Sixth Grade Classic Language Arts with Mrs. Jackson
June 2009
Happy Birthday Alison (11) and Noel (19)
"Just when you think everything is finished, THAT will be the beginning."
Vocab test
#3 Wednesday, June 10 opulent-zenith
AUTHOR'S COSTUME HOUR Monday, June 15-Come to class dressed as a character or
author.
Bring a refreshment to share associated and labeled with a work of literature.
TO MY LITTLE WOMEN AND LITTLE MEN:
THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL SCHOOL YEAR. HAVE A HEALTHY, HAPPY SUMMER. I AM SO PROUD
TO BE YOUR TEACHER. Marmee J
"Even his griefs are a joy after to one that remembers all that he wrought and endured."
Homer, The Odyssey
"Do every day or two something for no other reason than you would rather not do it, so that when
the hour of dire need draws nigh, it may find you not unnerved and untrained to stand the test."
William James
NJASK May 11-14 IF YOU ARE USING YOUR OWN CALCULATOR, IT MUST BE TURNED IN, WITH YOUR
NAME ON IT, AND MEMORY CLEARED, TO MRS. JACKSON, BY MONDAY
"The difference between school and life? In school, you`re taught a lesson and then given a test. In
life, you`re given a test that teaches you a lesson." Tom Bodett
HW: Be rested and prepared with extra snacks, water, and reading material!
"Knowledge must come through action; you can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial."
Sophocles
FRIDAY-APRES ASK CELEBRATION-BRING A SNACK TO SHARE
"One story is good, till another is told." Aesop's Fables
Writing Task due Tuesdfay, 5/5/09:
Choose one moral from Aesop's fables. Explain it and apply it to your life in a composition. What
does it mean? What personal experiences have you had? Remember- you can use your imagination.
Have ready to type by Monday: Fable Poem
Have an idea ready next week for your original fable
http://aesop.pangyre.org/morals.html
"Our revels now have ended...."
April 2009
Happy Birthday Sean (10) and Anna E. (18)
Monday 4/6-Impromptu Socratic Circle
Tuesday 4/7-Test The Tempest, Book and Folder collection
Wed/Thurs-scenes from The Tempest
Happy Spring Break Read and Rest
HW 3/31: grammar dog page 19 ex. 10 Acts I, II, III
Due Tuesday 3/31-Choose one of the shipwrecked characters on the island and write a rescue
message from the point of view of that character. Hand in 2 TYPED copies (one in bottle). Include
your prewriting and rubric.
3/23/09
Shakespeare Assessments, thus far:
Sonnets
Socratic Ticket
Socratic Observation
Letters to Miranda or Ferdinand
Work in folders
TUESDAY 3/24/09 HW: Read Act II scene i with Active Reader sheets
What characters are introduced? What do their words and actions tell us about them?
Friday vocabulary test Acts I and II
Vocabulary Acts I and II
abhorred[ab hord] adj. hated
allay[ə la¯] v.to calm
chide[ch ¯d] v.to scold
fen[fen] n.marsh or bog
fortitude[fortə too ¯¯¯d] n.bravery
homage[homij] n.tribute
perfidious[pər fide¯ əs] adj.treacherous
precursors[pri kursərs] n.ones who go before
prerogative[pri roə tiv] n.privilege
.
abominable[ə bomə nəbəl]adj.dreadful
celestial [sə leschəl] adj.heavenly
enmity[enmə te¯]n.hostility
nimble[nimbəl]adj. quick, alert
prate[pra¯t]v.to chatter, gab
spendthrift [spendthrift] n.wasteful spender
trifle [tr fəl] n.insignificant thing
upbraid [up bra¯d] v.to scold
By next Tuesday bring in a clear plastic bottle.
WEDNESDAY 3/25/09 HW: Complete Study Guide Activities for Act II pgs. 18 and 19 1-6
THURSDAY 3/26 Study vocabulary
3/18/09: Due Monday: 1. Which lines in Act I, scene ii do you feel are most important or
memorable?
Why?
How will things go with Ferdinand and Miranda? Will Caliban and Ariel continue to let
Prospero boss them around? What do you think?
2. Write a letter of advice to Miranda (or Ferdinand) about her/his attraction. Are they being too
hasty?
What qualities should she/he look for? How should she/he act?
Classwork due Monday:
I. Do Grammar Dog (Ineth thine folders) USETH THINE GLOSSARIES
DOETH EXCERCISES FOR ACT I ONLY
p. 3 Parts of Speech (REMEMBER, JUST ACT I)
p. 5 Proofreading
p. 7 Sentences
p. 17 1-4
p. 21 1-4
II. Active Reading Study Guide (USE PLAY BOOKS)
Do p. 14 Responding
The Tempest Act I
Personal Response (2)
Do p. 15 Analyzing Literature 1-5 and
Literature and Writing
Character Analysis (USE VENN DIAGRAM IN FOLDERS)
DO NOT DO Extending your Response
Instead, do the following Socratic Ticket (FOR MONDAY)
The Tempest
Socratic Ticket
Name_______________________Date_____________________
1. Do you believe advertisements and commercials place too much emphasis on physical
appearance (beauty, handsomeness, fitness)?
Use examples to support your response.
2. Why do we value physical appearance? Does society
equate physical appearance with personal worth and
goodness? What do you think?
3/17/09: Read The Tempest Act I, scene ii
Be an active reader
Happy Birthday Justin (4), Anna M. (9)
Read and prepare Act I, scene i
We need a magician's hat, a jester's hat, and bandanas.
- Continue to watch Jeopardy when you can
- Continue to read and enjoy your library book
SONNETS DUE MONDAY (typed)
http://homepage.mac.com/cohora/ext/bard.html
http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/_vti_bin/shtml.dll/iampoem.htm
2/20/09
HW
1. Watch Jeopardy (when you can) 7PM channel 6
2. Needed by Monday, March 2: pocket folder with 3 hole fasteners (or small binder with the same)
3. "I Am" poem draft by Monday
"Hullo, my covey, what's the row?"
February, 2009
Happy Birthday Danielle (8), Amber (12), Ben (24)
To be collected Tuesday, 2/17: Marble Copy Book and Oliver Twist novels
Feb. 17-20: Bring a snack to share with movie
Oliver Twist
Enjoy reading at least 3 chapters daily to complete the novel by next Monday, 2/9.
Marble Copy Book will be collected for evaluation. Remaining chapters on your own. Choose your
method of recording your reading.
Test Thursday 2/12
Socratic Circle and Role Play Wednesday 2/11
Movies 2/16 Bring a snack to share
Socratic Ticket
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
1. One theme of the novel is Nature vs. Nurture.
• Do you think that people are naturally good or evil, or are they made good or evil by their
surroundings?
• How do you think Charles Dickens would answer this question? Consider the characters and
cite
from the book when making your decision.
2. Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls
into one of the following seven basic plot structures:
1. Overcoming the Monster
2. Rags to Riches
3. the Quest
4. Voyage and Return
5. Comedy
6. Tragedy
7. Rebirth
• Do you think that Oliver Twist fits into one of these categories? Specifically why or why not?
• If you could stage a version of Oliver Twist in three Acts, what would you name each one?
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
chapters XXIII-XXX questions 1-5 by Monday mcb pgs. 41-42
chapters XXXI-XXXIV questions 6-7 by Tuesday mcb pgs. 43-44
Contributions to the prop box wanted
mcb pages 41-44
By Monday, 2/2
XXIII-XXV:
1. There are many episodes in these sections that tantalize the reader with hints, but don’t tell us all
we want to know. Identify some of these episodes and offer some reasons why Dickens uses this
plot convention.
XXVI+XXVII:
2. The plot thickens. Who is Monks? Who might be the “shadow of a woman” seen by Monks?
Where
is Bill Sikes? What is the fate Oliver Twist chapters XXIII-XXXIV
of our hero, Oliver?
3. What social concerns does Dickens depict in each chapter?
4. Why do you think chapter XXVII can be considered to be comic relief?
XXVIII-XXX:
5. How does the introduction of the new characters advance the plot?
By Tues, 2/4:
XXXI-XXXII:
6. What is the significance of the story Mr. Blathers tells about Conkey Chickweed and Jem Spyers?
How does it function as an element of plot structure?
XXXIII-XXXIV:
7. Another dues ex machina occurs in this installment. What is it? Is it believable or not?
Reading ch. 17-22 by Wednesday, ch. 23-28 by Friday Be an active reader-jot plot-What's
happening with Oliver? Notice examples of irony.
Vocab Test Tuesday
Breakfast and Cribbage on Friday-Bring something to share and dress like you live in Dickens'
England. !!Contributions to a prop box wanted!!
By Monday, January 26, read chapters 13, 14, 15, 16.
Vocabulary( mcb page 31) test Tuesday, 1/27 solicitude-irascible.
Do illustrations, titles, and captions. (mcb pgs. 32 + 33).
Do diary entry #6 (mcb page 34.)
Answer QTP (mcb page 35).
QTP:
1. Obviously, the portrait in Mrs. Bedwin's room contains iimportant clues to our mystery. Whose
picture do you think is shown in the portrait? Does Dickens succeed in building suspense when the
picture is removed from the wall? Why or why not?
2. It can be argued that Mr. Grimwig's name has a symbolic meaning. What might that meaning be?
3. Review the endings of each chapter. Which of the "cliffhangers" do you consider the best?
Friday-reading/working day in class
While reading, remember to play the movie in your head and make predictions!
Read by Tuesday, January 20, chapters IX-XII
Do titles, pictures and captions for each chapter on pages 28 + 29 of marble copy book
Complete diary entries 1-5 (5 on page 30 of mcb)
HAVE A NICE LONG WEEKEND - REMEMBER THE DREAM OF MLK, JR
Happy Birthday
Briar 2
Laura 9
Lauren 24
Kelly, Zach 25
read by Tuesday, JAN 13 ch. 5+6, titles and pictures with captions
read by Thursday, JAN 15ch. 7+8 titles, pictures with captions and diary entries
by Friday, Jan. 8:
Read chapters 1-4
Study the vocabulary-Test Friday
In marble copy book:
Name and illustrate each chapter
Do Oiver's diary entries 1 + 2
Answer the questions to ponder (QTP)
"If you believe your value is in being decorative, one day you may
believe that's all you really are. The workings of the mind are what
make you what you are." Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
Despite the title of the book, men play an important part in the story.
Alcott was ahead of her time in showing that boys and girls could be
friends, and have equitable relationships.
DECEMBER
Happy Birthday, Scott 12/7
WEEK 2 Reading LW chapters 16-29 vocab test WED dawdle-epitaph
Follow up questions to be collected Monday, 12/15
Chapters 16-23
What effect do the letters exchanged between the family members have on the plot?
Compare Amy’s home life to living with Aunt March.
What does the turquoise ring symbolize to Amy?
Use the March girls to illustrate the theme of independence in the story.
List three predictions for Part II of the book.
Chapters 24-29
6. What does the narrator reveal about romance in the novel?
7. How has Laurie changed since part one of the story?
8. What is ironic about the setting of Meg's wedding?
9. What changes in the plot have occurred since Part One?
10. What would you do for your family if a story you wrote won a thousand dollar prize?
Wed. 12/10 Vocab. Test#3 dawdle-epitaph
Thursday/Friday 12/11+12/12 vocab. assessment 4-5-6-7
espousing-peruse--using definitions permitted
*Friday 12/12-SANDWICH BOOK REPORTS DUE
WEEK 3 Reading LW chapters 29-47 Socratic Circle tba
Mon. 12/15 gingerbread house ingredients due (listed below)
Wed. 12/17 Vocab. Test #8 precocious-shrill
Thurs. 12/18 Gingerbread House Writing Task due (directions below)
Gingerbread Houses
Happy Birthday Ryan and Mrs. Jackson!
WEEK 4 Mon. 12/22 LW MOVIE!
Tues. 12/23 Vocab. Test #9 slough-zeal
Little Women Test
Congratulations, you have completed half of your rigorous sixth grade
program with flying colors. HAPPY, HEALTHY WINTER BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gingerbread House Project
Please bring the following to class on
Monday, Dec. 15:
• 1 can of vanilla frosting/icing
• 1 box of non-sugared graham crackers
• 1 bag of candy to share (for example- m and ms, peppermints, candy canes, gum drops,
kisses,
sprinkles, cake decorations, lifesavers, licorice, etc.)
• 1 plastic shopping bag
Please place your items in a large brown shopping bag with your name on it.
Holiday Writing Task
Choose One:
1. Write a process paper:
“How to Build a Gingerbread House”
Don’t forget attention grabber and final zinger. Use step by step details.
2. Write a work of fiction:
A story that takes place in
Gingerbread Land.
It can be a mystery, fairy tale, science fiction, or other. Use description, imagery, figurative language.
3. Write a persuasive letter to the Principal:
Tell why we should or shouldn’t make gingerbread houses in the classroom.
State and support at least three good reasons.
• final copy due 12/18/08 in order to make houses on Friday, 12/19
Do your best work.
Essay-Choose ONE due Wed. 11/26-final copy- 5 paragraph minimum
Quote directly from the book
ESSAY QUESTIONS below
SANDWICH BOOK REPORT AND LIBRARY BOOKS DUE 12/12
The Red Pony will be collected Wednesday
Wednesday half day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
PROJECTS GO HOME FRIDAY 12/5
How does Steinbeck use nature and the seasons to complement the action of the stories?
In what ways does Jody mature over the course of the four stories?
What details make the novel valuable for learning about the people who lived in Southern California
in
the 1930’s?
What is the relationship between Jody and his father? Between Jody and Billy Buck? How do the
three
interact as a unit?
How does Steinbeck make use of symbols? Name some key symbols and describe their meaning.
Most of the novel takes place within the bounds of the farm. What is significant about the action
that
takes place away from the farm?
