TWIS 1/27-1/31

Parents,

  We seem to be under another freeze here in CF, so I want to send you some links of things your student can work on this week if we happen to cancel school (a possibility on Monday, for sure).  All of these items require a computer with internet access, and all can be done from home.  I do expect all of them to be completed by the end of the week.

1) Students need to watch the video and take the quiz HERE.  If a student misses a question, the quiz will ask them to try again until they get the right answer. CLICK HERE for quiz.  If you'd like to watch the video as well, it is called "Web Search Strategies" by CommonCraft.  Click here to view.

2) Students need to finish their MINI-RESEARCH MONDAY paragraphs on Google Drive.  They have accessed this document twice last week, and should be able to find it.

3) If their paragraph is complete (I've only had about 13 turned in so far from the ENTIRE 6th grade), they need to FILL OUT THIS SURVEY (CLICK HERE) about their research.  The survey lets me know, among other things, that students are ready for me to rubric their paragraphs.

Some students have finished their paragraphs, but should double check the document/ their email for their rubric score.  As always in writing, students should make corrections and fixes so I can adjust their rubric score- even if they think they are done, ask to read their paragraph and rubric!

4) Students need to make sure they are caught up in their reading for the UNI pre-service teachers on Tuesday!

Here's This Week in Switzer:

Guidance- We are wrapping our conversations with Alcohol and substance abuse.  The guidance team is also coming in Monday afternoon to talk about the Take Charge of Your Body curriculum (unless you've opted your student out of this in writing in accordance with the email Lincoln sent out a few weeks ago).

Literature- We have some make-up to do here, especially since we were unable to meet with our UNI pre-service teachers.  Students have a bunch of pages to read and be prepared to talk about on Tuesday.

DEAR- I sent home a Blackhawks Hockey reading record sheet in action planners on Friday- students should record the number of minutes they read each night (weekends included) for a chance to earn tickets to a Blackhawks hockey game.  The form can stay home until the end of the 5 weeks.

WIN- Eligible 6th graders will be taking the CMA for advanced math placement as 7th graders next year.  Students that are eligible were sent letters from Holmes Junior High last week- if you did not receive a letter, and you think this is in error, contact me immediately.  Only about a fourth of the 6th grade is eligible to take the 80+ question math test.

Math- We are cruising through integers and coordinate graphing, and have started looking at combinations and permutations.  Our goal is to figure out how lottery/ contests/ drawings/ giveaways calculate odds of winning, and to evaluate games of chance.

Social Studies- We are continuing through Chapter 4 dealing with the reconstruction of the United States post-Civil War.

Science- Ask your student about how they are building a "Humdinger."

Writing- As I noted above, we're working on research techniques, identifying reliable online information, and creating informative paragraphs (I call them DONUT paragraphs).  We've also moved up a level in blogging- we are commenting on classrooms around the district to help other students improve their thinking and writing! In the next two months, we'll begin expanding our classroom to schools around North America, and eventually the world!

Lots going on this week~  remember to stay warm and ask your student about what they are creating at school.  Even though 6th graders tend to act like they don't do much, they really care when you take a vested interest in their development.  Thanks for all your support!

One final note- soon, I'll begin looking for community volunteers to participate in our "6th Grade Exit Interviews" to take place in late April.  Keep your eyes peeled!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary

TWIS 1/21-1/24

Parents,

  I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and took some time to reflect on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with your students- I love those teachable moments when kids ask, "Why didn't we have school today?" 

  Here's This Week in Switzer:

Literature: UNI PDS pre-service teachers have assigned your student a novel to read- expect your student to have 15-20 minutes of reading work for this every night.  We are also working on Non-fiction summarizing and traits of non-fiction texts.

DEAR- Students are logging their DEAR books, checking their Lexile goals, and working on book projects.

WIN- Mr. Switzer's WIN group is working hard with geometry- a very difficult topic in Algebra.  Our CFA's this week deal with absolute value, and graphing on a number line.

D,D,D- We're reading the book, Deep and Dark and Dangerous by Mary Downing Hahn.  It's spooky- and great at suspense!

Math- We are moving into the world of integers, negative numbers, integer operations, and graphing.  This is really fun stuff!

Social Studies- Our TIME magazine articles were due last week, and now we're working on Chapter 4 in our books.

Science- Students took a quiz last week over models and designs, and will start trying to figure out how certain models are built- and how to build a replica!  Ask them about the Flood Stopper and Humdinger this week.

Writing- We are starting to look at how to do research effectively on the internet and how to gauge information as accurate and reliable.  We'll continue writing about our research using great DONUT paragraphs- ask them what this means!

Have a great week and stay warm!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary

TWIS 1/13-11/17

Parents,

  The weather in Iowa is always an adventure, isn't it?  Looks like a full week of school this week, so let's get right to it!  Here's This Week in Switzer:

Literature- We're working on non-fiction texts still, and, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we'll have UNI pre-service teachers leading literature circles with Dr. Montgomery's PDS class.  The class meets in our building, then works with our 6th graders in the mornings.  This is a great, and powerful, learning experience for both our 6th graders and the pre-service teachers.  Expect reading homework every night for this.

DEAR- During DEAR we are still exploring our independent reading books, working on book projects, and meeting with Mr. Switzer on reading goals.  Please encourage your student to read 15-20 minutes every night.

WIN- Mr. Switzer's WIN group is practicing Geometry for the Math Bee in March.  

Math- We are about halfway through Topic 9, dealing with dividing fractions.  At first, I typed, "divining;" working with fractions certainly feels that way sometimes... continue asking your student about their math.  

Social Studies- The Time Magazine research project will be due soon- feel free to proofread what they are writing and add suggestions to make their writing better.  This is one of many small research projects your student will undertake this trimester.

Science- Students are working with models of systems and how models work.

Writing- Our focus this trimester is informative and non-fiction writing.  We will be doing plenty of research and collaborative writing using Google Docs.  This will culminate in a biographical research project in March.

Have a great week!  And congrats to our qualifiers for the Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee- Kyandra G., Jackson K., and Cade M.  Good Luck!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary

TWIS 1/6-1/10

Parents,

  Stay warm!  This week will be a short week with the cancelation of school on Monday- and just a reminder, on days where we are delayed for school, please make sure your student does not arrive before 10:00am.  We cannot guarantee your student will be supervised if they are at school before the supervision begins!  This is a safety issue more than anything.  With that said, welcome back to school and here's This Week in Switzer:

Literature- We finished our narrative non-fiction novels before the break and most students have completed their literature circle tasks, including blog posts and creating an infographic.  I gave some students a little extra time to get those completed last week.  I am excited because our students want to read their 2nd choice of narrative non-fiction books!  We'll start those soon as well.

DEAR- Students are working on book projects and continuing to read their independent books.  Just  a reminder to encourage your student to read 15-20 minutes each night- and reading with them is a powerful way to help your student succeed in school.

WIN- Mr. Switzer's WIN group has a laser focus on getting ready for the Math Bee on March 6th- lots of practice and challenges until then!

Math- We've moved into Topic 9 still dealing with fractions and how to multiply and divide with fractions.  This is tough stuff and it is likely that your student has homework in Math everynight- continue to ask them about it.

Social Studies- Students are researching a Civil War topic and generating a Time Magazine article- complete with cover page!  They will transition to Chapter 4 soon.

Science- Students are moving into the Models and Design curriculum and learning how scientists create models to represent things they might not completely understand.  Make sure to ask about the "Black Box!"

Writing- Most students have completed a narrative and now we are looking at informative and explanatory writing- we are also looking at how to build informative paragraphs this week.  Soon, we'll be discussing how to identify reliable information; this is an important skill since we have so much information available to us on the web.

One last reminder to have your students get plenty of rest at night and to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning, especially after having an extended break from routine.  I witnessed many students who were not quite ready to be their best at school last week- and I want them to have the best opportunity to learn everyday. Thanks for all your support and make sure to stay warm!

--

Matthew Switzer
6th grade teacher
Lincoln Elementary