Welcome to Mrs. Harris's Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Class 

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         We have finished reading the wonderful novel Bud, Not Buddy.  At the end of the novel, the author, Christopher Paul Curtis, urges young readers to talk with older relatives.  He says, "Be smarter than I was:  Go talk to Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and Dad and other relatives and friends.  Discover and remember what they have to say about what they learned growing up.  By keeping their stories alive you make them, and yourself, immortal."  Our class will take his advice and interview and talk with older relatives and/or friends to find out their stories.  The students have created a list of a minimum of twenty questions.  These questions are intended to get the interviews and conversations started.  Questions can be added during the interview as needed.  After the interview, the student will write an essay from the information they learned from their relative or friend.  The due date is Wednesday, October 15, 2008.

         Our ELA project for this first nine weeks will be a biography book report.  This project will be due on Monday, October 6.  The directions  and rubric for this project went home on August 26.  We went to the library on Thursday, August 28 to check out a biography book.

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     Homework Reading Logs went home on August 19.  Students are required to read a minimum of two hours a week.  Of course, the student may choose to read more than two hours weekly; just include the extra time in the total time read. A   parent's signature is required each week in order to receive credit!  The HW reading log is due every Monday. 

     You may stay "in touch" with your child's grades with the student information system.  You can receive your InTouch user ID and password at Gaffney Middle that allows you to access the student's grades from your computer and telephone.   

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  Dates to Remember  

September 24 - Class Rings Ordered

October 13 - Staff Development

October 21 - End of first nine weeks

November 4 - Election Day (Holiday)

November 5 - Report Cards

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Language Arts and spelling tests are on Tuesdays. 

Social Studies and G.R.O.W. tests are on Thursdays.

  We go to the library every two weeks on Thursdays. 

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Upcoming Tests and Projects

Sept. 25 - Ch. 3 and GROW 5 tests

Sept. 30 - "The Bracelet" Vocabulary, STEMS, and Spelling tests

October 2 - GROW 6 test

Oct. 6 - Biography Book Report Project

October 15 - Essay written from the information learned from the interview of a family member, friend, neighbor,etc.

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Spelling   STEMS:  non (not)  un (not)

1. against  2. divide  3. liter  4. pieces  5. recipe

6. nonprofit  7. nonchalant  8. nonconformity

9. untenable  10. unequivocal  11. unequal

12. their  13. where  14.  friend  15. receive

16. does  17. finally  18. meandering  19. murmur

20. perplexed

• HOMEWORK    September 22,  2008   
•         LA  -     Study for your Spelling and "Eleven" test.  Make sure you know the vocabulary, STEMS, Complete Subjects and Complete Predicates,and the notes about connotations and denotations we discussed in class.  REMEMBER THE READING LOG IS DUE ON MONDAYS SIGNED BY A PARENT.
•         SS -     Finish answering GROW 5 questions.  They will be checked tomorrow.
• HOMEWORK     September 23,  2008    
•          LA   -     
•          SS -         You should be studying for the GROW 5 and Ch.3 tests.
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• HOMEWORK      September 24,  2008   
•           LA   -     
•          SS   -       Study for tomorrow's GROW 5 and Ch. 3 tests.

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• HOMEWORK       September 25,  2008 

•         LA -    

•        SS -    

• HOMEWORK        September 26, 2008  

•          LA -          You should study your spelling and vocabulary words for " The Bracelet."  Remember:  The signed Homework Reading Log is due on Monday.

•         SS -         Start studying for the GROW 6 test.