Writer's Workshop:

This week we started working on memoirs.  The students brought a memento from a special time in their lives and shared why it was so important to them.  They also shared how it has changed them or made an impact on their lives.  We also discussed the difference between a personal narrative and a memoir.  
Next week we will continue to work on memoirs.  We will be focusing on people that have made an impact on their lives and why they are so important to them.

Special Events:

October 31st:   6th grade choir will perform at Linn-Mar.  They sound wonderful.  
October 31st:  PBIS assembly
November 1st:  12:00 dismiss
November 10th:  1:00 dismiss (End of 1st Trimester)
November 15th:  1:00 dismiss (Conferences)
November 20th:  1:00 dismiss (Conferences)
November 22nd-24th-No School (Thanksgiving Break)

I want to thank all of the students and parents that brought treats, drinks and supplies for making our Halloween party a success!  Everything was delicious.  I can't believe how creative you are!

Have a great weekend:

Mrs. Mattison

October 16th-20th

Writer's Workshop:

This week the students finished their Honey West stories and presented them to the class. We have used the EETCHY tool which is part of the Expanding Expression program to write their stories.  There are 7 parts to the EETCHY tool they are:

Green Group:  What group is involved?

Blue Do:  What do they do? Or, what did you do? (A brief overview, save details for pink parts)

What does it look like?  Describe visual details.  Paint a picture in your reader's mind.  (add an illustration, describe the setting.)

What Was It Made Of?  How would they/you feel?

Pink Parts:  Describe and sequence important parts and events in the story.  (The bulk of the details/story goes here.

White Where?  Where do you  need to make changes?  Look back at your writing.  Does it flow in a logical order?  Edit your text.  (Improve word choice)  

What Else Do I Know?  Is there anything else you need to add?  Provide a summary or closing.
Higher level thinking:  (i.e., How would you have felt if that happened to you?)/Lesson learned/Moral of the story.


We worked together on the beginning of the story and the students completed it by adding their pink parts.  They also had to complete the white where and what else do I know.

Next week we will begin working on Memoirs.

Special Video: 
Three students decided to make a video of a candy bar they designed in Writer's Workshop.  Jonah Thompson, Caden Wallace, and Keylen Bigley.  Check it out, it is adorable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFr1U0Hqgmw&feature=em-upload_owner

______________________________________________________________________________
Assembly:

We also had NTC come in and act out plays about money.  The students learned about interest, taxes and savings.  The students were even involved in some of the plays.  I have included some of pictures of the event.  

Upcoming Events:

October 18th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 27th:  Halloween Parties
October 27th:  1:00 Dismiss (See Friday folder for Halloween party note.)

October 31st:  PBIS Assembly, and 6th grade choir will perform at Linn-Mar

Writer's Workshop:

This week the students finished their rough drafts of their "Honey West" story.  Next week we will write our final drafts and present them to the class.  In the weeks to come, the students will be learning how to write memoirs.  

Pictures: Working of Revising and Editing

Upcoming Events:

October 18th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 27th:  1:00 Dismiss (Fall/Halloween Party)
October 31st:  Halloween, PBIS Assembly, and 6th grade choir will perform at Linn-Mar

Book Orders due 10/20/17

Homecoming Week:)

Writer's Workshop:

This week we used the "Eetchy" to write a summary of the "Honey West" television show.  We filled in an outline sheet together.  The sheet had all of the categories covered using the Eetchy.  
Next week, we will discuss how to revise and edit our papers.  I will also be conferencing with the students individually.  I will be looking at their work on DOLs and their Honey West summary.

Homecoming:

This has been a fun and exciting week!  The students had a blast dressing up and so did the teachers!  I love the way they all pull together.  This is a great group of students to work with!  I have included some pictures of the students this week. 

Bobcat Dash:  Is tomorrow:)

Upcoming Events:

September 30th:  Bobcat Dash
October 4th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 9th:  No School
October 18th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 27th:  1:00 Dismiss

Have a great weekend:)

September 18th-22nd

Writer's Workshop:

This week we continued to work with the EET tool we call "Eetchy."  The second page of each student's assignment book also has a "Parent or EET Home-Helper Information Sheet."  It explains how to use the tool.  
Last week the students wrote what they knew about a banana, guitar, chair and clock.  This week they wrote about them again using the Eetchy.  They analyzed the difference between the two sets of writing and saw how much they improved just by using the Eetchy.  This tool helps them to organize their thoughts while they put them on paper.  In addition, it helps them create a more descriptive paragraph.
We also worked on story webs and wrote fun stories using story starters.  I can't wait to read their stories.


Upcoming Events:

September 29th:  Homecoming
September 30th:  Bobcat Dash
October 4th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 9th:  No School
October 18th:  1:00 Dismiss
October 27th:  1:00 Dismiss

Have a great weekend:)

Writer's Workshop:

This week during "Writer's Workshop" we continued to learn about classroom procedures.  In addition, we created the rules for the class.  The students were also introduced to the "Expanding Expression Tool" which is a writing tool that helps them become more descriptive in their writing. This tool is great for students who have difficulty organizing their thoughts and knowing what information is pertinent to their audience.  The EET provides visual and tactile cues to facilitate learning.  This tool also helps those students who suffer from writers block.  Next week we will continue to  work with this tool. 

Students using the EET tool

Upcoming Events:

September 20th:  1:00 Dismiss
September 29th:  Homecoming
September 30th:  Bobcat Dash

September 11-September 15

Writer's Workshop:

This week the students continued to learn my expectations for Writer's Workshop.  They practiced coming to and going from group.  In addition, we talked about the importance of being a good listener.  The students shared the ideas they had written down in the ideas section of their writing notebooks.  They also chose an item from this section and started writing about it.
In addition, they learned about how to use their writing folders and where to store them.  I look forward to reading their stories because they were excited about what they were writing.

Students hard at work writing.












Book Orders:

If you want to order books just mark the books you want on the form and send a check payable to Scholastic.  If you send cash, I will write a check to Scholastic.  Parents ordering online can use my class code is LK63Z.  The book orders are due on Friday,  September 15th.
Upcoming Events This Week:

September 20th:  1:00 Dismiss
September 29th:  Homecoming
September 30th:  Bobcat Dash