Mrs. Michelle Rojas

6^th/7^th grade Language Arts Teacher

Somerset Academy Middle Miramar  School

                                              4th Quarter Letter

Dear Parents,

            I am extremely excited that our fourth quarter began on April 6th. During this quarter I am looking forward to working with the students on our novels, writing strategies and grammar lessons. Students will continue to use graphic organizers, context clues, and other resources that they will find helpful as they read.  Students will also be writing expository and persuasive essays.Please continue to encourage your children to complete home learning assignments, projects and their reading log in the allotted time.

·         Home Learning and projects are a vital component for your child to succeed. They are an extension of what has been taught in class. They provide practice, reinforcement and teach responsibility. It is imperative that your child completes their home learning daily. It should be completed and turned in on its due date. Please stay informed by reviewing the agenda daily.

·         Aside from their home learning, your child should complete 30 minutes of reading daily. Books read during independent reading should be listed in their reading logs, which will be collected quarterly and graded. Additionally, the Accelerated Reader program is an important component of the reading and language arts class.

·         If for any reason your child is absent, it is necessary and very important that you send a note the following day stating the reason for the absence. Excessive absences are not beneficial to your child’s education.

·         A good parent-teacher relationship is necessary to maximize school success.  Please remember to visit Schoolnotes frequently to stay informed on important dates and to review with your child for upcoming tests. I encourage you to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can call me at school, write me a note on the planner or send me an email. My e-mail is mrojas@somersetmiramar.com. The school’s phone number is (305) 829-2406. I am available for conferences regarding your child’s progress by appointment.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the curriculum and I will gladly assist you.

Parents, it is in your child’s best interest that we work together in relationship to his/her schooling. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Rojas

April 6th- 4th quarter begins

April 13-Report cards go home

April 16-dress down

April 20-Reading log check

April 22-Early Release; Earth day; Take your child to work day

April 23rd-6th grade Field trip

May 11th-Reading log due

May 15-Books due to the library

Every Friday: Check powerschool. The login information is on the report card or could be provided to you by the homeroom teacher.

Reading log rubric

Students must read four books every quarter. After reading each book, students must write a summary about the book. They may write their response on the handout provided or on their own sheet of lined paper.

For every book read the student must record the following:

the title (1 point)

the author's name (1 point)

the type of book (1 point)

the date when they began and finished reading the book (1 point)

the amount of pages the book has (1 point)

the summary (10 points)

Each book recorded correctly is worth 15 points. A parent signature is required (5 points).

Reading log is worth a total of 65 points.

Remember that Fridays are reading comprehension test days.

 Useful websites:

www.how-to-study.com

        www.wordlywise3000.com

http://www.prefixsuffix.com/

http://www.sturgeon.k12.mo.us/elementary/numphrey/subjectpages/languagearts/figuresofspeech.html

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr096.shtml- A fabulous,interactive website filled with vocabulary websites and games.

http://www.word-detective.com/

http://teacher.scholastic.com/fieldtrp/lanarts/wordplay.htm

Additional webstites added on October 30th:

www.kidsolr.com great website with games and reference materials; many useful grammar websites included

www.funbrain.com homework help, games

http://school.discovery.com/  homework help and educational games

www.iknowthat.com reading games

www.magickeys.com/books/ online storybooks

A good website for parents (an excellent read):

www.rif.org/parents/ includes suggestions and helpful strategies to motivate your child to read

Wish list: Please remember that volunteer hours will be granted for items purchased. Please send me a receipt with your child to give you volunteer hours for the items purchased.

1. Office Depot, Walmart, Target or ACE gift card

2.  Hanging folders

3. Treats for the students (candy, colorful bookmarks and pencils)

4. $4 Barnes and Noble Reward cards for the students 

6^th Grade

Week of April 12, 2010

Holes-Chapters 8-10

Vocabulary quiz Wednesday, April 14th

Grammar test Friday, April 16th on present, past and future tense

Writing strategies-introductions

Advanced Language Arts

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry chapters 4-6

Grammar test on Friday, April 16th

Writing strategies-introductions 

7th grade:

Tangerine

Grammar- interjections, conjunctions, and subject and predicates