Parents: Your help is needed!

The 6th grade literacy teachers have planned a fantastic experience for your children.  Our focus this quarter is on immigration and how our various heritages define us as a nation.   The teachers are planning a parent night where students will be able to showcase their work.  Part of this night will be a living museum about Ellis Island, the immigration entry point of the east coast for many years.  If you have family history that might be pertinent to this study, I would love for you to share with our students.  In fact, any family history related to immigration into the United States is of interest.  We always welcome guest speakers.  I would also love to assign your child a part in the museum that will bring them closer to their own heritage and family history.  If your child is a speaker during the museum, they will need to wear clothing that is compatible with the time period that the immigration station was open, 1892-1954.  Some other things you could assist with include supervising children during various preparations for this night.  We will need several parents to volunteer during the actual parent night (date to be announced soon), and we could use some donations of lemonade, coffee, and cookies.  A parent letter with a checklist and survey will be coming home soon in Tuesday folders.  Thank you for all you do to help our students and our school be successful and fun!

Sincerely,
Duanna Youngblood

Where I'm From

This quarter is focusing on heritage.  The students have a homework assignment tonight to write down somethings about their own heritage.  Examples of this go beyond the countries our ancestors came from.  I'd really like for the students to look at their family traditions, family quotes, things passed down, and other examples of how they became who they are. 

Parents, what are some of your favorite traditions that you enjoy sharing with your child.  This is YOUR homework.  I'd like to share what you write with the kids.  It will be interesting for me to read some of what you share to see how many students relate to those same traditions.

Let's Write About It!

The students received a writing assignment today.  Ask your kids what they are writing about.  They told me some of their ideas today, and they were so creative!  The students should be excited to tell you their great plans.

Ann Rinaldi - Historical Fiction Author

I have read the three following books and HIGHLY recommend them!

"The Coffin Quilt:  The Fued Betweenthe Hatfields and McCoys" 

Young Fanny McCoy lives in the shadow of violence. Her late-1800s West Virginia^-Kentucky community is the hotbed of the infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud that has inflamed her family with fear and suspicion and set off killing rampages. When Fannys older sister, Ro, elopes with Johnse Hatfield, the stage is set for escalating hatred and tragic results. The roots of the vitriolic conflict stem from the Civil War days, with insult upon injury following until the why of the conflict no longer seems to make sense.

"Or Give Me Death" 

Patrick Henry traveled through the American colonies, advocating independence from the British. But at Henrys plantation in Virginia, his family faces a challenge of their own when Sarah, Henrys wife, becomes mentally ill and tries killing her infant son. Knowing her mother is a danger to herself and the family, Sarahs oldest daughter Patsy confines Sarah to the cellar.

Nine Days a Queen

Jane, related to the Tudors through her mother, becomes third in line to the throne following the death of her cousin, King Edward. Unfortunately, Jane is betrothed to the son of a nobleman who is determined to keep Mary, who is Catholic, from assuming the throne. Finagling puts Jane on the throne for nine days--after which she is beheaded.

Homework

How's is going at home?  I'd like to hear how much time the students are spending on homework.  The common core curriculum is quite intense compared to our state standards.  The kids are going to be so much further ahead than in previous years.  I'm seeing great thinking skills in the classroom and hope you are seeing this at home as well.  Although the curriculum is challenging, I hope students are enjoying their involvement with the text they are reading.  Parents, are you seeing this?  Have the students been discussing "Touching Spirit Bear" or "Secrets of the Spirit Bear?"

Non-fiction Reading

The second quarter of school is going to focus more heavily on non-fiction reading.  What kinds of topics interest you?  I see kids that love to read about animals (me too!) and some that enjoy reading about cars, tanks, and planes.  I am an old map geek too.  Every time a fiction book sports a map at the beginning, I am pouring over it.

What to read?

I'm seeing some renewed interest in Harry Potter.  I LOVE THAT SERIES!!!  I also found a biography of J.K. Rowling.  Are you guys biography readers?  What's the latest and greatest that you have been reading?

"Touching Spirit Bear"

"Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen is the novel study we are currently reading in class and at home.  This book is about a 15 year old boy who is a really BAD kid.  He is a bully.  He doesn't take responsibility for his own actions or words, and he is not really even a decent human being.  This book has brought about some interesting conversations in our classes.  Please feel free to talk about this book with your children and take the opportunity to discuss value systems that are important to your family.  I am very pleased to see the students being outspoken about their ideas of good behavior and the morals they have and expect from each other!  Your children are 100% delightful!

Common Core Standards

Parents:
If you will look at the tab on the right side of this blog, you will find access to the common core standards that you child will be exploring over the next school year.  I am so excited to see this change come about.  In the past our state favored a linear list of standards that we barely had time to cover throughout the year.  With the new standards you will see a great difference how we roll.  :)  We are covering less skills, but the students will be expected to learn them a deeper levels.  Instead of that linear list of standards, you will see a cycle of standards where we learn new skills and then cycle through them several times through the year seeking deeper levels of understanding.  I fully expect every student and parent to be amazed at the critical thinking skills we will be developing this year.  Feel free to use the CC Tab to explore any grade/subject level.

Summer Fun - extended

Need more ideas for summer family fun that stimulates the mind?  Try:


cook something, make homemade ice cream sandwiches, build a tree house, go window shopping, make jewelry, invent a game (and attempt to market it), build a garden and reap the rewards, wash the car, perform a random act of kindness for a neighbor and keep it a secret, make sock puppets, write a story, ride bikes, play charades, play board games, work a jigsaw puzzle, go canoeing.  


Then comment and share some of your favorite activities!  

Summer Fun

To the parents:  Summer fun is right around the corner.  It is easy for 3 months to pass in a haze of video games.  Want some ideas to keep your child mentally prepared for seventh grade?  How about visiting the library?  Encourage your child to read a book this summer.  Another great family fun idea is to visit our area museums.  There are many that provide free admittance, and they are chock full of new and exciting adventures.  What do you think about having family outings?  Our area is blessed with many well-kept and safe parks that support playgrounds, hiking trails, and picnic friendly pavilions.  There are even several water parks in Northwest Arkansas that offer fun for all ages.  You might even want to tour our local points of interest in history.  The Pea Ridge Battlefield Park and Prairie Grove Battlefield Park are wonderful places to visit.  We even have a few civil war caves in the area.  You might want to check out our local city cemetery.  You will be amazed at how many famous people are buried there.  What's the main idea here?  Use this summer to learn new things and stretch young minds!  There are many exciting adventures within a few minutes to a few hours reach.