Welcome to Sixth Grade!Holland

Elementary

2013-2014

Sixth Grade Teachers

• Barbara Dan• Melanie Kiker• Amy Lynn• Amy Malone• Andrea Mangold• Ken Rooney • Judi Swerk

Character Education

HES Four Pillars– Cooperation– Respect– Responsibility– Sportsmanship

Responsive Classroom

- To promote a climate of warmth, safety, and acceptance

Language Arts

– RELA = ELA = Journeys (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

– Journeys will be our primary resource for all things ELA: vocabulary & vocab. strategies; reading comprehension, decoding, and fluency; research skills; media literacy; listening; speaking; grammar; spelling; writing.

– Materials: student textbook, student workbook, leveled readers ( , , , ), www.thinkcentral.com

– Assessments: multiple available, such as screening, diagnostic, weekly, unit, & benchmark. Will use as needed.

– Organization: 6 units, each unit has 5 lessons. Lessons comprise five days of activities.

To log on to Journeys website:

HES, Staff, 6th Grade, Lang. Arts

Math Program

Curriculum– Problem Solving focus throughout– Middle School Math (McDougal Littell Course 1)

– Areas of study include:• graphing, fractions, integers, geometry, decimals,

measurement, ratio, proportion, percent, probability• algebra introduced throughout

- Materials: student textbook, 6th grade webpage,

www.classzone.com

www.classzone.com

Valuable!

Math

Assessments:– Quizzes (usually 1/chapter midway through)

– Tests (chapter and quarterly)

– Problem-solving activities (Daily and Bi/Tri-weekly)

– Performance tasks

- Homework – Worksheets on-line. 3 points each. Can select evens or odds. Children to check answers on-line. Children also can do pre-assessment questions for next day’s lesson to help differentiate. These are on-line too.

Social Studies

Overview of topics– Constitution– Geography– Ancient Mesopotamia– Ancient Egypt & Nubia– Ancient China & India– Early Americas (Mayans, Incas,

Aztecs)

Social Studies

Assessment– Participation– Preparation (has required materials)– Current Events– Projects– Quizzes and tests

Social Studies

Projects– Creating an authentic civilization– Egyptian Booklet– Debates /Trials– Travel brochure about an ancient

civilization– Computer/Self-selected projects

Science

Curriculum– Inquiry-based/hands-on– Units of study:

• Scientific Method• Variables (Full Option Science Systems: FOSS Kit)• Levers and Pulleys (Full Option Science Systems: FOSS

Kit)• Animal Adaptations / Biomes• Astronomy “Earth, Moon, and Sun” (Delta Science Kit)• Life Skills• HIV/AIDS

Science

Assessment– Observation and participation– Preparation (has required materials)– Notebook (binder) checks– Quizzes (pop and announced)– Tests

• Written and performance based

– Lab Reports– Projects (group and individual)

Homework

o Math most every night o Language arts nightlyo Science & SS twice per week on avg.o Time management skillso Personal responsibilityo Homework book/organization skillso All tests and quizzes must be signed

Elementary Performance Assessment

3 day process that allows students to celebrate their success in learning– Create a question– Research– Write report– Create Visual (Power Point)– Present

Practice begins in Fall Assessment in Spring

Middle School Transition

Goals for students: o Independence with HW, reading, &

writing; organizational skills; work ethic; personal responsibility

Course recommendations in spring Visits from Principal, Guidance

Counselors; we visit Holland Middle School in spring

Other Computer instruction/integration at least once

per week PSSA – Math and Reading in March Field Trips – one in each half of the school

year? School play Check E-Friday Folder, HES, 6th Grade, and

individual class web pages for school info.

Thank You

If you have questions . . . – Always feel welcome to write us with questions or

concerns.bdan@crsd.orgmkiker@crsd.orgamalone@crsd.orgamangold@crsd.orgkrooney@crsd.org