Homework: Media Ownership (Due 5/4)

Please read one of the following articles (copies handed out in class if you prefer to read on paper rather than online):

Making Music
Why Media Ownership Matters to Kids

and answer the following questions in a comment:

1. List three reasons (in a full sentence) why it is important for people to be able to access t.v., music, etc. made by a variety of different people.
2. Does the media do a good job of presenting different types of information or opinions? Why or why not?
3. Are there any types of music on the radio, television shows on TV, or magazines in stores that you wish were available but aren’t?

Feel free to respond (respectfully) to other students’ comments and add any opinions or thoughts you have on this topic.

Homework: Turn Off TV Week is April 23-29

Are you up to the challenge? This week you have a choice about your homework. You can either:

1. Give up TV cold turkey for one full week. This includes videos, and watching TV shows on the Internet. Just get a note from your parent or guardian certifying that you abstained from staring into the eerie blue eye for one full week and consider your homework done.
2. If you simply can’t live without TV, you will need to chart your TV watching habits. For the entirety of the next week (starting today, Friday, April 20th), you must record the name, duration and personal rating (on a scale of 1-5) for every single show you watch. **Note: usual TV watching rules at your home still apply. You may not use this assignment to force your families to allow you to watch more TV.

I will have TV diaries to hand out in class. If you lose yours or are absent, you can download and print another copy from the Homework Site. Please see me with any questions.

6th Grade Computers Homework Policy

Okay, before you get nervous, there is NO homework over spring break.

Exhale.

Now, here are some general guidelines (some slightly revised) about blog homework for this class.

• Grading/Credit: To receive full credit (check plus/5 points) for homework posted to the blog, it must:
  • Be turned in on time
  • Answer all questions in the assignment
  • Be written using complete sentences
  • Explain the reasons behind your opinions
• Absences: If you are absent unexpectedly (due to illness, for example), you are expected to read and complete the online homework within the week of your return. If you are planning an absence (to travel, for example) you are expected to complete the online homework before you leave, or within two days of your return to school. If you have concerns about these deadlines, please speak with me individually.
• Late Homework: One half of a point (out of five) is subtracted for each day your homework is late, up to six days. After that, some homework might no longer receive credit at all. Homework that you can turn in for partial credit, any day before the end of the trimester includes:
  • Homework you use in your projects
  • Homework that we don’t discuss the answers for in class
  • Homework that asks only for your opinion and not for factual answers

  Homework for which we do discuss the answers in class may not be turned in after that class.

• Extra Credit: Occasionally I will offer up ways to earn extra credit on your homework. One way you can always get extra credit is by responding to a classmate’s post. Each thoughtful (i.e., backed up with evidence) and considerate response to a classmate can earn you up to two homework points.

If you have any questions or concerns, please see me during break, Monday Lunch Lab, or after school. I’m always happy to help.

–Lauren

6th Grade Organization/Homework Support Guidelines

These guidelines apply to the entire 6th grade curriculum. You should have received them from Morgan already, but I thought it would be helpful to have them up here, too:

• Teacher signs assignment book every afternoon to ensure that all assignments are written down; student is responsible for approaching teachers (including substitute teachers)*
• Family/Student will have a specific hour that homework get started every night (example: 6pm after extracurricular activity)
• Homework gets done at a specific desk/table every night
• When homework is completed, it is shown to family and they sign the assignment book ensuring that all homework was completed.
• Family helps to clean out homework folder and transfer any graded work to binder so only homework that needs to be turned in is in the folder
• Homework folder and binders are put in backpack by the door ready to go in the morning. Family verifies that Homework folder is in backpack.
• Calendar with long term projects posted near homework desk
• Family and students break down long-term projects into smaller tasks and mini-deadlines.
• Family helps to monitor progression of project and check off tasks on calendar as they are completed.

*If teacher signature is not obtained, family/student will check homework website or call classmates

If you have any questions about organization/home support, please feel free to contact Morgan @ mlcostanzo@windrush.org

Be careful where/how you comment

Ladies and Gentlemen, please be careful about which post you are writing a comment for. A lot of homework responses are ending up at the bottoms of other, unrelated posts. I will start moving them to their correct locations but if you want to make sure you get credit for your comments being posted on time, it’s best if I don’t have to hunt for them all over the blog.

Also, though your new nickname may be well-recognized by your classmates, I may not know to whom to give credit when a post is made by “pee wee” or “tink.” Therefore, please also include your first name (remember, no last names!) in addition to any nicknames/handles/usernames you are using.