The Final Push

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. * Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details. * Identify textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says.  

Showcase Writer: Julian  So many of you have made such incredible progress with your writing and continue to get wonderful feedback readers all over the world. However, one student in particular just received a very special recognition for his 100 Word Challenge: Picture Challenge (Week 28) story. Our very own Julian, from Period 3, was singled out as a Showcase winning writer for his timeless story of love. As part of the Week 28 Showcase, his name and story have been published internationally, and he will receive a special showcase badge and certificate for his achievement. If you see Julian, give him major props for this very special honor! His original story and new showcase badge are featured below.

This Week's 100 Word Challenge This week's 100 Word Challenge is of the five word variety and is explained below. 

The document 100 Word Challenge: Five Words (Week 30) can be found in your Language Arts folders. Let's start writing! 

Analyzing Arguments: "Should Josh Become a YouTube Star?" Josh wants to start his own YouTube cooking series and become famous. His mom thinks he’s too young. Who makes the best argument? You decide. You can find the debate here. The assignment Analyzing Arguments - Scavenger Hunt can be found in your Language Arts folders.

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the new 4th Quarter Reading Log, which has been placed in your Language Arts folder. (2.) Continue working on your 100 Word Challenge: Five Words (Week 30) story, which we will publish Friday, May 1. (3.) Complete the  Analyzing Arguments - Scavenger Hunt assignment.  

Happy Earth Day!

Video of the Day In honor of Earth Day today, I would like to spend some time talking about the small things that each of us can do to make our planet a better and more sustainable place. What are you doing to save water? What are you doing to save energy? What are you doing to keep our planet (and our school) clean? Check out the video below about how even small measures to protect our planet's resources can make a difference. Every day should be Earth Day! Do your part!

100 Word Challenge Enjoy some time to work on this week's 100 Word Challenge story 100 Word Challenge: X Marks the Spot (Week 29), which we will publish on Friday, April 24.

Library Visit Need a new book? Today's your lucky day, as we are headed to the library. If you need help finding a "just right" book for you, just ask. If you are not looking for books, I expect you to use your library time to work on your writing or silent reading. Remember you are in a competition with the other Language Arts classes to see which can earn the most Accelerated Reader points. The winning class earns a pizza and movie day. Let's get reading!

The 100 Word Challenge and Central Ideas and Details

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. * Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details. 

A New 100 Word Challenge This week's 100 Word Challenge can be found below. 

You can find the document 100 Word Challenge: X Marks the Spot (Week 29) in your Language Arts folders. 

Central Ideas and Details Let's continue to examine the article "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life." Today our focus will be on analyzing the central ideas and details from the text. You can find the document Central Ideas and Details: "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life" in your Language Arts folders. 

Aloha Friday!

100 Word Challenge: Finishing Touches and Publishing Happy Friday! It's just about time to publish this week's 100 Word Challenge. Please look over your 100 Word Challenge: Picture Challenge (Week 28) story carefully. Did you skillfully integrate the words "the silence was deafening" from this week's prompt? Does your story flow naturally from beginning to end? Did you use descriptive words and sensory details? Did you carefully review your spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar? Did you make sure your verb tenses are consistent and that you have employed correct and varied sentence structures? Please make sure your piece of writing is good as it can be.

Next, it's publishing time! Copy your story from your Google Doc and then login to Kidblog. Make a new post. This week you once again get to title your story whatever you find fitting; just make sure you put 100 WC: before your chosen title. Paste your story. Finally, click "Publish".

Next, copy the web address of your posted story and then head over to 100 Word Challenge. Scroll down and paste the web address into the box that says 'Blog Link'. Enter your first name, 6th Grade, Lakeview Middle School, and for location: Watsonville, California, U.S.A. Finally, click 'Submit'. Congratulations! 

If you post early enough and time permits, feel free to leave positive comments for your fellow writers from around the world. 

Sacred Reading Time  If time permits I offer you the rest of class time to simply read and commune with your books. Some of you will invited to read outside, others in a cozy corner of the room, while most of you will hopefully become enraptured by the words on your pages right at your desks. Enjoy this time! 

Video of the Day Had a tough week? Shake it off! Have a beautiful weekend!

Is Your Phone Frying Your Brain?

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details. * Summarize the key supporting details and ideas. * Analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone. 

Video of the Day Dreams come true though a combination of determination, hard work, and the love and support of family. This could not be more true than for the Garcia family. As you know, two of my former students here at Lakeview, Edgar and Cesar, are currently enrolled in Ivy League Universities, Brown and Yale respectively. Their parents, Patricia and Juan Garcia, were recently honored as Parents of the year by the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Watch their story and know that your dream for the future is possible. 

Nonfiction Reading: "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life" Today we will the informational article "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life" form Scope Magazine, which explores how smartphones are negatively affecting our lives—and presents ideas for what you can do about it. As we read together, you will be responsible for identifying and analyzing various elements of the text using the document Identifying Nonfiction Elements - "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life," which can be found in your Language Arts folders. 

Homework (1.) Read, Read, Read! Due to testing, you are not required to keep a reading log, but you are required to be reading regularly and making progress towards your Accelerated Reading goal. (2.) Continue working on your 100 Word Challenge: Picture Challenge (Week 28), which we will publishing on Friday, April 17. (3.) Continue working on the assignment Identifying Nonfiction Elements - "Your Phone Could Ruin Your Life". 

Getting Our Break On

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. 

Write an Argument Essay: Finishing Touches  Before you begin your Spring Break you need to make your final edits and revisions and put the finishing touches on your Argument Essay. And before you decide that you're done, review the checklist below. 

If you need to met with me, please schedule an appointment. Your Argument Essay is officially due at the end of class today. However, if you do not get it finished, you will have to finish it over Spring Break and have it done upon your return on Monday, April 13. 

Sacred Reading Time  If you feel that you are finished with your Argument Essay, you may use this time to simply read and commune with your books, and/or take Accelerated Reader quizzes. Enjoy this time!

Smarter Balanced Online Testing Practice  If time permits, we will continue to prepare for the Smarter Balanced Assessment, which we will formally begin upon our return from Spring Break. Please visit the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress site's practice testing portal here. You should screen similar to the one below; make sure you're logging on as a 'GUEST' and click 'Sign In'. 

Next, click 'Select Grade' and choose '6' and click 'Yes'.

Today let's take a tour of the ELA Performance Task. Click on 'Start G6 ELA Performance Task,' follow the steps, and eventually you'll arrive on the beginning of the task. Follow along with me as I guide you through this part of the assessment. 

Homework  (1.) What better time to read than over Spring Break! I would like you to read your A.R. book for at least 30 minutes 5 times next week and make your Reading Log entries using the new 4th Quarter Reading Log, which has been placed in your Language Arts folder. Your Reading Log will be checked by me on Monday, April 13, and show a total of ten entires, including this week and next. (2.) If you haven't already, complete your Argument Essay, which you must finish over Spring Break and have done upon your return on Monday, April 13. If it's not finished by that time, I will have to enter an 'incomplete' in the grade book. 

Almost to the Finish Line

 Today's Learning Objectives  * Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. 

Write an Argument Essay: Finishing Touches  It's time make your final edits and revisions and put the finishing touches on your Argument Essay, including the introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. Review the checklist below. 

If you need to met with me, please schedule an appointment. Your Argument Essay is officially due tomorrow, April 2. 

Smarter Balanced Online Testing Practice  Today we will continue to prepare for the Smarter Balanced Assessments, which we will formally begin upon our return from Spring Break. Please visit the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress site's practice testing portal here. You should screen similar to the one below; make sure you're logging on as a 'GUEST' and click 'Sign In'. 

Next, click 'Select Grade' and choose '6' and click 'Yes'.

Finally, click on 'Start G6 ELA Practice Test,' and eventually you'll arrive on the beginning of the test. Follow along with me as I guide you through various parts of the test. 

Homework  (1.) Read your A.R. book at home for at least 30 minutes and make a Digital Reading Log entry using the new 4th Quarter Reading Log, which has been placed in your Language Arts folder. (2.) Complete your My Argument Essay, which is officially due tomorrow, April 2. If not completed, you must finish over Spring Break and have it done upon your return on Monday, April 13.