Good evening.
 Please sit at your child’s desk. Name
tags are on the front.
Read the letter they left
for you.
Write something back if
you’d like.
Welcome to Mr. Knobbe’s
Class
Room 17
Curriculum Night
Typical Day
 8:20 – 9:40 Math
 9:40 – 9:45 snack
 9:45 – 10:35 Special (gym, art, etc.)
 10:40 – 11:25 Social Studies with Mrs. Morgan
 11:30 – 12:15 Lunch
 12:20 – 1:05 Science
 1:05 – 1:20 Language Arts
 1:20 1:40 Recess
 1:40 – 3:00 Language Arts (Readin’ and Writin’)
 3:00 – 3:15 Study Hall, clean-up, Dismissal
Mathematics
 Math Warm-ups every morning consisting of ten
(10) problems. A quiz will be given on most Fridays
covering these essential skills.
 Number Systems, Ratio and Proportional
Relationships, Expressions and Equations,
Geometry, and Statistics and Probability
 Common Core Mathematics, meaning inquirybased learning with an emphasis on critical thinking
and problem-solving skills.
 There will be a focus on discovery, math
vocabulary, problem solving and critical thinking
skills
Mathematics continued
 Math practice daily
 Use notes and textbook
 Show your work!!! If they said they did it
mentally, question them. Use your best
judgment!!!
 No calculators unless directed!
Mathematics Grading
 Grading – Math practice graded for completion on a 3-point
scale, tallied up for one homework grade per week leading up
to the weekly skills quiz.
 3 points given if assignment is done AND work is shown.
 2 points given if mostly completed AND work is shown.
 1 point given if many problems are incomplete.
 0 points if over half are incomplete or it is missing.
 Math practice points are tallied up in Powerschool.
 25% of final grade. This is to encourage students to practice.
 Quizzes – every Friday (unless we don’t have one.)
 25% of final grade
 Tests – 50% of final grade
Mathematics continued
In case of a mathematics emergency, go
to www.Khanacademy.com
-This is a great resource if your child is
absent, confused, or both.
Interactive Math Journal
Science
 DISCOVERY SCIENCE – web-based science curriculum for the
“digital learner.”
 Online simulations, videos, reading passages
 Taught through informational reading lessons,
demonstrations, and investigations
 Science Videos can be viewed at home. At times,
they will be assigned to watch these at home. Ask
‘em about this. Be sure they click the “marked as
complete” button on the screen.
 Topics of study include: Biodiversity, Ecosystems,
Populations, Fossils and Geological time, The Rock Cycle,
Weathering and Soil Formation, Matter and Energy
Social Studies
 Taught by Mrs. Morgan
 Study of our northern and southern
neighbors in the Western Hemisphere.
 Lessons will focus on geography, history, and
cultures
 Note-taking will be emphasized
 Binders are used to help students stay
organized
 “Mini-Society” economics unit will begin in
January
Language Arts – Grammar and Writing
 Lessons taught with a balance between the reading
series and the white Grammar textbook.
 Grammar lessons stressed through use of creative
writing lessons.
 Writing projects include personal narratives,
compare and contrast essays, research reports,
problem-solution essays, etc.
 A “Flash Drive” can be very helpful for slow
typers or those suffering from writer’s block.
Our version of word uses a .docx file
extension.
Language Arts - Reading
 Whole group instruction from the
anthology
 Reading skills for comprehension
 Spiral notebook for written responses to
prompts
 Small group with leveled readers
 Skill reinforcement
 Leveled novels
 Weekly quizzes on assigned chapters
Spelling
 Pre-tests given on Friday
 Spelling concept for that unit taught
immediately afterwards.
 Spelling practice is typically due on Thursday
 Final spelling tests are typically given on
Thursdays
 We skip around from unit to unit based on
the support from the reading anthology.
Handwriting
 Cursive skills will be taught periodically
throughout the year.
 It appears on the report card.
 People are still asked for their signature,
aren’t they?
Agenda Notebooks
 These are filled out daily as practice is
assigned.
 You should see it out while they practice
their lessons.
 If you don’t see their agenda, ask about it.
This is a great tool to keep them organized,
especially if your child has had issues in the
past with missing or late work.
Absences
 If your child is absent for any reason, it is
important that they keep up on their studies.
 It’s easy to fall behind but hard to catch up.
The sooner they start to feel better, the
sooner they should complete lessons they
may have missed.
 If you call the office, I can arrange to have the
work left in the office after school or send it
home with a sibling or buddy.
Conferences
 Conferences will be held in November. I
hold conferences in which I expect the
student to also attend. It is, after all,
about their progress.
 I have found that it helps the student to
hear a consistent message from both
parent(s) and myself.
Report Cards
 The first marking period report will be
discussed at the November conferences. It will
be sent home with the student for all other
marking periods.
 Grades are earned, not given. True learning is
often accompanied by frustration in the
beginning. Expect this, and encourage your
child to have grit!
 I do not offer extra credit. The effort needs to
be put forth throughout the marking period.
Watch their progress on the Parent Portal.
Citizenship and Work Habits
 Citizenship and Work Habits: The report
card states that a “3” means “Meets
Expectations”.
 If your child desires a higher marking,
they need to work for it.
Completed Assignments
 Completed work and notes are sent
home on Mondays.
 Look over their work and check their
progress. Talk about what they did well
and what they need to work on.
Communication is the key.
What if they do poorly on an
assignment in my class?
 Students can redo homework assignments if:
They made an honest effort and completed the
lesson, or they just “didn’t get it!”,
AND
They actually completed the lesson before they
received a low score.
Sorry! This doesn’t apply to low
scores because it was incomplete or
late.
Parent Portal
 Allows you to monitor your child’s
academic progress
 This SHOULD replace progress reports.
 Your portal ID will allow you to track your
child’s progress through high school.
There’s no need to get a new ID every
year.
Field Trips
 A list of Dates to Remember will be
updated on my website as the dates
become firm.
 Check it before emailing me.
 Camp is on October 15th from
7:00am to 3:00pm! Sign-up to work
crowd-control or chaperone. A
Volunteer Background check needs
to be filled out prior to the trip.
D.A.R.E.
 Drug Abuse Resistance Education class is
taught by the Macomb County Sheriff’s
Department.
 Deputy Twomey will teach the class again
this year during the winter semester.
Birthday Treats
 Due to the prevalence of food allergies,
we are transitioning away from food for
birthday celebrations.
 Send in something else.
 How about crickets for Lucy and Ethel?
 Who are they? Ask your child.
Scholastic Book Club
Please order the books
online.
Information letter was sent
home.
Our class code is: LBR9L
How to check out Beck’s
website
 Get to the UCS home page
 Drag down the menu Schools Elementary A – E
 Choose Beck
 Click on Our Website located underneath the Viking
ship on the right
 Click on “Click here to visit the official site…”
 Click on Staff Info
 Find 6th Grade – Mr. Knobbe Room 17
This year’s goal:
 Independence
 Learning to think problems
through on their own
 Advocate for themselves.
 We should want our 6th graders
to solve problems on their own.
Disclaimer
 All classroom policies are subject to
change.
My website
 mrknobbeswebsite.weebly.com
 Weekly Schedule
 Dates to Remember
 Discovery Science link
 This presentation will appear
Weird question of the
evening!
Are you a taxidermist?
No. Seriously.
If not, do you know of
any? See me if you do.
Sign-up
Please sign-up for class
parties and field trip on table
near the hallway door.
Sign-up for your conference
at the back table. Keep that
date. If you change it, you’ll
need to be flexible!
Good night.