Robert Gray Middle School

ADAMS’ HOMEWORK POLICY Each Thursday I will send home our class agenda, assignments and news on a flyer called a Week-at-a-Glance.  This will also showcase student’s excellent writing.  If parents want to contact me—you will find my contact info on the flyer, or you may write me a note.  The Week-at-a-Glance is due Wednesday with a parent signature verifying the completion of each child’s reading hours and homework.  LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED FOR 1 WEEK ONLY AND DUE ON WEDNESDAY.  Each WEEK students are required to do homework for their 3 period reading, language arts and social studies classes. -- 2 ½ hours of reading--1 hour of LA or SS homeworkREADING HOMEWORK:  Students should generally be reading novels at their reading level and about 150 or more pages in length.  Occasionally, a great book beckons that is shorter than that—read it, then make up for it by reading a longer book next time. You may use this time to write in your reading journal or answer another writer, as well.  Each week you can earn extra credit by reading significantly more than 2½ hrs.  Most students read about ½ hr. per day.  I am good with that.  I like to read for big chunks of time; sometimes I will chew on a great book for 5 hrs. or more at a time then not read for a few days.  Do as you choose, but the hours need to be completed by Tuesday night so that you can turn in your Week-at-a-Glance and JOURNAL ENTRY Wednesday.  LA or SS HOMEWORK:  Each week you will need to do one hour of LA or SS homework.  Your goal is to improve your skills, get smarter, practice something new, help the community, explore the arts and theater, stretch, become more well-rounded, create, increase your talents or finish a class project.  Sometimes I will assign something like I did the first two weeks of school and will do so a few more times during the year.  Fourth term you will be assigned to do 10 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE (saee below).  But, most weeks, you and your family will decide what you will pursue.  Most kids focus on a project for a month, then switch to a new one.  This gives you enough time to really learn and practice something significant.  Several times this year, you will be asked to share your projects with the class.  On your Week-at-a-Glance, write a short paragraph about what you did, what you learned and what you thought about it.  Your parents need to sign it to verify that it is complete.  The following are some things that other 6^th graders have enjoyed doing:

a finished paper

get help editing a piece of writing

to the theater

visit a museum

scrapbook an event or vacation

make cards for soldiers

create a game on the computer

make a video

learn to sew

1 meal a week

write

paint or draw a picture--attach the model you are following

map your way to a destination, then go

learn a new skill

create a web site

learn to play the guitar

learn a new song

practice a duet with a friend—film

tutor a sibling

watch a SS related movie on the History channel

illustrate a story or comic book you wrote

follow a news story

research a candidate

build a model 

research a subject you love

finish a project started in class….

HOW TO WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH:  --autobiography homework:  Given 9/23/10 due 9/29 is one of the first pieces of writing you will do for this class.  You want it to shine.  Show us your best self and best writing skills.  Revise and edit it to the best of your ability then ask others to look at it to give you pointers, if you choose.  It is ok if your parents give you advice. They are your greatest fans and know you better than anyone.  Your best advice will come from those who know you the most. I like putting it together on the computer; then I can cut and paste photos on it.  If you can, print it on photo paper.

This is a sketch that will hang in our room this year beside a finished piece of your writing. When you publish your works, people will want to know a little about yourself.  You or I may choose part of this sketch to tell others who you are.  Your audience may want to know things such as:$0 $0 $0 $0 $0how you got into writing

personal information about family, your age, where you live, hobbies, interests, goals, future plans--they want a little glimmer into who you are

REQUIRED PARTS:

typed—finished piece is 1 page only

photo of yourself

one strong paragraph telling about yo

list of your hobbies or interests

quotation that reflects you and your values

revised and edited well so that everybody can enjoy it

ADDITIONAL THINGS YOU MAY ADD:

additional paragraphs or sentences

more quote

more pictures

funny things

decorations or pretty pape

quote from writings                                   

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FIRST EXPOSITORY PIECE OF WRITING--Additional writing option--HOW TO WRITE A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: These sketches are important parts of our classroom that tell us about authors we like or are learning about.  You may choose a person to write about, or ask Mrs. Adams for a list to choose from.  Once your person is chosen, research that person.  One or two sources should be enough.  Now use that information to write the biographical sketch. It should include the same required elements of the autobiographical sketch above.  Be sure to include a picture and a quote from their writings