Welcome Back! Mr. Brown 6th Grade, Room 17 **************** Please find your child’s desk. You may start completing a child survey & writing a positive note on an index card to leave for your child! Getting to know me… Education & Experience Philosophy Communication: We’re a team! Student responsibility: Work hard! Be positive! Positive Classroom Management INSTRUCTION ~ Focus on making learning interactive and applicable to life Class Room Management, Sign Language, & Economy MOTIVATION ~ Focus on helping students internalize values of hard work R&R and AM/FM, Project/Service Learning DISCIPLINE ~ Focus on structure that makes cooperation and responsible behavior routine Logical Consequences, Visual Cues, & Brownie Bucks CHARACTER EDUCATION ~ Work actively to teach students social skills 2nd Step & Bucket-filling Language Arts: Curriculum Close reading of fiction and nonfiction Vocabulary Word Study Fluency Comprehension Essay writing: Argument, Informative, Narrative AR, novels, & Great Books CPM Math: Ratios and Rates Fractions Expressions and Equations Statistical Thinking MacMillan/ McGraw Hill Science: Holt History & Geography: Plate tectonics, topography, heat movement, ecosystems, energy, and Family Life Ancient Civilizations Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Greece, and Rome From Procedural to Conceptual • Greater rigor, depth, and complexity • More problem solving, critical thinking, and finding evidence through analysis • Different look to instruction and assessment • More student writing and explaining of thinking CST Math Question: Donna buys 40 apples at 35 cents each. She eats 2 apples and sells the rest for 45 cents each. How much money does she make? This question only requires use of simple arithmetic. CCSS Math Question: Donna buys some apples at 35 cents each. She eats 2 apples and sells the rest for 45 cents each. She makes $4.40. How many apples did she buy? This question requires use of an algebraic equation. AR Program Accelerated Reader (AR) is used as a way of monitoring home practice of reading. After completing a book, students take short comprehension and vocabulary tests on the book and earn points toward a trimester goal that the student and teacher establish and parents approve. It is VERY important that students read at home each night: at least 20 pages. Only by practicing can one get better at a skill! AR progress is posted online in the form of a grade at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% benchmark of each trimester. It is 20% of your child’s total Reading grade. Reaching their goals will be rewarded with a group celebration, which is a field trip to Sunsplash on May 29th. Envision Math Program • Pretests to determine students’ prior knowledge • Daily 2 Quick Check of previous days concepts and preview of next lesson • Direct instruction which includes guided practice • Independent practice in class and homework practice workbook • Daily Spiral review of skills • Enrichment and math projects for those who master the topic early • Benchmark and Performance assessments at the end of each topic • Math Facts practice is accessible via the Cobblestone website 7 Daily Schedule 7:50 – 8:00 8:00 – 9:30 9:35 – 10:15 10:15 – 10:30 10:30 – 11:10 11:10 – 11:50 11:50 – 12:30 12:30 – 1:10 1:10 – 2:20 Attendance, Math Daily 2 Math PE (T/Th), Library (Weds) Snack Recess (Healthy please!) FLT (Tues-Fri) Language Arts (Computers on Fri) Lunch Writing; Character Ed (Mon.) Science (M/W), Social Studies (T/Th) Homework Policy Assigned Monday through Friday About 60 min. + Read at least 20 pages (AR or informational text) Homework is posted online each afternoon and should be written in student planners. Please create a quiet work place at home for your child to study at the same time every day, regardless of work load. This ensures quality work & establishes routine for your 6th grader. Grading • Grading is based on a traditional percentage point scale: 90% = A; 80% = B; 70% = C; 60% or less is an N for “Needs Improvement” • A standards-based report card, including grades & proficiency scores, is completed for each trimester. • Grades are available online 24 hours a day and will be updated at least once each week • Late work earns a score of 50% and is labeled “lat” in the grade book. • Missing work is 0% and is labeled “mi” in the grade book. It can be turned in late anytime before the trimester ends. • Work will be returned in Tuesday Folders after no longer needed by teacher for instruction • Grades largely reflect effort while Standards measure achievement of skills and knowledge. Special Activities PE: T/Th 9:35-10:15 Computer Lab: Fri. 9:30-10:15 Library: Weds. 9:35-9:50 Band: Mon/Weds 11:15-11:50 Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA): 3 hours every 3 weeks PE Fusion Dance in January/February Service Learning projects throughout the year Little Buddies: Bardet/Gillette 1st grades Field Trips Bus field trips during the school year: SF Chinatown & Golden Gate Bridge (3rd trimester) about $45 Sunsplash about $18 (May 2015 after meeting AR goal and maintaining good behavior) Seeking assistance with a possible (1st trimester) trip to UC Davis Walking field trips Permission slips required on time Fingerprinted parent chaperones needed Volunteer Opportunities • • • • Art & Science Docents Party planning Assist on Field Trips Help with Special Class Projects (knitting, crafts, life skills, etc.) • Help in the Classroom • Contribute to Class Wish List (see attached) • We collect Box Tops!! Class Wish List • Snacks (Fruit, pretzels, crackers, nothing with peanuts please!) • Supplies: Dry erase markers, colored copy paper, binder paper, red pens, large erasers, glue sticks, staples, tape refills, store items • Used/new books for class library • Small flash drive for your student to transport work from school computers to home Channels of Communication How to Reach Me: E-mail: (Best way!) bbrown@rocklin.k12.ca.us Phone/Voice Mail: (916) 632-1040 x 237 (Please don’t leave a message!) Tuesday Folder (Please look through this each week and return Weds!) Send note with student Website to check homework, grades, events: www.sixthcobblestone.weebly.com Thank you for taking your time to come to Back to School Night!