September 12, 2008

With the exception of two classes that have yet to take their assessment for Through The Tunnel, we have completed our first selection from Jr. Great Books.  This week we will prepare to read our first novel for the year, Freak The Mighty.  Since this novel is about a friendship between two disabled boys, we will create "medical brochures" to cure disabilities.  For our instructional focus, we will determine levels reached for the vocabulary benchmark.

Words of the day this week will be: drizzle, supersonic, jeopardy, liberal, and suede.

Homework, due Friday, will once again ask a student to read a minimum of 60 pages from an at home novel of their choice and identify 10 new or interesting words in their reading.  Please turn in a one paragraph summary of the reading, and a second paragraph showing vocabulary strategies learned to help decipher the words.  Remember, parent signature is necessary for an A!

I realize that my non fiction comprehension passages might be of some concern to students and their parents.  Please be assured that I am asking higher order thinking questions, and teaching your children how to analyze them.  Please be patient and I am sure you will watch the grades from the comprehension exercises increase as the year goes on.

It is very important to read and sign your child's agenda every week.  Your child will be responsible for bringing the agenda to you, and securing your signature.

Please remember to stay on schedule for the newspaper book report which will be due in class on October 22.

Finally, I have sent home permission forms for our first field trip of the year.  On November 7 we will travel to the BCC Omni Theater for a Chamber Repertory Theatre production of "The Tell Tale Heart," "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," "The Monkey's Paw," "The Necklace," "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County."  Students will need a bag lunch that day for a picnic.  We will leave school at 9:30 AM and return at around 2:30.  Student cost for the trip will be $25 (cash only) payable by 9/23/08.  If you are on the approved chaperone list, and would like to join us, just send me an email.

Remember, each student is required to read four books per marking period. 

Please continue to review the gladesmiddle.org and browardschools.com web sites for information specific to dress codes, rules, regulations, etc.


Due to unforeseen circumstances, plans are subject to change.



Mrs. Harriet Zaret, M.S.Ed

Sixth grade reading teacher

Dream Team Leader

NESS Liaison

Member, School Advisory Committee

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.  Inside a dog it's too dark to read."  Groucho Marx

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