Unit 2: Perception

Today students wrapped up Unit 1 with another assessment on finding theme, this time in non-fiction text. Through all of the practice we did in this unit for writing constructed responses and examining a text for specific, relevant evidence, I think students are off to a great start with 6th grade expectations for quality and effort! I appreciate all of their focus and hard work!

Our next unit is focused on the concept of perception; particularly how we see ourselves versus how others see us, and eventually moving into how and why we perceive others in the way that we do. Please help your student with the homework that will be coming home as we start off the unit; it is important for them to gather data about their perception of self and others so that we can use it as a jumping off point as we start thinking about our essential questions. 

Visit the "What Are We Studying?" page for a complete outline of the unit, including all of the standards we will be assessing in the next 6 weeks.

Close Reading for Theme: Assessment

This week, we worked finding the theme of fiction texts using the skill of close reading.  Students have had multiple opportunities to read a text, analyze, discuss and write about the theme of the text to prepare for Friday's assessment.

Below are the standards we are working very hard to address in class this week and next:

RI, RL 6.2 Use key ideas and details to determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details.

We ALWAYS, ALWAYS require textual evidence, and grade it on this standard:

RI, RL 6.1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. 

RI = "reading informational" non-fiction

RL = "reading literature" fiction

Anchor chart from class on close reading

Anchor chart from class on theme

Anchor chart on how to write a constructed response

Anchor chart from class on a model constructed response

One Pager (FIRST ASSESSMENT!)

On Thursday and Friday, students will complete their first assessment.  They will work on the standard, (CCSS SL6.1) engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.  

The task is to interview a peer, focusing on clarifying questions and getting more information. 

On Thursday, students will take the information collected from the interview and create a One Pager about their peer.  The hope is that the responses from their partner are detailed enough to create an image of the answer given. Students will then have Friday to complete their One Pager.

Students are invited to come to work on them in the pod during their lunch on Thursday or Friday to avoid homework over the weekend.

Examples are found below, along with expectations and rubric. 

Expectations and examples

Rubric

Technology

The past few days, we have been orienting ourselves with resources that will help us be successful throughout the year. Students:

• Received their adams12.org email and created a password
• Logged into Infinite Campus and our classroom website
• Checked the Zephyr Core Homework Page
• Created a folder in Google Drive and shared it with Mrs. Peoples
• Explored the functionality of Google Drive and its apps

Please see the Helpful Links page for links to these sites and to the power points that we used with the instructions in how to access some of this information. It is crucial that students access Infinite Campus at least once a week to keep track of how they are doing in each class. 

Letter to My 8th Grade Self

Letter to My 8th Grade Self will be assigned Friday, Sept. 4 and is due Tuesday, Sept. 8. Students must include at least three paragraphs in their letter. The first paragraph must describe what life is like now that they've settled into middle school. The second paragraph should include goals for themselves in 8th grade, reasons behind the goals, and how they're going to accomplish them. The third paragraph must include the impact of the growth mindset on them so far, and how they plan to use it in the future.

Goal setting is one of our standards for 6th grade. Be sure your goals are realistic, timely, attainable, and able to be measured (so you know if you've reached your goal)!

Please see an example 8th grade letter here. Be sure to use this letter to know how to format your letter correctly. You will get your letter back in 8th grade. Put effort into this letter so it can be a time of enjoyment when you read what life was like as a 6th grader!