Lang Arts 6 (Period 4) Assignments

Watch the video

Write a journal entry after watching the video about what this science teacher is trying to explain.

Do you think he makes a good argument?

What persuasive qualities does he use to make his argument? Why is he convincing?

Do you agree with him? Do you think it is important to invest significantly in the environment? Why or why not?

Do you think this is an important topic for people to be aware of? 

Publication Guidelines for Myth

Mythological Character & Story

I will design a mythological character.

I will depict colorfully on the cover of my story this mythological character.

I will attach a myth, an original story in which my mythological character goes on a quest. My writing will reflect strong language arts 6 skills. I will proofread my work and type up a story to be turned in no later than June 2nd.

I will design a trading card (see Magic Cards for ideas) for my mythological person or creature. This card will be affixed to my final project: cover sheet with drawing of creature and title of myth, story (2-3 typed pages), and trading card.

Mythological Character Think Sheet

1. What will my character’s name be?
2. Gender?
3. What will he or she look like?
4. What superhuman powers will he or she have?
5. What tasks & equipment will he or she need to accomplish and gather?
6. How will the story begin, develop, and end?
7. I will include three examples of figurative language in my story.
8. I will include sensory language that evokes our senses.
9. What will the setting of my story be? Place and time…
10. What are some complications that make it more challenging for my character to achieve his or her goal? (And makes it more exciting to read my story?)
11. What is my character’s quest or assignment and to what end? Is he or she saving the world or a person? What is the mission my character must go on to prove himself or herself?

Get a great night's sleep my bumble bees, panda bears, waves, cupcakes, stars and horses! You've been amazing and it has been such an honor to be a part of your education this year. Have a yummy breakfast that includes protein! You are going to rock the test! I'm so proud of all of you (my opt-outs too :)! 

 

Remember that you'll go to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period tomorrow. They are 2 hour blocks! You Raiders are AMAZING and I know you'll do fine. You just try your hardest. It's all anyone can ask of you.

 

Bring a quiet activity to class if possible (a great novel?) The testing atmosphere is maintained right until the bell so should you finish early, you may wish to have a great book to dive in to.

 

<3 Ms. Weiss

Review this document. Very helpful grammar points for testing week!

Please take time to familiarize yourself with practice tests at the following site:

 

 

 

Select 6th grade!

 

Then you want to select the two tests at the top: ELA Practice and ELA Performance Task Practice.

 

Leave the default settings and press "Select" and then "Start"

When You Reach Me

 

Question Set 7: Things You protect- Parting Gifts

 

1. Why does Miranda want to protect Marcus? Who helps her protect Marcus until mom arrives? 

 

2. Why is Marcus surprised to learn that Sal is afraid of him? Why do you think the laughing man is afraid of Marcus, too? 

 

3. Why can't Miranda forget the laughing man? Why does she think may help her? 

 

4. What does Miranda realize about Marcus? Why does she consider him "the magic thread" (p.189)?

 

5. Miranda refers to the time that the laughing man will return as "the year of the burn scale,the year of the dome"(p.189)? 

 

6. What is the significance of Mom's and Richard's gifts?

 

7. Why is the letter that Miranda writes for Marcus a horrible burden? Why is it a letter that most people would not want to receive? 

 

8. How does Miranda react to finding a drawing of an aged Julia?

 

9. Why does Miranda think her relationship with Sal is better now than before? Do you think they will ever be as close as they once were? 

 

10. Why won't Miranda put everything she knows in her letter to Marcus?

 

11. How do you think Marcus will react to Miranda's letter? Why will he risk his life to come back to save Sal? 

When You Reach Me

 

Question set 6: Things in an Elevator- Things That Heal

 

1. Why is Miranda preoccupied with Annemarie's building elevator? 

 

2. Is there a difference between Miranda calling Julia "Swiss Miss" and Annemarie accusing Miranda of stealing Jimmy's bank?

 

3. What does Miranda mean when she says, "Sometimes you never feel meaner than the moment you stop being mean." (p.144)? Have you ever had this feeling?

 

4. How is Miranda changing? How is Julia contributing to Miranda's changes?

 

5. What does Miranda discover when she visits Julia's house?

 

6. Why do you think the author wrote the chapter titled "The Last Note" in a list format? How does this change affect readers? 

 

7. Why does Marcus sob after the accident?

 

8. What is the significance of "Book," "Bag," "Pocket," "Shoe" (p.161)?

 

9. Miranda ties knots as she studies the four notes. What does she conclude? What questions remain? 

 

10. What is Sal's explanation for avoiding Miranda? Do you think his hints about their friendship were enough, or should he have told Miranda exactly how he felt? 

 

11. Prediction: Who is the laughing man? Why is his trip difficult? 

When You Reach Me

 

Question Set 5 - The First Proof/The Second Proof

 

1. Why do you think Colin took two of Jimmy's bread rolls? How could the author of the notes know Colin would take the rolls?

 

2. While visiting Annemarie, Miranda says, "I was miserable, sitting on the edge of her bed in that puddle of meanness" (p.122). What does she mean?

 

3. Why does Miranda give a sandwich to the laughing man? How is her opinion of him changing? 

 

4. Are you surprised by Mom's reaction to Miranda's concern for the laughing man? How is Miranda supposed to distinguish between helping others in need and avoiding strangers for safety reasons?

 

5. Why is Mom afraid to marry Richard even though she loves him? What advice would you give her?

 

6. Why do Miranda and Mom argue about the apartment? Why cant Miranda hug Mom? 

 

7. Why does Jimmy think Julia stole his bank? How does Annemarie feel about is accusation? 

 

8. Does putting the loss of Sal's friendship into perspective make Miranda fell better?

 

9. How does Richard's Christmas gift affect Miranda? Why? 

 

10. Prediction: Why does the laughing man seem familiar to Miranda?

Questions Set 4:

 

Invisible Things - Things That Make No Sense

 

1. Why does Miranda think Jimmy tells Julia to leave the shop?

 

2. What does Mom hope to accomplish by visiting pregnant women in jail? Why?

 

3. What health condition does Annemarie have? What is the result of keeping her health condition a secret? Do you think Julia has the right to tell Miranda personal information about Annemarie?

 

4. Do you think Miranda is a good friend?

 

5. What does the third note say?

 

6. According to Marcus, why doesn't Miranda understand explanations of time travel? How does Marcus explain time travel?

 

7. Marcus hit Sal to see what would happen. What do you think Marcus expected to happen? What kind of person is Marcus?

 

8. Prediction: How will "tesser" apply to Miranda's Christmas?

 

9. Prediction: Why does the laughing man run away from Marcus?

 

When You Reach Me

 

Question Set 3 - Things That Smell - Messy Things

 

1. Is it fair that Jimmy hires Miranda and her friends and then does not pay them with money? 

 

2. Did Mom forget to lock the apartment door? What does she wonder about the incident?

 

3. What is odd about the timing of Miranda finding the first note? What questions does the note raise?

 

4. What does Jimmy do that would have made Mom whack him on the head? Is Jimmy's behavior amusing or inappropriate? What does it tell you about him?

 

5. Should Miranda be embarrassed to bring Annemarie to the apartment? What is Annemarie's reaction?

 

6. What predictions can you make from the second note? How do you think the note's author knew Miranda shared the first note? What might happen if she shares the second note?

 

7. Mom uses a veil as a metaphor for how people are distracted by little things and ignore the big things. Why might Miranda wonder if some people see the big things all the time? how would the world change if people did not wear "veils"?

 

8. Why does Miranda call Julia "Swiss Miss"? What does Jimmy think is the reason for the nickname?

 

9. Miranda and Julia are competing for Annemarie's friendship and are jealous of one another. Whom do you think makes a better friend for Annemarie and why?

 

10. Prediction: What will cause Miranda to stop going to Jimmy's shop?

When You Reach Me

Question Set #2: Things You Wish For - Things You Keep Secret

 

1. Miranda does not miss her nonexistent dad. Do you agree with Miranda that "a person can't miss something she never had" (p.28)?

 

2. What can you infer from Miranda's observations of the kid in the green jacket?

 

3. Why hasn't Miranda paid much attention to the other girls at school? What has she noticed about them? Do you think making friends with Annemarie means Miranda will be okay without Sal?

 

4. What does Miranda mean when she says, "Mustard always makes my lips burn, but I didn't care. It was worth it" (p. 38)?

 

5. Why does Mom need the two weeks left before going on the game show? Do you think Miranda and Richard are doing everything possible to prepare her?

 

6. What reason does Mom give for Mr. Tompkin's class studying buildings every year? Do you think Mr. Tompkin made the right career choice?

 

7. Why is Miranda unaware of the dentist's office at her school? Do you agree that she should not tell Mom about the dentist?

 

8. What does Marcus tell Miranda about time travel? What does he say about common sense? Does what Marcus say make sense to you? 

 

9. Why do you think Marcus does not notice things about people?

 

10. Prediction: What is Richard and Miranda's secret plan for Mom's game show winnings? 

Answer the following questions from the novel When You Reach Me:

When You Reach Me

Question Set #1: Things You Keep in a Box....

 

1. How does the author create suspense in the first chapter? Is that an effective way to begin a novel?

 

 2. Why is the name Miranda important to Mom? Do you think Mom should have chosen that name for her daughter? 

 

 3. Miranda's favorite novel begins, " It was a dark and stormy night" (p.8) and features a main character named Meg. Do you know the title of the novel and who wrote it? Can you summarize the novel?

 

 4. What does Richard mean when he says, "Keys are power" (p.4)? How else are keys important to the story? 

 

 5. For what game show is Mom practicing to become a contestant? How are people helping her practice? Why does Mom need to win?

 

 6. Describe Miranda's relationship with Sal. What does losing Sal mean to Miranda?

 

 7. Why does Miranda think the guy who Mom calls the laughing man is crazy? Why does she pretend not to notice him? 

 

 8. Why hasn't Miranda written the letter she was asked to write?

 

 9. Compare and contrast Mom's rules for living in New York City with Miranda's trick for dealing with someone who frightens her. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

 

 10. Prediction: Why do you think the kid in the green army coat punches Sal?

 

 11. Prediction: Who is writing the notes to Miranda?

Optional extra credit opportunity!

 

Attend Korean Cultural Appreciation Night at the Armstrong Theatre This Thursday evening at 7 PM

 

 

The following work can still be turned in at the very latest by this due date:

Blues Clues Baskerville Clue Booklet (most have turned in already)

Argumentative Essay (most have turned in already - thank you!)

Accelerated Reader - Get your points (You have until March 3 for this one)

StudySync - First 3 stories that were assigned (By March 3 for this one too!)

 

Thank you for being awesome for our Substitute Teacher.

The Argumentative Essay will be due on the 17th of February. Please be sure to follow all publication guidelines! 

 

The introductory paragraph should include the following components:

-a hook that grabs the reader's attention

-some background to help the reader better understand your topic

-a thesis statement

-the roadmap to the rest of your essay (the 3 supporting ideas that prove your thesis true.)

 

The body paragraphs should include the following information:

-a topic sentence

-reasoning for your first supporting idea

-evidence in the way of a quote or a restating

-analysis of your quote

-a concluding sentence

Within this paragraph, or in another paragraph that follows this body paragraph, you should add the "nod to the otherside" by arguing against what those who might disagree with you would say:

-Introduce a counter argument [Example: Some might disagree with the idea that....]

-Answer this counterargument with your own logic or reasoning [Example: However, this does not hold up, or this is incorrect because.... Therefore, ...]

 

The concluding paragraph should include the following:

-Restate the thesis and your 3 supporting ideas

-Add a new dimension to the paper. (I call it "the sum is greater than the parts" piece.) Make the reader care. End strong with powerful expressions of significance.

 

Publication Guidelines:

1 inch margins

14 pt. font size

Title in quotes, not underlined, not bold, not a different font, nor a different font size

Indent paragraphs

Every paragraph is double spaced

arial, times new roman, courier, or helvitica

heading in upper rt corner of paper, single spaced and margins rt:

     Name

     Date

     Per.

     Ms. Weiss - LA6

     Argumentative Writing 

No cover page

 

 

 

 

Questions 1-6 + 8 extended time! Get the questions completed by Friday.

 

I'm attaching the play. Sorry that the pages are turned around a bit.

 

-Ms. Weiss

Clues Booklets for Hound of the Baskervilles will be due on Valentine's Day!

Baskerville Questions 1-6 + 8 from page 655 in the play. Write in complete sentences. Restate the question in your answer or write the question out (but still answer in complete sentences.) Questions are photographed below.

The vocabulary words for the Hound of the Baskervilles are due on Thursday, February 9th. The Booklet with the suspect clues will be due on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. 1)colleague - a professional associate; partner 2) bizarre - strange and unusual 3) surmise- to form an opinion or conclusion without much evidence 3) rational-capable of reasoning 5) deceiption - act of decieving; a lie or a trick 6) implicitly - without doubt or reservation 7) captivating - attractive because of charm or beauty; fascinating 8) evasive - avoiding straight, honest answers; not frank 9) theorize - to form an idea or opinion; guess 10) reproach - to accuse or blame 11) dissuade to persuade someone not to do something; discourage 12) divulge - to make known; reveal 13) ominous - threatening harm or evil 14) accomplice - a person who knowingly helps another in a criminal act 15) exonerate - to declare innocent and free from blame.

Matching Quiz on the following terms: Anecdote, simile, metaphor, personification, symbol, foreshadowing, stanza, rhyme scheme, conflict, omniscient 3rd person point of view, third person limited point of view, first person (I will also check that you have defined these terms, using the glossaries in the different Language Arts textbooks in the classroom...)

1) House of the Scorpion - Have all reading and questions done through and including Chapter 17

2) Personal Narrative Essays are due Friday before Winter Break!

Make sure to use font size 12 or 14 (my eyes get tired!)

Make sure you have 1 inch margins.

Put your title in quotation marks.

Follow all publication guidelines.

Use only font arial, times new roman, or courier

DOUBLE SPACE (this is extremely important!)

No cover sheet.

See attached PowerPoint for complete set of publication guidelines.

Have your rough draft typed up for your personal narrative peer edit! You will want to make it as close to "finished" as possible so that your friend(s) can help perfect it! Don't forget to use the publication guidelines! We need room in between the lines and in the margins to give you comments!

 

Take a look at page 47 in Springboard. That rubric is being used to evaluate you. Look to see how you feel your paper measures up!

 

 

Answer all questions through the end of Chapter 10. We will have lots of time to read and answer questions in class but to keep up you should be reading for 20 minutes per night. If you read slowly it might take you 25 minutes!  -Ms. Weiss

 

Try this out!

Answer all questions to the end of Chapter 7 in your notebook (questions are attached hereto.)

 

House of the Scorpion

Questions for Chapters 1-3 and the vocabulary that corresponds to Ch. 1-7 of House of the Scorpion. That means, yes, that you'll have had to have read to the end of Chapter 3 by the 29th too! 

 

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Weekend waves, cupcakes, and stars!

The House of the Scorpion vocabulary (Ch.1-7) is due tomorrow with the questions for Ch.1-3. 

Ist Trimester AR points will be due on November 18. You will need to have 20 points by then (some of you already have these points.)

 

 

DDC for 23 words from page 2 in our new textbook called Springboard.

 

These are the words from BOTH rectangles in the left column. 

 

The title of this DDC should be UNIT 1 Springboard Vocabulary

 

Let's help Kids with Cancer by donating what we can to the jar for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. I'm so proud of you guys for the generosity you've already shown. In just a couple of days we have close to $50.00. Remember that no donation is too small. It all adds up period 4 and whether we win a party or not, those kids really need some hope, so please don't forget to pack a little extra to put in the jar IF you have it to donate!

See the picture attached and add labels to your web so that you won't have to squeeze up to the front to add labels from the sample on the board. I've taken a picture of the sample so you can add the titles to the sections on your Word Web! Period 5 still needs to get their paper but Periods 3 and 4 have them! Let's make our Parts of Speech Word Webs look awesome for Halloween!

Please consider signing up for the Sketchers Friendship Walk this Sunday, October 23rd. Here is a link to the website:

 

 

This is an important fund-raiser for us! Thanks to those who have already signed up!

 

Stargirl Test -

 

To study, know who the following characters are:

 

Stargirl (Susan), Leo (Narrator), Kevin, Archie, Hillari, Wayne, Dori, Cinnamon, Ron Kovac, Jerri Spinelli (author), Danny Pike, Senor Saguaro, Mr. McShane, Barney, Robineau, Chico, Peter

 

December/January is the time during which Stargirl seems to have transformed the student body at Mica HS into being more independent and accepting.

 

What is the purpose of the jury on the Hot Seat show?

 

What game do Leo and Stargirl play at the mall?

 

What does Stargirl do to learn about what is going on in people's lives?

 

What prank do the students play on Stargirl after they lose the big Basketball game?

 

How does Stargirl finally become popular again towards the end of the novel?

 

What are some of the unusually behaviors that Stargirl does when she first shows up at Mica HS? 

Chapter 13-15 Questions for Stargirl:

 

Please complete the Task A Vocabulary in DDC Chart form for Friday, Sept.30th

 

Dream Room or Favorite Restaurant Essay due Friday

3-5 paragraphs (5 paragraphs is ideal)

Each paragraph should be at least 5 sentences.

 

Use sensory language and descriptive language to bring the space to life for me in your writing. Please follow publication guidelines (see document below.)

 

Your work should be typed. I will accept handwritten work but I will take off 5 points. This assignment is worth 60 points.

 

Please staple your pre-writing activity to the back of your essay.

 

 

Questions for Stargirl Ch. 6-9 Due Friday (Work on lined paper if I have your notebook)

 

DDC for Stargirl vocabulary words Ch. 6-9 Due Friday

 

Task A/Vocabulary:

ferociously

blithely

creodont

proximity

bafflement

confirmation

charade

acclamation

dormant

amorphous

 

Task B/Discussion Questions:

• 1. Why is Hillari insistent that Stargirl not sing to her on her birthday?
• 2. Why does Stargirl still decide to sing "Happy Birthday" using Hillari's name while looking at Leo?
• 3. Describe Archie and his role in Leo, Kevin, and Stargirl's lives.
• 4. Evaluate the advice Archie gives to Leo and Kevin regarding Hot Seat and Stargirl. Is he a good person for the boys to visit?
• 5. Who does Archie think the boys might see if they look at Stargirl long enough?
• 6. Leo offers four possible reasons why Stargirl becomes popular by December. His four suggestions include Stargirl's cheerleading, Hillari Kimble's backlash, Dori Dilson, and the students population. Evaluate each of Leo's potential reasons. Do you agree with any of them? Do you have an idea of your own for why Stargirl suddenly becomes poplar?
• 7. Analyze the irony of the statement, "We honored her by imitation" (p.38). Do you think Stargirl is flattered or offended when people imitate her?

Task C/Supplemental Activities:

• Work on the Foreshadowing Chart.
• Work on the Characterization of Leo Chart.

 

Questions for Stargirl, Chapter 2 

Questions for Stargirl, Chapter 3-5

DDC for Stargirl words from Chapter 3-5 ONLY (Skip Ch. 2 vocabulary)

 

 

Instructions for the DDC - Please take notes in your notebooks...

Ms. Weiss's LA6 Students! Here are the words for the DDC Charts:

 

surfeit (n.) an excessive amount of something, such as food or drink

criticize (v.) to tell someone what you think is wrong with them

amiable (adj.) to be amiable is to be good-natured and friendly

wallop (v.) to hit or strike with a hard blow

mope (v.) to be gloomy, miserable, and not interested in anything

morbid (adj.) an unhealthy or unwholesome quality or feeling

 

 

These instructions are some tips for having great notes in your notebooks. This format will help you all year to find your notes and your assignments quickly. Students who get in the habit of taking notes this way right from the start are more likely to get credit for their work because it will all be easy to find.

 

Hint: EVERYTHING is in chronological order. In other words, everything you do will go in order of when we do it. If you don't finish something, and you need extra time, but we have moved on to something else, then try to leave a little room to finish up.

Please have key supplies that I will go over with you on Tuesday or Wednesday by Friday. I will update this list if it changes. These are all strongly recommended so that you can have a successful year in my class.

 

1a) A general binder with one section for Language Arts 6 and/or Social Studies 6.

1b) College ruled lined paper 

2) A composition notebook, college ruled.

3) Pen (black or blue ink) & red or purple for correcting.

4) Highlighter

5) Colored pencils (10 or 12 colors is fine)

6) Glue stick

6b) Calendar/Planner 

7) LA6 ONLY: Free-Choice Book

 

Recommended but won't be checked:

7) Ruler 

8) White out tape

9) Mini-post-its

10) Kleenex

 

LANGUAGE ARTS 6 ONLY: Please bring a free-choice book, at grade level or better, that you'll enjoy reading during "down-time" to class with you every day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please turn in your course description signature portions by Wednesday :)

Write a paragraph about yourself! Use the instructions from the handout you got in class today. It's also attached here if you need another copy. I can't wait to read about each and every one of you! Students who have me twice in one day need only do the autobiographical paragraph once, by the way.