BOOK FOR JANUARY ALL GRADES

This book will be required for all grades for the month of January.

This book should be in the classroom by January 12, 2009.

You may get this book at Barnes and Noble - or your local library

(21 copies available) PLAN EARLY!

Yes We Can

Author: Garen Thomas

Adopt Mrs. Roberts' Classroom!

Dear Parents,

You have the opportunity to adopt my classroom! You have the opportunity to make a donation on line and I can shop through a website that has all types of classroom supplies! Please see the link at the top of my blog entitled"Adopt Mrs. Roberts Classroom" or please go to:

http://www.adoptaclassroom.org/adoption/Locator_Adopt_Donate.aspx?ClassroomID=95840&schoolID=131523

For the month of December - Office Max is matching up to $25.00! That's FREE MONEY!

Thank you to Ms. Lawanda Holliman my very first contributor!

Break Assignments

All grade levels have CRCT prep packets. They are due back the first day in class.

The following are the assignments per grade level.

5th grade GIRLS:

Finish Journey Between Worlds

Journey Project

5th grade BOYS:

Finish reading Replay

Diorama Replay Project

6th grade GIRLS:

HUSH project

6th grade BOYS:

CAY Project

7th grade BOYS:

Finish reading IYCS

IYCS project

7th grade GIRLS:

Read Romiette and Julio to page 207

Finish Copper SUN Newspaper Project

Have a wonderful break!

CRCT Prep Packets -- All Grade Levels!

Students will receive this week CRCT prep packets to complete over holiday break. These packets are to be completed and turned in on the first day after the break, we will go through each and every question together. These packets will count as two test grades and it is essential that they be completed.

Starting in January, I will issue usernames and passwords for the online CRCT testing system. I will create tests for your students to take and they will be able to see their scores and what they got wrong and how they can correct their mistakes. IF your student doesn't have internet capability at home, I will ensure they have time at school to take the test.

For extra credit, I'm giving all students the opportunity to read a NEW book over the holiday break and complete the book report form.

Please take this time over the holiday season to restock on supplies and reorganize notebooks. The key to success is organization!

Please feel free to email or call if you have any questions. If you haven't had a parent conference, please schedule one as soon as possible. I would like to meet with each and every one of you.

Thank you for your support! Have a blessed holiday season.

Introduction: MAIN IDEA!

This week we were introduced to how to identify and determine the "Main Idea" in reading passages. This will correlate with the writing unit in Ms. Byron's class. Students watched a Brain Pop movie, took notes on a Power Point presentation, and worked on related worksheets and activities on Main Idea.

Main Idea - is the big picture or the main point the passage is trying to come across.

5th grade BOYS:
Main Idea worksheets
Reading Replay
Read Chapter One of Shadowman

5th GIRLS:
Main Idea Worksheets
Finish TUCK this weekend.
Don't forget Breakfast items and book for BOOK SWAP - on WEDNESDAY.

6th grade BOYS:
Quiz on CAY 2 -11

6th grade GIRLS:
Finish HUSH.

7th grade BOYS:

7th grade GIRLS:
Work on Copper Sun project.

Week of 12/1 - 12/5

Hello Parents -

We are concluding our figurative language unit! This week we will read short plays and poetry. I'm very excited, this should be very fun and exciting for the students.

To conclude the following in class projects will be completed.

5th grade:
Poet Mobiles

6th grade:
Poetry Pages

7th grade:
Poetry Journals


HOMEWORK:
5th BOYS:
Worksheet
Read Replay 71-90
Create Freestyle Poem

6th GRADE:
GIRLS:
Finish Draft of Poem for Poetry Page.
Read HUSH 9, 10

7th GRADE:
GIRLS:
Start Poetry Journals - DUE FRIDAY.
Continue to work on Copper Sun Project

BOYS:
Finish Poems.
Journals due on Friday.

Needed: Wire Paper Hangers!

Parents,

I'm in need of wire hangers with paper (no writing on paper) around them for class projects! Please send as many as you can!

Thanks - Mrs. Roberts

Homework for 11/24 -11/28 Thanksgiving Break Assignments!

ALL GRADES Extra Credit:
Three Journal Entries about your Thanksgiving Experience
At least Two paragraphs long.


5th grade Homework:
Girls:
"Journey to Mars" Read 43 -54
Study for Quiz on Part ONE (Earth)
Worksheet,
"Tuck Everlasting" Read 31-49.

Boys:
Thanksgiving Break -
Read Replay pages 32-70
Study for a quiz on Replay.
Two Worksheets (Comprehension)


6th grade Homework:
Girls:
HUSH Read 4-7
Write Evie a letter telling her how you would cope/adjust in her situation.
Letter must be FIVE paragraphs...
Quiz on Hush 1-7

BOYS:
Finish Worksheet on chapters 1-6
Read Chapters 6-9 CAY
Quiz on Monday
Read (2 nd Mrs. ) 7-21

7th grade Homework:
GIRLS:
Complete all first draft articles for newspaper
Complete all Copper Sun activities.

BOYS:
Complete all Forged by Fire activities.
Persuasive Paper and Poems.

7th grade GIRLS PROJECT CHECKLIST

NEEDED: Supplies, Supplies, Supplies

Parents,

I know we are all on a very tight budget- we are rapidly running low on various supplies - if you have it to spare I will take all donations especially of the following:

Computer Paper
Dry Erase Markers
Paper Towels
Facial Tissue
**An electronic pencil sharper DESPERATE

Again, thank you for your continued support!

Mrs. Roberts

Junior Beta Club Applications DUE 11/25 @ 2:00

All applications are due on November 25, 2008 at 2:00 PM. There will be a box in the Media Center. Parents and students can contact Ms. Hall via phone (678-904-9137 ext. 122) or email with questions.

UPDATED! Weeks of 11/17 - 11/25

Happy Monday to ALL!

This week after the test on Figurative Language we will move into the other aspects of figurative language such as dialogue, dialect, readers theater and poetry. This unit is fun and exciting. I will update the blog this week after testing the specific activities your child is completing in class.

Students started on Wednesday writing their own poems. They have a format to follow. Homework is as follows:

5th BOYS: Complete "Wind" poem. Read to page 15 in Replay - work on projects due 11/25
5th GIRLS: Create poem - follow format. Create an illustration to match - read in Tuck Everlasting 10 -30 - Complete Worksheet.


7th GIRLS: Poems on based on their own subjects - poems must be written in black ink or typed and must be accompanied with an illustration. Girls: Finish Copper Sun - BOYS: Read chapter 1-2 of IYCS


Reading update:

All grade levels should have their NEW class novels - please see the blog if you need the title and author of your child's novels - remember you can always use the library! I did!

Test on Figurative Language - next week

Test on Figurative Language

5th grade BOYS: Monday
5th grade GIRLS: Tuesday

6th grade BOYS: Tuesday
6th grade GIRLS: Tuesday

7th grade BOYS: Monday
7th grade GIRLS: Monday

MYP's CUT HUNGER -- FOOD DRIVE!

MYP Students!!

We need you to make a difference in the lives of families and especially children this month.

Did you know that 20% of children in Georgia live in poverty? More than 1,000,000 children don't have enough to eat at some point each month!

We can help!

Mrs. Roberts is collecting can foods and non perishable items to give to the

Atlanta Community Food Bank!

Let's make a difference for others.... Collecting items until 11/30.

Visit them at www.ACFB.org

6TH GRADE GIRLS PROJECTS DUE 11/18 & 11/24

7th GRADE BOYS PROJECTS 11/13 & 11/21

WILLIWAW PAPER PROJECT - DUE THURSDAY 13TH

FORGED BY FIRE COLLAGE PROJECT - DUE - 11/21

EXTRA CREDIT -- 10 POINTS

Students,
Have your parents sign your figurative language notes and I will add 10 extra points to your lowest grade! I must see it by 11/12/08 to receive credit.

Mrs. Roberts

PROJECT - 5TH GRADE BOYS DUE 11/25!

Guns for General Washington Novel Project - DUE 11/25! (NO EXTENSIONS)

This project is to correlate with the reading of our class novel Guns for General Washington, please follow the directions and have FUN.


Questions? Please see Mrs. Roberts BEFORE the due date!

Materials:
Tri fold board --- a requirement!
Construction Paper
Border/Creative Materials
Markers/Crayons
Glue


Categories:
Must have title of book in the center of TRI –FOLD BOARD.

Timeline of major events in the book – list the important dates that are associated with the major characters of the book.

Synopsis of the BOOK – Summary of the story of the book.

Characters of the Story – List the main characters of the story /complete character sketches.

Setting of the Story – Write a summary of the settings of the story and include a maps and pictures.

Guns for General Washington Collage – middle of the tri -fold board
(pictures and words that you associate with the novel)

Week of 11/3 - 11/8 --UPDATE

This week will start the figurative language unit for all grade levels. There are seven elements of figurative language:

simile
metaphor
idiom
hyperbole
personification
onomatopoeia
alliteration

GPS STANDARDS:
ELAR51
ELAR61 a. b.
ELAR71 h.

Students should know the definitions and should be able to create examples for each element. 6th / 7th graders should be able to identify figurative language in literature and use them in their writing.

5th grade homework:
Worksheet
Create 2 examples of each element

6th grade homework:
Worksheet
Create 3 examples of each element
Create artistic examples of elements

7th grade homework:
Worksheet
Create 5 examples of each element
BOYS- Book Report due next Thursday 11/13
BOYS- Project due 11/21


Reading Assignments:
5th grade girls - Project due 11/6
5th grade boys - finish GW by Friday.

6th grade girls: Complete ER by Thursday 11/14
6th grade boys:Escaping the Great Wave Finished by Tuesday

7th grade girls: Copper Sun 126 -146 by Wednesday
7th grade boys: Williwaw finished by Wednesday

MYP November Novels

MYP ROBERTS READING NOVEL ANNOUNCEMENT:

**I will still be providing another classroom novel - this announcement is about the second novel. **

November is almost here and we are ready to start our new class novels. As promised, I will collect monies for the one that must be purchased. For a flat fee of $10.00 I will go and purchase your novels for your students. You may still purchase your own novels online or at Barnes and Noble or you may visit your local library. Remember the novel is a requirement. If you want me to purchase your novel you must have your money to me by October 31, 2008.

Please have your student’s novel in class by November 5, 2008. If you are having difficulty purchasing your novel, please email me or see me. Please visit the Barnes & Noble either on Moreland (next to the new Target) or Camp Creek, I have called and requested that they order additional books to have adequate inventory for you.

5th grade GIRLS:
TUCK EVERLASTING by Natalie Babbitt


5th grade BOYS:
REPLAY by Sharon Creech


6th grade GIRLS:
HUSH by Jacqueline Woodson


6th grade BOYS:
THE CAY by Theodore Taylor


7th grade GIRLS:
ROMIETTE AND JULIO by Sharon Draper


7th grade BOYS:
IF YOU COME SOFTLY by Jacqueline Woodson

I will send home a notice on 10/24 with students for parents to sign a permission slip to include with the novel fee.

Week of October 10/20 - 10/24 Review/Makeup Week

I hope you had a restful break! This week due to the amended schedule will serve as a review of Story Elements and Author's Purpose. Students will have the opportunity to make up any missing assignments. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions! Have a great week!

FALL BREAK ASSIGNMENTS!!!

Parents and Students,

Please enjoy your break - the following assignments are to be completed over the break.

** 5th grade BOYS /GIRLS are encouraged to keep a journal of their experiences on the Jekyll Island Trip. **

5th grade BOYS:

Read Chapters 9-10 of GW
Read Chapter ONE of Skeleton Man ONLY. Write a short, scary story.
** BONUS** Research the American Revolution and provide five facts of the war upon your return ** 20 BONUS POINTS!!


5th grade GIRLS:

Read Chapters 1 - 3 of Heaven.
Write a short letter to a friend that you haven't talked to or seen in a period of time.
Sacagawea Chapters
Start working on your Sacagawea project that is due on Oct31st.


6th grade GIRLS:
Complete the Esperanza Rising study guide.
Read 1-5 chapters of Standing Against the Wind...

6th grade BOYS:
Read 1 -5 Taking Sides


7th grade GIRLS:
Read the first ten chapters of COPPER SUN.
Answer the following:
1. The very first page, just before chapter one, tells of a slave sale and how it must feel to be fifteen years old, stripped naked, and standing on the auction block. Describe the feelings and fears of the girl being sold. What predictions can the reader make about the girl and the rest of the story?

2. As you first meet Amari, even though she lives in the Africa over two hundred years ago, how is she like many fifteen-year-old girls today? How is she different? What strengths do you find in her family and home life? What negatives do you observe?



7th grade BOYS:
Read first five chapters of "Forged By Fire"

Answer the following questions:

What is the effect of seeing the events of chapter one develop through the eyes of a child? How does this method of telling the story affect the reader's response?

At the end of chapter one, what assumptions or predictions might be made about Gerald? His future? His mother?

Would those predictions be the same if chapter one is read only as a short story that ends with Gerald, curled up behind the sofa, and seeing "colors with his eyes closed?"

Novel Inventory UPDATE! or Where can I find my novels?

Parents,

DEADLINE EXTENSION -- PLEASE TRY TO HAVE NOVELS IN CLASS BY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK!

Thank you for being so patient with me in the search for novels- next month I promise a new and improved process that will allow you to pay me and I will or a parent volunteer will pick them up! I have called both stores - please see the Manager on Duty or the Community Relations Manager for any questions.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

**REMEMBER MOST OF THESE TITLES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL LIBRARIES!


As of today the following B&N's HAVE copies:

Key: CC - Camp Creek --- M for Moreland

5th grade GIRLS:** Heaven by Angela Johnson
CC -3I N STOCK (10 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M - 2 IN STOCK (5 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)

5th grade BOYS:** Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac
CURRENTLY NO STOCK
CC -10 (ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M - 5 (ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)

6th grade GIRLS:** Standing Against the Wind, Traci L. Jones
CC - 0 IN STOCK (10 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M - 3 IN STOCK (5 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)

6th grade BOYS:** Taking Sides by Gary Soto
CC- 2 IN STOCK (10 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M - 4 IN STOCK (5 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)


7th grade GIRLS:** Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
CC - 0 IN STOCK(10 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M -1 IN STOCK (5 ON ORDER IN 3-4 DAYS)

7th grade BOYS:Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper
CC-2 IN STOCK (10 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)
M - 3 IN STOCK(5 ON ORDER DUE IN 3-4 DAYS)

FALL MYP BOOK FAIR OCTOBER 27 - 31

PARENTS,

PLEASE COME SUPPORT OUR FIRST MYP BOOK FAIR!

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR EACH DAY TO SELL AND COLLECT MONIES FROM THE BOOK FAIR! Interested? Please email me at: Dana.Roberts@Imagineschools.com

We will have several high interest titles to choose from - across all genres of literature. This helps support the purchase of class novels and novels for the media center.

October 27 - 31st in the Media Center

Thank you for your support!

MYP Homework WEEK OF Sept 29TH

5th grade GIRLS:
Project Due Thursday
Authors Purpose Worksheet
Sacagawea Reading:
1-7 (chapters)
VOCAB

5th Project Due BOYS:
Project Due Wednesday
Authors Purpose Worksheet
General Washington 1-3 (chapters) Wed
VOCAB

6th grade GIRLS:
Project Due 10/6
Authors Purpose Worksheet ER reading 1-22 Tues
ER reading 28 - 38 Thurs
VOCAB

6th grade BOYS:
Project Due 10/6
Authors Purpose Worksheet
EGW reading 1-2 Tues
EGW reading 4-5 Thur
VOCAB

7th grade BOYS:
Authors Purpose Worksheet Authors Purpose Paragraphs
Williawaw 1 -2
Williawaw 4-5

7th grade GIRLS:
Authors Purpose Worksheet
Authors Purpose Paragraphs
JOT 1 -3 CHAPTERS
JOT 5-6

Week of September 29th -- AUTHOR'S PURPOSE

All grade levels will be working on Author's Purpose. Writer's have several different reasons for writing:

• To Inform
• To Explain
• To Describe
• To Entertain
• To Persuade

We will address how to recognize/identify the author's purpose in different literary works.

GPS Standards:

ELAW5W1-4

ELAR6C2

ELA7RC1,2,4

PROGRESS REPORTS 9-26-08

Progress reports go home on 9/26/08. Please have your student return the signed report on MONDAY!

CALL FOR BOOKS!

CALL FOR BOOKS!! Please parents I'm begging here.... I need your discarded books. I cleaned out my daughters library and found 7 books for classroom checkout! THE CLASSROOM LIBRARY BENEFITS ALL STUDENTS...

1.00 MAKES A DIFFERENCE - YES... Please visit www.townsendpress.com they sell books for 1.00 !!! Please consider donating classic books and the BLUEFORD series books... My students LOVE them! Did I mention they ship for FREE!

MYP Homework Week of Sept. 22

5th grade GIRLS:
Worksheet
Finish reading Money Hungry

5th grade BOYS:
Worksheet
Finish reading Blood is Thicker

6th grade GIRLS:
Finish reading Money Hungry
Worksheet

6th grade BOYS:
Finish reading Blood is Thicker
Worksheet

7th grade BOYS:
Finish reading Blood is Thicker
Worksheet

7th grade GIRLS:
Finish reading Money Hungry
Worksheet

MYP Readers! Week of Sept 22 - 26

This week will serve as a review for story elements, vocabulary words that we have had thus far and we will finish our novels. Students will complete all activities and rough drafts associated with their short stories read in class.

GPS Standards: http://www.georgiastandards.org/
ELA5R1 (a) (f)
ELA6R1 (e) (d)
ELA7R1 (b)

ANNOUNCEMENT:
October is here and we are ready to start our new class novels, this month we will read TWO novels, one novel I will provide and the other must be purchased. Please have your student’s novel in class by October 3, 2008. If you are having difficulty purchasing your novel, please email me or see me. Please visit the Barnes & Noble either on Moreland (next to the new Target) or Camp Creek, I have called and requested that they order additional books to have adequate inventory for you.

** Indicates the novel that I will provide.

5th grade GIRLS:
** Sacagawea: Girl of the Shining Mountains
Heaven by Angela Johnson

5th grade BOYS:
** Guns for General Washington
Skeleton Man by Joseph Bruchac,

6th grade GIRLS:
** Esperanza Rising
Standing Against the Wind, Traci L. Jones

6th grade BOYS:
** Escaping the Giant Wave
Taking Sides by Gary Soto

7th grade GIRLS:
** Journey to Topaz
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

7th grade BOYS:
** Williawaw
Forged by Fire by Sharon Draper