Sillin Spotlights

Steal Away Home Novel

2012-01-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

We are continuing reading our chapters present and past, daily mini assignments covering figurative language, literary elements, comprehension, vocabulary and summary practice. Many students have checked out books from me to take home, so please read with your child - IT'S A GREAT HISTORICAL FICTION READ ABOUT KANSAS!
Next week Jan. 23-27 we should cover roughly chapters 7-16.
Starbooks Cafe will be open Thursday, Jan. 26.
Reminder - no blogs this nine-weeks because they will be working on a technology project to upload to the website. I'm coordinating this with Mr. Smith!

Steal Away Home

2012-01-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

We will begin the novel "Steal Away Home" on Friday, Jan. 13th. This novel is cross-curricular with Kansas History and writing. They will be creating a Reading/Kansas History project using Story Jumper and other technology pieces.
This historical novel tells the story of the Underground Tunnel and Kansas contributors that defined Kansas as an up and coming state.
My students will work on "Show the Way" quilt pieces to make a giant quilt with explanations used for the Underground Tunnel.
The third Common Assessment will be given this week. Other preparatory tests will be used for review in February and March.

A Christmas Carol

2011-12-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Two more weeks til the semester end - WOW - are you as shocked as I am?
We finished problem/solution and cause/effect text structures in November. December reminds all of us of the true meaning of Christmas. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, is the classic read I chose. The classes will read the novel in play form. All my students will have a t least three parts to read. We will conclude with a vocabulary test and comprehension test.
The final Starbooks Cafe open for this semester is December 16th. I am offering peppermint mocha frappucino along with hot drinks. They will cost a dollar however because of the expense of making them.
My Christmas wish list if any parents are interested include: pencils, glue sticks, magnetic dry eraser from Office Max, M & M's, Skittles, small candy bars or jolly ranchers, styrofoam cups 12oz. size, plastic spoons, napkins all for the cafe!

November already!

2011-11-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that 1/3 of our school year together is complete! I love my kids this year - they work hard, they are attentive, and seemed to really like reading class. It sure makes going to school everyday a blessing.
We are working on compare/contrast and cause/effect stories and short articles. We will begin problem/solution in a few weeks. I particularly like teaching problem/solution techniques with the ever popular Sir Arthur Doyle-Sherlock Holmes:)
If you have an old or classic Clue game please send it to school. I promise to take care of it and return it for Thanksgiving break!

Silent Auction for Rion Sandavol

2011-10-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

My TA's works of Halloween art are on display in the cafetorium. The kids painted and designed Halloween cans and filled them with various goodies provided by The Hutchinson Clinic and my TA families. We are hoping to raise a sizeable amount to contribute to Rion Sandavol's family fund.
Reading classes are finishing up folklore with a 3D pop-up project and summary of a fairytale/folklore book with a partner. They are due Monday, October 31st!
We will focus on another persuasive article over vampires - one of my favorite topics:)
We will also delve into compare and contrast text structure. Do you remember Twilight Zone?????

The Weather is Changing!

2011-10-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

October is here and the end of the first quarter is Friday, October 14th. Just a reminder that all blogs are due by the 14th and worth 25 points. Blogs can be done before and after school, TA, Enrichment, Read-in's on Fridays, or at home. Please check with your child to see if they've completed their blog.
Check out the blog and read what the kids are reading - they just might entice you to pick up a selection!
The first reading test is Thursday over Rikki Tikki Tavi, a story from our basal that we've been reading. It will be multiple choice.
I will email my parents of late assignments instead of detention slips this year. I am using the email that you provided to the office. Please make sure you've updated your email!
I absolutely want my students to turn in their work it breaks my heart to put zeros in the grade book:(
My TA will be completing their MAD Make A Difference project this month. Watch for our spooky idea in two weeks on the PHMS newsletter and KIDZ news!

Starbooks Cafe

2011-09-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

The Starbooks Cafe opened last Friday and again today in my room during reading classes. So far I have purchased $114 worth of spoons, cups, 2 different cappuccino mixes, hot chocolate mix, apple cider packets, hot teas, marshmallows, and aerosol whipped topping. This amount also includes a new Westbend coffee pot 30 cup maker from Westlake. The coffee pot was $49 and I had $15 off in rewards - YAHOO! This has been a wonderful addition to the coffee bar - wish I would've thought about it last year!
I will make a deposit over Labor Day weekend. The kids know we keep track of the expenditures and money taken in. At the end of the year we will donate the profit!
Last year's donation went to the Ronald McDonald House in Wichita!

First District Common Assessments

2011-08-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

Parents - I will administer the first District Common Assessments. It is usually review of everything they've had and possibly a few text structures or features they are not as familiar with.
I will also administer the San Diego Quick Assessment to determine their instructional level. I will share the results of these tests at the fall parent teacher conference sessions.
Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast this week:)

Welcome 7th grade parents to the new 2011-2012 year!

2011-08-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Thank you for coming to the Open House last night. I'm so excited to get this year started. This year I am teaching reading only for Team B, and Ms. Phillips will teach the writing.
I will update this parent blog periodically to keep you informed about reading class throughout this year. Please don't hesitate to email or call with any questions or concerns.
I appreciate the parent support at home encouraging your child to read at least 20-30 minutes each night. They will be so excited to accumulate their auction bucks for the end of the year Reading Auction!

End of the Year!

2011-05-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

The end of the year Reading Auction will be held Friday, May 20th from 1:55-3:20 pm. You are more than welcome to join the festivities! After the auction the reading store will be open for my students to spend the remainder of their Obama bucks!
Be sure to check out our mythology webpage my writing students created the past few weeks.
The final week will conclude with a mythology Bingo! It's a crowd pleaser!
Thank you for being such wonderful parents and sending your blooming learners to PHMS! I will deeply miss this class.
Ms. Sillin

Mythology

2011-04-21T08:52:00.000-07:00

Please check out our pop talks blog to see the Literature Circle book trailers that were uploaded to the blog.
We will conclude the 4th quarter with a mythology unit. We will view "Jason and the Argonauts" and then begin the epic 'The Adventures of Ulysses" - in other words the classic Odyssey by Homer. I love mythology so it is a joyous and intense unit!
In writing my writing classes will pilot creating a web page - the first here at PHMS!
It will be a mythology page depicting the Greek gods/goddesses greats!

Spring Break

2011-03-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

It's almost spring break. The end of the third quarter and onto our final quarter of the year. Where did the time go? My how my readers and writers have grown - literally:)
We are finishing up our state reading assessments this week and will begin literature circles after Spring Break. I will introduce the circles with book trailers that my readers made last year! I'm excited to see the book trailer projects my kids turn out this year!
I have a few exciting writing projects the final quarter also. One of the projects will be edited with 8th grade partners. All of our middle school writers will be completing a similar writing project to be partner edited.
Enjoy your spring break vacation - I will be in San Antonio!

Review Review Review

2011-02-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

It's that time parents - our MARCH MADNESS begins:) We finished Steal Away Home novel and will review and test next week Feb. 22nd. We will review types of texts, text features, structures, and vocabulary to prepare for the Kansas State Assessments.
I am looking forward to parent/teacher conferences on Tuesday and Thursday! I have parent letter about the Reading Auction for you and test results to share with you concerning your child.
Enjoy this beautiful weather right now - I'm ready for spring:)

It's a New Year!

2011-01-07T04:46:00.000-08:00

Where did 2010 go?????? Well, welcome 2011 and to all the exciting things planned this semester. In reading we began the novel Steal Away Home. This novel ties in with Kansas History/Mrs. Siefkes lessons. I had the opportunity to meet the author last October at the State Reading Conference. She was a delight and just as vibrant as ever! The majority of the third quarter grade has to do with this novel, so we take our time covering it. We will also be taking practice formative tests on the KCA website to prepare for our March Madness-state assessments!
In writing classes we are continuing rainbowing, free-write piece, and other grammar skill lessons. My students will send their persuasive letters to businesses next Friday and will wait in anticipation for reading auction prizes! I will be sending a parent letter in late February about this BIG EVENT!

Persuasive and Text Structures

2010-11-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

We have been reading, reviewing, and responding to persuasive text and various text structures including, cause/effect, problem/solution, and compare/contrast. I've been using some articles, and also stories from the basal reader on the Twilight Zone! Do you remember those episodes? I sure do.
We are reviewing and adding new figurative language terms. Each term had assignments and/or projects attached to them. Maybe you heard about our famous voice threads you will be able to view on the blog! So excited about that!!!!!
Please continue to have them read every night and add up those auction bucks. If they haven't mastered the list of roots/affixes and their definitions make sure they are devoting some study time to that as well I test them every other week right now until they master them:)

Units begin

2010-09-23T08:55:00.000-07:00

We completed each text type - one for each week of school! Yahoo! Now the fun begins when we explore each text type or structure in depth. We will begin with narrative text and problem/solution text structure with the story RIkki-Tikki-Tavi from our basal reader. This story and other fairytale, folktale stories will correlate with the Social Studies International Fair in October.
In writing we will begin figurative language. There will be a host of exciting writing and technology projects with figurative language. Be on the look out in the hallways and classrooms, or some posted on the web:)
Looking forward to visiting with you next week and parent teacher conferences!

September beginnings!

2010-09-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Reading and studying the different types of text structures are in full bloom:) We've covered technical reading, the first District Common Assessments, and now narrative text. Looking ahead to persuasive and expository yet this month.
Also I wanted to remind you about the upcoming Prairie Book Festival, Saturday, Sept. 25th from 10-4 at the Hutchinson Public Library Campus. Many enlightening authors and contests will be available. Please check out the website
www.prairiebookfestival.com for more information on the contests and authors!

We are working on typing our first draft and then revising our Moment in Time writing piece. Everyone is on BuhlerDocs now. My students can work on their writing via the PHMS website now! Oh joy!!!!!!

Starbooks Cafe Opens

2010-08-26T14:47:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the grand opening of the Starbooks Cafe. They can bring a quarter for a hot drink of their choice to enjoy during reading class.
Please encourage your child to make a selection of books they are interested in. They can come from home if approved by me, my library, school library, or public library. The student will read a book and record their information on the reading log. They will choose one book they finished each nine-weeks to post on the class reading blog.
Please encourage and inspire them to read books they are interested in. When they finish the book I will award auction bucks according to the completed reading material.
Remember only one per nine-weeks is for a grade, the rest of their reading is for pure enjoyment and recording if they want to earn auction money for the Reading Auction at the end of the year! It is their choice - and last year it was a HUGE hit with my readers!

Great Beginnings 8/23/2010

2010-08-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a great beginning school year!
Parents - I will post tidbits about reading and writing throughout the year.
We are starting the year in reading with mini lessons on the text types. Most Fridays will be Read-in days where the students are allowed to purchase their hot drink of choice at the Starbooks Cafe-YUMMO!
We will conclude the year with the Reading Auction - so please encourage your child to read - read - read!
In writing class we will also do mini lessons over the writing process. Their first writing piece is called "A Moment in Time".
Thank you for coming to Open House. I still have flyers and business cards if you need them.

Reading Auction

2010-05-13T13:40:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe our year together is coming to a close next week. We will be celebrating in a big way with the much anticipated Reading Auction! You are more than welcome to attend Friday morning 945-11:15!
Please encourage your children to read this summer - so many fantastic books - so many books with so much time spent at activities, riding in cars, relaxing by the pool, walking and listening to audio books etc...
Thank you for a wonderful year with your children. I love them all!

Looking for a Few Good Parents

2010-04-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

The Reading Auction will take place in the cafetorium Tuesday, May 25th 7th and 8th hours of the day (1:54-3:20). I am needing parent help with this project. If you could volunteer to help with the auction or the auction store please email me at csillin@buhlerschools.org
I would greatly appreciate any donations for the auction or auction store as well!

Check it out!

2010-04-08T07:44:00.001-07:00

Parents and students,
Check out the City of Hutchinson brochures that are displayed at the Hutchinson Clinic, our PHMS business partners. My writing students made these - and I'm very proud of them. In fact, I was so proud I decided that my writing students should make detailed PHMS brochures for our Step-up kids coming in June. I will be assisting with the Step-up program in June and the committee loved this idea. Ms. Phillips will have her writing students make them as well.
Just wanted to celebrate with you.
In reading we are busy making book posters and BOOK TRAILERS to put on the web! What a learning experience! This group project will complete the Literature Circles Unit!

Spring Break!

2010-03-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Wishing all my students and their families a very restful and enjoyable spring break! I will be watching lots of basketball cheering those Cats and Hawks on!

Literature Circles

2010-03-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

We started Literature Circles this week, March 9th. After listening to book talks over 15 different books, my students selected their top three choices. I put them in groups to read, complete individual roles worksheets, and discuss their book. We will finish the first week of April and conclude with an individual poster project and an iMovie group project using technology and specific websites. I hope to post the iMovie book trailers to my blog and PHMS link for you to view.
Please encourage them to read consistently over spring break to stay on target to make their goal they entered on their reading contract.
I sent a letter to every parent with their reading contract if you did not attend parent teacher conferences in February. Please consider helping with our reading Auction in may!

State Reading Assessments

2010-03-04T09:12:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day of reading assessments - YAHOO~ I'm so excited to see the results:) We will begin Literature Circles next week. Mrs. Bartlett will assist me in summary book talks for 12 different books they have to choose from. There is a variety of interests for them to choose from. They will be assigned a book they must take care of - they have full responsibility for!!!!! They will mini discussions with their group nearly every day and will be reading the designated amount of chapters set by their literature circle. Please be sure to visit with them about their book they chose:)

Review Review Review

2010-02-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

We finished Steal Away Home in Reading and our Kansas Leader Research paper finally! Yahoo - we were excited to move on ...........
We will spend next week reviewing text structures, authors purpose, figurative language, prefixes, suffixes, roots, persuasive techniques in reading and writing classes.
I think we will be ready for our "Superbowl" State reading tests!
Please be sure that your child has a hearty breakfast and plenty of rest the week of March 1-5th.
Thank you so much for attending your child's conference. You are always welcome to reschedule if you had to miss:)
Please consider helping out with donating items/items for the Reading Auction in May!
Thank you so much!

Steal Away Home

2010-01-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

Reading: We began the novel "Steal Away Home" about a young girl who is helping her parents turn a historical old house in Lawrence, KS in to a bed and breakfast, when she discovers a human skeleton in a secret room behind a wall. The novel provides insight to the plight of freeing slaves in the 1800's. We chose this novel to coincide with their Kansas History class in Social Studies. The novel will take approximately three weeks to finish.
Writing: The students are choosing a Kansas leader to write a research paper, complete with organizers and a presentation tool from Big Huge Labs website! You might need to help them with finding outside material on their person.
Helping Hearts for Haiti - My TA class began a donation collection for the Hatian victims of the recent earthquake. Please do what you can to support their aid in Haiti. We will present our collection just in time for Valentine's Day to the director of Star of Hope on Friday, Feb. 12th!

A New Year

2010-01-03T14:11:00.001-08:00

Looking forward to a new year with my seventh graders. A few moved over Christmas break and I'm sad about that.
I am so excited to get started with reading and writing for the second semester. In reading we will focus on persuasion techniques, persuasive reading material, fact/opinion, understand bias and author purpose/audience. A few persuasive articles relate to seventh grade "real world" reading that I think they will enjoy.
In writing we will not only understand persuasion techniques but make a brochure depicting all 6 techniques and later work with a partner to create a product and make a 1 minute commercial. It will be a very busy two weeks especially since my students will take the third Common Assessment!

A Christmas Carol

2009-12-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

In reading we finished problem/solution text structure. The kids enjoyed being super sleuths playing Clue before Thanksgiving break. We will begin "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens Thursday, December 3rd with an author study. I think it is important to have background knowledge of the authors as well as reading their magnificent literary works. The test is written in play form, therefore the classes will rotate speaking/reading parts daily in their reading groups. We will focus on plot line and literary elements.
In writing we will finish this quarter with more figurative language. This week we will focus on hyperboles. Shel Silverstein is the author I'm incorporating into the writing lessons. My students will also keep an in-depth log of figurative language found in "A Christmas Carol".
I'm still in desperate need of a bookcase if anyone has one in good condition and would like it to find a new home!
If any parents would like to purchase Clue games for my classroom, it would be immensely appreciated. Thank you!

Problem/Solution

2009-11-17T05:51:00.000-08:00

We will engross our learning with problem/solution reading text structure and writing structure this week through Dec. 4th. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous characters Sherlock Holmes and his trusty companion Watson will serve as our problem/solution modeling.
In writing my students will focus on 7th grade problems and possible solutions. They will complete a published three paragraph short essay on their chosen problem/solution.
Tuesday, November 22nd my reading students will be super sleuths learning and "playing" CLUE. If you have a Clue board game would you please send it to school with your child this week. I need 5 more games. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Vampires

2009-10-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

Well this week we are reading about Vampires and my personal dream boyfriend Edward Cullen! We will explore the myths, legends, facts, and opinions of vampires. Rod Sterling is the author of the week. After reading "Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" we will compare and contrast 2 Rod Sterling videos - don't you just love The Twilight Zone!
We will read and write persuasive text. A look at advertising and the methods used will be explored.
Students finished their literary mini poster and are busy working on their life analogy paragraph! The analogy of my life is like a KC Chiefs game!

Common Assessments

2009-10-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

My reading students will take their second District Common Assessments this week. We have had a lot of ill students the past few weeks - just a reminder to take your vitamins, drink plenty of liquid, get lots of rest, and READ to relax!
In writing we are continuing rainbowing and figurative language. We need old magazines this week!

Folklore & Fairy Tales

2009-10-05T15:32:00.000-07:00

Weeks of Oct. 5th and 12th: We will explore the world of folklore and fairytales to coincide with the International Fair in Social Studies. Your child will read, work on plot line, develop character, setting etc... to coordinate with writing a folklore. We will compare and contrast different version of fairytales also. Specific details will need to be included with the final result - a folklore developed by them to read to a third grader attending the Internaional Fair on October 14th!

Need a Book Case

2009-09-24T04:16:00.000-07:00

Parents - If any of you have a book case taking up space at your home and would like to donate it to my classroom, it would be deeply appreciated! The one in my room is very small and I have many books I would like to add but can't due to limited space! Thank you very much!

Rikki Tikki Tavi

2009-09-17T13:38:00.000-07:00

For the weeks of Sept. 21st and 28th: We will read Rikki Tikki Tavi from the basal and discuss story elements and plot line. We will add some poetry writing also. I will show them a clip from Discovery Streaming on cobras and will conclude the story with a test and 30 min. DVD. They are welcome to bring a drink on THursday, Oct. 1. Please kep in mind we will be on Gold schedule that day so they will have reading in the morning and juice maybe more appropriate than soda pop! We will add some poetry writing also.
In writing we will finish their expository writing and complete prefixes and suffixes. We will start working in some figurative language.
Please keep checking those grades on Power School! I mini-conference with my TA and Enrichment class students every Thursday so they know their grades.

"The Chase"

2009-09-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

We finished "Black Blizzard" and will continue expository reading from our basal next week "The Chase". We are still working on the 5 W's, cause/effect, and drawing conclusions.
We are working on our expository writing - their "Moment in Time" essay. Rough draft is due Tuesday, Sept. 15. We will finish our last unit-Unit 4 on roots.
Enjoy the fair next Wednesday - I know I will after "teacher" school that day!

"Pop Talks"

2009-09-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Next "Pop Talk" is Friday, September 25, 2009. Please remember to bring your favorite soda pop or other drink and be prepared to tell about your character and summarize what you've read thus far in your library book!

"Pop Talks"

2009-08-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

First "Pop Talk" is Friday, Sept. 4th. Please bring your favorite soda "pop" or drink! My favorite is Dr. Pepper!

School year begins!

2009-08-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

What a great first week! It was absolutely awesome recognizing all those grown-up faces from 6th grade! This blog will give you some information about Communication Arts this year, but as always don't hesitate to call if you have questions or concerns.
Reading: We are currently taking the first District Common Assessments-oh joy! We will begin the fall with a selection of articles for "A Moment in Time" unit. They are expository articles and included in this unit we will explore our own "moment in time." They have already completed their poster about themselves.
Writing: We are busy journaling and getting to know each other related to "A Moment in Time." We will begin "rainbowing" (diagraming) and learning our roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Sillin Spotlights Beginning

2009-06-02T09:07:00.000-07:00

This blog is for the sole purpose of parents and students to blog with me about reading, writing, or enrichment classes. Feel free to write general blog statements or read for updates about class assignments, projects or miscellaneous information. Personal information should be emailed to me!
Thank you for being a part of this exciting project with me!
Let's have an awesome year together!