Welcome to Team 6A’s Welcome to Team 6A’s Curriculum NightCurriculum Night

Team Teachers: Mrs. ElliottMrs. HarfordMrs. PerezMr. Stuart

Interventionists: Mrs. Belfiore

Comprehensive Literacy Comprehensive Literacy ProgramProgram

Reading

Writing

Word Study

Comprehensive LiteracyComprehensive LiteracyReading Workshop ModelReading Workshop Model

ReadingReading– DRA2 (Developmental Reading DRA2 (Developmental Reading

Assessment)Assessment)– Mini LessonsMini Lessons– Shared Reading / Shared Reading /

Read AloudRead Aloud– Guided ReadingGuided Reading– Independent ReadingIndependent Reading– Written Response to ReadingWritten Response to Reading– Quarterly Assessments

Writing Workshop ModelWriting Workshop Model

Mini LessonsMini Lessons

Independent WritingIndependent Writing

Guided Writing GroupsGuided Writing Groups

ConferencingConferencing

Quarterly AssessmentQuarterly Assessment

Rubrics are used for gradingRubrics are used for gradingGoal: Students should be at a 3 (competent) Goal: Students should be at a 3 (competent)

by the end of 6by the end of 6thth grade. grade.

Word Study (Spelling)Word Study (Spelling)

DSA (Diagnostic Spelling DSA (Diagnostic Spelling Analysis)Analysis)

Word Study GroupsWord Study Groups

Word Sorts by generalizationWord Sorts by generalization

Science

Physical Science Strand: Chemistry, Energy and the Environment

Life Science Strand: Genetics

Earth and Space Strand: Rocks and Minerals

 

Integrated in all science Integrated in all science units:units:

Science Technology

Scientific Inquiry

Scientific Ways of Knowing

Science class is mostly hands-on so there is very little homework. When assignments are given they are usually in the form of note taking and studying for assessments.

If you would like to see what we are doing in class, please look at your child’s binder.

Study sheets for assessments are in their binder and on my web page.

We spend a great deal of time learning how to take notes from our text book and creating personal vocabulary dictionaries.

Common Assessments are the same format as last year. They are focused on understanding, NOT memorization.

Social StudiesSocial Studies

Introduction: Five Themes of GeographyUnit 1: Ancient River Civilizations

Unit 2: West Asia

Unit 3: Africa

Unit 4: East AsiaUnit 5: Central and South America

Unit 6: Europe

The sixth grade year focuses on the geography of the world.

Social StudiesSocial StudiesStudents will learn through the use of nonfiction texts, investigative research, simulation activities, small group projects and class discussions.We use the National Geographic: Reading Expeditions text series, however these books are rarely sent home.Learning Targets and supplemental materials are in their binder.

Social StudiesSocial StudiesAsk your child what they learned that day.

Help your child study his or her Learning Targets throughout the course of the unit.

Log onto the Family Information System at solonschools.org and follow the tabs to "Orchard" , "Scott H. Stuart", and "FILES" to find comprehensive study aids for social studies and literacy units. “COMET CASTS will allow you to listen to social studies and science chapters read aloud by Mr. Stuart.

TechnologyTechnologyMS PowerPointMS ExcelMS PublisherMS WordWebquests

Technology is used to enhance learning. It is never used in isolation.

In addition to these software platforms and approaches, students may have the opportunity to work with iPads, Kindles, the Elmo document projector, as well as other devices.

MathMath

MathThematics is the math series (text book and workbook).

Use common assessments (end of the unit), formative assessments (after a topic in the unit is taught and practiced), and daily assessments for learning (used to guide instruction).

Refer to each unit’s Learning Targets handout which outlines the specific content your child should learn before the final assessment. Students should be writing their own notes from class on this handout throughout the unit.

The approach to the math curriculum is to build conceptual understanding- students are encouraged to use a variety of strategies to solve problems.

Because of the sheer amount of indicators for 6th grade math, students can expect to have homework every night (no more than 20-30 minutes). If students are at the frustration level with homework, please just write a quick note or email about the assignment so that I can provide support for them at school.

There are specific times we can meet with students for extra help in math:

from 8:30 – 8:45 each morning, 2:50 times when we are in the team area (not at a meeting, etc.), at least three times a week during the intervention period, and during our 80 minutes of class time.

Please encourage your child to ask questions during math class. We frequently walk around my room during math periods and check in with kids, so this would be a good time for your child to call me over for extra help.

First In MathFirst In Math

Students are expected to play First in Math at least 60 minutes a week. Refer to handout in Curriculum Night packet for deadline.Students are to work on First in Math to help challenge them with mathematics fluency and practice. Remember: the goal of FIM is not to torture you or your child; it is to help them practice their number sense automaticity. Thank you for helping to monitor their work!

AssessmentsAssessmentsFormative Assessments– Snapshots of ongoing learning, descriptive

feedback provided

Summative Assessments– Common Assessments are given at the

end of each unit in all subjects.– You will receive a cover sheet (inventory) that

shows the student's performance on each indicator and a final letter grade for that assessment. Parents are required to sign and return the inventory sheet regardless of the grade. This facilitates parent/student communication about school.

– Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA)

GradingGradingInterims will only be sent home with students who need extra monitoring in any content area. We may not send interims to all students.Report Cards are sent home quarterly.Common Assessment grades make up the bulk of the report card grade.Homework is not counted in the final report card grade for each quarter.

Team A Behavior PlanTeam A Behavior Plan

Punch Card

Academic/Behavior Checklist

Rewards

Family Information System

ReminderReminder1. Be sure to sign-up for a

conference with your child’s homeroom teacher.

2. Sign-up for our team parties.

3. Take a moment and visit the DARE, Music, Art and PE teachers.

4. Take a Malley’s Fundraiser packet with you.

5. Consider volunteering to be an Orchard Tutor.

6. Visit the Book Fair and Spirit Wear table in the media center.