Ms. Robyn Litt

EXTRA CREDIT SCIENCE PROJECT FOR

Perseverance 2011-2012 Written by Ms. Litt’s class of 2011-2012

What is the nature of the relationship between Jerry and his mother? What clues from the story are significant in deciding how they communicate with each other? Support your answer with quotes from the story as needed.

Why is it so important to Jerry to make it through the tunnel? Support your answer with at least two quotes from the story. Add at least one new thesaurus word to your response.

Why does Morris call his classmates “dreamers” for wanting to be doctors, scientists, and farmers? Use at least 2 quotes from the story to support your thinking. Add one new thesaurus word to your response.

Wy does our narrator want to compete with Eugenie? What is her motivation? Use at least one quote from the story to support your reasoning. Add one new thesaurus word to your response.

Why is the story called “The White Umbrella”? Support your reasoning with one high quality quote from the story. Use at least one new thesaurus word in your response.

How does our main character’s feelings about her mother affect her relationship with Miss Crossman in “The White Umbrella”? Give 3 clear examples from the story to support your opinion. Then ask one HOT question for your group to think about.

Welcome to Ms. Litt’s class (room 203)!

August 15, 2011

Dear Parents of Excited, Motivated, and Ready-to-Learn Sixth Graders,

Welcome to a new year at El Camino Creek! I’m thrilled to have your child in my class.  So, who am I?  I’m a parent of two daughters, Krysti (25) and Cydney (20). I’ve been teaching for about 17 years in the Encinitas district, most of those with 6^th  graders.  I’ve also been an administrator and researcher for a UC funded subject matter project for three counties in the field of visual and performing arts. Each summer/fall, I teach graduate courses up at CSUSM in history and social studies methods in the classroom as an Adjunct Professor.  Most importantly, however, I am a life-long learner.  I think of myself as a student more than a teacher in many aspects.  These past five years, I’ve been working in two district learning cohorts, one for Gifted Learners and one for Digital Media. I also help lead a statewide conference for K-12 teachers of Civics in conjunction with CSUSM and the California Bar Association. I’m passionate about curiosity, perseverance, and commitment.  I will ask 100% active participation from my students and they can, in return, expect 100% from me as well.

Homework is assigned daily Monday through Thursday.  It should be approximately 45-60 minutes in length with an additional 30 minutes per night of required independent reading.  This is a district policy for all sixth grade students.  Resources will be posted on my website. Students will be expected to use the website regularly for group discussions and assignments. This website may be accessed by the eusd.ecc site or (http://teachers.eusd.k12.ca.us/rlitt)   and may be checked daily, barring any unforeseen technical issues.  Students will be expected to write assignments down everyday in a planner that will be provided. The spiral planners are a way to monitor assignments for both students and parents.

The sixth grade teachers all agree on positive discipline and opportunities for sixth graders to take active leadership roles in the classroom.  We know that independent learners are a result of taking ownership and accepting responsibility.  Your child is going to have one of the most memorable years of his/her life!

There are a variety of ways to contact me, however, the most effective and time-efficient way is by email.  I will do my best to respond in a timely manner.  Please try to minimize the number of phone calls to the office or classroom for emergencies only. Strong research suggests interruptions within the learning environment do impact higher level thinking processes.  We all know how hard it is to get involved in something at a meaningful level when we are interrupted.  Please feel free to make an appointment with me if you have any questions, concerns, or offers of assistance (I love volunteers).  We are a sixth grade team with one common goal:  to have our children grow, learn, and have fun in a safe and nurturing environment!

Looking forward to meeting you!

Robyn Litt