Mrs. Valentine's Class

In today’s class, we finished up our storytelling project. Then we discussed the idea of utopia in preparation for reading THE GIVER next week. Tonight’s homework is intended to inspire creative ideas as well as an interest in the content of this very important book.

HW due Thursday, 2/16:
On two 4×6 cards, write job descriptions for your idea of the best and worst possible jobs. Use imagination, vivid adjectives, action verbs and complete sentences. (Write “The BEST Job: _________________” on the top of the first card. Then write at least three or four good sentences describing the best job. Write your name in the lower right-hand corner of the card. Then write a second card for “The WORST Job: _______________________.”)

In today’s class, we continued to share our stories. Some of the students are natural storytellers, while others are learning to enjoy storytelling. In fact, several students have asked Mrs. Valentine if they can write and tell another story for extra credit. The answer: Absolutely!

In celebration of Valentines Day, there will be no homework assigned tonight!

In today’s class, after reviewing the Storytelling rubric, students practiced telling their stories to a friend who gave them feedback. (Having a good organization of ideas, making eye contact, connecting with the audience, and displaying emotion are all part of the successful storyteller’s craft.) Then the storytelling began, and the audience was delighted with humorous tales!

HW due Tuesday, 2/14:
1) Make a “Buddy Invitation” card with a colored picture or decoration on the front of the card. Be sure to put your buddy’s name (first and last) on the front of the card.
Inside the card, be sure to include:
- 3rd Annual ALICE Animation Festival in the Andrews Assembly Room
- Wednesday, February 15th from 2:00 to 3:00
- Sign your name.
- P.S. Let’s sit together! (You may also want to mention one of the animations that they will see…)
2) Get your Progress Report signed.
* If you haven’t told your story yet, PRACTICE!

In today’s class, after the students took a quiz on prepositions, prepositional phrases, subjects and predicates, they began to work on their funny stories, the comedy writing challenge for The Core, our Middle School magazine.

HW due Monday, 2/13:
1) Using your laptop and double spacing the font, write a one-to-two page story about the funniest thing that has ever happened to you.
- Set up your paper with a three-line heading and a clever title.
- The first sentence should be dialogue: a signal phrase followed by dialogue in quotation marks. (Try to avoid the word “said.” There are countless words that are more interesting…)
- Include interesting details, vivid adjectives and dynamic verbs to make the situation come alive!
- End the story with a final line of dialogue. (Don’t forget the signal phrase and quotation marks.)

2) Share the story with your parents. It is fine for them to make some recommendations as long as you underline where their contributions are in your story.

3) Practice reading/telling the story because you will be presenting it to the class, and your purpose is to entertain your audience. USE LOTS OF EXPRESSION!

In today’s class, we reviewed last night’s homework on prepositions and prepositional phrases to prepare for Friday’s quiz. Then Mrs. Valentine introduced the Core Magazine’s latest contest, comedy writing. We discussed two considerations for successful storytelling: purpose and audience. In this case, our purpose is to entertain, and successful storytellers use expression, gestures and interesting details to engage the audience. Sixth graders also acknowledged that while both boys and girls like stories that include adventure and unexpected endings, they also differ in their appreciation of some story elements. A clever storyteller will include at least a pinch of the elements that the entire audience will enjoy.
HW due Friday, 2/10:
1) Prepare for Friday’s quiz on prepositions, prepositional phrases, subjects and predicates.
2) Think about something funny that has happened to you. Consider the details, expressions and gestures that you will use to engage your audience in telling this story. Be prepared to write this story in Friday’s class.

In today’s class, students enjoyed the remaining ALICE animations. Mrs. Strother and Mrs. Valentine were very impressed with the levels of creativity and skills depicted in these movies. Then students voted to choose the two best animations from each class, which will be showcased at the ALICE Animation Festival on Wednesday, February 15th from 2:00 to 3:00.

HW due Thursday, 2/9:

Complete both sides of the worksheet on prepositions. These old quizzes will help you to prepare for Friday’s quiz on prepositions, prepositional phrases, subjects and predicates.

In today’s class, we spoke briefly about prepositions and prepositional phrases. It is really interesting to note that the subject and the predicate of a sentence will never be found in a prepositional phrase. Isolating prepositional phrases makes it much easier to find subjects and predicates.
Then the class was treated to watching each others’ wonderful animations!

HW due Wednesday, 2/8:
Do the worksheet on adjective prepositional phrases. Rather than following the directions on the sheet, circle the prepositions and box the prepositional phrases. If you need more space to write the sentences in the second exercise, use the back of the worksheet.

In today’s class, students were introduced to prepositions, with the help of a squirrel who runs ______________ a cabin! Prepositional phrases begin with prepositions and end with a noun or pronoun. A prepositional phrase can act as an adjective to modify a noun or as an adverb to modify a verb.

ENGLISH HOMEWORK – DUE TUESDAY, 2/7:
1. Make any necessary “tweaks” to your movie, so that it is ready to be viewed by the class on Tuesday.
2. Complete both sides of the PREPOSITION WORKSHEET.