Weekly Update May 18-22

Announcements:

-STAR Testing: We have STAR Testing this week for Math and ELA. The Math test will be Monday, May 18 from 9:45-10:30. The ELA test will be Tuesday, May 19th from 1-1:45.

-Elementary Music Rehearsal: On Wednesday afternoon, we will be watching and encouraging K-5 students at their concert rehearsal. This will take place in the DCA from 1-3pm.

-Library: The last day students are allowed to check out books from the library is May 22nd. There will be a few shelves of free books students can take and keep! Great for summer reading!


-Our JDRF Walk is fast aproaching! It will take place on May 22nd out on the track from 1:30-3. There will be free beverages and healthy snacks to enjoy. There will be a JDRF merchandise booth where all proceeds will go to Diabetes research. A raffle will also be set up with GREAT prizes donated from the community! The public is welcome to attend and walk for as long as they would like.

Please share the link from the post below with friend and family!





What are we learning???

Math:
We are continuing Unit 7 this week on probability. Our focus will be on using tree diagrams to calculate probabilities, using Venn diagrams to solve problems, and determining fair vs. unfair games. The Unit 7 test will be Friday, May 29th and the Written Response will be Monday, June 1st.

Science:
We have begun a mini unit on Animal Classifications. We are taking about a day to learn about the specific Domains, Kingdoms, etc. Next week, students will get to choose a classification level they want to learn more about and complete a project to share with the class.

ELA:
As somewhat of a read aloud until the end of the year, Mr. Burress and myself are reading a personality identification book to our classes titled Strengths Finder. After reading a little about each personality type, or theme, we post a brief statement describing them individually on the board in our hallway. Our hope is that at the end of the year, the students will be able to identify three themes that fit them best. They will write a reflection about those three themes and how it relates to them.

For poetry this week, we will be analyzing poems that contain hyperboles, similes, and metaphors. Students will then take what they have learned and apply it to their own freely written poems. Last week, the students were asked to share ONE poem that they have written over the course of this unit at the Poetry Slam on Friday, May 29th from 2-5pm. The Poetry Slam is a fundraiser for Door Cancer organized by Mr. Burress' class.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Our JDRF Walk Website

I am excited to share our official JDRF Walk website! By following the link below, you can read further details about our walk, see our sponsor list, and even donate to our walk!

Gibraltar JDRF Walk

Weekly Update May 4-8

Announcements:

-Math Study Group:  With various schedule conflicts through the end of the year, I will need to cancel math group starting this week. Thank you for your understanding! 

-Point Beach Energy Center: We will have an all day field trip this Wednesday to the Point Beach
Energy Center. We will leave at 8:15 and return by 3pm. Students MUST bring a bag lunch.

-Badger Testing: Below is the Badger Testing schedule that was also sent home last week.

MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
May 4: 10-10:30 Math  Classroom Activity	May 5: 10:00-11:00 Math Activity Test	May 6: Nuclear Power Plant Field Trip	May 7: 10:00-11:00 Math Test	May 8: 10:00-10:30 Math Test
May 11: 1:00-2:00 ELA Test	May 12: 1:00-2:00 ELA Test	May 13: NONE	May 14: NONE	May 15: NONE
May 18: Make Up Testing	May 19: Make Up Testing	May 20: Make Up Testing	May 21: Make Up Testing	May 22: Make Up Testing

-JDRF Kids Walk: Our class is so excited to organize the annual JDRF Kids Walk. JDRF's goal is to improve the lives of individuals with type 1 diabetes all while finding the cure. We are partnering with a JDRF representative and have already had two Skype calls with her and her staff member. Your child is on a specific planning committee. Here are some things the students are working on: creating a website for our event, contacting businesses for donations, planning the assembly and an educational presentation, creating posters, planning entertainment for the event, and booking the venue for both the walk and the assembly! They have really taken ownership of this event and are enjoying the process!
There are the two important dates for the JDRF Walk: May 8th is the 3-8th grade assembly in the DCA from 1:30-3 and May 22nd is the actual JDRF Walk out on the track from 1:30-3.


What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be completing the Badger Test during math class. Due to this, there will be no homework for math this week.

Science:
Last week, each class performed an audit on how efficiently the 6th grade classes use energy. The students will take that information to create a plan for each class to save and conserve energy/resources.
We are excited to visit the Point Beach Nuclear Power Plant this Wednesday! We will complete a few activities to prepare for the field trip and debrief what we learn while at Point Beach.

ELA:

Two weeks ago, we finished reading A Wrinkle in Time. Last week, we watched the 2004 Disney version of the book. Moving forward, we will be completing compare/contrast essays on the two versions of the story.

As somewhat of a read aloud until the end of the year, Mr. Burress and myself are reading a personality identification book to our classes titled Strengths Finder. After reading a little about each personality type, or theme, we post a brief statement describing them individually on the board in our hallway. Our hope is that at the end of the year, the students will be able to identify three themes that fit them best.

For poetry this week, we will be analyzing and discussing just one poem to look at rhyme scheme: “Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out” by Shel Silverstein. Throughout the week, we will continue to write various types of poems and publish them in our Poetry Notebooks

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update April 20-25

Announcements:

-Math Study Group:  There will be math group this Thursday, April 23rd as well as Thursday, April 30th. 

-Report Cards: Thank you for your patience with the quarter 3 report cards. The Skyward issue has been resolved and report cards will be coming home this Monday, April 20th.

-Badger Testing: I will send home a Badger testing schedule with the times for the test next week. Until then, here are the dates for each test:
Math: May 4th,5th, and 7th
ELA: May 12th and 13th


-JDRF Kids Walk: Our class is so excited to organize the annual JDRF Kids Walk. JDRF's goal is to improve the lives of individuals with type 1 diabetes all while finding the cure. We are partnering with a JDRF representative and have already had two Skype calls with her and her staff member. Your child is on a specific planning committee. Here are some things the students are working on: creating a website for our event, contacting businesses for donations, planning the assembly and an educational presentation, creating posters, planning entertainment for the event, and booking the venue for both the walk and the assembly! They have really taken ownership of this event and are enjoying the process!


What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be finishing up unit 6 with equivalent fractions and inequalities in math class. As always, I will be updating the Student Links page with games and lessons to review these skills at home. The Unit 6 test and written response will be this Thursday and Friday, April 23-24.

Science:
The students will be completing a project in which they need to research energy saving strategies for their fictional first home. They will each be researching a different component of the house and will create a poster listing energy efficient options relating to their topic. Later this week, the students will have the opportunity to do a poster walk and read each other's research. From there, they will be able to choose what energy saving upgrades they would want to do to their house. It will be very interesting to see what they come up with!

ELA:

For poetry this week, we will be analyzing and discussing three poems: Dream Keeper /Dreams by Langston Hughes (We didn't get to this one last week), Harlem Night Song by Langston Hughes, and The Amherst Train by Emily Dickinson. Throughout the week, we will continue to write various types of poems and publish them in our Poetry Notebooks




Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update April 13-17

Announcements:

-Math Study Group:  There will be NO group this Thursday, April 16th. Looking ahead, there will be group Thursday, April 23rd and Thursday, April 30th. 


-Visiting Author: Buck Wilder will be at Gibraltar this Monday, April 13th! He is the author of the series Buck Wilder Adventures, and many more titles! The message he hopes to get across to students is that it is ok to make mistakes as well as how we can learn from them!

-Vaccines: The Public Health Dept. will be at Gibraltar this Tuesday, April 14th for 6th grade student vaccinations.

-Report Cards: Quarter 3 report cards are expected to go home on Wednesday, April 15th.


-JDRF Kids Walk: Our class is so excited to organize the annual JDRF Kids Walk. JDRF's goal is to improve the lives of individuals with type 1 diabetes all while finding the cure. We are partnering with a JDRF representative and have already had one Skype call with her to begin planning. Your child is on a specific planning committee. We will be working on this in class, but somethings may also need to be done at home. I will keep you updated on our progress! The walk is tentatively planned for the end of May. 


What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be covering the following topics in math class: order of operations, identifying parts of a number sentence, solving simple equations, and balancing expressions with the pan-balance strategy. As always, I will be updating the Student Links page with games and lessons to review these skills at home. The Unit 6 test and written response will be April 23-24.

Science:
The students will be exploring how much energy they use as a Wisconsinite, American, as well as a global citizen. They will also be thinking critically about current energy issues and use their opinion backed by research to debate with classmates. There will be a quiz on Wednesday, April 15th covering everything we've learned thus far for this unit. On Friday, we will have a guest speaker who will talk about various science-related jobs in the medical field. He is also a Type 1 Diabetic and will share his personal experiences to give us a better understanding of the diagnosis as we continue our planning for the JDRF walk.

ELA:

The students did a fantastic job teaching the 4th graders different poetry styles and analysis techniques last week! I was extremely proud of the way they interacted and taught their younger peers! One 4th grader even asked, "When will we go back to the 6th grade class for another activity?".
For poetry this week, we will be analyzing and discussing three poems: I’m Nobody by Emily Dickinson, The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost, and Dream Keeper /Dreams by Langston Hughes. On Friday, we will be writing All About Me poems.


Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Babysitter Course Information

Babysitter Course in Northern Door

This is a workshop for youth ages 12 to 15 years old where they will learn how to care for children and infants. Topics covered include child development, diapering & feeding infants, age appropriate games for kids, making snacks, first aid, what to do in an emergency, shaken baby syndrome and how to market your services. Certificates are awarded to participants.  

The cost to attend this 3 hour workshop is $10.00 per child.  Reservations are necessary as space is limited. 

Please follow this link to register

Weekly Update April 6-10

Announcements:

-Welcome Dexter! - We are excited to welcome Dexter to our class this Tuesday! He and his family have moved from De Pere. Let's be sure to give him a great Gibraltar welcome! :)

-Math Study Group:  There will be study group this Thursday, April 9th from 3:30-4:30. Looking ahead, the next study group will be Thursday, April 23rd. 

-Mind Trekkers Field Trip - An informational sheet and permission slip will be sent home on Monday, April 6th for the Mind Trekkers field trip for THIS coming Friday afternoon. Please have permission slips returned to me by Wednesday.

-Brewer's Game: An informational letter will be sent home on Tuesday with your child if he/she is attending the Brewer's Game this Saturday, April 11th, for the D.A.R.E. program. Please be sure to read it over. :)

-Scholastic orders: Scholastic orders will be sent home on Monday. Please have orders in by Friday, April 10th either electronically or in paper form. Our online class code is NFVJ8.


-JDRF Kids Walk: Our class is so excited to organize the annual JDRF Kids Walk. JDRF's goal is to improve the lives of individuals with type 1 diabetes all while finding the cure. We are partnering with a JDRF representative and have already had one Skype call with her to begin planning. Your child is on a specific planning committee. We will be working on this in class, but somethings may also need to be done at home. I will keep you updated on our progress! The walk is tentatively planned for the end of May. 




What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be covering the following topics in math class: finding the absolute value of a number and classifying various number systems (integers, real numbers, rational numbers, etc). The students have also been familiarizing themselves with Moby Max these past couple of weeks. Moby Max is an online website that meets each child where they are at in their math skills. We dedicate about 10 minutes of time to Moby Max about twice a week. The Unit 6 test and written response is tentatively scheduled for April 23-24.

Science:
We will be doing a few demonstrations this week on different types of energy and how energy is changed from one form to another. The students will also discover how some energy is lost when converted between different forms.

ELA:
Last Monday, we began our next reading/writing unit on Poetry! We have already completed a few introductory activities and poem writings. This week, we will review figurative language and have a chance to teach a younger grade what we have learned so far!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update March 23-27

Announcements:

-Math Study Group:  There will be study group this Thursday, March 26th from 3:30-4:30.

-Jump Rope Warrior - On Thursday, we are excited to welcome  Jump Rope Guinness Book Record Holder David Fischer to Gibraltar. He will be presenting at two assemblies to the whole Elementary School in the morning and afternoon. There will be a workshop our 6th graders will be able to attend from 9:30-10am. It is guaranteed to be a fun, active, and motivating time!

What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be covering the following topics in math class: finding reciprocals of fractions, dividing fractions, and finding computation rules with positive/negative numbers. Through the week we will be playing a few games to learn how this content can be applicable in everyday life. The Unit 6 test and written response will tentatively be scheduled for April 23-24.

Science:
We will be entering our next Science unit on Energy. Energy consumption is all around us in so many forms. Together, we will explore the types of energies and discuss the importance of energy conservation.

ELA:
Reading - The students did an excellent job facilitating their own discussions throughout Book Club. Their Artful Artist projects are due this Tuesday and presentations will be on Wednesday and Friday.

In our reading textbook, we will be reading a memoir titled “The Pigman and Me” by Paul Zindel. On Wednesday, I will introduce the reading response options that will be due on Friday.

Writing - This week the students will be finishing up their Weebly sites. I will have all of their site links available on the blog when they are completed. The students have worked incredibly hard on not only the content, but also making sure their design is purposeful. 

On Monday, I will introduce our next reading and writing unit. This is an exciting unit that will be very different from the previous ones. More to come next week! :)

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update March 16-20

Announcements:

-Welcome back: I hope you all had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break!

-Math Study Group:  We will NOT have math group this Thursday, March 19th due to a staff meeting. We will meet next Thursday, March 26th and review the skills taught for unit 6 thus far. 

-Lock-In: The lock-in is THIS Friday night. Permission forms are due TOMORROW, March 17th to Mrs. Moroney.

What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be doing a whole mix of things in Math! Monday, we will start with Pi Day activities since we weren't in school for the actual day (3/14). Tuesday, the students will have a chance to play the review math games Mr. Burress' students made before break. We will then begin Unit 6 with the pretest on Wednesday and begin our discovery of fraction multiplication and division.

Science:
Through our work with the body systems, several questions came up about diseases and disorders that occur in different organs and systems of our body. To help answer some of these questions and gain new understanding, we will be completing a mini-research projects on a disease/disorder of the body. They will be creating Prezi's to share their information. Presentations will be Friday, March, 20th.

ELA:
Reading - Book Club books should be completed by this Tuesday. There will be a brief discussion during Tuesday's book club and then students have the rest of the time to work on their Artful Artist projects. They will also have Friday to work on them as well. Artful Artist is due March 24th.

In our reading textbook, we will be reading a speech titled “There Is No Salvation for India” by Mohandas Gandhi. On Monday, I will introduce the reading response options that will be due on Friday.

Writing - This week the students will begin constructing their Weebly sites and inputting all of their wonderful writing! We will continue the revising process and offering feedback as we near completion of our sites.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update March 2-6

Announcements:

-Read Across America week: This week, we will be celebrating Read Across America week. Throughout the week, we will be participating in various activities to encourage reading and to celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. There are also theme-based dress up days all week! Below are the descriptions for each day.

• Monday: Wear a crazy hat!
• Tuesday: Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Wear red and white!
• Wednesday: Wear wacky clothes (i.e. stripes, polka dots, etc.)!
• Thursday: Wear crazy socks!
• Friday: Mr. Grinch day! Wear green!

Math Study Group:  We will have math group this Thursday, March 5th. Depending on the need, we will either work on the math games or prepare students for the next unit on multiplying and dividing fractions. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!

-Spring Break: If you are planning on leaving early for Spring Break, please call me or send me an email so I can send the work home that your child will be missing. Thank you in advance!

What are we learning???

Math:
The students will be creating games to review the 5 units we have covered this year. The directions and rubric were given out last Friday. This will be a partner project. This coming Friday, they will play each other's games. After Spring Break, they will have a chance to play the games Mr. Burress' students made. We will then begin Unit 6 with the pretest on March 17th.

Science:
We will be continuing our study of the circulatory system this week.  The test for the Digestive and Circulatory system will be Thursday, March 5th. They will be able to use their notes for the test.

ELA:
Reading - Book Club will continue to take place Tuesday and Friday. The students are encouraged to prepare for their discussions by doing some of the following: record interesting quotes, questions from the text, events in the story that are confusing, difficult vocabulary, predictions, etc. The book club project Artful Artist is due March 24th.

In our reading textbook, we will be reading a persuasive essay titled “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum. On Monday, I will introduce the reading response options that will be due on Friday.

Writing - The students have begun crafting their paragraphs for an informational website on a teen activist. Our goal for this week is to craft, edit, and polish all writing required for their websites. When we return from Spring Break, we will begin constructing our Weebly sites and inputting all of their wonderful writing!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Feb. 23-27

Announcements:

-Math Study Group:  We will have math group this Thursday, Feb. 26th as well as March 5th. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!

-Preparing for Middle School: Mr. Burress and I are slowly releasing responsibility to the students to help them prepare for Middle School. Last week, they began walking themselves back from lunch. I am also changing our planner checks in the afternoon. They are now responsible to record the homework in their planners. If there are any issues with this and not completing the required homework, I will let you know.

-Spring Break: If you are planning on leaving early for Spring Break, please call me or send me an email so I can send the work home that your child will be missing. Thank you in advance!

What are we learning???

Math:
This week we will finish up Unit 5 with one more section about parallelograms and a review day. The test for Unit 5 is THIS Thursday, Feb. 26th and the Written Response will be Friday, Feb. 27th. The study guide for this unit is REQUIRED. They will be completing it as homework and the whole packet will be due Wednesday so we can go over it.

Science:
We are beginning our discovery of the circulatory system this week. The students will do several interactive activities with the heart as well as the system as a whole. There will be a quiz on Section 1 in their textbooks on Thursday, Feb 26th. They will be able to use their notes for the quiz.

ELA:
Reading - Book Club will continue to take place Tuesday and Friday. The students are encouraged to prepare for their discussions by doing some of the following: record interesting quotes, questions from the text, events in the story that are confusing, difficult vocabulary, predictions, etc. The book club project Artful Artist is due March 24th.

In our reading textbook, we will be reading an essay written by Anne Frank titled "Why?". Today, I will introduce the reading response that will be due on Friday.We will do a bit of research on Anne Frank and synthesize it into a paragraph on Wednesday.

Writing - We have begun our informational writing unit on teen activism. Last week, the students chose a cause and a teen activist to research. This week, we will continue to polish our research skills and collect information to cover the "big picture" of our topic. By Friday, they will have a flash draft of their essay. I'm thoroughly impressed with their energy and enthusiasm as they research a cause that they are passionate about! We have a class full of teen activists in the making! :)

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Feb. 9-13

Announcements:

-Math Study Group: Please note the upcoming dates for the math study group: Feb. 12th, Feb. 19th, Feb. 26th. If there is any change in the schedule, I will let you know. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!




* Congratulations to Levi, Payton, Alex, and Abbey for placing in the Patriot's Pen contest!

* The whole class for the awesome work you did on your thematic essays! What a great accomplishment to have TWO essays under your belts!

What are we learning???

Math:
Last week, the students showed their growing understanding of coordinate geometry through a mystery graph project. They had to design a picture on a 4-quadrant grid and record ordered pairs on a separate sheet of paper. Once they were finish, they swapped the ordered pairs list and graphed each other's pictures. It was a challenge, but they performed beautifully and stepped up to the task!

This week we will be looking at transformations on a graph and congruent figures. We will be completing a mini-project on transformations as this is a tricky concept for most students. Again, please know I have added several review games to the class blog to aid in the review and practice of these skills. The test for Unit 5 has been moved to Thursday, Feb. 26th and the Written Response will be Friday, Feb. 27th.

Science:
This week, we continue our investigation of the digestive system and nutrients our body needs. The students will be researching a specific nutrient, it's source, the benefits of it, and what happens when our body is deprived of that nutrient. There will be an open book quiz Thursday, Feb. 12th of what we've learned of the digestive system so far.

ELA:
Reading - The students have received their Book Club books and have already had their first discussion. The students are encouraged to continue to prepare for their discussions by doing some of the following: record interesting quotes, questions from the text, events in the story that are confusing, difficult vocabulary, predictions, etc.
In our reading textbook, we are transitioning to non-fiction short stories. This week, we will be reading "The Jacket" by Gary Soto and will look specifically at the order of events in a non-fiction text. On Wednesdays, I introduce 3 reading response options for students to complete. They are due each week on Friday.

Writing - Last week, the students finished their thematic essays! I was so impressed by how well they structured their essays and used evidence from the story to support their claim! This week, we will be competing a few free-writes and reflective writing. Next week, we will begin a new writing unit!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Feb. 2-6

Announcements:

-Math Study Group: We will NOT have group this Thursday. Please note the upcoming dates for the math study group: Feb. 12th, Feb. 19th, Feb. 26th. If there is any change in the schedule, I will let you know. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!




* Jack for your energy and excitement you bring to the class!

* The whole class for the awesome work you did on your invention/innovation pitches! The "Sharks" were impressed!

What are we learning???

Math:
Due to the complexity of this chapter, we will be slowing down the lessons a bit more than other chapters. There are a lot of new concepts all being introduced at once. Please know I have added several review games to the class blog to aid in the review and practice of these skills. This week, I plan to teach 5.3-5.4. Through those lessons, we will learn how to construct circle graphs using angle measures and how to plot ordered pairs on a grid. The test for Unit 5 is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19th and the Written Response will be Friday, Feb. 20th.

Science:
This week, we will begin the next unit on Human Body systems. We will start our investigations with the digestive system. To dive in, we will be discussing what we already know about this system and what questions we have about it. Later in the week, we will look more closely at how food is digested and what our body takes from the food.

ELA:

Reading - The students will be receiving their Book Club books this week. As a group, it is there responsibility to discuss and record what needs to be read by each Book Club session (every Tues. and Fri.). Last week, we discussed various ways to prepare for a discussion. Here are some of their ideas: record interesting quotes, questions from the text, events in the story that are confusing, difficult vocabulary, predictions, etc.

Writing - Last week, the students wrote their rough draft essays. This week, we will polish them up with special emphasis on the introductory and conclusion paragraph along with appropriate usage of quotes from the story.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Jan. 26-30

Announcements:


-Math Study Group: Please note the upcoming dates for the math study group: Jan. 29th, Feb. 12th, Feb. 19th. If there is any change in the schedule, I will let you know. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!

-Report Cards will be sent home THIS Wednesday. If you would like to schedule a meeting to discuss your child's progress, please email me.





* Naydeli for your willingness and time given to help those around you!

* The whole class for trying your best the past two weeks on the STAR tests and F & P test!

What are we learning???

Math:
The students were tested on part B for Unit 4 at the end of last week. Unit 5 will begin on Tuesday after the pre-test on Monday. This unit will cover Geometry skills such as determining congruency, coordinate geometry, and construction of angles. This week, we will learn how to measure/draw angles and interpreting various angles. The test for Unit 5 is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19th and the Written Response will be Friday, Feb. 20th.

Science:
This week, we will be completing our mini-unit on inventions and inventive thinking. Students have been challenged to think independently, creatively, and productively. Through this unit, the students have decided to present their ideas by way of the popular ABC show Shark Tank. On Wednesday, the students will pitch their invention/innovation ideas to a panel of teachers and staff in hopes of receiving an "investment" to pursue their invention/innovation idea.

ELA:
Spelling - For the 3rd quarter, we will be taking a break from Words Their Way. In lieu of spelling groups, students will be creating their own spelling lists in class when they inquire of a word they don't know how to spell during writing time. They will practice these words with various in class activities.

Writing/Reading - We will begin a new structure this week during our ELA block. The first change will be the addition of Book Club groups. Mr. Burress and I will be forming these groups across the whole 6th grade. The students will be choosing their books next week and will meet with their Book Club group each Tuesday and Friday. This week, I will be introducing some expectations, skills, and activities they will be asked to complete with their groups.

Another change I will be implementing is a 3-part lesson each week focusing on a short story. Through each short story, students will be reinforced with skills required for Writer's Workshop, will gain valuable grammar skills, and will complete a weekly assignment in response to the short story. This 3-part lesson will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (opposite of Book Clubs) with the response assignment due each Friday.

We will be continuing our last section of essay writing with a thematic essay. This should be completed in the next couple of weeks.

As usual, students will have the much valued DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time along with a read aloud. We have begun A Wrinkle in Time and the students are thoroughly enjoying this timeless classic!

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Jan. 12-16

Announcements:

- With the semester quickly coming to a close, please continue to check Skyward for any missing assignments and let me know if you have any questions.

- STAR Testing: Testing is THIS week for our class. We will have our Math STAR Test Monday, Jan. 12th and the ELA STAR Test will be Wednesday, Jan. 14th. Please help to make sure your child has a restful sleep and a hearty breakfast before the test day.

-Math Study Group: We will be meeting THIS Thursday, Jan. 15th to review multiplying fractions and converting between fractions, decimals, and percents. There will be NO group next Thursday, Jan. 22nd due to the end of the quarter. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!

Scholastic book orders are due THIS Friday, Jan. 16th. Your student received 4 different book order forms last week. Our online code for ordering is NFVJ8.




* Zach for being such a huge help around the classroom before school!
* The whole class for trying your best this week as we tackled finding theme in numerous stories!

What are we learning???

Math:
After our STAR test on Monday, we will be diving into converting fractions, decimals, and percents, along with other difficult conversions. Students will be practicing these skills through workbook pages and games.  Part B test for Unit 4 HAS BEEN CHANGED to Thursday, Jan. 22nd and the Written Response will be Friday, Jan. 23rd.

Science:
This week, we will be continuing our mini-unit on inventions and inventive thinking. Students will be challenged to think independently, creatively, and productively. We will brainstorm invention ideas together and begin the process of developing our ideas. I'm excited to see where their creativity takes us!

ELA:
Spelling - Last Monday, your student received a NEW Homework sheet for Words Their Way. The requirements are still the same, but they have new options to choose from. Students will continue to meet with their groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Writing/Reading - We had a very successful week reviewing theme and I fully believe we are ready to begin our literary essay on theme. The students received their stories on Friday, all of which they have heard before as a read aloud. Our goal for this week will be to brainstorm the theme of their stories and find evidence to support it within the text. By Friday, they will have a general outline of their essay. I will also be testing their reading with Fountas and Pinnell this week and next week. Their ELA STAR test will be Wednesday from 1-1:45pm.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Jan. 5-9

Announcements:

- Welcome back! I hope you all had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break with family and friends. Starting Monday, your student will hit the ground running as we complete a few units before the end of the semester. Please do check Skyward for any missing assignments and let me know if you have any questions.

- STAR Testing: Testing will be next week for our class. We will have our Math STAR Test Monday, Jan. 12th and the ELA STAR Test will be Wednesday, Jan. 14th. Please help to make sure your child has a restful sleep and a hearty breakfast before the test day.

-Math Study Group: Our first session will be THIS Thursday, Jan. 8th from 3:30-4:30pm. Looking ahead, we will have our second group Thursday, Jan. 15th. There will be NO group the following Thursday, Jan. 22nd due to the end of the quarter. As a reminder, if your student will be attending the study group, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!



* Mrs. McCormack for an engaging and informative presentation on French Christmas traditions!
* The whole class for a job well done on your Literary Essays! You all stepped up to the challenge and completed quality essays!

What are we learning???

Math:
We will spend Monday reviewing what was learned before the break, adding and subtracting fractions/mixed numbers. For the rest of the week, we will be improving our skills and gaining new strategies to multiply both fractions and mixed numbers. Part B test for Unit 4 will be Wednesday, Jan. 21st and the Written Response will be Thursday, Jan. 22nd.

Science:
This week, we will be diving into a mini-unit on inventions and inventive thinking. We will be looking at the process of inventing and recent middle school inventors! Students will be challenged to think independently, creatively, and productively. The students are so creative at this stage and I'm eager to see where their unique thinking will take us!

ELA:
Spelling - This Monday, your student has received a NEW Homework sheet for Words Their Way. The requirements are still the same, but they have new options to choose from. Students will continue to meet with their groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Writing/Reading - Before break, the students finished their first essay on character analysis. We will begin our second essay on theme. To effectively begin this endeavor, we need to review and practice finding themes in stories. This week, we will be completing several quick writes and reflections on themes of various picture books and short stories. The students will also use group discussions to determine appropriate themes for various stories. I plan on giving out their short stories that they will then use to write their essay on theme this Friday.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Dec. 15-19

Announcements:

-Math Study Group: Due to the number of responses I have received, I will be postponing the start of
the weekly math study group to January. However, I have scheduled a test review for Tuesday, Dec. 16th from 3:30-4:30. We will go over the study guide questions and prepare for the test on Friday. If your student will be attending the after school study session, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!



* Molly and Marcus for your excellent service at the Senior Holiday lunch last week!
* The whole class for an excellent band and choir performance!

What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be completing a fraction project in class as well as reviewing for the test on Friday, Dec. 19th. Review sheet for the test will be passed out today. Students that will be absent next week will present their projects on Thursday. All others will present next week. If you would like more information on the project, please ask your child to explain the requirements and show you the guidelines.

Science:
This week, we will be completing a Periodic Table Project. Students will research how they interact daily with various elements/compounds. They will be creating a periodic table complete with illustrations of the uses of elements along with an explanation sheet. Students that will be absent next week will present their projects on Friday. All others will present next week. A quiz on what we have been learning about the periodic table will be this Thursday, Dec. 18th. Students have received a slip informing them of what will be covered on the quiz.

ELA:
Spelling - The students have joined their new spelling groups. Everything will remain the same with their assignments for each week. Students will meet with their groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. There will be NO spelling the week of Christmas due to the two day school week.

Writing - We are in the final stretch with our literary essays! By the end of the week, they will be complete and ready to share next week!


Reading - We have been enjoying some short stories by Cynthia Rylant. Through these short stories, we are discussing theme. This will help in preparing the students for their next writing project which will focus around a theme of a story.

Between now and Christmas, we will be practicing our fluency skills through a couple reader's theater plays. The students have been given their second reader's theater play. Please ask your child to practice his/her lines at home to ensure adequate preparedness for presentation day. The goal is not memorization of their lines, rather smooth and fluent reading/speaking skills. The performance for this play will be Friday, Dec. 19th. This performance will be filmed and students will then view and self-score themselves on fluency next week.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Dec. 8-12

Announcements:

-Shout out: I've added a new section to the blog titled "Big Shout Out". You can find it below the announcements section of the blog. I will be highlighting some awesome accomplishments to individual students, groups, to the whole class! Keep your eye out for student submitted shout outs as well!

-Band and Choir Concert: The Middle School concert will be TONIGHT, December 9th at 7pm. The students have worked incredibly hard for this performance and are eager to share their talents with us all!

-Math Study Group: Due to the number of responses I have received, I will be postponing the start of
the weekly math study group to January. However, I have scheduled a test review for Tuesday, Dec. 16th from 3:30-4:30. We will go over the study guide questions and prepare for the test on Friday. All the content for the test will be taught by the end of this week. Next week, we will be completing a fraction project in class. If your student will be attending the after school study session, please write a note or email confirming this and informing me of where your student will be going at 4:30pm. Thanks so much!



* Jack Minten for an EXCELLENT performance in A Christmas Cinderella!
* The whole class for your hours and hours of practice to prepare for the band/choir concert!

What are we learning???

Math:
As mentioned before, we will only be covering the first half of unit 4 before Christmas break. The content will cover simplifying, comparing, and adding and subtracting fractions. To help solidify our understanding of the content, we will also be completing a mini-project to directly relate fractions to daily life. The first portion of the test is still scheduled for Friday, Dec. 19th.

Science:
This week, we will be covering the following topics for our Chemistry unit: Elements we need to know, common compounds, organization of the periodic table, and element families.

ELA:
Spelling - The students have joined their new spelling groups. Everything will remain the same with their assignments for each week. Students will meet with their groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. There will be NO spelling the week of Christmas due to the two day school week.

Writing - This week, we will be taking extra time analyzing another mentor text to better understand the structure and appropriate content of a Literary Essay. Students have all crafted a thorough claim and are beginning an outline as they plan out their essay. By the end of the week, we should have our outlines complete and most, if not all, of our body paragraphs written! It is quite the challenging, but rewarding process!


Reading - We have finished Wonder and to celebrate/reflect, each student created a precept poster! Precepts, or words to live by, were mentioned throughout the book. The students enjoyed discussing the meanings of these precepts.

Between now and Christmas, we will be practicing our fluency skills through a couple reader's theater plays. The students will be given their first play Monday and will present Wednesday. Please ask your child to practice his/her lines at home to ensure adequate preparedness for presentation day. The goal is not memorization of their lines, rather smooth and fluent reading/speaking skills. The second play will be assigned Friday and performance will be the following Friday. This performance will be filmed and students will then view and self-score themselves on fluency.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Weekly Update Dec. 1-5

Announcements:

-BOOK FAIR!!! Each student and teacher will get ONE free book at the book fair this week! The book must be $10 or less.  Also, if you have your wish list filled out don't forget to get it to Mr. Scoville.

-With the math units becoming a bit more challenging, I am looking at starting an after school math study group. The study group will take place once a week in our classroom for 45 minutes. The time will be spent reviewing the concepts learned, practicing together, and completing some of the homework. Please send a note with your student or email me if you think this would be helpful for your child. Also include the day of the week that you would prefer the group to meet. I will send out another message later this week with more details once I've received your feedback. I hope to start the group next week.

-With the new quarter underway and after receiving some feedback from conferences, I have decided to implement a few changes this quarter. First, your student is required to read at least 20 minutes three nights a week. To confirm that they have read, I ask that you sign their planner in the ELA section. Second, On days when tests are returned, your student will be required to get a parent/guardian signature on the test and return it the following day. Thank you for your continued support!


What are we learning???

Math:
This week, we will be finishing up the test for unit 3 and taking the pre-test for unit 4. The next unit will cover comparing fractions, adding/subtracting/multiplying fractions, and converting between fractions, decimals, and percents. This is quite a long and complex unit. In efforts to not rush through it, we will only be covering half of the unit 4 material before Christmas break. We will take a test on half of the unit and then continue the second half of the unit in January. The test for the first half of the unit will be Friday, Dec. 19th.


Science:
Last week, students began researching an element of their choice. We will use the research collected to create a cube as a display for their work. The cubes will then be used to help students compare, contrast, and group the elements in various categories.

ELA:
Spelling - On Monday, the students will be assigned to new Words Their Way groups. Everything will remain the same with their assignments for each week. Students will meet with their groups on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

Writing - Our class has begun the process of choosing a claim to pursue with their literary essay. They created a list of 5 possible claims about a character in their short story. From that list, they had to see which claims encompassed the WHOLE character and the WHOLE story. Starting Monday, we will polish up their claim statements and begin the process of finding evidence to then construct our body paragraphs of our essays. This week, students will also be referencing a mentor text to see what the author did really well and then try to mimic that in their own essays.

Reading - We are on the verge of finishing our read aloud book Wonder! Students have thoroughly enjoyed it and through the reading, have sharpened their skills of determining point of view, character/plot development, narrator styles, and discussion techniques. They will each be assigned a mini project to complete in response to the book this week.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Ball

mball@gibraltar.k12.wi.us

Scholastic Book Orders

Our online code for ordering is NFVJ8. Thanks!