Hey guys,
So, yesterday I was interviewed by Mr. Simma for Monday's P-T Prime time to introduce me to the students as the new Elementary Principal for the Fall. I don't particularly like being on camera, I'm kind of awkward... you guys know that, but after the interview I was kind of emotional and I couldn't figure out why. I thought maybe it was just because I didn't interview well or felt like a dork doing it. I tossed and turned all night until it dawned on me around 3:30 this morning what was bothering me. I miss you guys. I miss school. I miss teaching. In the interview I said 6th Graders are just really big Kindergartners, LOL. You know its true, don't roll your eyes. But you're giant Kindergartners in wonderful ways. Like you still see the magic and fun in everything. You are pushing boundaries because you are growing into who you need to become. You are taking another step away from dependence on parents and teachers toward personal responsibility and autonomy just like you did in Kindergarten. I miss being around you weirdos everyday. I miss seeing you in the hallway. I miss kids asking me what book to read. I miss talking about stories we've read. I miss seeing you compete in Quizlet Live. I miss being there to watch you learn and grow. :) We didn't get closure... school just abruptly stopped so we didn't get to high-five, hall dance, hug, or just head nod good bye. I know you guys are struggling a little as well. We've talked about it in zoom meetings and I've seen it in some of your Tuesday responses... this being cooped up and away form each other is hard. I guess I just wanted you to know that it is hard for me too. So, hang in there. We are in this together. With 2 weeks left, let me go ahead and thank you for a great year. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the Sleepy Hollow play (I laugh every time I think of it! What fun!). I enjoyed discussing stories about the Gold Rush and Baseball.. but really talking about perspective and prejudice and what we can learn from these stories to make us better humans. I enjoyed reading "The Gift of the Magi" and "Lob's Girl" both have great endings... and I enjoyed watching as the emotion of those endings play across your face. I mean... was it Lob's spirit? A zombie dog? What even happened? LOL. Every year I have a hard time saying goodbye to my group... but this year I'm saying goodbye to the classroom as well. So, thanks for being the "last class" I teach. You are wonderful. You will do great things because you have greatness inside of you. I believe in you. And, I'll be across town next year if you need me. Until then, let's finish strong with two more weeks of putting in the work... not to be successful at 6th Grade... but to develop the self-discipline, grit, and initiative it takes to choose school work over fun at home. These traits will make you successful in life. It was never about the grade for me in class anyway
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Okay, here goes! First let me say... I am available via remind text at any point that you need me regardless of the subject area you have questions about... even if it isn't school. I want to help any way that I can. Do your best stick to a schedule, but allow for mental health breaks. There is absolutely going to be days that need to spent doing other things and we understand that. This is not something we can predict the effects of nor can we predict the end. Middle Schoolers are NOT the best at talking about their feelings... and they have big ones. So, give them grace and ask for grace in return when you need it... we are all unsure about how to manage right now. These things are more important than academics. Facts:
The Plan for Reading:During this time I want you to do 3 things... continue learning vocabulary words, keep reading, and be an informed and discerning listener. The vocabulary will be the same as we've done so keep up the good work there. The reading is self-explanatory, reading makes you smarter and happier... and I've heard more good looking, so test that theory. ;) Lastly, "Tuesday Newsday"... I want you to pay attention to what is happening around you. There are such great things to learn from this. We are seeing medical research groups in critical mode finding a cure. We see governments reacting and working together. We see companies being inventive and helpful. We see individuals being creative and innovative. PAY ATTENTION. Learn from it. Write it down. Think about what we've learned about biased facts and how easily word choice can sway what we think. Form opinions about what's going on. You have a historic even unfolding around you... don't miss it while you are TicToc-ing and Fortnighting! Lastly...Let me know if you have any questions or concerns anytime. My official office hours are Monday-Friday from 10-12.... but as stated before I'm available anytime and will be glad to help. I will also be posting a link to a zoom meeting every Monday at 10:00 just so we can see each other and check in. It is not required, but I thought it might be nice. I'm missing you guys. Hang in there!
Hello 6th grade families! I hope you are all staying healthy and being safe! This is an unprecedented time for our school, our community, and our country. It is certainly a time that can feel out of control... especially if we spend too much time feeding from the panic and fixating on the unknown. So, let me encourage you to stay focused on what is in your control. We can control how we frame this time and how we react to it. Please reach out if you are in need during this time. I know many are out of work and that means things will get tight. If you can let me know what you need I'll do my best to find ways to help. We have an amazing, generous community willing to act. As far as how to best help students during this time.... these are my thoughts. Normally we are all rushing about frustrated that we can't slow down and establish certain habits that we know would make us better. Well... the universe just gave our students the time to slow down and focus. This can be a blessing if we use it wisely. In my opinion the very best thing you can do for your child is to establish a daily routine and stick with it. Consistency and follow through are key. There are several schedules out there online... and all of them seem a little elementary to me so I made a suggested schedule for you to start with... change it up as you see fit. I know what you're thinking, my child will hate this... and you are right. Middle-Schooler's hate being told what to do and personal responsibility is not a natural inclination it must be taught and practiced... add to that screen addiction and you will feel like you have a mutiny on your hands getting them to comply. You can borrow my words when faced with the pouting, "I love you too much to let you ____(fill in with whatever you know isn't right for them, like lay on the couch all day). I want you to be successful and ____ will help you become that." Here, also, let me remind you that there are settings on cell phones that parents can "black out" a child's phone during certain times of the day sometimes this is better than taking it away completely and wifi passwords can be changed daily and withheld until a certain time, LOL. Ultimately, its important for students to stay in some kind of routine. There is comfort in routine, even if they are balked at, students need them and thrive when they are in place. Plus having a checklist each day provides them with control over something in a time when we are all feeling a little lost. So, here's a suggested routine followed by some notes about academic resources. There are WAY more online than what I shared so feel free to branch out and find great stuff. The important thing is to do daily read something... and daily use your math brain... and daily get some exercise. Do worry about it being the right "content" just do something. If you are curious about what is required in 6th grade for each subject... go here https://sde.ok.gov/oklahoma-academic-standards. PLEASE feel free to send me a message through remind any time there's some way I can help! THANKS! Mrs. Williams ***** If you receive communication from the Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts teachers... just ignore the resources I've given you for those... and go with what they send. At this time we, as teachers haven't been given any directives regarding what to send out and if anything will be for recorded grades or anything like that...so when and if we are told what's up, what I require as far as assignments go may change. When I know, you'll know! Bear with us during this super odd time. Resources:I have posted all resource links on Google Classroom for students to access at home on a computer, or through a phone or a tablet... or as luck would have it through the Microsoft Edge browser on an XBox or PlayStation. Students login just as they would from school. Their Email is first initial, middle initial, full last name @p-t.k12.ok.us. Password is all three initials followed by month, day, and year of birthday (or the year will be 2017... the year they received the password) This is used everyday so they should be familiar with this login process. Example: Dewayne Rock Johnson with a May 3rd birthday would be [email protected], password drj532017. In addition to links... I've attached some printable files for worksheets and games for math and reading. IF you do not have a printer... just ignore them. :) Math: Prodigy is probably the best online math resource to use during this time. It is competitive, engaging, and fun. I've linked our Google Classrooms to Prodigy so I can see what they are up to on there. I've included links to some other math sites as well. Some of them are just really good lesson videos. If you choose those it would be nice to have math problems to work through after watching the video. Here is a website with printable worksheets sorted by math topic. If you don't have a printer... just copy the problems onto paper. This can be a great time to catch up on what you know is a weakness for you in math. If you are terrible at decimals or fractions... use this time to get great! https://www.helpingwithmath.com/by_grade/gr6_worksheets.htm Reading: For reading skills practice, use the 2 links on Google Classroom, commonlit.org and readworks.org. Each day choose one assignment from either site to complete. NOT one from each... just one total. Having a "Library Book" to read... If you are a member of the Public Library check out the Libby and Overdrive apps for free EBooks and Audiobooks. The Audible company has launched a new program and is also offering free audiobooks at this time for students, https://stories.audible.com/start-listen. I've also linked our Google Classroom to EpicBooks www.getepic.com ... so you can login using Google there and read books. If you need it our class code is gsc7416. Vocabulary: Go to Google Classroom in the Classwork section... I will post a new list every week. Use Quizlet to complete the digital versions of what we do together in class, to play with your words on matching and gravity, and test your self at the end of the week. Science: Watch some Science Videos and see what you can learn! http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos.html https://www.generationgenius.com/ https://www.billnye.com/the-science-guy Day in History: Check to see what the day is famous for and read the article to learn more! https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history Creativity: I know these are "childish" but it's fun to learn to draw... so check it out. https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub or you could always grab some paints and watch Bob Ross. :) See below for a daily Lego challenge if you don't enjoy drawing.
This week we will continue working on our Baseball Player Biographical Research Projects. These will be due Friday, Feb 7th. There will be more than enough time in class to complete them! This Friday (yep... extending it by one day) is also our first book report due date of the semester. We will also begin work on Lesson 17 vocabulary list... "therm", "hyper/hypo", and "super/sub"words. Visit Quizlet HERE to practice or see the link below.
I hope everyone had a great 3-day weekend! On Tuesday (1/21), we will be correcting Friday's Author's Purpose assignment, taking the Lesson 14 Vocabulary Quiz, and getting started on Lesson 15. We will continue discussing author's purpose, point of view, and nonfiction text structures. I'm hoping that the extended weekend allowed everyone to rest up so that we can focus in class. I'll be honest, classroom behavior last week was NOT the quality I've come to expect. This was also reflected in the overall grades on the two assignments. Please come to school ready to show self-control and be successful. We will work on the following Lesson 15 words all week for next week's test. ClickHERE to go straight to the list on quizlet.
Below you will find the link to Lesson 14 Vocabulary. This list will be tested on January 21st.
There will be no school on January 20th. The first book report for this semester will be due February 6th.
We kicked this new year off right! We read two stories this week and the class discussions were GREAT and engagement was FABULOUS! Good work, guys! We will have a vocabulary test on Monday, January 13th. The list can be found below. Also, heads-up, no school January 20th.
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break! We will be reading "The Gift of the Magi" and working with it over the next three weeks. Below I've linked a YouTube reading of the classic tale. We will be focusing on Mood/Tone and the Elements of Figurative Language that exist in the story. We will continue with Vocabulary as well. I've linked Lesson 10 below. There will be a test on that list on Monday, December 9th.
Next Book report due...December 12thI hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! I am thankful for your support. You have great kiddos and I enjoy working with them.
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AuthorI have been teaching now for 18 years. After being in Kinder, Pre-K, First, and Third Grades, this will be my 6th year in 6th Grade Reading. My husband, Bruce, teaches high school Algebra and is the head football coach here at Perkins-Tryon. Go Demons! We have three really great boys, Caden (19), Conner (17), and Callen (8), a chocolate lab named Zuzu, and a cat named Wally. Archives
April 2020
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