History Fair due date for 50 cards and outline, storyboard or draft has been moved to December 13th.

I will be at the San Marco Library this morning from 10am-12pm. Join me!

Need some help on History Day research?  See you there!

Grade are dropping like rocks! Have your checklist and cards every day, in class.

We will be having a simple benchmark exam on Friday.  I have given the students a study guide to make sure everyone is successful.  Tests are 25% of the entire grade, so I'm going to worry about you, call your parents and make sure you are doing what you can to earn the highest grade possible.  This week and next.....no homework except History Day projects.  (I am aware you have a science project due also!)

25 note-cards are due Monday, 11/15.

You're on your own this weekend since I'll be camping in a swamp!  Please be ready with the checklist and your research note-cards Monday.  If you need help, check for resources on entries below.

Research on your NHD Topic

I will be available this weekend for phone support.  Please call before 8 pm.  In two weeks students should have a minimum of 25 cards ready for inspection.  This process checking is to make sure students are working on the project.

Welcome to the Second 9-weeks!

Students, you made it!  (Parents, you did too!)  Our studies in World History will proceed at a slightly quicker pace now that you are aware of our ritual, routines and expectations.  We will continue our work in the textbook while you continue your research project for the National History Day.  Remember, this work is done on your own time, and you should plan to use the public library since ours is only open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and every other Wednesday. 

Use your checklist and be careful to be prepaired at the check-in dates.  Remember, the process is graded and each checkpoint will impact your 9-weeks grade.

Project-Hammurabi's Code-Due Oct 26th

We will be creating our own code of laws for school, based on Hammurabi, the famous ruler of Babylonia. Read ahead on pages 43 to 47 to learn more about Hammurabi's
Code, the first organized written code of law. You will create a small poster, no larger than a half poster board, to illustrate your own code of rules for JLCP.
Please design your project so that it:
1) Can be successfully transported to school,
2) Is colorful and pleasing to the eye,
3) Seriously addresses some of the challenges of being a student/teacher in 2010
4) Reflects the knowledge of "eye for and eye" thinking of Hammurabi's time
5) Follows the guidelines of the rubric. Turn it in on time!

RUBRIC for Making A Poster : Hammurabi's Code 2010

Due October 26th
Attractiveness
4The poster is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.
3The poster is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.
2The poster is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.
1The poster is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.
Knowledge: Eye for an Eye
4The poster includes all 10 required elements as well as additional information.
3All required elements are included on the poster.
2All but 1 of the required elements are included on the poster.
1Several required elements were missing.
Grammar
2There are no grammatical mistakes on the poster.
1There are more than 2 grammatical mistakes on the poster.

Mrs. England's Super JLCP NHD page

Click here for Mrs. England's page.  Scroll to the bottom, print out your checklist, according to the category you've chosen.  Complete everything for Oct. 14th.  http://www.duvalschools.org/landon/england/History%20Fair.htm

Scroll down for National History Day information. DCPS is down today. Also, scroll down for new LA blog.

The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (Thanks for the book P.B.) A new series with the movie coming out in April. Read the book!

LA Blog is up and running........

For Language Arts, please go to my new blog at http://mrshubbardslanguagearts.blogspot.com/

World History - NHD First Due Date is October 13th

Hopefully you are discussing topics with your parents.  Parents, if you have not been to the NHD site please go to http://www.nhd.org/.  On the 13th you will need:
1) A research topic-exactly what it is you intend to do your project on
2) 4x6 or 5x7 notecards-we will be learning how to write source cards in class
3) Four areas of interest concerning your topic, related to the "essential questions"


What are the essential questions?
1 What made this (debate, diplomacy) a success or a failure?
2 Was it a success in the beginning and later determined a failure? Why or why not?
3 Was an important group of people's voices silenced?
and the most important word - consequences.......
4 How does your topic have long-term impact?
5 How did it change history?

It's Time: History Fair is here!

Click here for everything you need.  Remember, it is my job to help your child get going on this....but all work is done outside of class.  Your child will be learning much more about this event this month.  For now, concentrate on the topic.  All projects must be approved by me.  Be sure to understand the difference between primary and secondary sources.  Your project needs both. 

Progress....

Thanks to all the parents for attending Open House. Hopefully, you know a bit more about me. I have opened up some grades on OnCourse and just need a few more days to open the rest. If any grade is in question, please give me until progress report day to work with your child. Remember, progress reports are just that: a snapshot in time. Grades change; things appear out of nowhere (backpacks, lockers, etc.) and land in the Basket of Eternal Forgiveness. There are no final dates for anything at this time.  History students read below (red.)


Language Arts: Your textbook is online; if you have online access you can leave it in your locker.  Go to http://www.classzone.com, click Language Arts, Middle School, Florida and Go. Choose your book cover for 6th grade. The student activation code is           3767769-10. I haven't tried this because my access is different than yours. If you have any problems, please have your child let me know.   


LA students took the District Writing Assessment #1 on September 1st.  Grades are in.  The essays were graded on a 6 point rubric based on 8th FCAT Writes requirements.  The average score was 2, and of course, I know your child is in 6th grade, not 8th.  So let's just consider this a starting place.  Most students are still in the narrative mode of middle school and did not properly dissect the prompt.  I could not help them with this during the evaluation, but I can now.  This first writing activity was "marked up" first for conventions (grammar and punctuation) and then graded for content in terms of properly responding to the prompt.  This grade is considered diagnostic (for me, other teachers may think otherwise, and that is their right) and will not count against their 9 week grade.  The instructions did tell students to use a second sheet of paper for planning  and I am counting this as a grade. Students must follow directions, and planning is essential for effective writing.  I made a copy of each student's essay for them to take home.  Ask your child for the copy. DO NOT redo the essay at home. That is my job and we will be doing that in the Writer's Workshop this week.  


History:  We are getting into the text.  We've been learning about strategies for reading non-fiction.  We have covered sections 1-1 and 1-2.  We will begin 1-3 AND Cornell-notetaking this week.  Students will see the samples of Cornell Notes that I had posted on my board at Open House.  A test will be coming, possibly Friday.  Check the planners.

Why can't I see my child's grade online?

OnCourse is a fantastic program and you will be able to see your child's grade online after the first progress report.  With only a few grades in the book, I don't want students "freaking out" about their grade.  I will keep them posted and remember........

• You can always reach me at home in the evenings (before 8pm please) by calling Ms. Cameron in guidance.  She will give you my home number.
• All grades are subject to change during the 9 weeks.  I have the ultimate say on grades.  If your child does all of the assignments and never adds to the class, he/she will not earn a grade of excellence (A).  Also, I spend every evening pouring over my gradebook and contacting parents to help struggling students; I am as concerned about your child's grade as you are.
• The Basket of Eternal Forgiveness is designed to help your child succeed.  Students are encouraged to use it.  More on this at Open House.
• Most importantly, grades are a method of communication between students and teachers.  Your child must be challenged in order to grow.  No one improves when under the impression that their work is perfect all the time.

Please bear with me.  I've been doing this a long time and you can trust me to properly evaluate your child's work.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello students and parents.  I am teaching two subjects this year and I am going to begin the year off with just one blog.  I will have many general items to share with you and it will be some time before I need to decide if we need one blog or two.  For now, BLACK font is for both subjects, RED is for World History and BLUE is for Language Arts.  Got it?  Go Lions!

Writing for Mrs. Hubbard's Class

Students, these rules are non-negotiable:

Never misspell a key term, name of a character, or place, which is easily found in your textbook or reading book.
Never begin a sentence with the word “Because.”
Use quotation marks if you are copying directly from a book, or the exact words someone said.
Don’t capitalize letters in the middle of a sentence or in the middle of a word.
Do capitalize all proper nouns: the names of people or places.
Never begin a sentence with:
Also….
I think….
I personally think….
They
Because
And
Today I am writing about
This paper is about
Like when

“Paraphrase” means to put into your own words. You must always paraphrase unless you use quotation marks. Never copy word for word out of a book, or other resource. It’s called plagiarism and it is not allowed.

No cutsie writing like “waz” or circles or hearts on top of the letter i.

Writing should be within the lines of the paper: only capitals should touch both lines, lower case should be half as high. (It’s time for your writing to “mature.”)

Enjoy writing!

FRIES

What are FRIES(S)? Fries are a tool to help students write strong paragraphs.

Facts
Reasons
Incidents
Examples
Statistics and Sensory details

Would you like fries with that? Why yes, thank you, I would!