6th GRADE CURRICULUM
Welcome to sixth grade!
The following is a list of important information, dates, and curriculum which will be pertinent during the year.
Outdoor Education/OPI: (April
15-17, 2009) The cost is $200 per student.
There will be fundraising events throughout the school year to cover
costs not met by the above parent payment. We need your help to pop popcorn
on Fridays- please contact Sydne Rataushk or Kim Kubik to help out. It takes a little more than an hour to pop
popcorn with two people and it can be done anytime before 10:30 Friday
mornings.
On September 17 from 12:25-1:10, an OPI rep will be here with me to share camp information. Please plan to attend this parent only meeting in room 205.
The 6th grade celebration is a school day time event. This event will take place the day before the last day of school, June 16 if there are no snow days, around 9:15 a.m.
It is easiest to reach me before school as I am usually here early. E-mail is an easy way to reach me may use if needed: messig@lwsd.org
READING:
Novel studies and reading series: Mythology-"Greek Gods and Heroes", Journey To Topaz, The Cay, The White Mountains, and the 6th grade Houghton Mifflin Reading series are the books we read.
The Accelerated Reader program is used at times with monthly book reports and on an individual basis throughout the year as well.
Students must read at least 20 minutes per night Monday-Thursday. This is part of the nightly homework requirement. In addition, students will be held accountable for books read through book reports written monthly. 1 book report is due by the last school day of each month. Each genre of book must be read and reported on throughout the course of the year. They are: fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, biography, autobiography. Students should be reading at least 400 pages or more per month. Students are given 15 minutes a day in class to silent read a book of their choice.
MATH:
Connected Math Series-CMP, 6th grade WASL practice, and ADD math are used.
Concepts: 4 basic operations, fractions, geometry, algebra, measurement, decimals, ratios, percents, probability, integers and problem solving
Strands: number sense, geometry, algebra, measurement, probability/statistics
Extra credit math packets are available to students upon request.
WRITING:
Step Up To Writing Program: organization, content, style, conventions
Students will be writing papers of various forms-Report, Persuasive and Narrative. Writing prompts are given in class throughout the year based on the form studied and lessons taught. 2 large reports are assigned during the year. Students will prepare speeches during the year as well. D.O.L. (daily oral language) is done for editing practice.
Writing assignments are to be typed, 1 ½ spaced, 12 point font, Times New Roman. Students who do not have access to a computer at home must make arrangements with the teacher to type at appropriate times during/before school.
STUDY SKILLS: (daily)
Notebooks should be organized and neat. We organize our desk and notebook weekly.
-Headings on all paper, right hand side (name, date, subject on first 3 lines)
The Assignment Sheet is in the front of the binder, along with a blue monthly Calendar of events and due dates. These are filled out daily so please look at them to see what we are doing. Parents can look in notebooks at any time to see assignments.
Friday Folders/Review sheets are to be checked by parents and signed weekly. Review sheet and Friday Folder are to be returned the following Monday. All work for the week comes home with your child on Friday with the Friday Folder and Review Sheet. You may keep the student work. Students can turn in any questions about work from the previous week on Monday. I encourage the kids to question me if something doesn’t make sense after they have reviewed their grades for the weekJ
HOMEWORK: (daily Monday-Thursday)
-Follows Lakeview policy of 30-60 minutes per night
Some nights will fall below the minimum time requirement while other nights will exceed the time. 20 minutes of reading time at night is required in conjunction with homework given at school, and work on up-coming projects or tests. 6th grade is practice in time management. From the requirements listed above, you can see that there is always homework (except on Skate King nights and WASL week).
SOCIAL STUDIES:
-Mapskills, World Studies involving countries, Heritage Unit and Festival, Pacific Rim studies/report, Egypt study, Geography, History and note taking
SCIENCE:
-Models & Designs, Earth Module, Light Module, Diversity of Life Module, Outdoor Education materials
HEALTH:
-Sex education and A.I.D.S curriculum
ART:
-Integrated with the curriculum along with extra projects
The art docent program is run by parents and is in place about 2 times a month.
LATE WORK: Work that is not turned in on time will be marked down one grade per late day until it is handed in. After 2 days, it is an automatic 1, but the work is still due. Students are expected to use recesses and homework time at home to complete late assignments.
Late work slips for the week go home every Friday with any student who has late assignments. Students receiving a pink late work notice must return it the following Monday signed by a parent or miss recess.
GRADING SYSTEM: There are no overall achievement/letter grades anymore. The 1-4 grading system is used to show where each student is in skill areas.
Above standard 4
At standard 3
Approaching standard 2
Not at standard 1
Not evaluated yet /
ABSENCES:
Students who are absent are responsible for getting all notes, papers, and assignments missed when they return. Looking over the papers on his/her desk and connecting with a trusted friend about work missed is important. After this, the student is welcome to clarify assignments with the teacher. Teachers can not re-teach material to individual students. 1 day is given per absent day to turn in work. Students are responsible for obtaining work they have missed. Parents are asked to call in for student work only after 2 or more absent days as stated in the parent handbook.
Students absent due to trips may take a generic packet provided by the school which gives students work ideas while on trips. No work will be provided ahead of time for students-per Lakeview Guidelines. Students need to take the responsibility of working on projects, assignments, studying for tests in the works by looking at their monthly calendar. Work missed will be awaiting the student upon his/her return.
DISCIPLINE: 6th grade follows the Lakeview Discipline Policy which includes; warning, loss of activity, teacher/parent/principal involvement in any combination, behavior plan, and possibly a phone call home with a request to pick up your child. The severity and frequency of the behavior will determine which option is pursued. Students who have repeated problems at school with attitude and/or behavior may lose the privilege of attending camp.
COMPUTERS:
All subject areas, Accelerated Reader, Type To Learn, academic games, and research on the internet.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: (once or twice weekly depending on the A/B schedule rotation))
MUSIC: ( " ")
LIBRARY: weekly
Megyn Essig