January 23, 2012
Happy New Year, 6th Grade Family!
I hope everyone's Christmas/New Year break was peaceful and productive! It seems like a very distant memory to me, as we jumped right back into the swing of 6th grade and haven't slowed down a bit!
Confirmation retreat was wonderful, and I hope you had a chance to talk to your child about it. Sister Mary James and Brian Stoyell-Mulholland worked very hard to bring the Confirmandi an extremely worthwhile experience, and they did a fantastic job! I am sure many of you have already heard that Confirmation will be received in 8th grade after this year. I think that is a great idea, as the true meaning of the sacrament will be better felt by students who are a little bit older. I am looking forward to celebrating Confirmation for the last time with my students this year. The big day is quickly approaching, so please make sure your child is studying their review packet and orange folder regularly.
In ELA news, I have put together a packet that summarizes and reviews the skills and concepts we are working on in class. For each story we read, we focus on a certain comprehension skill (they are repeated throughout the year) and a certain grammar skill (these are unique for each story). I decided to create and send home the packet so parents can be aware of the skills we are working on, and help reinforce them at home. The first two pages of the packet (called "Family Times") give a summary of the story and possible talking points or activities families can do together. I encourage you to take a look, and even if you can't do the specific activities, try to work the concepts into conversation with your child. Making a connection between what students study in school and its application in the real world is a very useful learning strategy.
I am having a fantastic year with your children, and I hope they are having a ball while learning and sharing their faith in 6th grade. If there is anything Mrs. Rodriguez or I can do to enhance your child's educational experience, please don't hesitate to contact us!
God Bless...
-Miss Giunta
December 13th
In Confirmation news, this Wednesday is the parent sacrament retreat from 7:30 - 8:30 in the St. Francis Room in the parish building, and Sunday is the Confirmation Enrollment Mass at 10:00. Hopefully everyone can make it to both events as we begin the exciting journey to Confirmation Day! The make-up date for the parent retreat is October 4th. Email Sister Mary James at Prep@stmarymagdalen.net if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you for all your support - I can feel that this is going to be a great year!
- Miss Giunta
September 19, 2011
Hello 6th Grade Team!
It was fantastic seeing so many familiar faces and meeting all the new ones at Back-to-School night! Miss Connor and I are trying to figure out how to post the video we created on this website, so bear with us. I edited it on a Mac, and we use PCs here, so it's tricky. If anyone has any ideas to that end, we would be very grateful to hear them!
Students have begun writing their personal narratives this week, and I am very excited to see what the kids come up with. There are so many creative and talented writers in this class!
We have been discussing figurative language, as it is such a vital element in good story writing. Figurative language is everywhere - in the books we read, the songs we hear, and the conversations we have. Help your child improve their writing and comprehension by pointing it out when you hear it. The different types we have been talking about are: hyperbole, oxymoron, personification, simile, metaphor, symbolism, irony and sensory imagery. Ask your child to explain to you what each of them mean and give you examples (I know it may have been awhile since you heard these terms!).
In Religion we are exploring the Old Testament this year, so last week we talked about the scientific reliability of the stories we will read there. While everything written about God is true, the stories themselves may not be, from a scientific or historical standpoint. Ask your child to explain this concept further. It's pretty good fodder for dinnertime conversation!
The religion quiz on Friday did not go as smoothly as I would have liked. We talked extensively about the concepts on the quiz, and I had students highlight in their books pretty much everything that would be included, yet many of them acted like they had never seen nor heard of these concepts before. I will continue to prepare them for quizzes/tests in school, but they must be responsible for going over the notes/textbook readings at home as well. As I said, the highlighted parts (and the review at the end of each chapter) will be very valuable in preparing for the quizzes and tests. I am hoping the students who did poorly learned a lesson, and will be better prepared for the next one.
***CONFIRMATION UPDATE: Sister Mary James has just informed me that we will be handling the community service element of Confirmation
differently this year. Rather than require a set a number of hours the students must complete, we are leaving it up to the parents to ensure the students get a varied community service experience. The meeting on October 20th will explain everything you need to know about this and more. If you have any questions of concerns previous to that, you can contact Sister at Prep@stmarymagdalen.net.
Lastly, please check the conference schedule below, as I will not be sending out reminders (I will take any opportunity to save a tree :). As always, feel free to email me with any questions or concerns. Thank you for sharing your children with me - I am so excited about spending this year with them!!
-Miss Giunta
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, Oct. 18
4:15 Johnstone
4:30 Buttimer
4:45 Barker
5:00 Hassey
break
5:45 Bradley
6:00 Freind
6:15 Palermo
6:30 Higgins
6:45 McLaughlin
7:00 Curran
Friday, Oct. 21
8:00 Boyle
8:15 Juliana
8:30 Collins
8:45 Palomba
9:00 Britt
9:15 Feehery
9:30 Coyle
9:45 Brennan
10:00 McAnulla
10:15 Courter
break
11:00 Wolk
11:15 Klusarits
11:30 Bateman
11:45 Hasson
12:00 Aman
12:15 Kelly
12:30 Lynch
12:45 McCusker
1:00 Gilligan
1:15 Busche
September 12, 2011
Hello 6th Grade Parents!!
Hello 6th Grade Parents!
We have a LOT going on over here during this Christmas season of sharing and giving, and I wanted to touch base with you about 2 things that are happening tomorrow.
Hopefully your child gave you the flyer about the Hanukkah/Christmas celebration tomorrow after school. I hope many of our 6th grade students can attend. It is a great opportunity to meet kids from another culture/religion and see that they are just like us! It is also a lot of fun. The kids play with dreidles and eat delicious traditional Jewish food and desserts, as well as some of their favorite Christmas treats.
Tomorrow evening at Youth Group (7:00 – 8:30), we will have a big Christmas giving celebration. The creator of this monumental charity project, Samantha Johnston-Twining, will be there (and possibly a news crew!) to gather all the gifts we have gotten and thank all the generous participants. There will be refreshments served, and we hope as many of our little Advent Angels can come as possible.
Due to all the worthwhile activities for 6th grade tomorrow, Mrs. Rodriguez and I won’t be giving any homework. We hope the students will take advantage of their free time to join us in celebrating the love and joy of Christmas!
If any student would like to stay at school for the Hanukkah/Christmas celebration until Youth Group, I will happily watch them and provide them with pizza for dinner. Students may bring a change of clothes to school with them.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you all for your amazing generosity!!!!
-Miss Giunta
November 7th, 2011
Hello Confirmandi and Families!
We have been reviewing many of the important aspects of Catholicism in preparation for Confirmation in February. Much of the content includes concepts and info all Catholics should know such as the Beatitudes, the 10 Commandments, the Mysteries of the Rosary, Works of Mercy, Fruits of the Holy Spirit, etc. The orange folders are a good study tool, and we are learning and reviewing topics in class every day. Students will have worksheets, activities and other valuable preparation information in their Religion copybooks as well as the Confirmation folder of their dockets. Please help them review and keep this information as part of them for the sacrament and also for a life lived in the footsteps of Christ.
In ELA we are talking about fact vs. opinion. Students get confused sometimes about the difference between the two as concepts get more complicated than "Pepperoni is the best pizza topping." If your child expresses an opinion, ask him or her if they can back up the opinion with facts. When you express an opinion, try to do the same. Hopefully, this will encourage students to research topics they are interested in, and teach them that opinions are taken more seriously if they are supported by valid factual information.
Thank you all for your support, help, and prayers. Special thanks to Mrs. Feehery and Mrs. Klusarits for a splendidly spooky Halloween party! I hope to see you all soon, but in the meantime do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns!
-Miss Giunta
October 24th, 2011
Greetings and Salutations, Sixth Grade Team!
It was WONDERFUL speaking to you all at conferences last week! Getting an opportunity to communicate with you about your child's progess and opportunities for success is extremely productive and rewarding. I feel like we are on a great path for the year! If anyone did not come to conferences for any reason and would like to speak to me and/or Miss Connor please just email us and we will set up a time that is convenient for us both.
In ELA we are still talking about figurative language and sensory imagery and putting them to use in the form of lyric poems. Some of the kids struggle with poetry, so they may need your help bringing out their inner Wordsworth. Try to help them describe how their topic makes them feel as well as how it looks, sounds, tastes, and smells. Encourage the use of figurative language whenever possible in any writing the students do, but especially poetry.
I hope you were all able to attend the Confirmation meeting on Thursday night. I hope you and your chilldren don't feel overwhelmed by the requirements. We will work on the questions quite a bit in class, and I am here to help with anything else they are struggling with. This should be a time of peace, joy and reflection, not stress. Please let me know if you have any concerns regarding Confirmation.
I hope the kids find time to be productive, creative and relaxed on their day off while we teachers enhance our own skilss at an in-service meeting at Archbishop Carroll High School. Here's to a fantastic end to 2011 as 2012 creeps closer and closer!
- Miss Giunta
October 10th, 2011
Hello 6th Grade Team!
I hope everyone had a fantastic time at the SMM Homecoming on Sunday! I was very sad to have to miss it. I had already committed to helping a friend with a film project that afternoon, and I did not want to disappoint him. I would have much rather been at my alma mater cheering the Hawks on to victory and seeing all the friendly faces of SMM families. I heard it was a great success!
We are still working hard as a community of learners here in 6th grade. Our study of the Old Testament continues, as we talk about creation and the fall of Adam and Eve. Students may have a hard time grasping the symbolism of the Old Testament, so discuss it with them whenever the opportunity arises. Intellectual conversations are a great way to spend a long car trip or a rainy afternoon. Your kids are at an age where they can actually come up with some intriguing questions and theories. Discussing interesting topics such as this with them is one of my favorite parts of teaching!
We are continuing our study of elements of a story (plot, setting, characters, theme) in ELA and again, any reinforcement that can be given at home is extremely worthwhile. After watching a movie, you could discuss all these things with your child. Students should always be reading a book of their choice at home and during SSR time in school, so you could ask them to tell you about it. As you heard in the back-to-school video, reading helps students in ALL aspects of their education, so set a good example and pick up a book yourself! I have some recommendations if you want to hear a few. 
I look forward to speaking to all of you at conferences. We are a team in your child's development: academically, spiritually and personally. Maintaining open lines of communication as well as a positive, supportive attitude with and towards each other is essential in giving your child the best educational experience possible. I know that is your goal, and it is certainly mine as well! God Bless you and your families!
-Miss Giunta
September 26th, 2011
Greetings 6th Grade Parents and Students!
We are nearing the end of September already - I can't believe it! They say that time flies when you are having fun, and I can't argue with that.
For those parents that missed the video presentation, we will be lending out copies of the DVD for home viewing. It turns out that the only way to post it on this site is to link it from SchoolTube or YouTube and we are not comfortable letting the world see our 6th Grade superstars just yet! So, just let me know if you'd like to view the DVD at home, and it's yours!
In other news, we have been talking about using "active" studying techniques a good deal in class so far this year, and I want to make sure parents are aware of what that means. "Passive" studying is simply reading the material over. It can be somewhat helpful, but is not the most effective way of learning new information.
"Active" sudying is experiencing the material in other ways than just visually. For example: making flashcards, writing a rhyme or chant, creating a mneumonic device, acting out the word/concept, drawing a picture of the word/concept, creating an outline, or it could be as simple as just copying the important points from the book into a copybook. The act of writing the material cements it into the brain much more firmly than just running one's eyes over it. Combining studying with movement and/or socialization or music are also a great tools. Get the family involved if you can!
I am simply thrilled to have the opportunity to be teaching 6th grade Language Arts and Religion this year! We will read lots of great books, articles and stories: fiction, nonfiction, historical fiction, fantasy, poems - you name it, we will read it! We will also be focusing on improving our writing, as writing is a skill that will enhance both educational and career opportunities throughout one's life.
We also have the privledge of receiving the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Confirmation this year. That will be a very exciting time, and I look forward to sharing it with you and your children! We welcome Sister Mary James as our new DRE (Director of Religious Education). She will be invaluable in making this a very meaningful experience for the Confirmandi and their families.
I will update my page every week to let parents know exactly what we are working on, so when you ask your kids "What did you learn today?" and they say "Nothing," you can have some actual information to follow up! I will also post the week's homework, although I will ask that you check back daily often as changes sometimes need to be made for various reasons. We are nothing if not flexible!
Last week we did some getting-to-know-you activites and got ourselves acclimated to the new classroom, new schedule, and new school year. Students shared some things about themselves and learned some things about me. They created paper dolls that represent themselves to display in the classroom, and they were quite interesting, to say the least! We also met with our 2nd grade prayer partners and did a "Scavenger Hunt" as an ice-breaker activity with them. The kids had a lot of fun, and made a new friend in the process!
We assigned jobs (boards/erasers, attendance, schedule, trash/pencil sharpener, library, messenger, Smartboard, paper passer, baskets, calendar, substitute) which will change monthly. Books were distributed and formatted for use. The workbooks need to be covered in clear contact paper or something similar. Book socks for textbooks are allowed, but not necessary.
Please do not hesitate to email me or leave a message for me at school any time to discuss your child's experience in 6th grade. We are partners in your child's academic success, and open and frequent communication will only strengthen the foundation on which they will grow. I look forward to meeting you at Back-to-School Night!