6th Grade Newsletter, August 20, Festerling

La Paloma Academy
6th Grade Newsletter
August 20, 2010
Mr. Festerling

MATH
Students took pre-assessment tests to see how much information they remembered from the sum-mer break. These scores are re-corded in their planners. 6th grade jumped into pre-algebra and order of operations, followed by units of measurement and perime-ter. The first test on lessons 1-10 will be on Thursday, August 26. Over the next week we will study negative numbers, place value, and strategies to solve word problems. Students who would like a chal-lenge can earn extra credit by problem solving the Quizzle of the Week.


READING
The first book for reading class is Newberry Award Winner, Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Classroom discussions center around literary elements, comprehension and higher level questioning. The final test on Friday, September 3, will consist of short answer questions, vocabulary, and a critical thinking essay question. Stu-dents are to begin working on their book reports which are due Wednes-day, September 8. There are a vari-ety of book report formats that stu-dents’ may select from. Students will present their reports in class.

Students should be reading a mini-mum of 20 to 30 minutes per day 5 days a week and recording their reading on their Daily Independent Reading Time sheet.

WRITING
We are focusing on basic conventions and sentence structure in English/writing next week. Students worked diligently on their first position paper about “Off-Shore Drilling”.

SCIENCE
Science lessons will continue to cover the building blocks of all living things, cells. Students will receive a study guide to help them study for their first science test on Friday, August 27.
PLANNERS/AGENDAS
Keeping organized is key to a successful year in 6th grade. The stu-dent’s planner is a great tool for staying organized. Not only is the planner where assignments can be found, but the planner can be used as a communication vehicle between home and school. Parents can jot a note in the planner to their child’s teacher and vice versa. Parents can also check in with their 6th grader by reviewing their planner with them regularly.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Math test - Aug 26 (Lessons 1-10)

Science test - Aug 27 (Chapter 1 Cells)

Open House - Sept 1 (6 pm)

August DIRT due - Sept 1

Hatchet test - Sept 3

Hatchet book reports due - Sept 8


Questions for your 6th grader from the week. . .
 How did Simon and Garfunkel use imagery in their lyrics?
 What “intelligence” are you according to Howard Gardner and how might you “learn” best?
 What is the perimeter of a room where you live?
 How does the temperature of water affect the diffusion of food coloring?

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