August/ September
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Gurnoor Kaur, and Amyah McKenzie! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish them a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Ōkunoshima, nicknamed “Rabbit Island,” is home to — brace yourself — hordes of fluffy bunnies. Read about it here.
Monday, August 14 - Day 1
Welcome to 6th grade! This is the daily blog. You will check it EVERY day that we are together. It will tell you what to do to start your day in class, What we will be learning about, and any other important information you may need.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today!
Random Fact of the Day: Because news traveled so slowly back then, enslaved people in Texas didn’t know they were free for more than two months after Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Read more here.
Tuesday, August 15 - Day 2
Welcome to day 2 of 6th grade! Please relax and chat quietly with your table while you wait for class to start.
Today we will investigate Mr. Dees' likes and dislikes and figure out our seat assignments.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today!
Random Fact of the Day: The average American uses more than 20,000 squares of toilet paper in a year. Read more t.p. facts here.
Wednesday, August 16 - Day 3
Happy Wednesday! Unfortunately, it is not an early release anymore, but we have some fun things planned today! Please work on the Investigate the Teacher assignment from yesterday.
Today we will finish investigating Mr. Dees, learn each others' names, and complete an interest survey.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today!
Random Fact of the Day: In 1889, the Queen of Italy, Margherita Savoy, ordered the first pizza delivery. Read all about it here.
Thursday, August 17 - Day 4
Happy Thursday! Please work on the interest survey you started yesterday.
Today we will complete an interest survey, discuss class expectations, and read independently.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today
Random Fact of the Day: The earliest recorded use of the word “weekend” occurred in 1879 in an English magazine called Notes and Queries. Read about the history of the five-day workweek here.
Friday, August 18 - Day 5
Happy Friday! We made it! The weekend is just around the corner! Please work on anything we worked on yesterday (Interest Survey, Recipe for Myself).
Today we will learn about daily writing and a growth mindset. We will also read independently.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Natalyn Carr, Freja Troy, and Ivy Tran! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish them a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: The earliest recorded use of the word “weekend” occurred in 1879 in an English magazine called Notes and Queries. Read about the history of the five-day workweek here.
Monday, August 21 - Day 6
Happy Monday! I hope that you had a relaxing and restful weekend. Please work on anything we worked on Friday (Interest Survey, Recipe for Myself). If you have finished things you may find something quiet to do on your Chromebook or read independently.
Today we will take a pre-assessment and do an interesting writing activity.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The first webcam watched a coffee pot. It allowed researchers at Cambridge to monitor the coffee situation without leaving their desks! Read about it here.
Tuesday, August 22 - Day 7
Happy Tuesday! Please write independently while I take attendance. If you are not sure what to write about, here's a suggestion:
You wake up and find that you now have wings on your ankles and can fly. Write a story about what happens.
Today we will have a pre-assessment on group discussions and wrap up our Letter to Eighth Grade Self.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Cy Taylor! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish him a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum! Read about gum's strange history here.
Wednesday, August 23 - Day 8
Happy Wednesday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we begin MAP testing! We will also learn about how to check out books in the Library!
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Abby Rivera-Saucedo! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Every year, kids in North America spend close to half a billion dollars on chewing gum! Read about gum's strange history here.
Thursday, August 24 - Day 9
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's Friday theme is College Football! Wear your favorite college gear!
Today we continue MAP testing!
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Luca Hendrikson! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish him a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Ketchup was sold in the 1830s as medicine! Read all about it here.
Monday, August 28 - Day 11
Happy Monday to you all! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will begin Unit 1 - Authors as Mentors!
Learning Intention: Find value in using a novel to deepen understanding of human interaction, and motivation.
Success Criteria: I can read from a novel to help me better understand human interaction and motivation.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Mara Underly! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: The boomslang snake’s venom causes you to bleed from all holes in your body. Read about this dangerous snake here.
Tuesday, August 29 - Day 12
Happy Tuesday! Please write independently while I take attendance. If you are unsure what to write about, try this:
You discover that you were kidnapped as an infant and that the parents you know are actually evil spies. Write a story about what happens.
Today we will be reviewing R.A.C.E. and practice making high-quality responses.
Learning Intention: Use evidence and explanation to make my responses to questions more complete and well-supported.
Success Criteria: can use the R.A.C.E. format to answer questions based on my reading.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: As of July 2013, Wyoming only has two escalators! Read about here.
Wednesday, August 30 - Day 13
Happy Wednesday! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Today is our first Writer's Wednesday!
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Snowflakes aren’t the only form of snow. Read about it and other snow facts here.
Thursday, August 31 - Day 14
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's Theme Friday is Red, White, and Blue!
Today we will see how you are all doing with R.A.C.E. responses. We will also head to the library to finish our orientation.
Learning Intention: Use evidence and explanation to make my responses to questions more complete and well-supported.
Success Criteria: I can use the R.A.C.E. format to answer questions based on my reading.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday over the long weekend to Liv Adler!🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: The Harry Potter epilogue takes place on September 1, 2017. It's the day Harry and Ginny will put James and Albus on the Hogwarts Express, joining Hermione and Ron's daughter Rose, and Draco Malfoy's son Scorpius. Find out which Hogwarts House you belong to by clicking here.
Friday, September 1 - Day 15
It's Friday at last! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will wrap up Chapters 1-9 in Walk Two Moons and have our first class discussion.
Learning Intention: Understand the value of engaging in various discussions about text and how it can deepen understanding and analysis.
Success Criteria: Participate in discussion to help deepen understanding and analysis of Walk Two Moons.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: As you age, your ears and nose both get larger and larger due to gravity. Read about it here.
Wednesday, September 6 - Day 16
Happy Wednesday that feels like a Monday! Please finish/ complete the R.A.C.E. assessment from last week in Schoology. If you have already submitted it, write independently while I take attendance.
No Writer's Wednesday today 😔. We've too much to accomplish this short week!
Today we will review plot and its elements. We will also begin Chapters 10-12 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Describe how a story's plot unfolds in a series of episodes.
Success Criteria: I can use a plot diagram to show how a story’s plot unfolds.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Disha Chena and Haley Montoya! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish them a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Half of the population of the United States lives in just 9 states! Read all about it here.
Thursday, September 7 - Day 17
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance. You should NOT be working on Walk Two Moons.
Be sure to wear your favorite NFL gear tomorrow to celebrate Kickoff Weekend! 🏈
Today we will review summary writing and learn a basic technique to ensure you are summarizing, not retelling.
Learning Intention: Learn to construct a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Success Criteria: I can provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Luke Skywalker was originally going to be named Luke Starkiller and retained the name up until the film began shooting. Luckily, the name was never mentioned, so it was changed to Skywalker with little effort. Read more Star Wars facts here.
Monday, September 11 - Day 18
It's already Monday again! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will work on determining the theme in a text.
Learning Intention: Determine the central idea of a text; determine its theme.
Success Criteria: I can identify the central idea of a text and use it to create a theme statement.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Campbell Rippke! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish her a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: Australia is the only continent in the world without an active volcano! Read about it here.
Tuesday, September 12 - Day 19
Happy Tuesday to you all! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will continue our work on determining the theme in a text.
Learning Intention: Determine the central idea of a text; determine its theme.
Success Criteria: I can identify the central idea of a text and use it to create a theme statement.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The number '172' can supposedly be found on the back of the U.S. 5 dollar bill in the bushes at the base of the Lincoln Memorial. Read about other money theories here.
Wednesday, September 13 - Day 20
Happy Wednesday to you all! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Today is Writer's Wednesday! Plus, we are on Assembly Schedule:
1st ~ 8:40 - 9:36
2nd ~ 9:40 - 10:36
Lunch ~ 10:40 - 11:10
4th ~ 11:14 - 12:10
5th~ 12:14 - 1:10
6th ~ 1:14 - 2:00
7th ~ 2:04 - 2:50
Assembly ~ 3:00 - 3:50
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Annabelle Myers, and Aaric Than! 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳 Be sure to wish them a happy birthday!
Random Fact of the Day: During the Dust Bowl, people sewed clothes out of flour sacks when money was tight. When flour distributors heard about this, they made their bags more colorful so the subsequent clothing would be more attractive. Read about it here.
Thursday, September 14 - Day 21
Happy Thursday! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Be sure to wear your favorite hat tomorrow for Favorite Hat Day!
Today we will finish our three-part lesson on theme!
Learning Intention: Determine the central idea of a text; determine its theme.
Success Criteria: I can identify the central idea of a text and use it to create a theme statement.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: McDonald’s uses about 7% of the potatoes grown in the United States for its French fries. They sell more than 1/3 of all the French fries sold in restaurants in the U.S. each year. Read more about the glorious french fry here.
Friday, September 15 - Day 22
Hooray for Friday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will finish chapter 13-20 in Walk Two Moons. We will also have a discussion about what you read.
Learning Intention: Understand the value of engaging in various discussions about text and how it can deepen understanding and analysis.
Success Criteria: Participate in discussion to help deepen understanding and analysis of Walk Two Moons.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The Peppa Pig episode Mr. Skinny Legs was canceled in Australia because Peppa Pig was touching and picking up the spider and almost all spiders in Australia are poisonous. Read about it here.
Monday, September 18 - Day 23
Happy Monday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be looking at characters in the book and begin chapters 21-27 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Understand that characters in a story are influenced by the events they experience.
Success Criteria: I can use evidence from a text to support my inferences about a character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The names of the days of the week are mostly related to mythical gods. Read each day of the week's name origin here.
Tuesday, September 19 - Day 24
Happy Tuesday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we continue looking at characters in the book and reading chapters 21-27 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Understand that characters in a story are influenced by the events they experience.
Success Criteria: I can use evidence from a text to support my inferences about a character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: There are more mobile phones in the world than there are personal computers! Check out the infographic about cell phones here.
Wednesday, September 20 - Day 25
Can you believe that it's already Wednesday?! Please read independently while I take attendance.
Today is Writer's Wednesday! We will also be reading chapters 21-27 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: The national animal of Scotland is the unicorn! Read about his unusual selection here.
Thursday, September 21 - Day 26
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's Theme Friday is 🍂Fall Colors🍂. Wear your favorite Fall Colors!🍁
Today we will be looking at Mood and Tone in text. Of course, we will be reading chapters 21-27 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Understand how the mood and tone in a story can affect the way we experience the events that happen.
Success Criteria: I can find specific examples in a story that show the mood and/ or tone of the piece.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: "Aglet" (sometimes spelled "aiglet") is the name given to the plastic or metal tip on the end of a shoelace. Read more here.
Friday, September 22 - Day 27
Happy Friday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
We will be finishing chapters 21-27 in Walk Two Moons. We will also have a discussion about what you read.
Learning Intention: Understand the value of engaging in various discussions about text and how it can deepen understanding and analysis.
Success Criteria: Participate in discussion to help deepen understanding and analysis of Walk Two Moons.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday over the weekend to Brayden Stavros and Renee Briggs. Also, happy birthday to Kroy Voyek! Be sure to wish them all a happy birthday 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳!
Random Fact of the Day: The US Treasury once considered producing doughnut-shaped coins! Read more weird money facts here.
Monday, September 25 - Day 28
Happy Monday! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Please write independently while I take attendance. If you are unsure what to write about, try this:
You are pouring cereal into your bowl one morning and into the bowl lands a small, strange creature you've never seen before. Write about what happens.
Today we will begin looking at how to write a narrative. We will also start our next set of chapters in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Generate ideas and inspiration for writing a narrative.
Success Criteria: I can generate ideas and inspiration for writing my narrative.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday to Brooklyn Esparza! Be sure to wish her a happy birthday 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳!
Random Fact of the Day: Humans carry more bacterial cells than human ones! Read more about this disturbing fact here.
Tuesday, September 26 - Day 29
Happy Tuesday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will begin looking at how to write a great hook for a narrative. We will also continue reading our chapters in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Find different ways to begin a narrative that will grab a reader’s attention.
Success Criteria: I can choose a lead that will serve as a start to my narrative that will also hook my reader.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: Chocolate Milk was invented in Jamaica and was once sold as medicine! Read more here.
Wednesday, September 27 - Day 30
Happy Wednesday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today is Writer's Wednesday! We will also be reading chapters 28-33 in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Develop skills as a writer and recognize the value of engaging in a community of authors.
Success Criteria: I can participate in Writer's Wednesday to improve my writing skills.
Today's Birthdays: There are no birthdays today.
Random Fact of the Day: There is a sound effect called the Wilhelm Scream that has been used in over 200 movies and TV shows since 1951. Read about it and hear a sample here.
Thursday, September 28 - Day 31
Happy Thursday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Tomorrow's Theme Friday is Concert T-shirt Day! Wear a shirt from your favorite band or musical artist!
Today we will begin looking at how to develop interesting characters. Of course, we will also continue reading our chapters in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Use characters to pull a reader into a story.
Success Criteria: I can create interesting characters by incorporating various development techniques.
Today's Birthdays: Happy birthday over the weekend to Mr. Dees 🎉🎂✨🍰🥳!
Random Fact of the Day: Years ago, chairs were used only by people of higher society with great wealth! Read more here.
Friday, September 29 - Day 32
Hooray for Friday! Please write independently while I take attendance.
Today we will be focusing on scenes in our narratives. Of course, we will also wrap up this week's chapters in Walk Two Moons.
Learning Intention: Understand how scenes help to develop and move a story toward its climax.
Success Criteria: I can use scenes in my narrative to help develop and move my story toward its climax.