May 30 Journal

Thank you for working so hard. You must stay in your seats and should not be wandering. Every time you are out of your seat, I am taking off 2 points.

Work on getting rid of red triangles. There are still way too many!

1. May is National Hamburger Month. What is your favorite food? Which month would you like to designate to honor this food? Explain.
2. Imagine that you are a farmer and you just discovered that your hen is laying golden eggs. Write about what happens next.

May 28 Joural

Hi. Today you can finish off any outstanding essay. This means your persuasive and your narrative should each have 3 submissions.Excellent job with the presentations. I watched all the webcam video and you should all be proud. Everyone who presented received a passing grade! Awesome job.

This week you need to work on getting rid of any red triangles in Study Island. Red triangles will effect your grade and could possibly lower it. Let's not take that chance and get rid of the triangles.

1. Which book character would you like to have come to life? Explain.
2. What is your favorite type of music? Compare it to your least favorite type of music.

May 27 Journal

Hi. Today you can finish off any outstanding essay. This means your persuasive and your narrative should each have 3 submissions.

Excellent job with the presentations. I watched all the webcam video and you should all be proud. Everyone who presented received a passing grade! Awesome job.

This week you need to work on getting rid of any red triangles in Study Island. Red triangles will effect your grade and could possibly lower it. Let's not take that chance and get rid of the triangles.

1. If you could change the color of your hair, would you? Explain.
2. Imagine that you have a tomato plant that is suddenly growing something else instead of tomatoes. Write about what happens next.

May 22 Journal

Today I am subbing in the office. I set up the web cam, be on your best behavior. Most of you had great behavior on Tuesday- please continue.

Some of you still have not made three submissions on either your special day or your persuasive. Those essays need to be completed by TODAY or zeros will be issued.

Also, all red triangles must be gone in Study Island. There should not be any red triangles left on your main screen. Red triangles will effect your grade!

Presentations will finish today. Ms. Shannon has the printed essays and who is going today. Everyone must present. The lowest grade you could get would be a 70, if you are nervous, and that is way better than a zero.

1. Pretend that you are a famous author of many award-winning books. What would you say to children about the importance of reading and writing?
2. Do you prefer to read books or magazines? Explain.

May 21 Journal

Today I am subbing in the office. I set up the web cam, be on your best behavior. I have to say that the 6th grade class' behavior was unexceptable Monday. 8 and 7 were good. Please stay in your seats and follow directions.

Some of you still have not made three submissions on either your special day or your persuasive. Those essays need to be completed by Thursday or zeros will be issued.

Also, all red triangles must be gone in Study Island. There should not be any red triangles left on your main screen. Red triangles will effect your grade!

Presentations will finish today. Ms. Shannon has the printed essays and who is going today. Everyone must present. The lowest grade you could get would be a 70, if you are nervous, and that is way better than a zero.

1. Is it ever okay to break a promise? Explain.
2. the third Friday in May is National Bike to Work Day. Not all people can safely ride a bike to work or school. Explain what you would do to make riding to work or school safer.

May 20 Journal

Today I am subbing in the office. I set up the web cam, be on your best behavior.

Some of you still have not made three submissions on either your special day or your persuasive. Those essays need to be completed by Thursday or zeros will be issued.

Also, all red triangles must be gone in Study Island. There should not be any red triangles left on your main screen. Red triangles will effect your grade!

Presentations will start today. Ms. Shannon has the printed essays and who is going today. If you don't present today- you will be presenting at our next class meeting.

1. Imagine that while on a field trip with your class, you discover something that has never been seen before. What do you find? Explain how you will tell the world about your discovery.
2. May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Write an exercise plan for yourself to implement over the next seven days. What will you do to stay active?

May 19 Journals

Today I am subbing in the office. I set up the web cam, be on your best behavior.

Some of you still have not made three submissions on either your special day or your persuasive. Those essays need to be completed by Thursday or zeros will be issued.

Also, all red triangles must be gone in Study Island. There should not be any red triangles left on your main screen. Red triangles will effect your grade!

Presentations will start today. Ms. Shannon has the printed essays and who is going today. If you don't present today- you will be presenting at our next class meeting.

1. May 19 is Visit Your Relatives Day. Which relative would you most like to visit? Explain how you would spend your day.
2. Pretend that you are a young scientist receiving an award for your latest invention. Write a short article for a science magazine describing your new invention.

May 16 Journal

Hi. We may be having some principals from other buildings pop in and out today looking at the My Access program. I am not sure when they will be coming so please be on your best behavior. Today I would like to finish your persuasive essay and narrative essay in My Access. You have unlimited submissions, so I will take the top three grades for my grade book.

1. National Transportation Week is celebrated the week that includes the third Friday in May. In what ways do you think transportation will be different 25 years from now? In what ways do you think it will be the same?
2. Would you rather be a caterpillar or a butterfly? Explain.

May 15 Journal

Hi. Today you need to go directly to My Access and work on your Persuasive essay. Once that is done you will go and revise your narrative. Remember to use the Tutor and Editor in My Access to improve your trait scores. Next week we will be working in Study Island.

1. Imagine that your family is preparing for a garage sale to get rid of any unwanted household items. Your parent has told you that you must select three items from your room to sell. What three items would you sell? Explain.
2. Pretend that you are shopping at a garage sale when suddenly you hear a toy doll speaking to you. Write about what happens next.

May 13 Journal

Once you are done with your journal today, move into My ACCESS and work on your essay. In about 10 minutes I am moving into Direct Instruction to show you a few things.

1. If you could play any professional sport, what would you play? Explain.
2. Pretend that your parent has asked you to give up one type of junk food and eat a healthy food in its place for a month. What food would you give up? What would you replace it with? Explain.

May 12 Journal

Today we are working on Submission 2. Once you are done with that, you may work in Study Island.

1. National Bike Month is celebrated in May. Explain how life would be different if you had to ride a bicycle to get around.
2. Would you rather go on a safari in Africa or visit a rain forest in Central America? Explain.

May 9 Journal

Hi. I am in the office today for Mrs. Baldwin, but I set up the webcam so it's like I'm with you. I've gone over everything with Ms. Shannon. After journal, go directly to MY ACCESS. You need to be making your second submission today, but before you do that Ms. Shannon is going to do 10 minutes of direct instruction to do the MY TUTOR with you. I have left everyone feedback who submitted and I am very impressed with your writing. Keep up the great work! If you make your second submission today you can work in STUDY ISLAND.

1. The second Sunday in May is Mother's Day. Write a paragraph describing your definition of a mother.
2. Would you rather visit a friend's house or have a friend visit your house? Explain.

May 8 Journal

Hi. I am in the office today, so please behave. I have the webcam on and can see what you are doing or not doing. Ms. Shannon is prepared to go through your lesson with you since I have gone through it with her. You need to use your manners today and stay in your seat. Today you will work in Study Island for 15 minutes, unless you did not finish your persuasive wizard. After the 15 minutes, the entire class will move to My Access and Ms. Shannon needs to do 10 minutes of direct instruction and then you'll move back to independent study. Your goal is to finish the wizard, insert the essay, make modifications, and make your first submission.

1. The Saturday before Mother's Day is National Babysitters Day. Imagine that you are a babysitter when a storm knocks out the power. Write about what happens next.
2. May 8 is No Socks Day. Pretend that you are a sock. Describe how you will spend you day off duty.

May 7 Journal

I am glad you are here. When you are done with your journal, you have 15 minutes to work in Study Island and then I am going to move into direct instruction and show you how to transpose your outline from the persuasive wizard into the essay. For those of you who did not insert your persuasive wizard yet, I guess you have 15 minutes.

1. Imagine that you are an animal living in the wild. what animal are you, and what is your favorite time of the year? Explain.
2. Pretend that you would like to set up a lemonade stand to earn some extra money. Where is the best location for your new business? Explain.

May 6 Journal

I am glad you are here. Today once you are done with your journal, I want you to go to MY Access and log into the Persuasive Wizard. You need to finish the Wizard today. Once that is done, you may work in Study Island.

1. National Teacher Day is celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week in May. Who is a teacher who has impacted your life, here at Dirksen, and why?
2. Imagine that when you get home from school one day, your family looks different and they are acting very strange. Upon closer look, one of your family members has been replaced by one the staff members from Dirksen. Who is the new member of your family? Who did they replace? Why do you think they were the replacement?

May 5 Journal

We are coming to a close today. When you are done with your journal, log into My Access and begin working on finishing your Persuasive Wizard today. You may only work in Study Island if the Persuasive Wizard is finished. We have an assembly about First Tee Golf today as well.

1. May is National Book Month. Would you rather rad more books or fewer books than you currently read? Explain.
2. The first full week in May is National Pet Week. What animal d you think would make the perfect pet? Explain.

May 2 Journal

Good Day. I am glad you are here. Today we are going to work in Study Island for 20 minutes and then continue with our research and work on updating our first three screens in the persuasive wizard. If you read this statement- do not say anything to anyone- quietly go and push the easy button and fill out a blue ribbon, come back and finish your journal.

1. The first full week in May is Be kind to Animals Week. Write a poem or a paragraph that expresses the importance of animals in your life.
2. If you were a flower, would you rather be planted in a garden at someone's house or at a park? Explain.

May 1 Journal

I am glad you are here. Spend 20 minutes in Study Island. After that I will review My Access with you and you will be able to use today to research your topic.

1. May 1 is Mother Goose Day. Choose two nursery rhyme characters, such as Little Miss Muffet, Old Mother Hubbard, Humpty Dumpty, or Little Boy Blue. Write about an encounter between these two characters.
2. School Principals' Day is May 1. Write a thank you note to Principal Pfoutz or Assistant Principal Lawrence for all that they do for our school.