Sixth Grade
Soar to Success Academy
Mrs. Muniz and Mrs. Fenn
6th Grade Room 35 and 34
2014-15 School Year
Sonora School
Classroom Expectations
All students in this class are COLLEGE BOUND, that means we are all learning to meet the goal
of academic success in preparing for college! All Sonora School students are expected to make
good choices on the playground as well as in the classroom each and every day, to arrive on time,
with supplies and homework, ready to learn. Each student is expected to give their best, and be
engaged and positive. Each student is expected to agree to the Sonora Schoolwide Handbook
expectations, and to sign and date our class My Choices Contract acceptance.
Behavior & Character
In Room 35 and 34, we find the Six Pillars of Character to define our social interaction very
powerful.
o Trustworthiness
o Respect
o Responsibility
o Fairness
o Caring
o Citizenship
Success: It's difficult to overstate how full the sixth grade curriculum is. With expansive state
standards and tightly scheduled language-arts and math pacing plans, school may feel
overwhelming. As much as possible we will make this academic overload manageable. However,
students and parents can make it easier for themselves.
Code of Conduct
1st offense: Verbal Warning
2nd offense: another verbal warning, note home to parent, or child calls home to notify parent of
behaviors
3rd offense: fill out a Rethink Letter, and lose a privilege/recess or playtime, plus parent notified
4th offense: go to Success Prep Academy in another classroom after school and copy off a violation
essay many times- miss privilege and parent called for conference.
5th offense: all of the above with principal, establish a behavior contract and parent mirrors child in
class
*** Some offenses like fighting, bullying, inappropriate internet behavior, sexual harassment or
drugs/alcohol/weapons are automatically referred to the principal office for immediate
consequence/suspension.
Here are some tips that will help:
1) ASK QUESTIONS. If you don’t understand, we need to know.
2) GET ORGANIZED. Come to school prepared with paper, pencils, and completed work; make
sure you can find stuff in your desk—you will clean your desk at recess if it’s messy; before you
leave, make a list of your homework.
3) WORK first, then play. Homework and class work will be easy if you can get started on it right
away. At home, make a set time and place to do homework and read. If you don’t understand,
4) ASK FOR HELP. And finally,
5) Prepare for tests—you will have one chance to fix scores below a 75%.
6) Arrive to school and be in your Homeroom by 7:45, doing homework check and morning
procedures.
Supplies and Materials (See attached supply list)
We use the following materials each day inside your personal switch box:
 Spiral Bound notebooks for Math, English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Writing
 Black pens, Red Pens, Markers, Sharpies
 Highlighters for reading annotations
 Lines paper
 Chromebook-charged nightly ready to go
 Mouse
 Headphones
 Laptop Case case
 Scissors
 Glue sticks
 Ruler and calculator
Homework/Assignments/Tests
 Homework is Monday through Thursday
 Tests are every Friday: Vocabulary, Math, and Reading/Writing
 Tests are sent home every Tuesday for parents to sign and return in Tuesday Notes Folder
 Projects are given in-class time to start and if children utilize their class time, they will need
to finish up at home
Each week parents will receive a Weekly Update Email from their switch teacher and their
homeroom teacher-- to let you know what we are learning for that week. We will include any
special projects, important dates and/or celebrations. Each night, parents are to sign off on their
child’s homework agenda/daily planner.
In all subjects, students are expected to assemble “Portfolios” of work spanning several days or
weeks. All assignments are given with due dates in the future; all students must prioritize and
allocate enough time to complete all assignments by the due dates.
All 6th graders should spend 45 minutes of study and preparation at home daily, and spend an
additional independent reading time from 45 minutes reading AR books from our school library.
The Accelerated Reading Program is required and is considered part of their Reading grade.
Things I can do each night with my child to be successful in 6th grade:
1. Ask to see all finished homework
2. Wake up your child in time to be at school by 7:45—in Homeroom seat, good breakfast
3. Sign off on daily Homework Planner
4. Ask your child to explain what they learned that day
5. Watch and Monitor or listen to your child read for 25 minutes each night
6. Sign weekly tests and review them with your child
7. Practice Multiplication and Division Flash cards each night with your child for 5-10 minutes
8. Have a quiet place for your child to do their homework
9. Limit video games and TV for the weekends as an earned privilege for good grades
Time on Task
Managing time is an important skill worthy of practice. To help us get better, we will have an
incentive program for managing our time, with homework passes and free time being the reward.
All students have a checkbook whereby they track earned amounts toward special in class auctions.
Instruction
6th grade Switch classes, both the honors class and the Core class will adhere to the new Common
Core Content Standards of Instruction. We strive for Proficient (80%) mastery of the standards by
all students by the end of the school year. Remedial and alternative assignments will be given as
needed. Extra after school tutoring will begin in October for Math and/or Writing.
Scope & Sequence Overall Plan
o Reading
Common Cored Expectations for 6th grade include Close Reading activities, whereby students learn
to annotate text passages (highlighting and marking up their novels) with various reading strategies
learned. Therefore, students are expected to purchase novels so they can access the material at
home. See attached supply list for novel titles. Nightly reading of 45 minutes is mandatory to
improve reading comprehension. We will be learning many grammar concepts and working on
building our vocabulary and oral skills throughout the year.
o Writing
Writing proficiency is measured regularly on several types of writing. Sixth grade standards call for
the ability to write from 500 to 800 word compositions that are well organized with effective
spelling, grammar, usage, and mechanics. This comes out to solid 5 paragraph essay construction
with thesis statements, hook, body paragraphs and conclusion paragraphs.
o Physical Education
Students will work on calisthenics, conditioning, running, and team sports.
o Science
Students will receive one hour per week in the science lab and will also receive additional science in
the classroom. Note-taking skills will be emphasized; home study of each lesson is essential to
mastery.
o History/Social Studies
Students will be learning about ancient civilizations in 6th grade and will have various assignments
that will be completed at home as independent projects. They will have a due day assigned for each
project and will present them in class. Notes for studying are very important.
o
Mathematics
We will be working towards mastery of all Common Core Standards before SBAC testing, using
the district adopted SWUN Math program. We plan on spending 90 minutes of instruction time on
math on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays with tests on Friday. Each day we will do a
spiral review, review homework, answer questions, then learn a new concept with guided
instruction and independent practice of the skill. There is math study and homework daily; if the
current lesson is already mastered, then each student is to accelerate to additional enrichment
content.
o Art & Music
Meeting State Standards in Art and Music is difficult; field trips to performances are essential to
achieving some progress towards the standards. We try and integrate art into most projects allowing
students to express themselves through their artistic abilities in visual and performing arts. We do
plays, raps, painting, collage, pastels, watercolors, mobiles, and through songs. We will also have a
dedicated art time via Meet the Masters and an onsite Art teacher.
Field Trips & Excursions
In order to achieve maximum learning experiences, several field trips are scheduled. Parent
chaperones and volunteers are needed and welcome. Outdoor Science Camp is the highlight of 6th
grade and this year will be April 21-24th, the cost is $285 per child.
Computers, Technology, Keyboard Skills
Using the Chromebook Laptop computers daily in class is geared so that each student will have
significant time to use computers and other technology appropriately. We will work on developing
keyboard skills, word processing skills, Google Chrome based projects, Google
Drive/Docs/Sheets/Presentations, and students will also need to practice at home on the provided
laptop. All use of technology in class will support the mastery of educational standards and we will
follow a district based technology program. Non educational computer games, personal email,
personal web pages, and recreational ‘surfing’ of the Internet are not allowed. We expect all
students to strictly follow the internet safety and conduct requirements that will be explained at the
Chromebook Mandatory Parent Meeting in September. Students must take home their Laptops
nightly, charge them, take care of them, and bring them to school in a protective case, with mouse
and headphones.
Textbooks, Library Books
During the school year your student will be using textbooks currently adopted by the Newport Mesa
School District. (The following is from the District Office).
Students are expected to:
• Be responsible for taking care of textbooks
• Have textbooks at school every day
• Pay for lost or damaged textbooks
• Return textbooks assigned at the end of the school year
Library Books
Students will check out library books on as needed basis. Each student is responsible for his/her
checkout books. Any lost or damaged books will result in monetary fines to replace the book.
Festivals and Celebrations
Ancient Egypt Day- costume and food required
Ancient Greek Myth Plays and Greek Olympic Day- costume and food required
Ancient China Day-optional food purchase from Panda Express
Multicultural Festival- costume and food required
End of the Year Promotion Ceremony
End of the Year 6th Grade Activities
Other Holiday and in-class celebrations
Participating in Fun Celebrations always comes with strings: children must do the work that is associated with the fun
celebration, typically an in class project.
6th Grade Supply List for Mrs. Fenn and Mrs. Muniz
Please have all supplies by Sept. 8th
1. 1 Switch box- Litter box with measurements: 18 inches long, 15
inches deep and 5 inches tall/height, to fit into student desk for all
supplies
Measures 14-1/10-inch length by 10-2/5-inch width by 3-1/2-inch height
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
3-reams of lined college ruled paper
Pack of colored pencils
1 ream of white computer paper
Pack of black sharpies
2- packs of highlighters for Step Up to Writing- need blue, green, yellow, and pink
5- packs of Post It Notes-very small, various colors for annotation of text and marginalizing in Novels
1- Roll of Paper Towel
2 Boxes of Tissues
1 Hand Sanitizer __UNSCENTED ( Mrs. Fenn is allergic to perfumes/colognes and aromatic sprays
10 Sharpened Pecils—non mechanical
2 Peechie Folders for Tuesday Notes Folder and Homework Folder
Black Pen
Red Pen
Index Cards
Glue Sticks
Literature Novels:
 Holes, by Louis Sachar
 Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
 Wish Stealers by Tracy Trivas
 Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Lord
 Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
 Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
 On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
We will provide spiral bound notebooks, mini whiteboards and expo markers for SWUN math, protractors, scissors,
staplers, and other project needs.
Teacher wish list items: Auction items (Gift cards: Target, Starbucks, Game Stop, In N out, Sonic, Subway, Itunes),
movie passes, large bags of candy, Sports stuff (soccer balls, footballs, Frisbees, boogie boards, water guns), Girly
Stuff, Legos, Headphones and tech items for Chromebooks. All items are to be used for student auctions at various
celebrations.
Parent-Student Commitment Letter
RETURN TO HOMEROOM TEACHER
Student Name:______________________ Date: _______
I have read the above attached Discipline, Class and
Academic Policies for my child.
_____________________________ Parent Sign
_____________________________ Student Sign
Parent Email ________________________________mom
Parent Email ________________________________dad
Write clearly!!!!
Parent Cell Phone ____________________________
Movies shown in class either in excerpt or total:
Mulan, Hercules, Oliver Twist, Wizard of Oz, Hunger Games, Rudy, Christmas Carol, Egypt videos, Mesopotamia
videos, Israel Videos, China Videos, Queen Esther, Greece Videos, Tuck Everlasting, Holes, Star Wars, Discovery
Education Videos, Disney Video excerpts, You Tube Excerpts and School House Rock
I allow my child to see videos/movies for either class celebrations or as
excerpts for learning enhancement.
Parent Sign________________________________________
Volunteer:
____ Yes I volunteer to help bring food for class celebrations
____ Yes, I volunteer to fundraise for the school in PTA events (see PTA
membership in first day folder) $100 in checkbook for each PTA sign up.
Science Camp 2014
____ Yes, I want my child to go to Outdoor Science Camp in April. I
know the cost is $285.