Week of Jan 14th

Welcome Back and Happy New Year!!!

ELA:  We have finished our Pilot of the Springboard ELA Textbook adoption.  We used the pilot to introduce the components of Argument Writing.  This week we will introduce the Socratic Seminar and how it fits into argument writing.  After that we will focus on the topic: The Pros and Cons of Homework.  We will read and annotate 2 articles.  We will have a Socratic Seminar.  We will then write a long paragraph that includes a claim and at least 2 reasons with evidence in order to back up the claim.
*Also, Book Club #3 is starting up today...they will meet Friday- So make sure they are reading every night!

Social Studies:  Intro to Egypt - our next ancient civilization.  We will do a discovery walk for 2 days.  Then we will start with some mapping activities and text book work as well.

Thanks for reading,

Mr Franey

Week of Dec 17th

Welcome back to the last week of the year! 
Reminders:  No School Friday and Big Barter Market Thursday!

ELA:  We are well into Springboard an ELA textbook adoption trial.  We are in Unit 3 (Argument Writing lessons for Grade 6).  This week we will be doing Lessons 3.4 3.5 and maybe 3.6.  These lessons focus on Claims supported with Reasons and Evidence.  The topics are: Is cheerleading a sport? Football for middle school, is it safe?  Also, lessons on sources, credibility, and citations.

Social Studies:  Hammurabi and his first code of laws.  Law List:  Highlight, Discuss fair vs cruel.  Read lists, articles, watch short videos,  and respond in paragraph form.

Thanks, Mr Franey

Week of Dec 10th

Note:  Barter Market is Next Thursday Dec 20th - Please make sure your students bring their projects to trade on or before that day

ELA:  We will start piloting the new digital language arts text book that I mentioned last week.  It is called "Spring Board" We dove into Unit 3 today (Monday) and will continue with this pilot until Winter Break.  Unit 3 is the Argument Unit

Social Studies: Ziggurat hands on projects, community, laws, Hammurabi

Thanks
Mr Franey

Week of Dec 3rd

Note:  Please sign and return the 2 parent notes that went home in the Friday Folders.  The 2 notes were about Chromebooks going home on Wednesdays and Barter Market which will take place Dec 20th

ELA:  This week we are finishing up Hooks and Thesis Statements.  Then we will change it up a bit by jumping into more Figurative Language with Poetry.  We will then change it up again by diving into Spring Board which is a Text Book Adoption option.  In this program we will explore Unit 3 which is an introduction to Argument Writing.

Social Studies:  We are still in the Mesopotamia Unit.  This week we will research inventions, city states, architecture (ziggurats), and Hammurabi's Code

Thanks, Mr Franey

Week of November 26th

ELA:  Writing:  Continue with "Theme" "Main Idea" "Central Idea" Plus add in "Tone/Mood" with  poetry - Also lessons on Thesis Statements

           Reading: New Book Clubs start Today (Monday) - Ask your scholar about their new book and make sure they are reading Mon-Thurs every night - Scholars meet every Friday in their Clubs to talk about the novel

Soc. Studies:  California Connections to Mesopotamia
                        Barter Market Brainstorms
                        Job Specialization and Inventions from Mesopotamia

Thanks for reading,
Mr Franey
                       

Week of Nov 5th

ELA:  Finish Maroo of the Winter Caves-Class Novel
           Elements of Plot - Extra Large Paper Assignment with artwork included
           Focus on Themes in Maroo
           Brainstorm Themes - Research Common Themes in Children's Lit
           Writing: Our First 5 paragraph essay "Three Themes in Maroo" with text evidence
           Introduce - Thesis & Hook

Social Studies:  6 traits of a Civilization Sort Game and handout
                          6 traits focus on our American Civilization now compared to the past
                          Introduce the Ancient Civilization of Mesopotamia
                          Mesopotamia Vocabulary Lesson
                          Kahoot Mesopotamia Vocabulary Game online

Thanks for Reading,
Mr. Franey

Week of Oct 29th

ELA: 

Reading:  Maroo Ch 13-16 (Class Novel) We will be doing First Reads focussing on Context Clues and Google Classroom.  We will also have some Comprehension Exercises at the end of the First Reads.

Writing:  Main Idea/ Central Idea is the focus during Second Read of Maroo (Class Novel)
We are also incorporating (Direct Quotes and Elaboration) during Paragraph writes in Response to Lit.

Social Studies:  Finishing up Paleolithic Times and Moving on to Ancient Civilizations