Mrs. Valentine's Class

In today’s class, we reviewed the paperwork required for the 4th Quarter Independent Reading presentations, giving special attention to rubric requirements so that students can earn maximum points. The best puppet shows will be both informative and entertaining.

HOMEWORK DUE MONDAY, 5/21:
1) Be prepared for your Independent Reading Puppet Show.
Be sure to bring the following:
* IR book
* puppet/s
* paperwork (IR Rubric & 4th Quarter IR Contract)
* laptop – charged
2) Practice (and, if you choose, record) the show for your presentation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of FRIDAY, MAY 18TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, we enjoyed the “Puppet Peek,” and were impressed by the wonderful creativity of many of our sixth graders. (It’s amazing what a great puppet you can make with odds and ends from around the house!) After a bit of laptop “housekeeping” with Mrs. Strother, we talked about the importance of blocking (determining the physical arrangement of actors on a stage set) our skits. Without a doubt, creating a visually appealing set adds to the success of a dramatic production. Students spent the rest of the period in their groups practicing their skits. From lines overheard as students practiced, we anticipate lively and entertaining productions!

HOMEWORK DUE FRIDAY, 5/18:
1) Prepare the “paperwork” (IR Rubric* and 4th Quarter Contract) for your IR Presentation/Project.
*It’s a good idea to look over the rubric to be sure that you are prepared to earn maximum points.
2) Practice (and, if you choose, record) the show for your presentation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of THURSDAY, MAY 17TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, the Summary & Response paragraphs were returned to students. After reading two strong examples, sixth graders discussed what made these paragraphs successful. We agreed that using interesting vocabulary, explaining points fully and including relevant quotations enhanced the writing. It was also important to try to identify with the situation and feelings of the characters to make the most of this learning experience. Students mentioned the importance of consistently doing their best on homework assignments, giving their writing the time and energy it requires. Then when one homework assignment is turned in to be graded, there are plenty of strong options from which to choose. Great idea!

HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY, 5/17:
BRING YOUR LAPTOP & CHARGER TO CLASS ON THURSDAY.
Mrs. Strother also asks that you copy movie, pictures and music files onto a flashdrive if you would like to keep them. (As you know, the laptops will be remastered this summer.)

HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY, 5/17:
1) Be ready for Thursday’s “PUPPET PEEK.” You may bring your puppet/s to class, OR you may take a PHOTO BOOTH photo of your puppet/s.
2) Practice (and, if you choose, record) the show for your presentation.
3) Get a parent signature on your PROGRESS REPORT as well as your SUMMARY & RESPONSE RUBRIC.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of WEDNESDAY, MAY 16TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, as sixth graders worked on their in-class skits, Mrs. Valentine continued to conference with individual students and made suggestions for the IR scripts. Students have found that it is important to follow the directions to earn maximum points.

HOMEWORK DUE WEDNESDAY, 5/16:
Mrs. Strother asks that you copy movie, pictures and music files onto a flashdrive if you would like to keep them. (As you know, the laptops will be remastered this summer.)
HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY, 5/17:
1) Be ready for Thursday’s “PUPPET PEEK.” You may bring your puppet/s to class, OR you may take a PHOTO BOOTH photo of your puppet/s.
2) Practice (and, if you choose, record) the show for your presentation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of TUESDAY, MAY 15TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, Thursday’s “PUPPET PEEK” was announced. The purpose of this check is to make sure that puppets are made by this weekend, so that students don’t wait until the last minute to make puppets when they should be practicing (and perhaps recording) puppet shows. As sixth graders worked on their in-class skits, Mrs. Valentine conferenced with individual students and made suggestions for the IR scripts. Students found that it was important to follow the directions to earn maximum points.

HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY, 5/17:
1) Be ready for Thursday’s “PUPPET PEEK.” You may bring your puppet/s to class, OR you may take a PHOTO BOOTH photo of your puppet/s.
2) Practice (and, if you choose, record) the show for your presentation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of MONDAY, MAY 14TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, students worked in groups on their skits of scenes from “DIARY.” Their task was to revise the script, making it easier to read and enhancing or deleting some lines while being sure to be true to the original spirit of the play. Once the revisions of the scripts were completed, these groups began rehearsing their skits.

HOMEWORK DUE MONDAY, 5/14:
1) THE SCRIPT OF YOUR IR PUPPET SHOW IS DUE ON MONDAY, 5/14.
Be sure to print out your script BEFORE CLASS.
2) Make the puppet/s and begin practicing (and, if you choose, recording) the show for your presentation.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:
Monday, 5/14 – IR Script is due.
Monday, 5/21 – IR Presentations
Tuesday, 5/22 – IR Presentations

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of FRIDAY, MAY 11TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, students worked in groups on their skits of scenes from “DIARY.” First, they decided that everyone in each group should take a leadership role: director, acting coach, script supervisor, prop master, costumer and set designer. Once this was decided, they revised the script, making it easier to read and enhancing or deleting some lines while being sure to be true to the original spirit of the play. When the revision of the scripts is completed in tomorrow’s class, these groups will begin to rehearse their skits.

HOMEWORK DUE FRIDAY, 5/11*:
* IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN TONIGHT’S FINE ARTS CONCERT, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE 30 MINUTES OF ENGLISH HOMEWORK TONIGHT. HOWEVER, DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO WORK ON YOUR IR SCRIPT, WHICH IS DUE ON MONDAY, 5/14.

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of THURSDAY, MAY 10TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, we reviewed the quizzes on Act II, Scenes 4 & 5. Then we discussed what happened to all of the “DIARY” characters in real life in the interim between their capture and when Mr. Frank returns to Amsterdam at the end of the war. Their stories are hard to talk about because they involve such abominable cruelty and because a matter of days, weeks and months could have changed their fates. To make a difference in the world, we should “NEVER FORGET” what happened to them and 6,000,000 others. We must remember to treat all others with respect and consideration. In this way, Anne’s wish “to live beyond her death” will continue to be true.

HOMEWORK DUE THURSDAY, 5/10:
1) Work on your IR Puppet Show script and puppet.
2) Get a parent signature on your “DIARY” ACT II quizzes.

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of WEDNESDAY, MAY 9TH, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.

In today’s class, students chose their best Summary & Response paragraphs from the Scenes of “DIARY” to be graded. Then sixth graders were placed in small groups to begin work on acting out skits from the play. After choosing scenes and parts, the students read parts together. Each group will rewrite the script, maintaining the spirit of the play, but leaving out italicized directions while adding to the lines to insure that the skits are entertaining.

HOMEWORK DUE WEDNESDAY, 5/9:
Work on your IR Puppet Show script and puppet.

Extra-Credit Assignment!
Begin writing your own diary/journal on Wednesday, 4/18. Spend approximately 15-20 minutes on each entry. Students who write thorough entries every day until we finish the play will earn an extra point on their 4th quarter average!
As of Tuesday, May 8th, we are still working on the play, so keep writing.