Miss Beamesderfer's Blog

It’s hard to believe that we just completed our last full week of 6th grade! This past week we shared our final “Chasing Vermeer” projects and began working in our reading series again. Our final theme is, New Frontiers: Ocean and Space. This week we took a look at both the ocean and space by reading stories about both of these places. We will continue to look at skills that we have worked on throughout the year such as classifying and categorizing and problem and solution. 

Next week we have a short week plus track and field day on Wednesday. We will continue with theme 6 on Monday and Tuesday, take a break on Wednesday to compete in various track and field events, and then back to finish our story on Thursday. 

Upcoming events:

track and field day Wednesday, May 23rd. Rain date: Thursday, May 24th. 

No school Friday, May 25th or Monday, May 28th. 

This week we finished reading the novel “Chasing Vermeer.” Students read the last 4 chapters during reading madness. The last 4 chapters were full of action and twists. Many students reported that they just couldn’t put down the book and wanted to find out who really stole the painting. Many other questions were answered like who received the third letter and other coincidences that all started with frogs. 

Along with finishing our O.N.E. novel, students wrote diamante poems about a character in the book. These poems included nouns, adjectives, and verbs. After a rough draft, and peer editing/revising, students made a final copy to be displayed around the classroom. 

Next week we will start working on a project to wrap up the novel. Students will have class time to work on this project, but some may need to be done at home. 

Important information:

IPRs were sent home today 5/4 – please sign and return 

With the IPRs, a parent survey was sent home. Please complete and return to school. 

Field trip to Gretna Glen is on Wednesday 5/9

Track and field day 5/23

This past week we continued to read “Chasing Vermeer.” We read chapters 9-14 and started to uncover more of the mystery. As we are getting deeper into the story, we are learning more about the characters and the story elements. 

Today we had some great discussions about who we thought was involved in the theft of the painting as well as which characters received a letter. Students were able to give their opinion and support it with examples from the text. It almost turned into a little debate, because students were eager give reasons why it couldn’t be a certain character. It got all of us thinking and brainstorming about what was going to happen next. 

I encourage students to be reading this novel at home as well as at school. Even if the required pages were finished in class, sometimes rereading a chapter or even a section helps our comprehension. We may miss things the first time but pick up on little pieces the second time reading the text. Ask your child about the novel and their predictions for what is going to happen next. 

Upcoming dates:

Chorus concert: April 26th(PM) and April 27th during school hours

Gretna Glen Field trip: May 9th

O.N.E. skyping with Blue Balliet: May 16th

Track and field day: May 23th

Last week, before our long weekend, we had an assembly introducing our new O.N.E. novel. Teachers spent time setting the stage by giving background about the setting as well as the painter, Vermeer. We began by reading the first chapter of the novel together. 

We will continue to read and respond to this novel and uncover the mystery. This week we read up to chapter 8 and learned more about the main characters, the setting, and the beginning pieces to the puzzle. I encourage students to share their reading at home with their family. 

Upcoming dates:

Report cards sent home today 4/13

Chorus concert 4/27

Field Trip 5/9

Track and field day 5/23

Last week we finished up the last of our PSSA tests. Students did a wonderful job during all 6 days of the testing. After testing we wrote spring poems and worked on making coffee filter flowers or other spring-like items. Students wrote about what they do during spring or what spring feels like. All poems are hanging around the room which have created a nice spring environment. In the middle of the week, we reviewed for and took the theme 5 test. 

This week we started reading theme 6, New Frontiers: Ocean and Space. The first story we read was “The Adventures of Sojourner.” It was about Sojourner the rover space craft landed and exploring on Mars. Students worked on reading and identifying cause and effect throughout the story. 

In writing we started an ongoing project of creating a classroom newspaper. Students paired up and chose a topic about something we’ve done so far this school year or an event coming up towards the end of the year. Some students interviewed other students and teachers to enhance their writing. Pictures and clip art were also added to the articles. Newspapers will be sent home with the students to share with their families and friends. 

Additional information:

Field Trip incentive paper must be signed and returned on Monday, April 2nd.

Field trip to Gretna Glen will be May 9th. Permission forms and chaperone information will come at a later date. 

Marking period 4 will begin Monday, April 2nd. 

Report cards will be sent home April 13th. 

This week we completed 5 out of the 6 PSSA tests. Students did an excellent job working in the mornings using the skills that have been taught throughout the year. After testing was finished for the day, students continued their normal 4 block day on an altered schedule. 

In language arts class, we did some activities this week that reviewed things we did in the previous weeks. We created commercials using different propaganda techniques, we had the opportunity to spend sometime listening and finishing our class read aloud, we also watched a book turned into a movie about Freedom. We ended the week with rotating stations to work on writing skills. Each day students got a little break by being able to run and enjoy the nice weather. 

Upcoming information:

Our last PSSA test will be Monday, March 19th. This will be our final reading test. 

Students have off of school Friday, March 23rd due to an inservice day. 

As you all know, next week is PSSA testing. We will begin the week with math, and switch to reading on Tuesday and so on. Testing for grade 6 will end the following Monday with the 3rd and final reading test. If your child has a calculator, (the kind we use in school) please have them bring it to school with them. Students can have water bottles during the test but they must be clear and filled with only water. Each morning we will give students a snack but I encourage them to eat a healthy breakfast too. If you have any questions regarding the PSSA’s, please let me know. 

As for this past week in language arts class, we focused on some review skills such as problem and solution, compare and contrast, and multiple meaning words. We started theme 5, called Doers and Dreamers and talked about whether we were “doers” or “dreamers” and maybe even a combination of the two. We then went on to read about Alma Flor Ada, a famous story teller, and how her mother was a doer and set out to accomplish many great things. 

Everyone did a great job on the science fair! All that hard work paid off. Great job 6th graders! 

Good afternoon! 

This week in language arts we spent sometime wrapping up theme 4, ancient cultures. On Monday and Tuesday we were typing our Freedom essays on computers. The final copy was due by Friday. We also reviewed some PSSA items on study island when the essays were complete. On Wednesday this week, we spent some time reviewing the skills covered in theme 4, then followed that with a theme test. Finally, on Thursday and Friday we worked on enhancing our writing by adding synonyms and antonyms to our papers. We also introduced a new skill of propaganda. Students identified the types of propaganda by using commercials and advertisements to explain which technique was being used. 

Upcoming items:

PSSA starts March 12

Science fair board due March 6

Science fair night: March 8

Please return pictures and/or money if you would like to purchase them 

Good afternoon!

This week during reading we read a selection of the story, “The Royal Kingdoms of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay.” In this story, students learned about the trade, travel, and daily lives of the people from ancient Ghana. We also focused on the skill of identifying topic, main idea, and detail. Students were able to relate this to how we set up our informal outlines in writing. This was the last story in theme 4, so we will be having our theme test next Wednesday. 

In writing this week we focused on writing and developing more of “what freedom means to me.” We spent time working on the rough draft as well as the editing and revising process. On Monday and Tuesday, students will be using the computers to start publishing their final copies. These essays will be due Wednesday at the beginning of class. 

Other important information:

Science fair boards due March 6th 

IPRs were sent home today, Friday, February 24th 

PSSA’s will begin March 12th 

This week in reading we traveled to the ancient culture of the Aztecs in Mexico. We read a story that took place in 1300 AD about the Aztecs and Cortes and the Spanish. The skills we focused on this week was author’s viewpoint, bias, and exaggeration. We listened to the story as a class then worked on identifying author’s viewpoint as well as exaggeration and bias. 

During our writing class today, students viewed images that all symbolized the theme of freedom. Students then started to brainstorm “What Freedom Means to Me.” Talk with your child about our freedoms as Americans and share your thoughts and ideas about how this has changed over time. We will then turn this brainstorm into a 4 paragraph essay. This essay will then be submitted to the Manheim Sertoma Club where they will select a few 6th graders as winners. The winners of the contest will be awarded with a savings bond. 

Important information:

Science fair conclusion due Tuesday, Feb. 21st. 

Science fair board due Tuesday, March 6th. 

Science fair night Thursday, March 8th 6-7. 

Last week of social studies Feb. 21-24. Science begins the following week.