6th Grade Academic Night 2011

Dear 6th Grade Families,

·As we conclude the busy first weeks of school, we want to let you know how much we are enjoying this class.· We know it has been a big adjustment being.back at school and really appreciate your helping your child get their materials (binder, shoes, supplies, etc.) organized. Getting back in the routine of homework will be a challenge for many and each student should take time each evening to review their daily classes and anticipate the next day's activities so. they are prepared when they walk into class. This should happen regardless of whether they have homework in that class or not.

Students have begun to meet with their specialists: P.E., Music, Library, Computer Class, Spanish, and Art. Students need to bring gym shoes to leave in the classroom if they have not already done.so.

We are reminding students to bring a mid mog snack, but any are forgetting. Pleae remind your child to eat breakfast and pack a healthy snack. Water bottles are also a great idea during these bot days. ·

Finally, please'help your child prepare a list ofnames and addresses of friends and relatives to receive jog-a-than sponsorship letters.. Some have handed us theirs for safe keeping. The envelope for that was sent home last week. We will be writing them in class tomorrow, Wednesday. Sally F. oster gif.t wrap information also came home last week.

Thank you to so many parents for volunteering to assist as room parents, copiers, and ITWAhelpers. Trust us that there will be a job for anyone willing to help as the year progresses.

This year Mrs McDond teaches LITERATURE and LANGUAGE ARTS, Mr. Miller teaches MATH and RELIGION, and Mr. Woletz teaches SOCIAL STUDIES and SCIENCE. As of today, our homework website is up and running. You can log on at our classroom website URL vV\V\N.stjoseph6abc.weebly.com. Even though we work to keep the website current, technology in 6th grade is fat from foolproof and we str_ongly encourage students to write their homework in their planner daily.

Th an k yo u fo r y o u r h el p and support in getting this year off to a terrific

start! Sincerely,

Sally Sue McDonaldChris MillerChuck Woletz

Aligning to the Common Core Standards

As a 6th grade team, we align our curriculum with the National Common Core Standards. Our feedback to students and parents, as to how students are meeting the standards, happens through structured reporting. Students will receive mid trimester and trimester reports. Students who are performing at a C- or below will receive a detailed progress report will be mailed electronically two weeks prior to the end of the trimester. Parents will be notified prior to that if students are in danger of failing a class.

As a team we use several indicators to determine each student's level of success in meeting the State Standards. The evidence we use to identify skills is through unit tests, quizzes, written responses, projects, teacher observations, in-class work and homework. We ask students and parents to attend the student led conferences in the fall and spring. This is an opportunity for all the players to meet and celebrate student learning, evaluate student strengths, identify student areas for growth, and set goals for further learning.

St. Joseph School Student Learning Expectations

The St. Joseph School Student Learning Expectations (SLE) are an integral part of our daily planning. It is our expectation that students who leave the 6th grade will have opportunities to demonstrate all Student Learning Expectations.

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I September October November December January February March April May Junei

Science Chemistry Physics Nutrition Human Body Flight

I .cJoe ;. at' East Africa Egypt China Japan --

St udiesI

L i >: e r t u r e Song of Trees & Roll of Poetry Folk Tales Non Fiction Mystery The Cav or Island of the So Far from the Bamb_ooI

Thunde[ Hear MiCri Mythology Research on Who Framed Blue Dolphins Grove or Year of

LStory Telling Egypt Art Deco? Impossible Goodb es

Lit e ,. 8 t u r e Choice Peacemaker Fairytale Fantasy or Realistic OT: Priest, Humor

Book Biography Science Fiction Prophet, or

Reports fiction King

Language Report Writing Auto- Descriptive Short Story Persuasive E xposition: Exposition: Exposition: Response toI Arts biographical Writing Essay Comparison Cause How to LiteratureII Writing Contrast Effect Essay

Crd rnrn2 r Verbs Nouns Pronouns Adjectives Prepositions Conjunctions Basic parts Effective DiagrammingAdverbs Prepositional Interjections Phrases Sentences Sentences

Phrases ClausesL_I !vi th Integers Whole Statistics & Decimals Fractions Percents Geometry, Measurement, Algebra Prob<Jbility

Numbers Graphing

;e l ig ion Overview of Catholic Using the Liturgical World OT: Major Figures Passover Women in the BibleI Old TestI

Bible Mass Bible Seasons: Religions Holy Week The Luminous Mysteries ofI Fl:· 2yers Advent, Lent Stations of the RosaryI the Cross

-I Tech File transfer Web: Search Research Research Graphic Design & Layout Portfolio Scrap bookingvia e-mail, Engines Publication Media Presentation

server, USB &URLs disks

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'Projec ts Report Conferences Book Patrick's the Cross E of·f!:··

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6th grade Curriculum Map: McDonald 6A, Miller 68, Woletz 6C

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St. Joseph School700 18th Avenue East

Seattle, 'wasmngton 98112(206) 329-3260

September;

. Dear parents of 6th graders,j· This week all 6tb. graders will be beg inning a course c.alled Conflict Resolution in the

Middle School. Tbis program will teach students skills in communication, anger management, active listening, identifying stereotypes, and de-escalating conflicts. Each student v.rill receive a workbook they can keep and complete their homework in. AI:. parents you can help silpport this program an4 reinforce valuable lessons by talkingabout conflicts on television, in books, movies or in your own day to day lives. Bringingup discussions on how conflicts were resolved (or not) could lead to enriching talks about styles of handling conflict, ways to calm. down, and how respecting someone's personal beliefs and values can lead to peaceful relationships.

Thank you for your support and please feel free to observe a lesson or call/email me with any questions or comments. My phone number is 206-329-3260-X 220 and my email is jmoyerta @stjosephseaorg. You may also visit my web page at sijosephcounselor.weebly.com for.parent tip of the month, bibliographies and community and counseling resourc s.

Sincerely, •

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Jennifer Moyer-Taylor · School Counselor

Literature Syllabus

Mrs. McDonald ssmcdonald@stjosephsea.org

Students will have the opportunity to explore many different forms of literature·through discussion, journals, literature circles, group work, projects, book reports, and conferences. Along with excerpts from textbook, students will choose their own books, read a specific book as a group or be able to choose from assigned books dealing with certain genres or themes. ·

The literature program will at times integrate with other subjects, such as social studies and language arts. For example, when the sixth graders are studying Japan and Korea in social studies, they will be reading So Far from the Bamboo Grove By Yoko Kawashima Watkins.

Monthly book reports will be assigned, focusing on different genres throughout the year. Those are listed on the back of the reading wheel. Students will finish 3/4 of the reading wheel with in class work and the remainder of the wheel may be finished on own time but is not mandatory. An explanation of that is also on the reading wheel

The goal in literature is to foster the joy of reading by ·exposing the students to varied literary works. This will enhance each student's capabilities in other academic areas and instill confidence in reading. Through exposure to literature, the students will learn about story development (theme, plot, setting, character development, conflict: etc.) and good writing, including language usage, grammar and spelling. Literature is at times a quiet time for students to enjoy the many wonderful books for young people.

"Chapters" is a special time every month for students to get comfortable with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate or cider, cafe style. Donations of hot chocolate or cider is greatly appreciated.

Students must type or use blue or black pen on all written assignments.

Grading (May vary by term):In class work/homework

(i.e. novel study, vocabulary exercises, comprehension activities)Projects & Book Reports Tests & Quizzes Participation

(i.e. discussion s, independent reading , conecting dail y work)

25%30%25%

20 %

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The Reading Wheel Grading Criteria Literature: Independent Reading

Within the reading wheel there are 18 slots for you to fill in as you read. In order to count as a book on the Reading Wheel you need to report on it in some way. The books we read in class will count toward spots on your Wheel. The way you report on class books is by doing the homework and in class activities. There are also book genres assigned several times a year as book reports. Those also count on your Wheel. The remainder of the slots in your Wheel need to be filled in by you each time you finish reading an "outside" book. An "outside" book is one you read simply for pleasure and no assignment is attached to it. For those books I ask that you report on it through a book review. Sample book reviews are posted on the pillar near the windows in Mrs. McDonald's class.

The following books will be read during the following months as c..Le s.s.Novets./Y"ee dL""g u""Lts. or Book Reports:

September- 1-tl.storiceL FLctLoll\.. (RoLL ofTlll u ll\ .. der- § Soll\..g ofTr-ees.) ; Choice SandwichOctober- Poetr-t1 ("pr-ovLded LV\.. cLC!s.s.) November- Biography (Peacemaker)December- MtjHiOLog;j § FcLR.tG!Le (pr-ovi.dedc' LC!ss)January- Fantasy Float; c. LLdr-eli\..Stor-t1 (tj ou'r-e te e ut or-)February- Non Fi.ction (Small reading groups)March- Adventure Paperbag; MtJster-t1 (Wo Fr-Ci v t A..eol Art Decco) April- c.Le s.s.Lc (rs.LC!ll\..cl ofte B-Lue I.)o 1 -p LY\,s. or-The C.C!tj)May-1-tl.s.tor-LcCIL FLctLoY\. (so FC!r- Fr-oVVt. te B.C!VVt.boo Cjr -ove) or <yetlr of tV1A.possi.bLeCjoob 1;;1es )

June- 1-tl.s.tor-LceL (oLd Teste VVt.e v-t)

As you can see from this list, 15 books will be completed as c.Le ss NoveLs or assigned as Book Reports. That leaves you 3 books to read outsi de of these if you want to finish your entire Reading Wheel b_y the end of the school year. I am not requiring the three remaining slots be filled, but there are a dvantages if you do. First, if you complete one extra book per term your independent reading g rade, which is already a "8 = 85%", will be plugged in as a n "A=100%". (Independent reading is 10% ofyour grade, which falls under the pa rt i cipation category.) Secondly, if your wheel iscompletely filled in by the first week in June, regardless of whether or not you reported on it using a book revi ew, you wi ll be invited to a literature Reading Wheel pizza party sponsored by your favorite 6th grade homeroom teachers.

Enjoy your reading, broaden your reading choices, and expand your vocabulary. This is our reading formula for 2010-2011.

1

6th Grade Language Arts SyllabusMrs. McDonald

Materials: Composition book, blue or black pen, red correc ting pen, notebook paper. grammar book .

Notebook and Blue LA Folder: There sho u ld be a sect ion in your McD/6A notebook for Language Arts. Here you need to keep this syllabus to refer to throug hout the year. Test questions are taken directl y from material covered in class or during homework. It is important for you to keep all of the work yo u complete so you can refer to it as it i s needed . You w ill also need to keep the rubrics provided for each writing assignment.

Grammar Test: There will be a test approximately every two weeks. Your test questions will be similar to the ones yo u did for homework You will be told ahead of time when the test is scheduled.

Grammar Homework: Homework is designed to reinforce what is learned in class and supplement our unit of study. Homework turned in on time will receive full credit provided it is done neatly, complete, corrected if don e by group, and represents understanding of material because you have shown your wo rk . Homework turned in late wi ll be graded 3 instead of a 4 (when using a 4 point scale). St udents who forget to wri te th eir name on their paper will lose a point on the 4 point grading scale as often that is not discovered until the end of the week when homework is returned, students are asked where their work is, identity theirs and resubmit. Students who are absent need to get the assignment off the web or trom the teacher and turn it in with in a timely fashion (withinl -3 days). Theirs wi ll not be marked late. Homework is to be turned in only during math periods, no sooner. Expect math homework 4 nights a week .

Writing Projects: Each month we will focus on a style of wr iting. We will wo rk through the w riting process (pre-write, rough draft, edit revision, tinol copy). Th i s wi ll be d9ne both in-c l ass and at home. Your job is to submit all with your finJ! copy so as !<) receiw full credit for the project. Part of learning to be a good writer is being a careful editor. You w i ll be expect ed to provide valuable feedback to your peers whenwe review drafts.

Grading:

lnclass composition book 'O;(0(writing, editing practice, brainstorms) )

Writing Projects 40%Grammar Homework Grammar Tests Participation/Peer Edi r ing

10%30%5%

Writing is a process and no work is ever finished. A g o od writer will become a great writer if t hey learn early the value

of the pre-write and the draft proc e ss. Th e se stages wil l be emphasized this year.

RELIGION SYLLABUS

Growth in faith is a lifelong journey, undertaken in community and guided by the Spirit.· Using the textbook, Blest Are We, we will explore the Bible.· We will examine the role of p·rayer, faith and respect in our lives and becoe familiar with the celebration of the Eucharist.

Discipleship: To help young people understand their role in faith community.

Conscience: To encourage youth to recognize the relationship between values and action and to offer practical ideas for living according to these personal values.

Spirituality: To offer young people the chance to practice private and communal prayer·.

The goal of the sixth grade religious education program is active learning that translates into active faith.· With this in mind, the sixth grade classes will participate in collecting items for Jubilee House.·

Ms. Moyer-Taylor, school counselor, teaches a conflict resolution class and students will receive reflection homework weekly:

Grading:In-class work/homework 25%Projects 30%Tests 30%Participation 15%

This prayer is found written on the wall in MotherTeresa's home for children in Calcutta:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may. accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.· Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.Be happy any-way.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God..It was never between you and them anyway.

Math 2011-2012Goals :

Students develop an interest and appreciation for math. Students will build confidence in their math abilities as well as learn perserverance through the math challenges they face.

Units Covered :

Integers ( positive and negative numbers)Whole numbers ( primes, factoring, exponents ) Statistics and graphingGeometry ( lines, polygons,angles etc) Pre-AlgebraDecimal fractions, fractions,and percentsRatios and proportions

- Geometry and measurementProbabilityModel drawing to solve word problems ( year long)

Materials needed : Notebook, calculator, protractor, compass,tape, ruler

Grading Scale :

Homework- 1 pointQuiz- 18-35 pointsTest- 40-60 points

Homework Policy : M-Th 20-35 minutes

cmiller@ stjosephsea.org

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Math: Week 2 September 6-9

Tuesday introduction to subtraction of integers"making sense only"...not how to subtract yet....

Wednesday subtraction of integers

Thursday multiplying and dividing integers( not on tomorrow's quiz)

Friday qutzmodel drawing for word problems

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Science and Social Studies: Mr. Woletz 6CStudents will become curious/confident learners via hands-on science. SLE #2Students will develop an understanding/appreciaton of other cultu es. SLE #4

ScienceChemistry: Periodic Table of Elements, atomic structure, chemical formulas,

mixtures, physical/chemical changes, solutions, acids & bases.Physics: Newton's Laws of Motion, gravity, friction, levers, pulleys. Nutrition: Empowering health (<sat/trans, sugar, >fiber, calcium, H20) Human Body: Digestive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Excretory systems. Flight: Principles of flight and possibly rocketry.

Social Studies Study the geography, ancient history, religion(s), language and arts of EastAfrica, Egypt, China, Japan,

DeliveryA variety of instructional strategies including lecture with minimal notetaking, demonstrations and videos, hands-on activities, textbook reading/questions, Q&A, skits/plays, personal reflections, guest speakers and field trips.

GradingHomework/quizzes/projects/reflections/tests will be assessed on a point basis and graded ' on the school-wide percentage scale found in the handbook.Unit outlines are provided, students are notified of tests two weeks in advance and lunchtime reviews are offered. Therefore. no test retakes or extra credit.

HomeworkMonday-Thursday with project/quiz/test preparation extending over weekends. Planner (I can sign), Weebly (St. Joseph's website), hall calendar. friendsNo name/incomplete/late homework = zero or reduced credit. *I save work.*Absent students are responsible for completing missed work or score = zero.

Parental Involvement Show genuine interest and discuss learnings; have your child teach you! Assist your child in developing organizational skills. Weekly binder purges?Help your child plan for long-range projects and tests (calendar. notecards...)Enter paper, project and test due dates on a large calendar at home. Encourage/demand attendance at lunchtime test review sessions.Be patient - Don't put a period where God places a comma.

CHEMISTRY REVIEW I

The exam will be based on pages 134-149, class. lectures, notes and experiments. I recommend that you do the Chapter Review on p. 155.

1. What is the Scientific Method?Data? Hypothesis? Theory?

2. What is matter? Chemistry is the study of and how it

3. What is a property? Name several properties of matter.

4. What is an element? How many are there? Who systematically arranged them into the Periodic Table of Elements?How many occur naturally?

5. Know the atomic structure of an element: nucleus contains the · which is positively charged and the which is --------·· Spinning rapidly· outside the nucleusare th,e which are charged.

· 6. Do you know the symbol for common elements? (hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, chlorine, nitrogen).

7. What is an atom? · What is the atomic number? What is the atomic weight?

8. How many electrons in the first orbit/ring? 2nd ? 3rd ?

9. What is a compound? Could you decode a compound?

10. What is a mixture? Give several examples?

EAST AFRICAN TEST REVIEW ------------Test date = --------------------

1. The power of words and pictures (cartoons, I-Net, magazines, movies,TV)can lead to stereotyping, prejudice, and ethnocentrism . Words such as

------------------• and---------------- are damaging - to all.

2. Review the East Africa map and know the location and capital cities of Kenya = Uganda = and Tanzania = ! _

3. Review the East Africa map and know the physical features of the region (Indian Ocean, Great Rift Valley, 'Mt. Kilimanjaro, Serengeti/Masai Mara, gorongoro Crater)

4. How did we get here?Creationists Evolultionists- Charles Darwin-

5. Paleoanthropologists study the of ------,------- Drs. Louis and Mary Leakey and crew discoveredA. B. Dr. Donald .Johansen and crew discoveredC.

6. Austalipethicus = Homo = Homo habilis = --------------------------------------- Homo erectus = ---------------------------------------- Homo sapien sapien -------------------------------------------

7, Bipedalsim is This was perhaps the most mon umental task in the history of human evolution. It ied to u

and