eBooks

Students are welcome to bring electronic devices to school to read on, excluding phone - students may not read on their phones. 

I emphasize the reading part.  Reading is the ONLY thing students are allowed to do on their electronic devices from home.  If students are caught doing anything other than reading they will be asked to keep their electronic devise at home and I will notify you by email.  The kids know, 1 strike and they are out – no second chances.  That being said, eReaders are a wonderful resource and I encourage kids to make use of them if they own one!

Here are a few ways to get a hold of free books for your child's electronic reading devise:

1.  Scholastic offers several eBooks through Storia.  I believe you receive 5 free books the first time you order.  They also offer a free eBook each month.  You may order online at the following website  http://store.scholastic.com/landing-page/landingpage/storia/shop-ebooks

2.  The SJSD offers a free digital library.  Students may check out books for their electronic devices.  They will need their student # to do this (most of the kids know their numbers by heart, feel free to email me if you need their number though).  The password for every student is books.  You may check out our district's digital library at the following site http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/domain/3409
You will notice 3 icons at the bottom of the scene. The first is Follet shelf – follow that link for eBooks.  The second is catalyst – follow that link for audio books.  The third is AML – follow that link for research resources. 

3.  The St. Joseph public libraries offer free digital check-outs as well.  You will need the number from your library card to check out an eBook.  http://www.molib2go.org/

Book Club

Book clubs will meet each Friday for a month.  Students vote for books they would like to read and are assigned to a club based on their interest and book availability.  Clubs meet for one month and students are expected to complete their book during that time.  Students do most of the required reading on their own although they follow a reading schedule created by themselves and their club members.  (Reading schedules are recorded on Monthly Assignment Calendars and should be located at the front of your kiddo's binder.)  When monthly book clubs are complete, we start the process all over with new clubs and new books.  Book clubs will continue throughout he school year.

Titles read for book club count towards each child's 40 Book Genre Requirement and make reading even more fun! Friday book club meetings involve group discussions as well as activities.  Talking about parts of the text and encountering the text with a wide variety of experiences enhances students' comprehension, making book club a great avenue for reading instruction.

Talk to your child about his or her book club today!!!

We Love Book Club!!!!

Pictures and explanation coming soon.  :)

Homeroom Pics

40 Book Requirement :)

All 6th graders will be required to complete 40 books this school year.  Students must read a minimum amount of books in each genre to complete the requirement.  Sixth graders should begin working towards their 40 book requirement today and continue working towards it all year long.

I will give the students independent reading time EVERY day in class.  Reading at home will be very important as well.  Please encourage your child to read an average of 20 minutes each school night.

Your child will keep track of their 40 book requirement progress in the his/her binder (behind the reading tab).  Please ask your child about the 40 book requirement today!

40 Book Requirement

Poetry anthologies 4

Traditional literature 3

Realistic Fiction 4

Historical fiction 2

Fantasy 4

Science fiction 3

Mystery 2

Informational 4

Biography, autobiography, memoir 2

Picture book 3

Graphic Novel2

Magazine 1

Audio Book (1 of the 40 books needs to be an Audio book)

Chapter-book free choice 6

Wonderful First Day!!!!!

We had a wonderful first day in sixth grade!  I am looking forward to getting to know all 67 sixth graders this year!!  Parents please feel free to email me with any questions or concerns you may have [hollie.mcodwell@sjsd.k12.mo.us].  And please check out this website often; I will be updating it with new information frequently. 

So Excited!!!!!

I'm so excited for another school year to begin!!!! Mrs. Washburn, Mrs. Kennon, and I are looking forward to meeting all of our new 6th grade students.  Please join us at Back to School Night on Thursday, August 14th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM at Ellison.  Hope to see you there.  :)

Photos Needed

6th Grade Slideshow

Mrs. Farr will be making a memory slideshow of the entire 6th grade class to show at the 6th grade reception.  Parents will receive a DVD of the finished product.  Please send photos to school by Friday, February 1st.

Each 6th grader will need 2 pictures – one as a baby or toddler and one current picture.  In addition if you have photos of other Ellison activities through the years you may send those as well.  Examples include:  school programs, field trips, talent show, room parties, play day, etc. 

All photos will be returned.  Please put your child's name on the back of all photos.  Photos should not be larger than 5x7.  Contact Linda Stewart for more information.

eBooks

Students are welcome to bring electronic devices to school to read on, excluding phone - students may not read on their phones. 

I emphasize the reading part.  Reading is the ONLY thing students are allowed to do on their electronic devices from home.  If students are caught doing anything other than reading they will be asked to keep their electronic devise at home and I will notify you by email.  The kids know, 1 strike and they are out – no second chances.  That being said, eReaders are a wonderful resource and I encourage kids to make use of them if they own one!

Here are a few ways to get a hold of free books for your child's electronic reading devise:

1.  Scholastic offers several eBooks through Storia.  I believe you receive 5 free books the first time you order.  They also offer a free eBook each month.  You may order online at the following website  http://store.scholastic.com/landing-page/landingpage/storia/shop-ebooks

2.  The SJSD offers a free digital library.  Students may check out books for their electronic devices.  They will need their student # to do this (most of the kids know their numbers by heart, feel free to email me if you need their number though).  The password for every student is books.  You may check out our district's digital library at the following site http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/domain/3409
You will notice 3 icons at the bottom of the scene. The first is Follet shelf – follow that link for eBooks.  The second is catalyst – follow that link for audio books.  The third is AML – follow that link for research resources. 

3.  The St. Joseph public libraries offer free digital check-outs as well.  You will need the number from your library card to check out an eBook.  http://www.molib2go.org/

Reading Response Letters - Something New :)

1/9/13

Dear 6^th Graders,

We are going to do response letters differently this semester.  You will still be writing 1 response letter a week.  Your letters will need to include the same key points as they have all year.  You will continue to turn your notebook in every other week.  Your notebooks will be due on the same day they have been due all year.  You may be wondering, if all those things are staying the same, what is actually changing???  Well, I’m about to tell you.

         Each month you will write a total of 4 letters - one each week (that part is actually the same).  The part that is changing is who you will be writing your letters to.  Here’s how it will work:        

1.                   The first week of each month Mrs. Washburn’s class will write their letters to a friend in Mrs. McDowell’s class.   Mrs. Washburn’s class will turn their letters in the usual way on the day they are due.  Mrs. McDowell’s class will write back the day they receive your letters.

2.                   The second week of each month Mrs. McDowell’s class will write their letters to a friend in Mrs. Washburn’s class.  Mrs. McDowell’s class will turn their letters in the usual way on the day they are due. Mrs. Washburn’s class will write back the day they receive their letters

3.                   The third week of each month both classes will write a letter to Mrs. McDowell.  Mrs. Washburn’s class will turn their notebooks in that week.  Mrs. McDowell will grade your letters and write you back, as usual.

4.                   The forth week of each month both classes will again write a letter to Mrs. McDowell.  Mrs. McDowell’s class will turn their notebooks in that week.  Mrs. McDowell will grade your letters and write you back, as usual.  

5.                   Mrs. McDowell will assign your letter-writing partner.  Partners will change each month.  

This new response letter process will begin today!  This should be an enjoyable way to tell others about the books we are reading.  Have fun with this!  It will also allow us to continue practicing our meta-cognition (thinking about thinking) skills and writing skills as well.  Remember to always do your best.  All letters – even the ones you write to your 6^th grade buddies – will be recorded as a grade.

Love,

Mrs. McDowell

MUG Shots

We are implementing something new in writing.  Students will complete daily MUG Shot Sentences.  MUG stands for MECHANICS, USAGE, and GRAMMAR.  Students will correct one sentence each day during writing time.  We will check these sentences in class and discuss the grammar rules that apply.

At the end of each week (every Friday) students will correct a MUG Shot Paragraph as a quiz.   The paragraph will have the same types of grammar, usage, and mechanics mistakes that we have been working on through the week with our MUG Shot Sentences. 

Daily sentences will not be recorded in the grade book, but Friday's quiz grades will be recorded.  You may check behind your child's writing tab (in their binder) to see each week's MUG Shot Sentences and Paragraph Quiz.  Paragraph Quizzes may not be corrected before class on Friday, although it is perfectly fine to look over the paragraph with your child before hand and discuss possible errors and corrections.