English Portfolios

Today your student should come home with their English Portfolio.  This file folder is full of student grades, for them to "show off" at home.  This should let you know what your student needs to work on in the future. 

• Legible Handwriting
• Spelling, capitalization, and punctuation in writing
• Turning things in on time (there is always a 30 point deduction for late assignments)
• Making sure they have a name on their papers. (No-Name is always -10 points)
• Following directions
• Studying for tests/quizzes

Students can empty out these portfolios at home and are expected to bring back the empty file folder by Monday, with a parent signature.

BONUS POINT OPPORTUNITY:  Students can get 5 bonus points added to their next assignment for snapping a picture of something from their Portfolio on display at their home!  These can be emailed to me at erin.gilchrist@trussvillecityschools.com or simply shown to me in class.  RATIONALE FOR THIS: Many things motivate students, but having pride in your own work is one of the biggest motivators. Help give your students fuel to move forward and accomplish even more this year. For students, ownership and pride in work is a catalyst for achievement.

Mystery Prompts: Harris Burdick



Mystery Story Writing Prompts

MR. LINDEN'S LIBRARY
______________
He had warned her about the book.  Now it was too late.

 

Poetry and Art

While studying how to create an image with our words for the last few weeks- this weeek- we actually are creating an image.  Lately we have been studying figurative language in English class.  Today we have composed a poem about the emotions tied to being a 6th grader.  We used our figurative language to compose and create these poems.

Taking a page from artist, Mark Rothko, who infamously used colors to express emotion in his abstract paintings, the next day of class will be all about painting the emotions to guide the reader through our poems.  See the Prezi below for more information regarding painting emotions.

http://prezi.com/hi98vfiqhvta/rothko-painting-emotions/?auth_key=a39e9984cffaea208c6c11fd3da9cdca08932cec

Monday will be our ART WALK where 6th grade students get to enjoy the work of others while showing off their own works of art as well. The displays will demonstrate creativity and their knowledge of figurative language put to use in their art, writing, and poetry all at once.

Snapshot of Summer

For your first blogging assignment, I would like for you to look back at all the memories of your summer and take a mental picture of a particular moment you would like to keep forever.  Once you have this mental "snapshot" of summer, I would like for you to describe the picture in full, without telling us exactly what your picture is about.  What I'm wanting you to do is create an image with your words.  This week we'll be covering figurative language and will talk much more about painting a picture with your words.  See the first comment (below) for an example.  When you finish, go through and read what other people have written...see if you can guess the picture that their words have created.

Welcome Students!

Mrs. Gilchrist's 6th Grade English Class

Mrs. Erin Naugher Gilchrist Ed.S.



Hello and Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!  This is my first year teaching here at HTMS and I am excited about working with the 6th grade students.  I have six years of experience developing young writers and readers in the 8th grade and look forward to the change of working with 6th graders.  I have found that within the heart and mind of every student is a creative and innovative spirit.  By creative writing and critical discourse in class each day, I hope to help spark my students to become learners for life.    

I am married to my best friend who is an elementary teacher in Hoover, AL.  Blake (my husband) and I are completing our first children's book.  We live in Springville with our dog, Ted.  When it comes to sculpting my students to be learners for life, I truly practice what I preach.  I graduate in December with my Ph.D. in English Curriculum & Instruction.  My hobbies are writing, painting, being with family, and drinking lots of coffee.

The SUPPLY LIST can be found under the new announcements tab at http://tiny.cc/fcc7iw

please visit my blogsite at http://mrsgilchristsclassblog.blogspot.com

Follow us on Twitter @MrsGilsEnglish

6th Grade is the "Write" Time to Learn!

A typical, everyday scene in Mrs. Gilchrist's 6th Grade English Class.

My students spend most every day in English class honing their writing skills.  It's my privilege and honor to have as a job description "to promote my students to be innovators through writing."  I hope to help usher creativity and critical thinking as my students grow in writing, reading, and literacy skills in this important stage of life: 6th grade.  As their guide in reading and writing instruction for this school year, my goal is that my students may fall in love with learning as much as I have!