6 th Grade Back to School Night

1. Your child left a letter for you on his/her desk. Feel free to write a response on the back of the paper • I have also placed a “quiz” on your desk. This is usually a favorite for the students when they get in the next day 

2. 6th GradeBack to School Night Jennifer Brown September 8, 2014 PPT Handout PPT on Home Page

3. Who’s Who… Principal Mr. Shawn Ortman Dean of Students Mrs. Kelly Carter Guidance Counselor Mr. Fran Chapman • Art Mrs. Schubert • Music Ms. Mudry • P.E. Mrs. Leuthe • Library Mrs. Hiriak • Technology Mrs. Brown

4. Contact Information E-mail: jbrown@cbsd.org Phone: 267-893-3657 extension #3657 • The phone goes directly into voicemail during the instructional day to limit disruptions. • Email – Checked throughout the day • Dismissal changes - please contact the office directly to ensure that we receive the message.

5. Why Sixth Grade?Exciting Year… • Relationships • Relevance • Rigor • Reflection • Resiliency

6. Classroom Rules My goal is to prepare students by helping them to become active, independent learners. • Be responsible for and respect yourself, others and your surroundings. • Ensure that we make each other feel emotionally and physically safe at all times. • Strive to have fun everyday while still maintaining an academic environment.

7. Classroom Routines Class Rewards - “Warm Fuzzies” for class reward Check Register – Whole class system • Individual Recognition • Group Recognition • Uses a debit and credit system • Monthly auction Missing Assignments – 3 and parent is emailed

8. GRIT in our classroom

9. Learning is a Journey Descriptors describe the specific learning goals being reported on. • Progress:The degree of growth made by a student over time. • Process: The learning behaviors demonstrated by students as they learn. • Product: The degree to which a student reaches the reporting standard.

10. Standards Based Reporting

11. CBSDEffectively CommunicatingStudent Progress

12. Resources Parent Handbook

13. Cover Sheet Conference Report Progress Report

14. Marking Periods 1 & 3:Conference Report

15. Marking Periods 2 & 4:Progress Report

16. Parent Portal http://www.cbsd.org/cbelementaryreportcard

17. Thinking Skills – To Infinity and Beyond • Learning is thinking… • Encourages higher level thinking skills Oh! WOW! Now I see! Hmmm….I wonder… • Recognize and communicate thinking

18. Mill Creek's Homework Beliefs • Purpose: Promote student growth and reinforce what is learned in the classroom. Students independently practice what they learned as well as their time management skills. • Assessment: Homework is not graded. However, students will be held responsible for completing all assigned homework. • Time Allotment: Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday. No routine weekend or holiday assignments will be made. As a rule of thumb 10 minutes per grade level. • Differentiation: Homework can vary depending upon the specific needs of students. This may include time, amount and purpose of homework. • Long-term projects: Long-term projects are directly related to the curriculum. Such projects require children to use secure skills only. Expectations are clearly defined and timelines are established and published.

19. Homework Policy District Guidelines: 60 minutes/day Goals: Apply knowledge and develop Study Skills • Assignment Book • About 20 minutes of Reading, 30 minutes of Math, and 10 minutes of Language/Science/Social Studies. • Tests: announced 4-5 days in advance • Time Management: Reading Log and Spelling

20. Reading Materials: • Text: Houghton Mifflin Series - Quest • Comprehension Toolkit • Read Aloud Texts • Trade Books: leveled, whole group, lit. circles • Non-Fiction resources in the Content Areas Skill Focus Areas: • Comprehension –verify with illustrative details • Word Skills – develop vocabulary and apply context clues • Metacognition – learn what works for them • Genre studies – Fiction and Non-Fiction

21. RRAD - Read, Respond, and Discuss • Independent reading at school and at home • Flexible time at home (4 times per week) • Students will read, respond, discuss, and create projects to demonstrate understanding.

22. Language Being a Writer/Writer's Notebook • Daily model, practice, and sharing to focus on the craft of writing •  Write one formal piece per unit Units of Study • Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, Creative • Research and Oral Presentations Writing Process • Focus, Content, Organization, Style, Conventions

23. Language Skills Grammar: • Build a common language and knowledge of Parts of Speech and Sentence Structures • Apply understanding during the editing and revising processes Spelling: • Patterns, Base Words, Word Roots, Affixes, and Homophones Editing/Mechanics: • Mentor Sentences and Paragraphs • Importance increases as writing becomes more complex

24. English Language Arts and the Content Areas Skills: • Using Non-fiction texts • Note-taking • Study techniques • Test-taking skills • Presentation skills

25. Social Studies History Alive: Ancient Civilizations • Early Man (Hominids) • Mesopotamia • Egypt, India, and China (2 out of 3) Online Textbook – www.learntci.com This curriculum provides a foundation for studies of Greece and Rome in 7th grade.

26. Science Earth's Changing Surface • Rivers/streams- Erosion and Sedimentation • Landforms and how they are formed • Plate Tectonics • Water Pollution • Point/Non-point Source • Hydrologic Cycle – pollutant movement • Water Quality: Macro-invertebrates, pH scale • Field Trip: Peace Valley Park “Clean Streams”

27. Body Systems • Cells, Tissues, and Organs • Human body systems • Health Topics • Yellow Dino - Internet Safety • HIV/AIDS • Human Growth and Development • TOAD – Tobacco, Alcohol, and other Drugs

28. Looking ahead… Sixth Grade Assessment Testing Window: Late February to Early March 2015 • Pre-search Topic (choose topic, explore, compose question) • Research: Write questions and find information • Write: Plan, edit and revise a 5-paragraph essay • Visual: Create a PowerPoint for the information • Oral Presentation: Share information with an audience PSSAs • English Language Arts - March 13-17, 2015** • Math – March 31 – April 4**

29. Technology Internet Safety Communication • Word Processing • Presentations: PowerPointand SmartNotebook • Projects: Audacity, Video Editing, and PhotoStory Research • Finding and evaluating sources • Simulations to location information

30. Class Webpage Our classroom website is a resource for you and your child. Go to the district site, www.cbsd.org, and type “Brown” in the search box. The first option will open to our class page.

31. 6th Grade Activities • Monthly Activities: Halloween Howl, Highpoint, Bowling, and Survivor Nights • Geography Bee • 6th Grade Social • Promotion

32. Ropes Course Field Trip Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd Challenge By Choice Activities: Team Building, Low Ropes, High Ropes

33. Low Ropes Course The low ropes provide: • Team problem solving • Planning, cooperation, paying attention, encouragement and safety • Real-life experiences

34. High Ropes Course • The high ropes: • Create individual opportunities to “stretch” beyond perceived limitations • Encourage to accept challenges • Teach responsibility for others’ safety • Strengthen communication skills

35. Central Bucks School DistrictMill Creek Elementary School 2014-2015

36. Be Ready for a Change to Reporting Student Progress Learning Indicators Standards 1st Quarter Conference Report

37. Parent Portal

38. Fundraising Change this Year3 ways to contribute to our school • Choice #1: Complete Walk for Education Labels • Labels due by September 23rd • Choice #2: Shop from our NEW Gift Catalog • Orders due by October 3rd • Choice #3: Do Both! Find out more in the Sept. 18th information packet! Pig Races?

39. Almost There  Supplies – Thank you, Thank you Homeroom Parent/Parties – Mrs. Bateman Conference Sign-ups - Online Questions??? Math Class – 7:45 p.m.

40. Math Classes

41. 6th GradeBack to School Night Jennifer Brown September 8, 2014

42. Everyday Mathematics Spiral Approach:Basic/Secure/Developing Skills • Computation: Student Preference, Basic Facts • Interpretation of Data • Application of Knowledge in Problem Solving Common Core: • Materials meet the new national standards • Focus on real life application, vocabulary

43. Differentiation Pre-Assessments Math Centers Flex-practice • Computation Races • Small group with teacher • Fact Practice • Math Centers • Partner Practice

44. Computation Algorithms Basic Fact Knowledge • Multiplication War • Math 24 • www.xtramath.com Algorithms • Focus on “Traditional” Methods • Accurate and Efficient

45. Online Resources www.everydaymathonline.com Unique student login/password

46. Classroom Website www.cbsd.org and search for “Brown”

47. Homework • Study Link and Math Boxes daily • Student-graded for understanding • Teacher-monitored for completion

48. Standards Based Reporting Communicated through rubrics and assessment cover sheets: Secure skills v. Beginning and Developing

49. Communication… Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, etc. The best way is through a note or email: jbrown@cbsd.org 267-893-3657