Welcome to Sixth Grade Back to School Night

Welcome to Sixth Grade Back to School Night Mrs. Oliver-Groth, Ms. Rivoli, Ms. Hsich

Introductions Homeroom / Study Hall Mrs. Oliver-Groth/Ms. Rivoli/Ms. Hsich Physical Education Mr. Faulkner Math Mrs. Oliver-Groth & Ms. Rivoli Science Mrs. Oliver-Groth & Ms. Rivoli Language Arts / Social Studies “Humanities” Mrs. Oliver-Groth & Ms. Hsich

Middle School Handbook ● Technology Agreement ○ Students will review the AUP in class ○ Common Sense Media Lessons ○ Keep communication lines open about internet etiquette ○ Academic Integrity ● Roy Cloud Renaissance Awards ○ ○ Gold Level: all A’s Silver Level: all A’s and B’s Blue Level: GPA improvement of 0. 5 or greater Study Hall class and Enrichment NOT in GPA (pass/fail only)

Behavior Citations ● Communication from school to home about classroom behavior/choices. ● 3 Levels ○ Level 1 includes interrupting class, gum chewing, being late, running in the halls, littering, dress code violation, etc. ○ Level 2 includes disrupting school activities/class, unsafe behavior, disrespectful behavior to staff/students/parents, cheating, damaging school property, profanity, etc. ○ Level 3 includes electronic device violations or if a behavior referral to administration. ● Each level is worth a certain amount of points. If a student accumulates 20 points in 1 trimester they can lose privileges such as dances, socials, and class parties. ● After trimester 1, the sixth grade will start with a clean slate. After trimester 2, students will retain ½ of their points going into the final trimester.

Study Hall ● Study Hall will be every other day (alternates with PE) ● Pass/Fail grades ● 6 th Grade Study Hall class curriculum includes: ○ A Middle Schooler’s Guide to Ruling the World - Executive Functioning ○ Project-Based Learning ○ Typing Instruction ○ Coding ○ Khan Academy ○ Community-building activities ○ Common Sense Media ○ Additional PE time

Homework Practice, Collaboration, Efficiency, and Efficacy ● All done in an effort to meet the Standards within the year and prepare students for the next level… and beyond! ● Usually, time is given in class (sometimes, and quite often, completed during class time) ● Check your child’s planner ● Visit the teachers’ websites ● Twenty minutes minimum of reading per night (district expectation). We would prefer (much) more…. ● General rule of thumb: 10 minutes per grade level = 60 minutes/night is what you should expect, but seldom does this occur. ● (There is a renewed focus on Independent Reading, which supplements the lower volume of Amplify-based homework).

PE Mr. Faulkner Performance Testing (40%) 1)MILE RUN (every two weeks) Boys 7: 32/7: 11, Girls 9: 02/8: 23 2)SHUTTLE RUN -- Boys 10. 0/9. 8, Girls 10. 5/10. 4 3)PUSH UPS -- Boys 27/31, Girls 19/20 4)SIT UPS (one minute)-- Boys 47/50, Girls 42/45 5)SIT & REACH -- Boys 31/31, Girls 34/36 Proper Attire/ DRESS (30%) ● Athletic Shoes (running shoes) and PE Shirt Effort/Sportsmanship (30%) ● Consistent effort, teamwork, leading by example Injuries: Parent note required (lasts 3 days), or Doctor’s note needed for an extended period.

Math ● Daily Assignments (Classwork + Homework) ○ Collegiate Prep Math, Core Connections, Course 1 (CPM) ○ Complete a lesson in class (small group & partners and some whole group instruction) ○ Independent “review & preview” from the lesson ● Quizzes: ○ Homework Quizzes ○ Participation Quizzes ○ Notebook and/or Toolkit allowed ● Tests: ○ 1 -2 tests per unit (math lab and/or individual test) ○ Toolkits allowed for Tests & Math Labs

Math: Daily Assignments ● ● ● Notes/Completing Exercises in Class/Homework Spiral Notebook 5 Points Daily H/W - Given Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Revisions allowed to improve assignment before the end of chapter ● Homework Online ○ Classroom websites ○ Google Classroom ○ e. Book available online ○ Homework Help online ○ Khan Academy

Science ● Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) ● Engineering (Structures and Learning to Collaborate) ● Earth Science - Weather and Climate Change ● Life Science - Cells and Body Systems ● Life Science - Genetics and Heredity

Science ● Science text: ○ CPO Focus on Earth Science (Download Available) ○ Science Articles from news sources and science journals ● Design Projects ○ Understand concepts & vocabulary ○ Optimize designs by testing, revising, retesting ○ Learn by asking questions, making mistakes, and revising experiments ● Science Notebook & Design Book: ○ Resource for Assessments & Projects

Science ● Homework ○ Reading Notes ○ Research Current Events/Topics Discussed ○ Review Questions ○ Unfinished Work ○ Projects ● Tests/ End of Unit Assessments ○ End of Unit ○ Open Notes

Language Arts ● New Curriculum AMPLIFY ○ Grade-level text, Common Core based ○ Vocabulary-based beginning (500 words 6 th grade end) ○ Reading Comprehension ○ Writing / Essays at each unit’s end ○ Differentiating, leveling to each student’s ability (to come…. . ) ● Weekly Bell Ringers (first 5 minutes each morning) ● Latin and Greek Roots Focus (roots and affixes) ● Grammar Sheets ● Headphones/ Mouse - labeled and needed daily ● Homework (“maybe” 20 -30 minutes/day) ● Independent Reading (20 -30 minutes/night)

Independent Reading ● Reading Logs (incorporating AR: Accelerated Reader Program) ● Independent Reading Goal mapped for trimester 2 & 3 = Accelerated Reader (done through Renaissance Learning, @ school, via STAR testing) The Accelerated Reader program is a computerized program that tests reading comprehension. Students select books on their reading level, read independently, and take an independent comprehension test on the computer. Each book is worth a certain number of points based on its length and reading level. *AR was introduced end of 2 nd grade.

MLA Formatting Syllabus explains proper/required formatting Last Name, First Name Teacher’s Name Subject, Period Date

Amplify In The Middle School ELA Classroom RCSD’s new dynamically adaptive online curriculum for ELA

Vocabulary Development Students encounter differentiated lists of words: Vocabulary App - First 5 -8 minutes of class ● engaging vocabulary activities ● varied set of activities for key vocabulary words encountered in the curriculum ● ongoing assessment for mastery Direct Vocabulary Instruction ● Part of each lesson cycle Focus on context clues, denotation, connotation, synonyms, Analogies, affixes, roots

Students can monitor their progress

Writing - Formats For Writing ● (Almost) Daily writing prompts: to explain what the author means in a precise way. Students spend at least 10 -15 minutes practicing this sort of writing and producing at least: *120 words in sixth grade *130 words in seventh *140 words in eighth ● Essays: This regular practice responding to these prompts enables students to produce paragraphs that can then serve as the building blocks of the end-of-unit essays.

Writing Skills Focus: write about one moment or idea in order to fully develop it Logical Structure organize sentences, paragraphs, and sections to strengthen and clarify the focus of the paragraph, the overall argument/thesis, and/or the desired impact on the reader Showing use descriptive details and precise verbs to create a vivid picture in the reader’s mind Use of Evidence select, describe, and explain quoted or paraphrased details from a text to develop and support an idea Conventions grammar and sentence mechanics to control the clarity and power of sentences

Social Studies Textbook: History Alive! The Ancient World Units of Study 1. Early Humans and the Rise of Civilization 2. Ancient Egypt and the Near East 3. Ancient India 4. Ancient China 5. Ancient Greece 6. Ancient Rome ● Quizzes throughout unit ● End of Unit Summative Test - Map of Learning is the Study Guide.

Electives / Enrichment Middle School Enrichment Classes Starts on Wednesday (tomorrow)! ASB - Ms. Rivoli (year long) Yearbook - Mr. Reinke (year long) Line Art - Mrs. Avalos Speech & Debate - Ms. Hsich History of Rock - Mr. Coleman Math Support - Mrs. Williams CSI Science - Mr. Mc. Adams Coding - Mr. Morse Genius Hour - Mrs. Oliver- Groth F F F - Finance, Food, and Function - Mr. Faulkner

Online Resources for Home ❖ Google Drive - docs, sheets, and slides ❖ Google Classroom - students only ❖ CPM - online math textbook ❖ Khan Academy ❖ Teacher websites

Support for Students ● Accountability ○ Check homework, check planners, frequent teachers’ websites ● Parent Portal ○ Check grades online ○ Get grades emailed to you daily or weekly ○ More information will be coming home regarding login ● Email teachers ○ mhsich@rcsdk 8. net ○ nolivergroth@rcsdk 8. net ○ arivoli@rcsdk 8. net ○ tfaulkner@rcsdk 8. net

Music Sixth Grader Music classes start this week. Students received their schedules last week. (Mondays during school, Fridays after school)

Important Dates and Details 1. First Middle School Dance, Sept. 15 th 2. Picture Day: Tuesday, September 19 th 3. Roy Cloud 60 th Anniversary! Thursday, Sept. 28 th 4. Trimester 1 Conferences are Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving Break

Questions?