SIXTH GRADE CURRICULUM NIGHT

8/20/2012Mr. Caccavale

Mr. GoodingMr. O’ConnellMrs. Stafford

COMMON CORE STANDARDS• Top down approach• Focus is on depth of knowledge and

understanding• Scaffolding of concepts from grade to

grade

• 47 states on board

SIXTHCite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

SEVENTHCite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

EIGHTHCite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CONTINUOUS CLASSROOM IMPROVEMENT (CCI) Focus on specific learning outcomes Students take part in creating

mission statements, analyzing data, and setting goals

• Progress monitored throughout the year and tracked on graphs displayed in room

• Plan Do Study Act

READING WITH MR. CACCAVALE

Plot Setting Character Development

Comprehension Vocabulary “Digging” into the text

READING Common Core Standards –

dig deep (explain, evaluate, defend, analyze, …)

look at writer’s techniquefocus on various genres including non-fiction

Develop strong readers with a solid skill base to understand and retain literature

Focus literary elements – plot, character development, theme, point of view, etc…

READING CONT.• Materials– Harcourt – McCall-Crabbs – Jr. Great Books – Reading A-Z– literature studies

• Reading Logs – 20 pages per night for total of 400 pages per month

• Classes work fits their needs• Interactive Student Notebooks (ISN)• Class library – open to all sixth graders– book orders help fill shelves – donations of books or money to purchase books

are welcomed

SCIENCE WITH MRS. STAFFORD

This class uses FOSS (Full Option Science

System) as the basis for study. FOSS is

aligned with Arizona State Standards and

was developed through rich collaboration of

scientists, educational researchers,

curriculum developers, assessment

specialists, teachers, administrators,

community members, and parents. Students

learn by doing science. FOSS engages

students to construct an understanding

through investigations and analyses, using

lab equipment, readings, and interactive

technology.

YEAR AT A GLANCE2 UNITS

Water & Weather : energy transfer, air pressure, and water cycle(AugDec)

Diversity of Life: use microscopes to study organisms, including cell and life functions (Jan- May)9 Topics per UnitEach topic has 1-3 parts, each part

taking 1-2 days to complete

WATER AND WEATHERInvestigation 1: What is WeatherInvestigation 2: Where’s the Air

Investigation 3: Seasons and SunInvestigation 4:Heat TransferInvestigation 5: Convection

Investigation 6:Water in the AirInvestigation 7: The Water PlanetInvestigation 8: Air Pressure and

WindInvestigation 9: Weather and Climate

DIVERSITY OF LIFEInvestigation 1: What is Life

Investigation 2: Introduction to the Microscope

Investigation 3: Microscopic LifeInvestigation 4: The Cell

Investigation 5: Seeds of LifeInvestigation 6: Transpiration

Investigation 7: Plant Reproduction

Investigation 8: Snails and Roaches

Investigation 9: Kingdoms of Life

DURING EACH TOPIC 1-2 hands-on student investigations

“labs” Science Interactive Student Notebook

(ISN) – must be kept in binder Power Point – outlines entire topic, notes

taken from this– Will be posted to website after majority of content covered

1 reading per topic in resource book Video clip(s) Quiz (at conclusion of topic) No NOTES

allowed on quiz– Students USE notes in ISN TO STUDY

GRADING Grades posted regularly Not every assignment/activity is for a grade

Breakdown25% Labs35% ISN checks which includes class work and homework40% Quizzes/Tests

OTHER INFORMATION:

Cooperative groups (change each quarter)

4-5 kids per group Website very helpful

HomeworkPower PointsHelpful websitesISN Table of Contents

SCIENCE FAIR 4th QuarterDemonstration of Scientific Process using Scientific Method

Experimentation done at home with time in class to work on other components

Science Fair will be sometime in May

SIXTH GRADE WRITING CURRICULUM

Using the Common Core Standards

COMMON CORE: 3 TYPES OF WRITING

• Argument: To persuade, bring about some action on reader’s part, or ask reader to accept a certain point of view; includes a claim, reasoning and evidence

• Informative/Explanatory Writing: To clarify or increase readers’ knowledge or understanding of a subject

• Narrative: To convey experiences, either real or imaginary, in order to inform, instruct, persuade, or entertain

Writing priorities change as one moves up the grades

COMMON CORE CONT.• Write routinely over extended time

frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and

• Shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

• Use technology to compose and publish documents

• Speaking and Listening and Language

• Use of Writing Process

THE WRITING PROCESS Prewriting

- Using strategies to generate, plan, and organize ideas for specific purposes.

Drafting- The use of prewriting activities to create a first draft containing necessary elements for a specific purpose.

Revising- Evaluating and refining the rough draft for clarity and effectiveness. “Ask: Does this draft say what you want it to say?”

Editing- Proofreading and correcting the draft for conventions.

Publishing- Formatting and presenting a final product for the intended audience.

WRITING COMPONENTS

While we will still teach and develop the six traits of Ideas and Content, Organization, Voice, Word Choice, Sentence Fluency, and Conventions, this year students will receive a single score of 1 – 6 on a writing matrix that combines the individual traits.

WRITING PROJECTS There will be one big assessment per quarter: Personal Narrative, Informative/Explanatory, Persuasive (Argument/Claim), Narrative of student’s choice

Other projects/ units: six traits, friendly letter, functional (directions/ how to), author’s craft, organizational structures, poetry, literary response, and more!

WRITE FROM THE BEGINNING

Writing program introduced last year.

Helps writers with the pre-writing step in the writing process.

Use of Thinking Maps to organize ideas before starting a piece.

A skill-based program.

LANGUAGE Daily Language Review (DLR) Monday-Thursday

DLR quiz on Friday (on clickers) Demonstrate a command of conventions

Focus on use of pronouns Figurative Languange Vocabulary

SOCIAL STUDIES WITH MR. O’CONNELL

CIVILIZATIONS TO BE STUDIED

Ancient Mesopotamia

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient China

Ancient Rome

And more…

PROJECTS Three projects will be created during the year

Allow students to dig deeper into a topic

Designed to meet Common Core standards

Can be done individually, or in pairs

INTERACTIVE STUDENT NOTEBOOKS

Used for chapter notes Creative outlet Excellent study guide

SIXTH GRADE MATH

MR. GOODINGHello!

IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW

Curriculum—”Math Connects” —more problem solving based

Website-  glenco.com (One site has it all!)

Common Core! Shared Standards between states in the United States

Common Core! Philosophy for math…go for a deeper understanding of the concepts rather than teaching numerous standards with little depth

DIFFERENT APPROACH FOR TEACHING Students will be given immediate feedback as they are working—”Stecking”...a.k.a. Stamp Checking

Students who need additional help are called back to meet as a small group

Most work should be completed in class

Students will be taught to self-monitor their homework at home (odd answers are in the back of the book)

MATH GRADE WEIGHTING 5% Foldables 20% Homework 25% Daily Quizzes 50% Tests

CLICKER!

CLICKERS IN USE!

CLICKER RESULTS ANALYZED!

COMMUNITY BOARDS AND CONSENSUS!

MORE CONSENSUS WORK!

CLASS-WORK AND STECKING!

SMALL GROUP SESSION DURING CLASS-WORK!

CLICKERS, COMMUNITY BOARDS, CONSENSUS, STECKING, AND SMALL GROUP…..MACHINE!

GRADES Grades based on tests, quizzes, class work, and projects

Tests will be completed after each chapter

Two to four quizzes per chapter

OTHER Schedule: TBD

Homework 45-60 min. Weekly Folders Newsletters: http://

ls6thgrade.weebly.com/index.html Websites PTA

8:45 –

8:55DLR

8:55 – 9:40

Specials (4-day)

9:40 –

10:40Hour

1

10:40 –

11:30 Writin

g

11:30 –

12:30

Hour 2

12:30 –

1:10Lunc

h

1:10 – 1:30

Writing/

Dear

1:30 – 2:30 Hour

3

2:30 –

3:30Hour

4