The Preamble to the Constitution

What is the Preamble to the Constitution? Please reread the Preamble, and then paraphrase it and tell what you think it means. (Please remember to vary your syntax.)

Athenian and American Democracy

How was democracy in Athens different from democracy in the US today? How are the two democratic systems similar? Give specific details in your explanation.

6th-Sparta or Athens?

If you could choose to have lived as an ancient Spartan or Athenian, which would you choose? Why? What is it about the culture and values of that group that you prefer? Explain your ideas with details about the Spartans and/or Athenians.

5th--The Bill of Rights

Which of the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights do you think are most important for Americans today? Why? Which were most important for the new citizens of the United States in 1787? Why? If you had to choose only 5 of the rights for yourself, which would they be and why?

Earth Day

What have you learned about Earth Day? What is the purpose of Earth Day, and why do we celebrate it? What do people in our country do to celebrate Earth Day? What would you like to do this week to help take care of our planet?

Welcome back!

Welcome back to school, wonderful 5th & 6th graders! Please take a few minutes to share with your classmates about your Spring Break. What did you do, and who did you see? What was the highlight of your break? Please remember to use at least 1 compound sentence and 1 complex sentence with a comma. WELCOME BACK!

Mrs. Anderson's birthday is coming!

Tomorrow, April 7, is Mrs. Anderson's birthday! You have an opportunity to wish her a Happy Birthday in our class writing blog. Take a minute to write a little B-day message to Mrs. Anderson and thank her for being a wonderful principal, and I will forward her the link to our "Happy Birthday!" blog. Thanks!

Tone in "The Bermuda Triangle"

Describe the tone of the short story "The Bermuda Triangle." Give evidence from the text that supports your ideas about the story's tone.

Would you like to be a mountain climber?

Think about what you read in "Climb or Die." Then decide if you would like to be a mountain climber, if you had the opportunity. Would you mountain climb if you could? Why or why not? Tell which mountains you would climb if you could and why.

Commas--QUIZ

Please list the 6 comma rules and give an example for each without using your notes.

Commas--Do you know how to use them?

Please list each of the 6 rules of comma usage; then give an example of a sentence which uses a comma following each rule.

Rule #1--Use commas between items in a list.
Ex: On my vacation, I visited Seattle, went hiking, played in the snow, and went to a basketball game with my nephews.

Challenge yourself and see if you can remember ALL 6 COMMA RULES!

What are you learning?--Non-fiction Reading

What are you learning from your non-fiction reading? What is the most surprising or interesting thing you've learned so far? What are you wondering about your topic now that you've spent some time reading about it?

Please respond in a complete paragraph with a thesis sentence and supporting details. As you write, remember to vary your sentence type (compound-complex, compound, complex, and simple). Before you post, edit your writing.

Non-fiction Reading Strategies

What strategies are you using to help you be sucessful in your non-fiction reading?

Complex Sentences

Please write a complex sentence about your experience as a Literacy Tutor with a subordinating conjunction at the beginning of the sentence. Then rewrite the sentence with the conjunction in the middle of the sentence. Think about which sentence has a comma!

What's the Gist?--The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Sentences with appositives and complex sentences (remember those commas!)

"Who's a Bully?"

Please take a minute to reflect on your reading of the article "Who's a Bully?". What do you think the difference is between joking around or teasing and bullying. When does joking become bullying? What strategies can young people use to help themselves when they feel bullied? What types of bullying occur the most today for young people? Why do you think this is happening?

Science, Science, and more Science! . . .

Please describe what you're learning in Science (from your lab and textbook). What type of science are you currently studying? What is most interesting to you about your current science studies? Which parts are the most challenging to understand? What questions do you have for your science teacher or classroom teacher about your science studies right now?

Please write your response using at least 2 complex sentences (w/a subordinating conjuction) and 2 compound sentences.

Please USE YOUR SCIENCE TEXTBOOK and other materials to help you with specific details about your science studies.

Book Club--your thoughts!

Please take a minute to reflect on your experience of our class Book Clubs. Please describe what you are learning about literary analysis through the Book Clubs you've participated in. Then tell what you think is the most interesting literary element in your analysis and why.

Please use at least 2 complex sentences and 1 compound sentence as you write.

"Letter from Birmingham Jail"--Your Thoughts....

After reading Dr. King's letter to the eight clergymen who criticized his activities, what are your thoughts on Dr. King's letter? Do you think his response was effective? Appropriate? Well written? Helpful to the Civil Rights Movement?

How did you feel as you read Dr. King's letter? Do you agree that he was justified in what he did, or do you agree with the clergymen who criticized him? Why?

Please write your response paragraph using at least 1 compound complex sentence.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., An American Hero

Please write 3 compound complex sentences that describe the life of Dr. King and the impact he made on America.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, fantastic students! So, what did you do on your vacation? Who did you see? Were you busy, or did you relax? Tell me all about it! . . .