Survey

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Raikes_Transition_Initiative_Student_Survey_Spring_2013

Sticky Situation

Christine and Andrea have been best friends for years.  One day, a group of popular girls ask Christine to sit with them at lunch - but they don't invite Andrea.  Christine always sits with Andrea in the cafeteria, but she doesn't want to miss her chance to hang out with the popular girls.  What should Christine do?

The Right To Fight

Read this article on pages 4-5 of your Scholastic Newspaper.  What conclusion can you draw from this article?  What is your opinion on women fighting in war zones?

Class Photo 2013

Hopefully you've had some time to think about our theme for this year's class photo.  What are your ideas for color combinations?  (Remember, it needs to be a color that most people have in their closets)

Should Singers Lip-Synch?

At President Obama's inauguration in January, Beyonce' sang a thrilling version of the national anthem.  Or did she?  Beyonce' later admitted she had been lip-synching.  That's when performers sing over, or move their lips to a previously recorded song.  But Beyonce' isn't alone.  Justin Bieber and Britney Spears are among the other pop stars who have been rumored to lip-synch during concerts.  Many people say lip-synching is dishonest - especially when the audience is paying to see a live performance.  But others believe lip-synching lets people hear singers at their best, as they sound on their albums.  What do YOU think?
~ Scholastic News

The End is Near....

We only have a little more than three months left of Sixth Grade!  I cannot even believe how fast time has gone by this year.  What are you still looking forward to this year?  What is something you hoped we would get to do, but haven't yet?  What do you think you need to do to prepare for Seventh Grade?  What have you liked/not liked about this year?

Sticky Situation

Natalie has an essay due for school tomorrow.  Her teacher gave the assignment weeks ago, but Natalie waited too long to get started.  She's been working on the essay for hours.  Now it's way past her bedtime, and she can barely keep her eyes open.  She's worried that she won't finish in time.  What should Natalie do?

~ Scholastic News

Crisis in Syria

Read pages 4-5 in this edition of Scholastic News.Why have millions of people been forced from their homes in Syria?  What is life like at the refugee camps?

What does the word civilian mean?

What does the word refugee mean?

Require Foreign Language Classes?

If you want to give your brain a good workout, think about saying !hola! to another language.  A recent study found that kids who learn more than one language have sharper minds when they get older.  Many people say that speaking a foreign language also gives students a better understanding of the world.  They also argue that kids who know at least two languages will have an advantage when they look for jobs in the future.  However, more than two thirds of the US elementary schools don't offer foreign-language classes.  Some school officials say they can't fit language lessons into the packed school day.  Others say students should spend their time mastering English instead.  What do YOU think?

~ Scholastic News

Sticky Situation

Joy and Adam have been friends for years.  Lately, Adam has been hanging out with kids who often cause trouble.  One day, Joy sees Adam stealing snacks from the cafeteria.  She tries to talk with him about his behavior, but he won't listen.  Joy wants to tell Adam's parents, but she doesn't want Adam to be mad at her.  What should Joy do?
~ Scholastic News

Punxsutawney Phil

What did Phil predict on Groundhog's Day this year? 
Click here to find out:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/groundhog-day-2013-punxsutawney-phil-sees-shadow-predicts/story?id=18382344

A Mammoth Find

What did a 12 year old boy find near his home in Russia?  Read page 2 to find out!

Why is this find such a big deal?

Fine Parents if Kids Skip School?

Cutting class comes with a price at many schools.  A growing number of cities are fining parents whose kids skip school.  In Rochester, New Hampshire, fines can go as high as $1,000 per absence.  Some school officials say the fines will help boost attendance.  A recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland found that as many as 7.5 million students miss at least one month of school each year.  Supporters of the penalties say the fines also encourage parents to keep better track of their kids. But others say making parents pay for their kids' actions sends the wrong message.  Instead of fining parents, they want kids to be punished in school.  What do YOU think?
~ Scholastic News

New Read Aloud

We are so close to being finished with The Lost Hero.  What should we read next?  Whatever book you choose, please make sure it is shorter than our current read aloud.  This one has taken forever!

Sticky Situation

Rachel has a beaded bracelet that a lot of her friends think is really cool.  One day, she realizes it's missing and figures that it fell off her wrist at school.  A few days later, she sees her classmate Eva wearing a bracelet that looks just like hers.  Rachel thinks Eve may be wearing her bracelet, but she isn't sure. What should Rachel do?

~ Scholastic News

Should Cities Have Curfews for Kids?

Heading to a friend's house tonight?  If you live in certain cities and towns, you'll have to make sure you're home by curfew.  Hundreds of US cities have laws that require kids to be home by a certain time at night, unless they're with an adult.  In Drew, Ohio, city officials recently changed the curfew to one of the earliest in the nation: 8pm.  The law there applies to kids aged 17 and younger.  Supporters of curfew laws say these rules keep kids safe and cut down on crimes committed by young people.  Opponents say parents, not the local government, should decide how late their kids can stay outside.  What do YOU think?
~ Scholastic News

Don't Just Stand By

Kids are learning they have the power to stop bullying | Read this story about bullying on pages 4 and 5 of your Scholastic Newspaper.  What can YOU do if you see someone being bullied at school?  Have you ever been bullied?  Have you ever bullied someone else?  This is a big deal and it needs to STOP.  What can you do about it?
~ Scholastic News 01.07.13 edition

The 51st State?

Read this story about Puerto Rico on page 6 of your Scholastic Newspaper. What do you think?  Should Puerto Rico become the 51st state in the United States?  Why or why not?

~ Scholastic News 01.07.13 edition

The Lost Hero

We are so close to finishing our book The Lost Hero.  Have you enjoyed the book this far?  Write a quick summary of the book so far.  Five sentences should do it!  We should be finishing up and taking our test hopefully next week.  Are you ready?

Sticky Situation

Ben is always getting picked on by Wyatt, the school bully.  Wyatt shoves Ben every time he passes him in the hall.  One day, Wyatt challenges Ben to a fight and tells everyone that if Ben doesn't fight, he's a wimp.  Ben is afraid to stand up to Wyatt, but he doesn't want everyone to think he's a coward.  What should Ben do?

~ Scholastic News 01.07.13 edition

Are Video Games Good for You?

When most people want to exercise, they don't think about turning on a video game.  But a recent study revealed that games like Dance Central and Kinect Sports for Xbox can help kids get more physically fit.  Other research has shown that certain video games can have other positive effects, such as boosting creativity and improving focus.  But many people still say kids shouldn't spend a lot of time playing video games.  They point out that most games make kids less active and less social.  They say gamers should do more worthwhile activities with their friends instead.  What do YOU think?

~ Scholastic News 01.07.13 edition

Thoughts to Think

Answer the following questions with whatever thought first comes up.  There are no correct/incorrect answers.

* Of all the things you are learning, what do you think will be the most useful when you are an adult?


* Are you a good friend? Why do you think so?


* How would the world be different if animals could talk?

Winter Break

What did you do during your two weeks of freedom?  Were you really busy or did you basically just relax the whole time?  Were you productive at all or did you just take time off?  What was the best thing about your Winter Break?

2013

Whoo hoo!!! We made it to 2013!  Now that we all have a brand new, fresh start, what are you going to do with your year?  What New Year's Resolutions did you set for yourself?  What are you looking forward to this year?