Welcome to Sixth Grade!

Welcome to Sixth Grade! Bluejacket-Flint Elementary School 2013-2014 Ms. Fink 993-2039 or catherinefink@smsd.org

Catherine Fink College Experience - Kansas State University - Graduated in Fall of 2011 - Graduated with a bachelors in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education Teaching Experience - Student taught at Mission Trail Elementary in the Blue Valley School District in 5th grade - 1st grade para for a year and a half following graduation at Cedar Hills Elementary in the Blue Valley School District

Hobbies and Interests • My family and friends are extremely important to me, anything free time I have is spent with them. I have one brother, his name is John. He is 17 and loving every minute of it. • I enjoy staying physically active by running, taking my dog to the dog park, going for walks, bike rides and playing recreational sports. • I enjoy all kinds of music, concerts, and movies. • I love to travel, paint, read and cook!

SPECIALS Monday Library 10:30-11:20 Tuesday Art 10:30-11:30 Wednesday Music 10:30/Comp. Lab 11:00 Thursday Comp. Lab 10:30/P.E. 11:00 Friday Music 10:30/P.E. 11:00 Lunch is from 11:59-12:24 Recess is from 11:30-11:55

Schedule • 8-8:15 Morning Work • 8:15-8:45 Reading Workshop • 8:45-9:45 Reading • 9:45-10:30 Social Studies • 10:30-11:30 Specials and computer lab • 11:30-12:30 Recess then Lunch • 12:30-12:45 Math work time • 12:45-1:35 Math with Mrs. Gerfen • 1:35-2:25 Science with Mrs. Constance • 2:25-3:05 Study Hall • 3:05-3:10 Dismissal procedures

Band and Strings • Strings • 8:15-8:45 on Mondays and Thursdays • Band • 8:15-8:45 on Tuesdays and Fridays • It will be the student’s responsibility to make up any missed work during band or strings. It is also important that the student turns in any work due during the missed class period before going to band or strings.

HOMEWORK • Students will have homework every night. • District guidelines state that homework for 6th grade should take approximately 60 minutes to complete. • Every student learns and works at a different pace. What takes one person 15 minutes could take another person 30 minutes. • Assignments are due at the beginning of each subject. • Incomplete – receive a study hall to be served during recess • 1 day late – 10 % off and study hall • 2 days late – receive half of the grade earned • 3 days late –teacher will not ask for the assignment again, and it will remain a zero in the grade book if not turned in by the following Monday. If your student has a pink highlighted circle around an assignment, it has not been turned in. You will see my initials in green when it is in.

Homework continued • Any student choosing to participate in band or strings is responsible for checking with teachers to see what assignments were missed and need to be made up. • In some cases, tests and quizzes missed during this time may need to be made up during recess. • If a student is absent for an entire school day, we recommend the student check Mrs. Constance’s or Ms. Fink’s web backpack for assignments. Parents can then contact the school office (993-2000) to collect all assignments for the day missed. • District policy states that for every one day absent, the student has two days to complete and turn in the missed assignments. • Any assignments missed, for any reason, are to be made up outside of the school day.

No Name Papers • 1st Quarter – • Still graded • 10% off • Posted on whiteboard • After 1st quarter… • Recycled!

GRADING The grades students earn in 6th grade are: A+ = 97-100% A = 94-96% A- = 90-93% B+ = 87-89% B = 84-86% B- = 80-83% C+ = 77-79% C = 74-76% C- = 70-73% D+ = 67-69% D = 64-66% D- = 60-63% F = 59-0%

GRADING Grades are based on the following: 1. Assignments/Tests 2. Homework 3. Projects 4. Work Habits, ability to remain on task, responsibility

General Expectations • In seat when bell rings • Students will put forth their best effort and be kind to others • Come to all classes prepared • Have homework completed daily

READING McGraw-Hill Wonders series: • Integrates reading and writing • Language skills taught through this program • Spelling included

READING • Taught by Ms. Fink • In addition to comprehension, we will focus on reading fluency which concentrates on speed, accuracy and expression. • Each student needs to read for 20-30 minutes/night. • Accelerated Reader (AR) is an independent individualized reading program designed to increase comprehension. The teacher and student will meet quarterly to set individual goals. For the first quarter the students are expected to acquire 12 pts. This will be 10% of their reading grade.

SPELLING • List words will be sent home on Monday to begin studying. • Spelling homework every night, due the next day • No specific time is given during the school day for spelling homework. • I encourage daily oral studying of spelling words throughout the week. • Spelling tests given on Fridays.

MATH • Taught by Mrs. Gerfen • Homework every day • Students need calculator at school and at home • Tests every Friday (Weekly Review) • Chapter tests every 2-3 weeks (announced in advance so students can prepare) • Important to SHOW WORK • Mastery is important. If students do not master an assignment, quiz or test, they will be asked to “Correct and Return” until the skill is mastered.

SOCIAL STUDIES • Taught by Ms. Fink • Focus on Ancient Civilizations • Nelson-Atkins Museum reinforces social studies curriculum • More information to come regarding Country/Culture Reports

SCIENCE • Taught by Mrs. Constance • Hands-on experiments in class • Grades based on class work, lab sheets, quizzes and tests • More information to come on Science projects (end of first quarter) • Studying for tests is necessary in order to receive a high science grade • Engineering component with NSF fellow this year

HANDWRITING • I do not require them to write in cursive in my classroom. • My only requirement for handwriting is that it is neat and legible!

TESTING • Sixth graders will be taking MAP (Measurement of Academic Performance). It will be given in the fall and in the spring. This is a computer-based test. • We will also be giving the Math and Reading sections of the Kansas State Assessment in the spring. Social Studies will be tested in 2014. Common Core-New type of test • We will be preparing for and discussing these tests throughout the year.

CLASSROOM MANAGMENT Students will be expected to follow a set of rules that encourage respect, responsibility, and accountability. Occasionally, a student might engage in a behavior that is disruptive to learning. I will expect students to model correct behavior. Be Respectful; Be Responsible; Be Safe; Be Ready to Learn 6 key rules to success 1. Work quietly. Do not disturb others while working. 2. When the teacher is talking, be quiet and listen. 3. Raise your hand and wait to be called on before speaking. 4. Respect your classmates. Treat them with kindness in your words and actions. 5. Keep your hands, feet, and any other objects to yourself at all times. 6. Always walk quietly in the classroom and in the hallways.

Classroom Management Cont. Marble Jar (Class reward): When the class does a good job and demonstrates positive behavior, working hard, on task, great collaborative conversation, etc… Ms. Fink puts marbles in the jar. When the jar reaches the green line, the class get a party of their choice to celebrate Links from the Ceiling (Outside Reward): When the students are outside of the four walls of this classroom and as a class they receive a compliment from a teacher or an adult, they get a link to add to the chain from the ceiling. For example: specials, when we rotate or walking quietly in line.When the links touch my desk- we get to celebrate as a class. Ticket System (Individual Reward): Every Monday the students get 5 tickets each. Their goal throughout the week is to hold on to all 5 of those tickets. If I see a students performing an unexpected behavior (not turning in homework, being disruptive to classmates, etc…) I ask for a ticket. Every 10 tickets the student get a raffle ticket to be turned in for a raffle reward of their choice. They are posted on the whiteboard. Every week the students turn in the tickets they have left to me, I record the number, and then they are given 5 new tickets for the new week.

School-Wide Discipline Policy • Students are to raise hands and ask permission to move about the room or to talk when another person is speaking. • It is expected that all students follow the classroom and school rules. • If a student is having difficulty following a rule, he/she will be asked one time to change the behavior. The only acceptable answer to this request is, “Yes I will,” followed by a good attitude. If the student does not choose to follow the rule respectfully, he/she will be asked to move quietly to the SAFE SEAT. • The SAFE SEAT is not a punishment. It is a seat away from the rest of the class where the student can get back on track and keep from getting into trouble. • In the safe seat, it is expected that the student work silently on class work, fill out a THINK SHEET, and wait for the teacher to process with the student about what happened. • A THINK SHEET is a tool that students use to think about their choice and how they will avoid having the same problem in the future. THINK SHEETS will always be sent home to be signed on the day they are issued. • If the student chooses not to sit quietly and respectfully in the SAFE SEAT, then I will ask the student to walk to our BUDDY ROOM.

School-Wide Discipline Policy contd. • The BUDDY ROOM is a designated place where the student is expected to work silently and respectfully in a seat away from other students. The student will complete class work as well as a THINK SHEET and will not move back to the SAFE SEAT in the classroom until he/she has successfully processed with the teacher. • If the student is not able to make good choices in the BUDDY ROOM, then he or she will move to the RECOVERY ROOM. • Students who do not comply in the RECOVERY ROOM will receive an office referral.

Planners/Progress Reports • Planners should be filled out daily and signed by a parent/guardian each night. • Progress reports will come home weekly, usually on a Friday. They will need to be signed and returned the following school day. • Progress reports are intended for both the student and parents to make note of any late work, missing work, zeros, and current grades. There should never be any surprises when it comes to grade card time!

Birthdays and Parties • Treats – simple • Nothing that needs to be cut or poured • Invitations – • Can only be passed out at school if the entire class is invited

Conferences • 1st quarter – October 24 and 25 • Please sign up for a time tonight

Field Trips • KC Symphony/Harvesters • Nelson Atkins Museum • SM North Play • Plaza Tour • Picnic at the Park

Jewelry, make up and cell phones • Keep make up to a minimum, if at all. • Jewelry is a distraction – please discourage from wearing it. • Cell phones may be kept in backpacks turned OFF, however if seen or causes a distraction it will be turned into the office and parents will need to come to get it.

FYI • When your child is absent, please either request homework through the office as early as possible or leave me a voicemail/e-mail allowing me ample time to get it all together. • We do go out for recess all days that the weather permits. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately.

If you can, please do the following before you leave tonight: • Sign up for a conference time (back table) • Join PTA  HOMEWORK TONIGHT! **Please e-mail me your home address and phone number. catherinefink@smsd.org Thanks!

THANK YOU! • I am very excited about the opportunity to work with your student this year. I believe that every child has unique gifts that he or she can contribute and I look forward to helping your child meet and exceed their individual goals. • Please feel free to contact me any time with questions, comments or concerns. • catherinefink@smsd.org or 913-993-2039

Welcome to Sixth Grade!