handed out on Tuesday, November 1st. Also, there is a digital copy located on this website under Downloadable Documents. Deadlines will be announced and written in the students' planners, but please check my Lesson Plans for the most up-to-date assignments.

Again, I want to encourage all parents to show an interest in what their student is writing about, and contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Miss Kunde

Next week, students will be starting their first product study of the year for writing. Students will be expected to publish one written report on a topic of his/her choosing.

In order to keep us all on task, and to help support some of the more struggling writers, this study will have six (6) 'checkpoints' over the next three weeks. Details for these 'checkpoints', as well as expectations for the entire study will be handed out to students on Tuesday, September 27th. Also, there is a digital copy located on this website under Downloadable Documents.

I encourage all parents to show an interest in what their student is writing about, and contact me if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Miss Kunde

Welcome to 6th Grade Writing!

I hope this website will serve as a great communication tool for parents and students throughout the school year! Please visit the links to the left -- lesson plans and documents will be updated often as our school year progresses.

This year ADM Middle School is doing a wonderful job of giving all students access to technology -- very soon students will have a Google Apps account that includes email, document storage, and access to all of Google's online features. As writers, we will be using these features as often as possible. The publishing step of the writing process is always changing; technology and computers are affecting the way professional writers' work everyday. As the students continue their MS and HS education, they will be required to have even more knowledge and experience with online publishing. To prepare them, there will be quite a few times this year where students will be expected to complete and submit assignments online. I encourage parents to stay in communication with me... I am always available to answer questions or address concerns!

I am looking forward to a great year!

Jen Kunde
jkunde@adel.k12.ia.us or jkunde@adm.k12.ia.us
(515)993-3490