Some helpful ELA Codes and Login Info

NewsELA Class code: UQJJU6

IXL Login info:

Username is firstname+lastname+344 (example: johnsmith344)

- Tip: it is your FULL first name, not shortened/nickname

Password is: ela123

Checking out KCLS eBooks from Classlink

1. Make sure you’re in Classlink first. (see instructions on home page)
2. Click the Overdrive eBooks for Kids button. The first time you do this, you’ll be asked to login.
   • Username = 412 followed by your student number (Example: 4120987654)
   • Password = The last four numbers of your username above (Example: 7654)
3. Find a book. Click to borrow it. You may be asked to login again. Use the same Username and Password listed above.
4. Click “Read Now In Browser” (If you see “Having trouble?” click it and you’ll see “Read Now In Browser”)
5. Returning to read a book you started earlier: When you want to return to reading your book, go through steps 1-2 and then click “My Account” and then click “Loans.” You’ll see your book.

Writing Prompts

Just for Fun (and to get a little writing practice)

1. In essay form, discuss how going through disappointments can have a positive side.

2. Write about someone you care about and why they are so important to you.

3. Playing a team sport can have both good and bad points. Explain both the good points and the bad points about playing on a school sports team, explaining every point.

4. Think about someone you look up to. Write about this person and why you admire this person.

5. Imagine your school is considering making all students wear uniforms. Do you think this is right or wrong? Write a letter to your school giving your position on this subject and supporting your position with convincing reasons. Explain your reasons.

6. Think about your favorite sport or hobby. Write a composition about this hobby, explaining how to engage in this activity. Be sure to include all the steps someone needs to follow to do this activity.

7. Think about the favorite thing that you own. Write a descriptive essay to describe this item using words that explain how it sounds, looks, smells, tastes, or feels. Describe it so someone else can picture it in their mind.

8. What character from a book would you enjoy meeting and why?

9. Imagine you worked at a pet shop. What would happen and what would you do if 200 mice got out of their cages in the pet shop?

10. If you could travel into the future, what would you do?

11. What things make you feel angry and why?

12. Do you ever remember what you dream? Do you dream in color? Write about a very vivid dream that you remember.

13. Write about a big argument you had with a friend. Are you friends today? Who was the first to apologize?

14. Do you really need to have a college education to be successful? Why or why not?

15. Write an essay on what friendship means to you and why people become friends.

16. Do you think that social media is a positive thing? Write an essay discussing why or why not.

17. “You must do the thing you think you cannot do,” is a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, a former First Lady of the United States. Write a narrative about something you did that you didn’t think you could do. Include specific details.

18. If a celebrity was to come speak at your school, what celebrity would you choose to speak? Write a letter to persuade your school principal to invite this celebrity to speak. Include important details and convincing reasons to support this choice.

19. Write an essay describing why honesty is so important in any type of relationship.

20. What is your greatest accomplishment and why do you feel it is your greatest accomplishment?

21. What is your favorite hobby? Write about why you enjoy it so much.

22. Have you ever been bullied? Talk about a time that you were bullied or when you witnessed someone else being bullied. How did this make you feel?

23. Did you ever have to wear something that you hated? Why did you hate it?

24. Write about a time that you went on a vacation or trip that turned into a disaster.

25. Write about a time that you tried helping someone but it actually made things even worse.

26. Have you ever broken a promise? Why did you break it? How did that make you feel?

27. Write about the funniest experience you have ever had.

28. If you got the chance to be principal for one week, what would you do?

29. Have you ever wished that you could be older? What would the benefits and problems be if you were older?

30. Write a biography of one of your parents or grandparents.

31. Write about three things that you worry about.

Friday 1/24 - ELA Persuasive Posters are due Monday 1/27 in class!

Students will need to have their research packet completed to turn in on Monday as well (but they should already have that done).

Students will not be presenting their posters on Monday, but instead we will be doing a classroom poster walk around. Everyone will get to walk around and see all of the other students’ posters, leave positive post-it comments, and then analyze and reflect on the persuasive strategies used.

Wednesday 11/13 - BOOK PUBLISHING REMINDER

Students have been working on their illustrations today in class and will continue with them the rest of this week. We are finalizing everything this week and next! Then we are sending in the box with all of our publishing materials and parent order forms on Thursday next week.

Book Order Forms need to be turned in ASAP! The order form deadline is Tuesday, November 19th! But the sooner, the better.

Please send back your order form, even if you are not ordering a book. There is a "No" box to check at the bottom if you are not ordering one, and then sign the bottom. All order forms need to be turned in with our publishing materials.

***If you are unable to purchase a book, but would still like one, please contact either:

• Myself (maggie.dunleavy@shorelineschools.org)
• Jill Steinberg the school Family advocate (jill.steinberg@shorelineschools.org)
• Megan Lantry the ELL teacher/coordinator (megan.lantry@shorelineschools.org)

We have scholarships available to cover copies of the books for those who may need extra assistance, we just need to know how many and who might need them.

The students are all VERY excited to see their work in a published book!!!

Wednesday 11/6 - Book Report Projects!

This week students have begun working on their independent reading book report projects. Instead of doing the classic essay style book report, these book reports are more artistic and creative projects. They got to choose what project they wanted to do from the following five choices:

• Song/Rap/Poem
• Character Diary
• Collage/Painting/Artistic poster
• Act out a scene
• 3D triarama (pyramid diorama)

They have a bright blue sheet in their binders with an explanation and rubric for their specific project.

Many students have already finished their books, but some students are still finishing the books they want to use for their projects. They will be using class time this week (and time at home) to finish their books, and need to have those done by Friday this week so that they can start work on their projects.

We began working on the projects in class today, and will have some class time this week and next week as well. We won't, however, be working on the projects every single day, so they will likely need to work on it at home too.

Book Report Projects are due Monday, November 18th!!!

Friday 10/11 - Brainstorming!

The 6th graders have begun the next part of our Narrative unit where they will be writing their own short stories! This is something we will be working on for the next 2-3 weeks.

This week on Wednesday, Thursday and today, we started brainstorming ideas and began drafting the beginnings of some different stories. We used the pictures and captions from the book The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, by Chris Van Allsburg, to get ideas for short stories. We also did another brainstorming/drafting activity today where they rolled some dice to see what genre and theme they were assigned for their new story.

We will be brainstorming and drafting the beginnings of probably 5 or 6 different stories. Then, they will lay out all of their story ideas/beginnings, read them, and choose their favorite one to continue writing!

Definitely ask your student to see what pictures they got in class, and have them tell you their story ideas they are working on based off of the pictures. I am loving seeing all of their imaginative and creative ideas!!

Monday 9/9 - Independent reading

We have begun our independent reading for the year, and the 6th graders have been given a bright orange reading that they will keep in their binders and track all of the books that they have read throughout the year. We will also be starting a 6th grade WALL OF BOOKS! Whenever they finish a book, they will fill out a mini book review and I will put it on the wall of books (outside our classroom in the hallway). As the year goes on, the wall of books will get larger and larger!

I have opened up my classroom library for the 6th graders to start checking out books today. They are all very excited about all of the books and possibilities :) We have almost 600 books in our class library! I just ask that they treat the books respectfully and responsibly, and help take good care of our library.

Ask your student tonight to tell you about independent reading and what book they are currently reading. They should be reading 20 minutes every day for homework!

Tomorrow, the 6th grade will be taking the beginning of the year Reading Inventory to set a starting point for the year, and find out their Lexile levels.