Can the mystery story finish today?

The White Mountains-the discovery of an automatic wristwatch. "What craftsmen they were."
Punctuating dialogue-one of the great mysteries of grade 6...how to punctuate what's spoken. We spent time acquiring and practicing these skills.
The mystery story process-what about editing? This is a big part of good writing, so time must be left tomorrow for this part of the writing process.

Homework-
1) Finish the writing of the mystery?
2) Study vocabulary words

Mid Week of the Mystery

Writing time-we got in 30 big minutes creating our mystery stories. Wednesday today, so students should be evaluating where they are on their project. Closer to the end than the beginning is the sweet spot.

Journal time-yesterday we'd pushed back our weekly journal entry, so today we got it done. An advantage today was students were able to use the computer if they so wished.

Testing time-2 of our 5 lists of vocabulary words were tested. Results were ok, but I'd hoped for a little better than that. Some need to be studying.
White Mountains time-we took Will, Henry and Jean Paul into one of the great cities of the ancients. They explored an old Metro tunnel and discovered firearms and hand grenades. Firearms and hand grenades? What's with that?

Homework-
1) Move the mystery writing along if enough has not yet been done
2) Study vocabulary words if necessary, and it seems so for many of these sixers

Beginning The Mystery Story

Mystery writing-students began the task that may well last a week. They took their story plan to the lab and began their journey down mystery lane. Friday it will be finished.
The White Mountains-Will and Henry move on toward Romsey to cross the water. The crossing goes ok, but there is a rather serious encounter with multiple tripods moving along the water. Danger...
Vocabulary review-students took turns giving each other review quizzes of our 100 vocabulary words. Major, major final test on Friday.

Homework-
1) Bring journal for in class writing tomorrow.
2) Work more on mystery story if necessary.
3) Study vocabulary words.

After A Long Time...

The White Mountains-we tried to move Will to his runaway moment, but time just got away on us. We'll try this again tomorrow. Will the Tripods find him?
Mystery Story/Chart-each group read their next mystery story and marked the chart in their writer's notebook. By tomorrow we'll have 3 and can begin an analysis that crosses more stories.
Organize for SLC's-papers were put into the binders in an organized fashion. Wednesday will be conference day
Vocabulary Review-a quick review of a portion of the Hot 100. Too much fun.

Homework-
1) Bring journal
2) Write 4 comments, on two boys, two girls from the opposite homeroom
3) Write a comment on the 3 best pics posted for last night's homework
4) Bring a clever crime and motive to begin planning our own mystery story

Progress On Several Fronts

Excel file manipulation-vocabulary words all in an excel spreadsheet. Students got practice manipulating their words, sorting and organizing them into different formats becoming more comfortable with this technology in this format.
Peak-Peak had to deal with being ostracized from the other climbers who'd paid to get to the summit of Everest. True, Peak hadn't paid. How was this to be dealt with?
Personal novel time-time with a book of personal choice is always a good thing.
Vocabulary review-what do those 10 words mean, again? ...and in what context?
Letters by grandparents-printed, submitted letters grandparents may have written in times long past. Writing was one thing, getting them printed and submitted was another.

The Last Week of February Already?

Peak-new informaiton is revealed about Peak's father and Sun Jo's father. What a relationship and tragedy.
Vocabulary review-a quick once over for this week's words, but really most time was spent in the collection of homework revolving around their list of 80 words organized into a spreadsheet. Tomorrow we will manipulate this data, a for real tech skill.
Write letters-instruction was given on how to write an imagined letter from their grandparent to what would be the student's great grand parent. This should include a mix of historical information and family interests.
Library visit with novel reading-Hughes' homeroom missed library book exchange time last week, so today we made a quick trip to replenish reading stocks. It wasn't a long trip, but it was better than none at all.

Homework-
1) submit printed letter from grandparent
2) bring vocabulary excel file
3) bring journals
4) iTunes extra credit try for Everest podcasts

End To A 3 Day Student Week

Vocabulary study-after an 8 minute intensive study with a partner, students took a couple of quizlets. It was pretty amazing how well classmates have moved these words from the unknown to the known. Certainly by the end of next week we'll be into list #9.
Return journal entries-I returned a set of writings that disappointed me. I could not get across to students the finer points of journal writing, the looking inward aspect compared to the telling of an interesting story. They look much the same on paper, but they are fundamentally different. Maybe there is something about the early adolescent mind that makes introspection a stretch.
Letter writing-a fictitious letter from my father to his widowed mother during World War II served as an example of the elements of a personal written correspondence. A mix of news, historical information, is included with information and questions that are particularly personal. Next week we'll compose letters for grandparents, making every effort to get the mix right.
Library visitation-we were able to get to the library for a quick exchange of reading material for the weekend.


Homework-submit printed vocabulary list, all 80 words and definitions.