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  Parent Information
 November
3, 2008
Dear
Parents/Guardians,
We
have begun second quarter of our year.
Most of the children have done a wonderful job in adjusting to the
junior high routine. Report cards
will be distributed at parent/teacher conferences on Monday, November
24. While it is not mandatory for
all parents to meet with the teachers, we encourage you to stop by. We will be conferencing together in Room
230. This is a great way for you to
get the whole picture of your child’s performance in one stop.
In
language arts, we have begun a new novel Tuck Everlasting. Some of the themes of the novel are
immortality, death, friendship, family loyalty, and crime and punishment.
There will be a lot of discussion on death. The children will do the
talking while and will be guided as necessary. If your child has
experienced a death recently, this may be a good opportunity for discussion
at home. The children will be
working in literature circles where they will each have jobs to complete
for group discussions. It is
important that each student do his/her jobs so that his/her group will have
a chance for meaningful discussion.
In addition, each group strives to have a complete packet of work to
hand in. Please encourage your child
to have the work done on time.
In
social studies, we are finishing our Ancient India unit. Your children did well and produced some
impressive work. Some of the
students chose to debate the value of Hinduism vs. Buddhism, while others
wrote newspaper articles on the ancient city of Mojenjo-Daro. Next we will study Ancient China. We will continue our study of ancient history
throughout the second quarter.
In
Math, We will continue our study of decimals. All of the basic operations involving
decimals will be practiced and explored.
We will finish up the month of November by studying fractions. All of the basic operations related to
fractions will be explored as well as highlighting the similarities between
fractions and decimals.
In
Science, we will continue our study of matter, specifically focusing on the
states and changes of matter. On
Friday, December 5th, the sixth grade will enhance their study
of science by attending a field trip to the SciTech hands on science museum
in Aurora.
The bus will leave at approximately 9:00 a.m. and return to Giles at around
3:00 p.m. The students’ hot
lunches have been cancelled for this day and we ask that each student bring
a bagged lunch.
Please
keep in mind that the children have no classes Thanksgiving week, November
24-28. Teachers will be busy that
week with parent/teacher conferences as well as a teacher institute day. You are welcome to email or call if you
have any questions or concerns about your child. We look forward to meeting with you
during parent/teacher conferences.
Sincerely,
 Mrs.
Mary Mostyn Mr. Jim Gruszka
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Social Studies
Grade 6
The first half of the year we
will be studying world history. This
will include the ancient cultures of Egypt,
Mesopotamia, India,
China Greece and Rome. We will be focusing on the geography of
these areas, various aspects of their cultures, and their impact on the
world.
The second half of the year we
will be studying American history from its beginnings through the revolution.
We will be using a layered
curriculum utilizing many differentiated styles of learning.
Some of the differentiated
methods of learning we will use include:
ü
Collaborative group discussion and reading
ü
Independent reading and writing
ü
Large group reading, writing, and discussion
ü
Individual and group projects and
presentations
In each of these cases the
students will be responsible for orally defending their work in order to
receive credit points toward their final grade.
Grading:
Quarterly grades will be based
on an average of layered curriculum points and test scores with each
representing 50% of their final grade
Each chapter’s grade
sheets must be signed and returned within 2 school days after I return the
tests to the class.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Math
Grade 6
Goals:
Our goals for 6th
grade math include the following:
ü
Proficiency in the four operations (add,
subtract, multiply, divide) of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, and
integers, along with an understanding of real life applications of these
operations.
ü
An understanding of basic Geometry concepts
including perimeter, area and volume.
ü
The ability to understand and use simple
ratio, proportion, and percent to solve problems.
ü
Knowledge of statistics and probability and
their uses in the world.
ü
A successful approach to problem solving.
ü
Familiarity and general understanding of the
basic concepts of Algebra.
Homework:
Homework is generally assigned
every day. Students usually begin
their homework during class so that I may address questions regarding their
work. Even though your child may complete his/her homework during school
hours, it is still a good idea for assignments to be brought home for you
to check.
Grading:
Binders will be collected once
per quarter and assigned one test grade.
Quarterly grades will be broken
down as follows:
Tests 40%
Quizzes 30%
Homework and class
participation 30%
All tests and quizzes may be
corrected for an additional grade.
Tests below 70% must be signed and returned within 2 school days
after I return the tests to the class.
Test corrections will not be accepted late or from students who do
not complete regular homework assignments.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Science
Grade
6
In 6th grade Science
we will be learning about the nature of matter and the changing surface of
earth.
Student’s misconceptions
regarding the processes of nature will be addressed, discussed, and
corrected.
It is my belief that students
learn science best through hands-on methods, leading to their own discovery
of the truth. For this reason, a
good portion of students’ grades will be based on their performance
in the classroom.
Homework:
Although I believe in teaching
science through hands-on discovery, concepts and vocabulary related to our
topics are best learned and retained through practice and study.
Review sheets and worksheets
will be assigned for this practice.
Students will also be responsible for keeping a notebook containing
important facts, definitions, and experiment results.
Grading:
The grading scale for this
class breaks down as follows:
In class performance and
participation 30%
Tests 30%
Quizzes 20%
Homework assignments 20%
Special assignments given
throughout the year will be weighted as either a quiz or test grade
depending on the magnitude of the project.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to:
1.
Be prepared for class every day (Homework as well
as supplies).
2.
Participate daily and show effort in your work.
3.
Listen for and follow directions.
4.
Follow general school rules and demonstrate good
behavior.
5.
Show respect towards your teacher, your classmates
and yourself through positive words and actions.
Consequences for not following classroom rules
Students
will be asked to explain and/or correct their behavior.
Students may be asked to
complete assignments after school.
Parents may be notified.
A check may be given on
student’s report card.
The principal may be notified
if the interventions fail.
The positive rewards for appropriate behavior will
include stickers, verbal praise, bonus points, or homework passes.
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