Week of December 8-12, 2014

We will begin the 5th week of the 3rd Six Weeks.  We started reading The Giver by Lois Lowry and the students are really engaged in the novel.  We are approaching the Ceremony of Twelve in the community and Jonas is feeling apprehensive about the ceremony. We will only read up to chapter 4 for now and we will continue after the holidays. 

Our students will be taking the first district benchmarks in reading and math so we need to review.  Our schedule will be as follows for the next two weeks:

Dec. 8-12
Monday--Read The Giver
Tuesday--Benchmark
Wednesday--Benchmark
Thursday--Exam 1 on The Giver
Friday--Review for Reading Benchmark

Dec. 15-19
Monday--6th Grade Trip to UTPA
Tuesday--Math Benchmark
Wednesday--Reading Benchmark
Thursday--Movies Starplex Cinema Final Chapter of The Hobbit
Friday--Christmas Social/Early Release

Agriculture/Horticulture
Dec. 8-12 Exploring the Horticulture Industry    
Dec. 15-19   Floriculture                                                                             

Week of December 1-5, 2014

We will start reading a new novel, "The Giver" by Lois Lowry. 
Short summary: Where Jonas lives, life is safe, orderly, and predictable.  Rules are strictly adhered to; every aspect of a person's life is carefully planned.  People rarely make choices on their own; everything is decided for them by the community.  There is no snow or sunshine, no colors or music, no animals or nature.

Reminders:
Monday--Discuss "utopian" and "dystopian" worlds.
Tuesday--Read chapter 1 in class--Homework read chapter 2
Wednesday--Homework read chapter 3
Thursday--Homework read chapter 4
Friday--Quiz on chapters 1-4. Homework read chapters 5-7

Week of November 24-28, 2014

Time seems to be flying students so we need to focus on our school work.  Next month you will be taking district benchmarks in all the core areas. 

AC2E IT Seminars coming next week. The seminar I will be teaching is on pointillism.  Students will learn about the work of George Seurat. Students will learn how to create a work of art using dots. Students will learn about color and how the eye sees color.

Reminders:
Early Release on Tuesday, Nov. 25

We will start with "The Giver" by Lois Lowry next week.

I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Week of November 17-21, 2014

Students are working on a Thinking Map Book for Esperanza Rising. They are learning about plot, summarization, character analysis, compare and contrast, the importance of setting (time and place), infer the implicit-explicit theme of the novel, and author's point of view. 

This coming week we will be analyzing and comparing "Esperanza Rising" to Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope" is a thing with feathers.

Esperanza Means Hope

In Esperanza Rising, the author demonstrates the power of words and language throughout the novel. Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish, and the author creates a character-Esperanza-who continues to rise above valleys of hardship in the novel in order to reach the peak of her mountains, as symbolized by the blanket that she crochets under Abuelita's instruction.  Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope' is a thing with feathers also illustrates that hope con be a powerful source for flight.

Reminders:
Thursday--University T-Shirt
Friday--Falcon Spirit T-Shirt

Earn 10 points:
1. Theme Reread pages 250-251. Why is this book called Esperanza Rising?
2. Inference Esperanza did not receive fancy gifts for her birthday, but she was happy.  How do you know? Explain her reaction and support your answer.






  


 

Week of November 10-14, 2014

We are now starting the 3rd Six Weeks time sure does fly when we are having fun.  We are getting very close to the end of the first semester.  Students we need to prepare ourselves for our first District Benchmark coming up in December. We need to start thinking like scholars and apply our skills in all subject areas.  We can not slack off in our work.  Success depends on how we apply what we have learned and what we are learning.  Responsibility and determination are the ingredients for success.  So students I challenge all of you to spread those wings and SOAR!

We will finish "Esperanza Rising" this week.  The next novel to be read is "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.  This is a science fiction novel. 

Reminders:
Tuesday--Veterans' Day                                       
Thursday--College T-Shirt
Friday--Falcon Spirit T-Shirt



10 Sesame Street Premiered on PBS (1969) Great Wall of China Opened for World Tourism (1970) Vietnam Veterans Memorial Opened in Washington, DC (1982)

11 Veterans Day Pilgrims Signed Mayflower Compact (1620)

12 Elizabeth C. Stanton's Birthday (1815) Joseph Stalin Became Ruler of Soviet Union (1927) World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Began (1942)

13 World Kindness Day Laws for Segregation on Buses Ended (1956)

14 Claude Monet's Birthday (1840)

15 America Recycles Day Articles of Confederation Approved (1777) Largest War Protest Ever (1969)

Week of November 3-7, 2014

We had a fantabulous Halloween with our kids but this week we need to come back down to reality.  We are administering 2nd Six Weeks Exams this week.  It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of the 2nd Six Weeks.

Students need to go to bed early and have a good breakfast to be ready for testing.

We are reading the lasts three chapters of "Esperanza Rising."  We are almost at the end of her adventure.  Ready to find out what happens to Esperanza, Mama, Miguel and Abuelita?

Reminders:
Study Study Study
Come Prepared

THE NEXT NOVEL TO BE READ WILL BE "THE GIVER" BY LOIS LOWRY

Week of October 27-30, 2014

Summaries of chapters 9 and 10 of "Esperanza Rising"

Chapter 9 Las Papas (Potatoes)
Esperanza looks after Mama, but Mama is not recovering. The doctor recommends Mama go to the hospital. Mama is now depressed as well as ill. Once Mama is in the hospital, Esperanza resolves to find a job in the packing shed with Miguel’s help. While she is cutting potato eyes, Esperanza learns about repatriation. A few nights before Christmas, Isabel asks Esperanza to tell her about celebrating the Christmas season in Aguascalientes. The memories move Esperanza to tears. She marvels how Isabel could be so happy with the simplest things. When Esperanza visits Mama, she has nothing but a pretty stone to give her and the promise that she will take care of her now.


Chapter 10 Los Aguacates (Avocados)
Esperanza notices the toll of cold and work on her hands. The next time Esperanza visits her mother, the doctor informs her that Mama now has pneumonia. A few days later, Miguel drives Esperanza to Mr. Yakota’s market. From Miguel, she learns about society’s prejudice against Mexicans. Impulsively, she decides to buy Mama a piñata. On the way home Miguel and Esperanza see Marta and her mother walking along the side of the road and offer them a ride. Esperanza notices how Marta and her mother hold hands and which makes her miss her own mother. At Marta’s camp, Esperanza is horrified by the living conditions she witnesses. A poor family approach the truck and ask for help. Esperanza fills their hat with beans and gives the candy-filled piñata to the children. A few nights later Miguel’s family celebrates because Miguel has finally found a job with the railroad.

Reminders for this week:
Don't forget your donation money for the Relay for Life
Halloween Festivities on the 31st!
Relay for Life Saturday November 1 at Sanchez Stadium starts at 3:00 pm 

Week of October 20-24, 2014

Students will have an exam on Monday on chapters 6, 7, and 8 of "Esperanza Rising".  In chapter 8 we found out that there was a terrible dust storm and Esperanza's mother was affected by it. She has Valley Fever which is caused by dust spores.  Valley Fever is an infection of the lungs that causes cough and high fever.  My question is, What will Esperanza do now that her mom is ill? What changes will Esperanza have to make?

Reminders:
Monday--Exam
Tuesday--Ryan Guillen Visit at 9:30 am
Wednesday--Wear Orange Day--Anti-Bullying
                       Early College Jamaica students will be attending at 10:45 am
Thursday--College shirts
                    Love Yourself Be Drug Free (Students may wear Red/Pink shirt)
Friday--Spirit shirt
               Team Up Against Drugs! (Students may wear their favorite Team Shirt/Jersey)

 October Events and Facts:

20—Senate Ratified Louisiana Purchase (1803)

         October 20-24—School Bus Safety Week

 21—Apple Day

         Alfred Nobel’s Birthday (1833)

          Thomas Edison Invented Light Bulb (1879)

 22—Nat’l Nut Day

         First Parachute Jump from Balloon (1797)

 23—Women’s Suffrage March, NYC (1915)

          Soccer Star Pele’s Birthday (1940)

         Apple’s iPod Unveiled (2006)

24—United Nations Day

        First Transcontinental Telegraph Line Completed (1861)

Week of October 13-17, 2014

Esperanza's beautiful ranch home has burned down. Tio Luis has asked Esperanza's mom to marry her and she accepts the proposal.  Esperanza's mom has her own plan about her future and her daughter's. She plans to escape Aguascalientes and go to the United States with Alfonso, Hortensia and Miguel.  The adventure begins.

Reminders for this week:
Read Chapters 6, 7 and 8
Continue to fill character grid as you read.

Monday: 2nd Week of the 2nd Six Weeks National School Lunch Week National School Bus Safety Week

Tuesday: Date:  10/14/2014

Wednesday: Date:  10/15/2014

Thursday: Date:  10/16/2014 Ac2E Elementary Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 10:00 College T-Shirt Day

Friday: Date:  10/17/2014 Student Council Fundraiser Spirit Shirt Day SPECIAL DAYS 13 Columbus Day Cornerstone of White House Laid (1792)   14 Battle of Hastings Fought (1066) Martin Luther King Jr. Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (1964)     15 National Fossil Day White Cane Safety Day U.S. Dept. of Transportation Created (1966) Nelson Mandela Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (1993) 16 Dictionary Day World Food Day Cuban Missile Crisis Began (1962)   17 Black Poetry Day International Day for Ending Poverty Mae Jemison's Birthday (1956) Mother Teresa Awarded Nobel Peace Prize (1979)

Week of October 6-10, 2014

First six weeks is over and we are now entering the second six weeks.  We will continue to read "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz. 

We now know that Esperanza's mother has a very important decision to make. She has refused to marry Tio Luis and this may cause problems for the family.

Please comment:
If Esperanza'a family decides to stay in their house, Tio Luis will probably be mean to them because he now owns all the land and is upset that her mother refused to marry him.  Do you think Esperanza's family should stay in their house or move to the United States?

Horticulture we have planted seeds and they are growing rapidly.  We hope to transplant them soon to a larger area.  This week's activity will be on understanding chlorophyll.

This month we will observe the following:
Columbus Day
Anti-Bullying
Cancer Awareness Month
Fire Prevention
Say No To Drugs


Things to remember:

6 Child Health Day Thomas Edison Showed First Motion Picture (1889)

7 Carbon Paper Patented (1806) Niels Bohr's Birthday (1885)

8 Great Fire of Chicago Started (1871)

9 Leif Erikson Day Washington Monument Opened (1888) John Lennon's Birthday (1940)

10 U.S. Naval Academy Opened in MD (1845) King Tut's Treasures Discovered (1924) Pac-Man Arcade Game Released (1979)

11 International Day of the Girl Eleanor Roosevelt's Birthday (1884) First Staffed Apollo Mission Launched (1968)

Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 3, 2014

We have arrived to the sixth week of the first six weeks.  In the first chapters of "Esperanza Rising" we found out that her father has been killed.  Was Sixto Ortega murdered by bandits or his step-brothers?

This coming week our students will be taking their six weeks exams.  I will be administering my exams on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.  Students must study and be prepared. 

Exam for Honors Literature will include:
"The Dog of Pompeii"
History of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius
The Great Depression
Intro, chapter 1 and 2 of "Esperanza Rising"

While reading the first chapters of "Esperanza Rising" we learned about several cultural traditions that her family held dear.  What are your opinions on these traditions?  Do you feel that these traditions are still being honored in Mexico?

Week of 22-26, 2014

We had a great time learning about the Great Depression.  Students learned the causes and consequences of one of the most difficult times in US history.  Students showed great interest toward The New Deal programs created by Franklin D. Roosevelt with much enthusiasm.

This week we will begin reading "Esperanza Rising" students will travel back in time to the Mexican Revolution. The introduction takes us to El Rancho de las Rosa in Aguascalientes where Esperanza and her family live.  Esperanza comes from a wealthy family with a loving father and mother.  Circumstances beyond anyone's control will turn Esperanza's life upside down.

This week in Honors Literature:
Story Elements
Visualization
Summarization
Making Predictions

ELA/Writing:
cont. Parts of Speech

Careers in Ag/Horticulture:
Understand the different forms of sexual and asexual
plant reproduction. Discuss various techniques used in
plant propagation.

Something to think about I would like your comments for this question.
In your opinion, was Roosevelt’s New Deal a success or a failure?  Always use specific historical examples to support your arguments.
 

Week of Sept. 15-19, 2014

We had a great time learning about Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.  "The Dog of Pompeii" gave us insight on what life was like during 79 AD in Pompeii.  Students learned about the foods, dress, beliefs and medicines used in Pompeii.

We will now learn about "The Great Depression" before reading "Esperanza Rising".  I will take the students back to the 1920s and 1930s so they can fully understand what happened and why Esperanza and her mother had a difficult time when they came to the United States. 

In our Agriculture/Horticulture class students learned the different parts and uses of plants.  They also planted seeds that will be planted in our garden. 

Reminders:
-Progress Reports Sept. 15
-Student Council Class Representative Elections Sept. 17
-Constitution Day Sept. 17
-College T-Shirt Day Sept. 18

-Spirit Shirt Day Sept. 19

-Student Council Officer Elections Sept. 19

--8th Gr. Washington D.C. trip parent confirmation contracts due Sept. 19

-Students will continue with their project for "The Dog of Pompeii" due on Friday, Sept. 19.
-Students don't forget the fundraiser.....continue to sell.

I came across this quote:
"Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today." ---Malcolm X, 1925-1965
 
Think about what you'd like to do in the future.  Describe how you intend to prepare for it. I would like for our students to leave their comments.

Week of Sept. 8-12, 2014

We had a great week reading about the history of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.  This week we will be reading and discussing "The Dog of Pompeii." 

Honors Literature:
Figurative Language (Similes and Personification), Cause and Effect, Setting, Concrete and Sensory Details. Students will use a Thinking Map to show mastery of Cause and Effect and a Fold able to show mastery of characters, concrete and sensory details.

Honors ELA:
Students will be reviewing parts of speech.

Careers in Agriculture/Horticulture:
We will be discussing different uses and functions of plants.  We will also be planting a variety of vegetables. 

Reminders:
-Students need to purchase the novel "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz.
-We will be having Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014 from 2:00-5:00 pm.
-Students need to turn in money for fund raiser by this Friday, Sept. 12, 2014
-Students need to turn in money for spirit shirt, cardigan, sweatshirt, or polo by Friday, Sept, 12, 2014

August 25-29, 2014

 



Welcome back to the 2014-2015 school year.  Hopefully, you had a restful and enjoyable summer and are ready to return to another exciting year at Ac2E Middle School.  I look forward to the challenge of another year and the opportunity to work together with you.

You will be receiving a copy of the student code of conduct for Rio Grande City CISD and the Syllabus for Reading/ELA, it is imperative that you take time to read and discuss these very important documents with your child.   By doing this both you and your child will become familiar with expectations set forth by our school district and myself and the consequences that will be used in enforcing those expectations.  Please read and sign all forms sent home after you and your child have read them.  The form in the syllabus that you and your child sign will be returned to me no later than August 29, 2014.

 

The first day of school will be Monday, August 25, 2014.  Students should arrive at school no later than 7:50 a.m.  Students should be in their 1st period class seated by 8:00 a.m.  Students will be eating breakfast in the classrooms.  Please make sure your child is on time to class everyday.

I look forward to working with you and your child during the upcoming school year.  Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns.  Help me to develop a positive working relationship between the home and school to provide your child with the best opportunity to be a successful student at Ac2E Middle School.

Thank you for your support! 



May 19-23, 2014

Well Falcons we welcome the 5th week of the last six weeks!!!! How great is that?  Sixth graders you are getting ready to be 7th graders next year!  We are still not done though.  We will continue with "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier and writing the Haiku poem.  Let's rumble and finish with a blast!

Dates to remember:
May 19--Grulla MS students' trip with home campus
May 20--MATHCOUNTS students trip to Pump It UP in McAllen, TX.
May 23--Ac2E Middle School students' end of the year trip to Six Flags and Museum in San Antonio, TX

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Get Caught Reading Month Healthy Vision Month Inventors Month	Mental Health Month National Bike Month National Water Safety Month Physical Fitness & Sports Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Transportation Month

May 12-16, 2014

Students will be reading "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier.  We will read this novel until school ends.  Students will also be working on projects related the novel in class. 

Students will also be exposed to Haiku Poems.
What is haiku?

Haiku is a Japanese poetry form. A haiku uses just a few words to capture a moment and create a picture in the reader's mind. It is like a tiny window into a scene much larger than itself.

Traditionally, haiku is written in three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line.

Here's a haiku poem written by a poetry student:The last winter leaves
Clinging to the black branches
Explode into birds.

Students will write a Haiku poem and illustrate it. 



Days to remember this week:
May 12, 2014 Student Council Trip  to Tinseltown Theater in Misssion, Texas. 

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Get Caught Reading Month Healthy Vision Month Inventors Month	Mental Health Month National Bike Month National Water Safety Month Physical Fitness & Sports Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Transportation Month

Week of May 5-9, 2014

This week we will continue with our novel and work on projects in class.  We will also continue with our research paper.

Dates to Remember:
May 5--Cinco de Mayo, First American in Space 1961, Teacher Appreciation Week,
May 6--National Teacher Day, World Asthma Day
May 7--School Nurse Day
May 8--Talent Show, World Red Cross Day

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Get Caught Reading Month Healthy Vision Month Inventors Month	Mental Health Month National Bike Month National Water Safety Month Physical Fitness & Sports Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Transportation Month

Our Falcons had a great learning experience last week in each seminar.  The seminar I conducted was "Go Green" and here are some pictures of what our Falcons accomplished.

Week of April 28- May 2, 2014

Falcons we are now entering the second week of the 6th Six Weeks.
This week we will be conducting AC2E IT Spring Seminar!

Each teacher at AC2E MS is in charge of one event. I am in charge of Go Green.

 

"Go Green" Students will create a plant terrarium.

Terrariums will help students understand ecosystems, habitats, and plant

interdependence and life cycles. The student's interest is stimulated greatly

since he will be creating his own collection of plants that he will arrange and

care for to make sure the terrarium is successfully maintained.

A terrarium will add a little green to any indoor space. They are great

oxygen boosters!

 

Materials:

* 6 inch Glass containers

*6 inch Clay pots

*Stones

*Activated charcoal

*Terrarium plants, herbs

*Potting mix (sterile)

*Moss

*Paints, Brushes

*Ribbon

 

Schedule for Seminar:

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

8:00-10:00 Group A

10:00-11:30 Group B

12:00-12:30 Group B continues

 

Friday

8:00-9:15 Group A

9:15-10:30 Group B

 

Days to Remember in April:

April 30th--University of Texas Pan Amercan Visit

Month-Long Holidays and Events April
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Month Animal Cruelty Prevention Month Autism Awareness Month Deaf History Month (3/13-4/15) Keep America Beautiful Month Mathematics Education Month Days to Remember in May:	National Garden Month National Poetry Month School Library Media Month World Habitat Awareness Month Youth Sports Safety Month

May 1, May Day

 

Month-Long Holidays and Events May
Asian-Pacific-American Heritage Month Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month Better Hearing and Speech Month Clean Air Month Get Caught Reading Month Healthy Vision Month Inventors Month	Mental Health Month National Bike Month National Water Safety Month Physical Fitness & Sports Month Skin Cancer Awareness Month Transportation Month

 



Week of April 21-25, 2014

Falcons the week we have been waiting for is finally here---STAAR WEEK!  You had Easter break to rest and recharge for the challenge.
Remember:
Early to bed
Rest
Eat a good breakfast!

The following is the schedule for testing--6th and 7th grade:
April 22, Math STAAR Exam
April 23, Reading STAAR Exam

 

 

     Stay focused

     Time is crucial, pace yourself

     Answer carefully

     Always use strategies

     Review your work.



Week of April 14-18, 2014

Falcons this will be the last week for review before the STAAR Exams.  We need to be alert and focus on what we are learning so we can SOAR next week. 
Our six weeks exams are also this week because this is the last week of the 5th Six Weeks!  Next week not only are we taking the STAAR Exams but it will be the beginning of the 6th Six Weeks!
We are almost done for this year!

Dates to remember:
April 17, Early Release
April 18, No School

 

Falcons Promote Autism Awareness

 

 

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Month Animal Cruelty Prevention Month Autism Awareness Month Deaf History Month (3/13-4/15) Keep America Beautiful Month Mathematics Education Month	National Garden Month National Poetry Month School Library Media Month World Habitat Awareness Month Youth Sports Safety Month

      

Week of April 7-11, 2014

Falcons next week is the final week of the 5th Six Weeks which means it is exam week.  We will continue reading and discussing "The Slave Dancer" by Paula Fox.  We will also cover important reading concepts so we can conquer Figure 19.  In Writing we will continue with our research.

April 8--17th Amendment Ratified 1913
April 9--Name Yourself Day, Civil War Ended 1865
April 10--Encourage a Young Writer Day
April 11--Einstein Revealed Theory of Relativity 1905, 1968 Civil Rights Act Signed
April 12--Civil War Began 1861, First Man in Space

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Month Animal Cruelty Prevention Month Autism Awareness Month Deaf History Month (3/13-4/15) Keep America Beautiful Month Mathematics Education Month	National Garden Month National Poetry Month School Library Media Month World Habitat Awareness Month Youth Sports Safety Month

Week of March 31-April 4, 2014

 
Are you ready Falcons?  They say, "April showers bring May flowers."  Well something else that April brings is STAAR Exams.  We are entering a month that will bring us May cheers! 

Honors Literature:
-Read "The Slave Dancer" by Paula Fox (Historical Fiction)
-Analyze figurative language-understand how figurative language and stylistic elements create meaning in fiction and poetry.
-Analyze and identify common elements of literature, including drama, from various cultures, synthesize texts, and make connections across multiple texts.

Honors Grammar/Writing:
-Students will begin a research paper on Slavery.  They will also have the options to do a PPT or web quest.
-Explain the steps to writing a research paper.  Explain MLA style.
-Choose a Topic, write Topic Sentence.
-Research

Important Dates to Remember:
April 22, 2014 Math STAAR Exam
April 23, 2014 Reading STAAR Exam

Other Dates:
April 1 April Fool's Day, Apple Computer Founded (1976)
April 2 International Children's Book Day, World Autism Day
April 3 First Pony Express Service (1860)
April 4 NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Created (1949) http://www.nato.int/ , Marther Luther King Assassinated (1968), Microsoft Founded (1975)

Month-Long Holidays and Events
Alcohol & Drug Awareness Month Animal Cruelty Prevention Month Autism Awareness Month Deaf History Month (3/13-4/15) Keep America Beautiful Month Mathematics Education Month	National Garden Month National Poetry Month School Library Media Month World Habitat Awareness Month Youth Sports Safety Month

Week of March 24-28, 2014

Our students visited Texas A & M Kingsville on March 20th and their excitement was still apparent the next day.  Thank you Texas A & M for your great hospitality. 

We are coming to the end of March this week which means we have 4 weeks until STAAR Exams.

Dates to remember:
March 25 Progress Reports
March 26 Make Your Own Holiday Day http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/March/makeholidayday.htm
March 27 University T-Shirt

Honors Literature:
Mon--Read ch. 1 of "The Slave Dancer", Vocabulary for ch. 1 and 2
Tues--Discuss chapters 1 and 2
Wed--Reading Elements
Thurs--Continue Reading Elements
Fri--Assess

Honors Writing/Grammar: Personal Narrative/Paragraph
Mon--Selecting a Topic and Developing a Controlling Idea
Tues--Drafting Creating the First Draft
Wed--continue with draft
Thurs--Revise, Edit
Fri--Finish Product



Week of March 17-21, 2014

Welcome back Falcons!  I hope you all got the rest you needed to continue LEARNING!  We have five more weeks before the STAAR Exams begin so we need to be in learning mode. 

Reading:
We will be reading about slavery, the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, and the slave ships as background knowledge for the next novel "The Slave Dancer" by Paula Fox.

Grammar/Writing
We will continue with adverb phrases and writing a narritive.

Important dates to remember:
March 17th St. Patrick's Day
March 18th First Space Walk (1965)
March 19th Iraq War Began (2003)
March 19th Open House and Deadline to pay your dues for the end of the year trip.
March 20th Trip to Texas A & M Universtiy in Kingsville, Texas
Marck 20th Spring Begins, Agriculture Day
March 21st International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination, World Poetry Day


The following are links with information on slavery.  Click on the map to see it larger.
History of Slavery

Pathway to Freedom: Underground Railroad



Week of March 3-7, 2014

Well Falcons you did it again! You all made it through another extremely busy but successful week.  I want to CONGRATULATE all of you for the great job you all did on the benchmarks!  We still have a long way to go.  The STAAR exams are not until the end of April so don't sit back and relax. We also have two more novels to read and projects to work on!  Oh we have so much more to learn!  Remember that in order to EXCEL we must WORK HARD, BE DEDICATED,  and FOCUS!  So spread your wings and SOAR!

Honors Literature:

Mon--Poetry Form "Ode to Mi Gato" by Gary Soto

Tues--Dissect Poem

Wed--Final Exam on "The Giver" Chapters 1-23

Thurs--Historical Fiction, "The Secret Schools," Idioms

Fri--Assess

 

Honors Grammar/Writing:

Personal Narrative

Mon--The Body pg. 573

Tues--The Body continued

Wed--Proofread and Edit-The Body

Thurs--Kamico STAAR Connection-Correct Sentences

Fri--Assess

 

Enrichment/Projects:

Students will write an "I AM" Poem

 

 

 

Don't forget it's time to Spring forward!  Daylight Saving Time starts March 9, 2014. Set your clocks  and watches an hour forward!

 

Month-Long Holidays and Events for March 2014

Deaf History Month (3/13-4/15)

Irish-American Heritiage Month

Music in Our Schools Month

National Craft Month

National Nutrition Month

Save Your Vision Month

Youth's Art Month



Week of February 24-28, 2014

Congratulations Falcons! One of the most challenging weeks this six weeks has come to an end. Your science projects were out of this world!  Now we have to come back down and apply ourselves with more commitment.  You need to get serious about the benchmarks you will be taking next week. You all need to make sure that you go to bed early and have a healthy breakfast the days before the benchmarks.
On another note students we will start a new Six Weeks next week and we will be reading another novel. The novel is "The Slave Dancer" by Paula Fox.  I am asking you all to start bringing in the money to purchase the novel.  The money needs to be turned in no later than March 7, 2014.

Tues--Math District Benchmark #2
Wed--Reading District Benchmark #2
Thurs--Go over Benchmark
Fri--Math Carnival

February 23, Santa Ana Began Siege of the Alamo 1836
February 25, First African American Elected to U. S. Senate 1870

In 1845, Hiram Revels became a pastor in Baltimore, MD, and principal of a school for blacks. He helped organize black volunteers for service in the Union Army (1861). Then he joined federal forces and was stationed in Mississippi to serve as chaplain to a black regiment (1863). After the war, Revels preached in Mississippi. He was appointed alderman by the military governor (1868) and was later elected to the state senate (1869). As a state senator, he sought to restore voting rights and the right to hold office of former confederates. In 1870, he was the first African American elected to the U.S. senate to fill the term of Jefferson Davis. As a U.S. senator, he advocated for desegregation in education and on the railroads. After being a senator, he became president of – and retired as president of – Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College in Mississippi. 

Week of February 17-21, 2014

We are almost done with the 4th Six Weeks and  we are looking forward to the 5th Six Weeks.  Like Spring the end of this school year is beginning to peak its head out.  I know that our students are anxiously awaiting the end of the school year but we still have a lot of work to accomplish.  So students do not take off those thinking caps quite yet because we still have three more novels to read and lots of reading skills and reading elements to learn.

Honors Literature:
Mon--Define and discuss vocabulary ch. 20-23. Review Text Structure
Tues--Poetry Elements and Devices
Wed--Poetry Elements and Devices
Thurs--Continue discussion on reading assignment for chapters read.
Fri--Administer Test for Chapters 20-23

Students will analyze characters using Thinking Maps

Honors Grammar/Writing
Mon--What can I do to add details to my sentences? Expand with Prepositional Phrases pg. 567
Tues--Expand with Appositives pg. 568
Wed--How can I make my sentences more interesting? Model Sentences pg. 569
Thurs--Kamico STAAR Connection-Correct Sentences
Fri--Assess



Science Fair
When: February 20th
Time: 5:00-6:30
Where: Multipurpose Center-Rio Grande City



 

Let's Honor Our Presidents Past and Present on Monday, February 21

 

 

 

 

 

A novel that everyone should read.  One of our true classics published February 18, 1882.

 

Other February on going events: American Heart Month, Black History Month, Library Lover's Month, National Cherry Month

Week of February 10-14, 2014

 

Reading, reading the number one tool to all our learning.  Think about it without reading you would never be able to read all those loving Valentine cards you will be receiving this month!

February 12 First Public School Found in United States 1635 http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/firstpublic.asp

February 14 Read to Your Child Day http://homeschooling.about.com/library/blfeb14b.htm

Other February on going events: American Heart Month, Black History Month, Library Lover's Month, National Cherry Month

Reminder: District Benchmarks are around the corner (Feb, 25th and 26th), please start taking home your spirals with your reading notes so you can be well prepared for the exam. 

6th Week of 4th Six Weeks:
Literature:
Mon--Define and discuss vocabulary for chapters 16-19.  Review Text Structure (the particular order or pattern a writer uses to present ideas in text). 
Tues--Review Foreshadowing (the author's use of clues to prepare readers for events that will happen later in a story). This literary element leads students to draw conclusions while they read.
Wed--Review Author's Purpose (an author's intent in writing a literary work which can be: to persuade, to inform, to explain, to entertain, or to discuss.
Thurs--Class discussion on reading assignment and discuss the abstracts for each chapter read.
Fri--Administer Test for Chapter 15-19.

Grammar/Writing
Mon--Develop Complex Sentences
Tues--Use Questions and Commands
Wed--What can I do to add details to my sentences?
Thurs--Kamico STAAR Connection-Correct Sentences
Fri--Assess



Week of February 3-7, 2014

We are now entering the 5th week of the 4th Six Weeks.  Our 6th grade students are reading the novel "The Giver" by Lois Lowry.  So far they have found out that Jonas will be the new Receiver of the community.  The Receiver of the community receives all the memories from the Giver-good and bad.  Jonas will be experiencing many adventures as the Giver passes his memories to him.  Some of these memories will make Jonas feel angry, happy, sad and confused. The students are full of questions and they will all be answered as they read. 

Literature
Mon--Vocabulary Chapters 11-15, Symbolism
Tues--Discuss Theme and Tone
Wed--Discuss chapters 11-15
Thurs--Continue discussion and answer students' questions
Fri--Administer test for chapters 11-15

Enrichment Project
One of the most important themes in The Giver is the significance of memory to human life. Students will be working on a Memory Activity.

Grammar/Writing
Mon--What can I do to add variety to my writing? pg. 563
Tues--Create Compound Sentences pg. 564
Wed--Identifying Sentence Fragments
Thurs--Kamico STAAR Connection-Correct Sentences
Fri--Assess

Enrichment Poject
I will draw a square house on the board and students will copy the drawing on a piece of paper.
I will write a preposition on the board and the students will illustrate it.  Afterward, students will compare their drawings and then each student will write sentences to describe each preoposition they illustrated. 

Week of January 20-24, 2014

We have started reading "The Giver" by Lois Lowry and everyone is very excited with the book. Students will be given 5 chapters per week to read.  The students have been given discussion questions to allow them to write how they feel and think about what they read.  Teacher and students will discuss the chapters in depth and teacher will answer any questions students might ask. 

Literature:
Monday--Pre-reading activity (Look at the picture on the book's front cover: a. Describe the man b. What does the expression on his face indicate? c. What do you think the torn photo is about?
Does your family have schedules, rituals, or routines that are followed daily? What are they?)
Read About the Author and book summary
Tuesday--Introuduce the vocabulary for chapters 1-5, Vocabulary Activity (Use a thesarus to find synonyms and antonyms for the words).
Wednesday--Discuss chapters 1 and 2 with students
Thursday--Discuss chapters 3, 4, and 5 with students
Friday--Assessment Chapters 1-5
Enrichment/Project--Read All About It!  Students will pretend they are reporters for the community and they will gather facts and report news as it happens.  Students will present to class.

Grammar/Writing:
Monday--Enhancing Your Sentence Style pg. 559
Tuesday--How can I make my sentences flow more smoothly? pg. 560
Wednesday--Kamico STAAR Connection Students use elements of the writing process (revising and editing).
Thursday--Kamico STAAR Connection Students use elements of the writing process (revising and editing).
Friday--Assessment
Enrichment/Project--Let the Ceremonies Begin! Students will design posters, banners or signs to advertise the upcoming event Ceremonies in "The Giver."

My favorite saying by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Intelligence plus character that is the goal of a true education".

January 6-10, 2014

Happy New Year Falcons! Welcome back!  We will now begin the second semester and Falcons we have lots to prepare for before May.  With this in mind I want to appeal to the students and parents to value and uphold the importance of a unique education.  I have no doubt that our students will return after their two week rest ready to throw themselves into their education.  I want to assure our students and parents that I will continue to motivate my students in the classroom so they can achieve their goals.  AC2E teachers will make sure their education will be sound, creative and innovative and with the help of parents and students this will become a reality.  So are we ready?  Yes we are!!!!