Monday, October 29, 2018

Mr. Sassman's 6th Grade Class Blog

Woodriver Elementary School

Just a friendly little reminder...please limit the amount of candy
your kids bring in this week.

Last Week...

It was a short week but we were able to get started on our Q2 TDL...It was a pleasure meeting with everyone for conferences, and overall, they went well. I hope I answered any questions you may have had. 

This week 

Back to business...

I will have the kids work on:

GeoNotes Session 4

Spelling Packets Session 4

DOL Session 3 (Finish)

Cursive Handbooks (Letters I - O)

Persuasive Essays

Bio Book Reports

"S" Groups are back on. In here, we will keep going with our Astronomy and Gravity campaigns...Mr. Ribbens will also be starting his week of teaching ELA. I will be here to help and support and he has some great things planned.

*For the high-achieving students in our room: I have given them an enrichment assignment. They are to complete a Science Demonstration. I gave the parameters and sent them on a mission to research. I will model a demonstration this week, so they have an example of what my expectations are for the project.

As you know, Halloween is officially on Wednesday. While we already had our school carnival, I have said yes to kids dressing up in class, but with some parameters. Students still need to follow school dress codes including no masks, no fake blood, no full face paint, no revealing costumes, and of course, no fake weapons of any kind. We will also be having pizza for lunch on Wednesday. This will be sponsored by the PTA, as a prize for raising the most amount of candy for the carnival. Thanks and I look forward to seeing the kids' costumes. 

As you may have noticed over the weekend, we have snow on the ground. Please make sure your kids have appropriate outdoor gear. Warm coat, gloves, hat, boots, snow pants. Kids go out for recess in temperatures as cold as -20 Fahrenheit, so please...again. 

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:20

Class Meeting

New Jobs

New Seats

9:20 - 10:30

Walk to Math

10:30 - 10:40

Break - Snack

10:40 - 12:00

DOL

Spelling 4

GeoNotes 4

Read Aloud

12:00 - 12:30

EAT

12:30 - 1:00

PLAY

1:00 - 1:40

Class Novel - Dogsong

1:40 - 2:15

Gym

2:15 - 3:30

TDL

--Rorschachs

--Persuasive Essays

--Bio BRs

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS

By Friday
--Spelling Session 4
--GeoNotes Session 4
--DOL Session 3 (Finish)

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

By Friday
--Reading Logs
--Ongoing math homework...see below

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Due On
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 4-1
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 4-2
Thursday, November 1, 2018
--Envision Practice 4-3
Friday, November 2, 2018
--Envision Practice 4-4

ONGOING INFORMATION

READING LOGS

Reading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).

The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.

It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefiting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.

Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns, please.

GOOGLE DRIVE - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon

You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)

Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

Please regularly check your child’s grades in PowerSchool and update the Web and Technology Use forms. I would appreciate it if you gave permission for your child’s picture to be published on the class blog. The forms are located under the Registration section. Please refer to this link for details: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/3162  
I will never post identifying names with the pictures.

DATES TO REMEMBER (more to come)

Monday, November 5, 208
Field Trip - UAF Fine Arts Building with Mr. Ribbens
Bowl Making - Feel free to join if you please!
A flyer went home with info and a request for $5...to pay for transportation. Thanks. 

Friday, November 9, 2018
Early Dismissal at 2 PM - Professional Development 

Monday, November 12, 2018
No School - Professional Development Day

Thursday, November 22 and Friday, November 23, 2018
Thanksgiving Holiday - No School

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

Monday, October 22, 2018

Mr. Sassman's 6th Grade Class Blog

Woodriver Elementary School

Last Week...

Pumpkin carving, Halloween Carnival, report cards, oh my!!! Another great week here at Woodriver. As we began our second quarter campaign, several art projects were started and I introduced our next set of major assignments for the year. As a class, we went over our next book report and major writing piece. 

Biography Book Reports - Google Slides Presentation

Persuasive Essays - Six paragraph persuasive essay (Intro, reason, reason, reason, counter, closing)

I gave the kids rubrics, so they understand what is being assessed and how to complete each assignment. In addition, I went over several student samples from years past, that exemplify my expectations. I will again model this week, what we are looking for.

I have taken the link to the PT Conference sign up off the blog because I had to "Pencil-in" a few families that do not have access to the digital sign-ups. If you signed up already, you will receive an email reminder from sign-up genius this week. I sent home handwritten reminders on Friday...along with report cards. 

Thanks for sending in the pumpkins for carving...

  

Thank you for sending in candy donations to the school for last week's Halloween Carnival. The class that donated the most (in pounds), won a PTA sponsored pizza party. AND YES! WE WON!

ART - Still to come

-Rorschah Haikus 

-Birch Tree Shadow Boxes (FNSBSD At Kit)

-I Can't Imagine A World Without...

This week 

Is a short week...No school Thursday and Friday for the kids. Parent/Teacher Conferences all day, both days.

I will have the kids work on:

GeoNotes Session 3

Spelling Packets Session 3

DOL Session 3

Rorschach Haikus

Cursive Handbooks (Letters I - O)

No "S" Groups this week...

*For the high-achieving students in our room: I have given them an enrichment assignment. They are to complete a Science Demonstration. I gave the parameters and sent them on a mission to research. I will model a demonstration this week, so they have an example of what my expectations are for the project.

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:20

Class Meeting

New Jobs

9:20 - 10:30

Walk to Math

10:30 - 10:40

Break - Snack

10:40 - 12:00

DOL

Rorschach Haikus

Read Aloud

12:00 - 12:30

EAT

12:30 - 1:00

PLAY

1:00 - 1:40

GeoNotes

Spelling Packets

Cursive Handbook

1:40 - 2:15

Gym

2:15 - 3:30

GeoNotes

Spelling Packets

Cursive Handbook

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS

By Wednesday
--Spelling Session 3
--GeoNotes Session 3
--DOL Session 3

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

By Friday
--Reading Logs
--Ongoing math homework...see below

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Due On
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 3-2
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 3-3

ONGOING INFORMATION

READING LOGS

Reading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).

The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.

It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefiting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.

Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns, please.

GOOGLE DRIVE - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon

You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)

Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

Please regularly check your child’s grades in PowerSchool and update the Web and Technology Use forms. I would appreciate it if you gave permission for your child’s picture to be published on the class blog. The forms are located under the Registration section. Please refer to this link for details: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/3162  
I will never post identifying names with the pictures.

DATES TO REMEMBER (more to come)

Thursday, October 25, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Friday, October 26, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences

Monday, November 5, 208
Field Trip - UAF Fine Arts Building with Mr. Ribbens
Bowl Making - Feel free to join if you please!
A flyer went home with info and a request for $5...to pay for transportation. Thanks. 

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Mr. Sassman's 6th Grade Class Blog

Woodriver Elementary School

Last Week...

Was the last of the first quarter and grades are being finalized. A lot of assignments were turned in across all subjects and I am still grading, so please be patient. Final grades and teacher comments are due by Wednesday and report cards will be sent home Friday. Our Q2 TDL will be published in a few weeks, after our second quarter agenda is laid out. This time, the kids will make their own TDLs. I will introduce Google Sheets and students will have so personalized assignments.

I sent out a link for you to sign up for parent-teacher conferences. I have scheduled parents that requested specific times and I filled in the rest in collaboration with other teachers in the building, so we could maximize your visit to the school (if you have more than one child). I will send home your selected time with your student early this week. If you need to make changes or reschedule, just call the front office and they will be able to help. If we have already spoken because you will be away, disregard this for now.

STEAM - Salmon Dissecting was kind of EPIC! Enjoy the pictures below! The kids learned about the five types of Pacific Northwest Salmon (Chum, Sockeye, King, Silver, and Pink), their lifecycle, and their biology.  

  

Thank you for sending in candy donations to the school for the upcoming Halloween Carnival. The class that donates the most (in pounds), will win a PTA sponsored pizza party. I think we are close!

There is a Halloween Carnival at Woordriver this week (Friday, October 19th, 2018 from 5-7:30 PM). Students may come in costume and it offers trick or treating (Alaska style), free games, and free activities. There will also be an opportunity to help the Woodriver PTA raise funds by having dinner in the MPR. They will be putting on a spaghetti feed (plate of pasta, garlic bread, and bottled water) for $5 per person/$20 per family. Heck of a deal!

The district Art Specialists we here and the kids made some beautiful pieces. We will continue our creative endeavors with a few projects I have picked out for this quarter. They cross-curricula lines and are powerful. I can't wait!

-SCREAM featuring Edvard Munch

-Rorschah Stories 

-Birch Tree Shadow Boxes (FNSBSD At Kit)

-I Can't Imagine A World Without...

This week 

I would like to carve pumpkins with the kiddos on Thursday, October 18th, so please send in a pumpkin if you are able. We will roast the seeds and carve as many as we receive.

I will be keeping the caseload this week a bit lighter and we will ease into the second quarter. We will finish our last few pages in Where the Red Fern Grows (what an amazing book), starting Dogsong as a class novel, and Mr. Ribbens has a book picked out for our next read aloud. His selection ties into the Social Studies unit he will teach in November.

I will have the kids start:

GoeNotes Session 2

Spelling Packets Session 2

DOL Session 3

Cursive Handbooks (Letters I - O)

The sixth-grade teachers will be rotating subjects this week. I will be leading Astronomy and Gravity, Mrs. Clark will take over STEAM, and Mr. Kinder will take the kids on a journey through Ancient Egypt and China! 

*For the high-achieving students in our room: I have given them an enrichment assignment. They are to complete a Science Demonstration. I gave the parameters and sent them on a mission to research. I will model a demonstration this week, so they have an example of what my expectations are for the project.

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:20

Class Meeting

New Jobs

9:20 - 10:30

Walk to Math

10:30 - 10:40

Break - Snack

10:40 - 12:00

DOL

GeoNotes

Spelling Packets

Cursive Handbook

Read Aloud

12:00 - 12:30

EAT

12:30 - 1:00

PLAY

1:00 - 1:40

Final Current Events Presentations

1:40 - 2:15

Gym

2:15 - 3:30

SCREAM ART

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS

By Friday
--Spelling Session 2
--GoeNotes Session 2
--DOL Session 3
--Topic 2 test (my math kiddos only)
--The Sun
--Mercury
--Venus

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

By Friday
--Reading Logs
--Ongoing math homework...see below

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Due On
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 2-7
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 2-8
Thursday, October 18, 2018
--Envision Review Topic 2
--TOPIC 2 TEST IN CLASS

Friday, October 19, 2018

--Envision Practice Worksheet 3-1

ONGOING INFORMATION

READING LOGS

Reading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).

The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.

It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefiting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.

Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns, please.

GOOGLE DRIVE - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon

You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)

Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

Please regularly check your child’s grades in PowerSchool and update the Web and Technology Use forms. I would appreciate it if you gave permission for your child’s picture to be published on the class blog. The forms are located under the Registration section. Please refer to this link for details: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/3162  
I will never post identifying names with the pictures.

DATES TO REMEMBER (more to come)

Thursday, October 18, 2018
Pumpkin Carving - Please send in a pumpkin with your kiddo (we will team up and carve as many as we get)

Friday, October 19, 2018
Woodriver Halloween Carnival 5:00 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 25, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Friday, October 26, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman

Sunday, October 7, 2018

Mr. Sassman's 6th Grade Class Blog

Woodriver Elementary School

This is the last week of the first quarter...our TDL (To Do List) items will be tallied and recorded. 

I sent out a link for you to sign up for parent-teacher conferences to please sign up if you have not already. Here is the link again: Sassman P/T Conference Sign-up Link

This week 

We will be dissecting salmon, completing several art lessons (including art specialists on Wednesday), Spruce root art, and finally, wrapping up our Current Events and Stepbook Book Reports. Early out on Friday at 2 PM.

I would like to carve pumpkins with the kiddos on Thursday, October 18th, so please send in a pumpkin if you are able. We will roast the seeds and carve as many as we receive. 

Monday looks like:

9:00 - 9:20

Class Meeting

New Jobs/New Seats

9:20 - 10:30

Walk to Math

10:30 - 10:40

Break - Snack

10:40 - 12:00

DOL

GeoNotes

Spelling Packets

12:00 - 12:30

Lunch

12:30 - 1:00

Recess

1:00 - 1:40

Current Events Presentations

1:40 - 2:15

Gym

2:15 - 3:30

Spruce Root Art with Mr. Ribbens

IN-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS - QUIZZES - TESTS

By End of Quarter TDL

HOMEROOM HOMEWORK

By Friday
Reading Logs turned in and TDL completed

MATH HOMEWORK DUE THIS WEEK (only if your child is in my math class)

Due On
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 2-7
Thursday, October 11, 2018
--Envision Practice Worksheet 2-8
Friday, October 12, 2018
--Envision Review Topic 2

ONGOING INFORMATION

READING LOGS

Reading logs are a regular part of our class. Students will receive "points" for each day that they read a minimum of 20 minutes at home. The purpose: for students to read each day (not 100 minutes over the weekend or 40 minutes on Tuesday to catch up for Monday).

The logs will be due on a rolling basis and should have dates read on them. I will give credit as they are turned in and filled out correctly (please initial these). The points students receive will be added to their overall reading grade, counting towards their final grade.

It is simple, if students read and turn in their logs, they will see their grade improve significantly while naturally benefiting in fluency and accuracy. If they do not, they will not be given a "0" on the assignment, they simply will not receive any points.

Please look for these to come home this week. I have a yellow folder by the classroom front door filled with new reading logs. Email me with any questions or concerns, please.

GOOGLE DRIVE - I will be sending the kiddos home with their specific login information soon

You can access all of your student's digital assignments online and work at home if you would like. Just go to www.gmail.com and type in their email address and password. Then find the Google Menu (where you will find the Drive, Docs, and Slides) icon in the top right corner (it is a nine square grid next to their s-number). This is where they will make their Google Slides Presentation for their Biography Book Reports. It is as follows:

Username: s#@student.k12northstar.org (for example: s123456@student.k12northstar.org)

Password: s#g (for example: s123456g)

Please regularly check your child’s grades in PowerSchool and update the Web and Technology Use forms. I would appreciate it if you gave permission for your child’s picture to be published on the class blog. The forms are located under the Registration section. Please refer to this link for details: https://www.k12northstar.org/Page/3162  
I will never post identifying names with the pictures.

DATES TO REMEMBER (more to come)

Friday, October 12, 2018
End of Quarter - Early Dismissal at 2 PM

Thursday, October 18, 2018
Pumpkin Carving - Please send in a pumpkin with your kiddo (we will team up and carve as many as we get)

Friday, October 19, 2018
Woodriver Halloween Carnival 5:00 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, October 25, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

Friday, October 26, 2018
No School - Parent/Teacher Conferences 

It's a good life!

Mr. Sassman