welcome to mrs. cox’s classroom back to school night garnet valley middle school

Welcome to Mrs. Cox’s

Classroom

Back to School Night

Garnet Valley Middle School

Homebase

• Morning Meeting Place• Pledge of Allegiance• Attendance• Field Trip Information• School News-Announcements• Team Business

Science

Education/Background

• University of Pittsburgh• West Chester University• Masters Degree in Education-Wilkes University• Masters Degree (+30) • 8th year at GVMS• 6th Grade Science and Social Studies

Contact Information

• Phone number: 610.579.5140• Email: coxj@garnetvalleyschools.com• Best times to reach me:

• 7:00-7:30 a.m (by phone)• 12:30-3:00 p.m (by phone)• Email (anytime)

Communication

• Powerschool is our online grading and communication system

• Powerschool is a great tool for students, parent, and teacher

• Upcoming assignments, up-to-date grades, assignment descriptions, and comments

• I encourage students and parents to use Powerschool to view upcoming assignments and personal comments

• For parents-this is a great way to stay informed

Web PageMy web page is a work in progress. Throughout the year, I will be

adding useful links and assignments to help your students with different concepts in our curriculum.

*This ppt. is currently posted on my web page for future reference

• Science Syllabus• Discipline Plan• Homework Policy• Extra Credit Assignments

www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvms/cox

Materials Needed (most students already have these materials)

• 3 inch binder (used for all subjects)• 1 section in binder designated for science• dividers• Colored pencils• Glue• Pencils• Sheet protectors

Grading SystemPoint system

• Assignments weighted by points possible• Students final grade is calculated by:

Total points earned X 100Total points possible

Late Work Policy

• Students will earn half credit for late homework assignments

• 5 points will be deducted a day from late projects and larger assignments

• Students’ grades are based on total points earned-late work is better than no work

Science GradesStudents can earn points from the following assignments:

• Homework• Classwork• Quizzes• Tests• Blog Posts• Technology Assignments• Lab Investigations• Lab Reports• Notebook Checks• Projects

Extra Help Opportunities

I am available to offer extra help, clarification of assignments/labs , and study help for quizzes/test to students

during: • After school until 3:00• During 3rd period- Study Hall• Lunch (if not at Lunch Duty)

Homework

• HOMEWORK HOTLINE- 610. 579. 5140• Homework can be expected 2-3 times a week• Students should be reviewing concepts discussed in

class 10-15 minutes per night/study hall• Late homework-half credit• More than 1 day late-no credit• LATE HOMEWORK IS BETTER THAN NO HOMEWORK!

Extra Credit Opportunities

• The Healthy Classroom-an opportunity in the FIRST MARKING PERIOD to donate items to the classroom to keep it clean and healthy.

• For example: tissues, hand sanitizer, wipes, cleaning products, and hand soap

• Students have the opportunity to earn up to 5 bonus points for donations.

• Other extra credit assignments are posted on my website throughout the course of the year.

Science Overview• Science classes in 6th grade are not leveled• Leveling begins in the 7th grade-Academic and Enrichment level-

there is information about this class on my website• We begin the year with lab safety, the scientific method, and

process skills• Focus on the “Scientific Process Skills” throughout the course of

the school year (observation, making inferences, experimenting, measuring, communicating, etc)

• Curriculum based on state standards• Incorporates the use of Science and Technology Concepts for

Middle School Kits• The kits compliment the textbooks used in class

Major Units of StudyCatastrophic Events

• Earth’s interior• Plate Tectonics• The Rock Cycle• Earthquakes• Volcanoes• Ocean Currents• Winds• Weather Fronts• Hurricanes• Tornadoes• Storms

Major Units of StudyMatter and Energy

• Introduction to Matter and Energy• Properties of matter• Density• This introduction to Matter and Energy is

designed to provide a base for the 8th grade curriculum

Major Units of StudyEarth in Space

• Time• Sun-Earth-Moon system• Rotation, Revolution, and Tilt• Seasons• Moon Phases• Eclipses• Tides• Planets and the Solar System• Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors

Major Units of StudyEarth Science

• The Water Cycle• Soil• Erosion• Water Health• Environmental Awareness

Textbooks

• Prentice Hall: Science Explorer “Inside Earth”• Prentice Hall: Science Explorer “Astronomy”• National Resources: Smithsonian

“Catastrophic Events”• National Resources: Smithsonian “Earth in

Space”

Enrichment Opportunities

• Inquiry Investigations• Connections to Real life science• Enrichment homework assignments• Post-lab Enrichment• Problem Solving• Cooperative learning experiences• Leadership opportunities

Thank You so much for coming tonight

I anticipate a great school year!

Feel free to contact me with any concerns or

questions

Social Studies

Education/Background

• University of Pittsburgh• West Chester University• Masters Degree in Education-Wilkes University• Masters Degree (+30) • 8th year at GVMS• 6th Grade Science and Social Studies

Contact Information

• Phone number: 610.579.5140• Email: coxj@garnetvalleyschools.com• Best times to reach me:

• 7:00-7:30 a.m (by phone)• 12:30-3:00 p.m (by phone)• Email (anytime)

Communication

• Powerschool is our online grading and communication system

• Powerschool is a great tool for students, parent, and teacher

• Upcoming assignments, up-to-date grades, assignment descriptions, and comments

• I encourage students and parents to use Powerschool to view upcoming assignments and personal comments

• For parents-this is a great way to stay informed

Web PageMy web page is a work in progress. Throughout the year, I will be

adding useful links and assignments to help your students with different concepts in our curriculum.

*This ppt. is currently posted on my web page for future reference

• Social Studies Syllabus• Discipline Plan• Homework Policy• Extra Credit Assignments

www.garnetvalleyschools.com/gvms/cox

Social StudiesFoundations of Geography

• Themes of Geography• Map Skills• Geographic Tools• Physical Characteristics of Place• Human Characteristics of Place• Patterns of World Settlement

Social Studies

World Cultures• Mesopotamia• Ancient Egypt• Ancient Greece• Ancient Rome• Mesoamerican Civilizations-Olmec, Aztec,

Mayan Civilizations• South American Civilizations-The Incas and The

Andes

Materials Needed (most students already have these materials)

• 3 inch binder (used for all subjects)• 1 section in binder designated for social

studies• Colored pencils• Glue• Pencils• Sheet protectors

Social Studies Textbooks

• Prentice Hall: “World Studies: Foundations of Geography” • Pearson: “My World History:

Early Ages”

Homework

• HOMEWORK HOTLINE 610. 579. 5140• Homework can be expected 2-3 times a week• Students should be reviewing concepts discussed in

class 10-15 minutes per night/study hall• Late homework-half credit• More than 1 day late-no credit• LATE HOMEWORK IS BETTER THAN NO HOMEWORK!

Extra Credit Opportunities

• The Healthy Classroom-an opportunity in the FIRST MARKING PERIOD to donate items to the classroom to keep it clean and healthy.

• For example: tissues, hand sanitizer, wipes, cleaning products, and hand soap

• Students have the opportunity to earn up to 5 bonus points for donations.

• Other extra credit assignments are posted on my website throughout the course of the year.

Grading SystemPoint system

• Assignments weighted by points possible• Students final grade is calculated by:

Total points earned X 100Total points possible

Late Work Policy

• Students will earn half credit for late homework assignments

• 5 points will be deducted a day from late projects and larger assignments

• Students’ grades are based on total points earned-late work is better than no work

Social Studies GradesStudents can earn points from the following assignments: • Homework• Classwork• Blog Posts• Technology Assignments• Quizzes• Tests• Projects• Group Projects

Extra Help Opportunities

I am available to offer extra help, clarification of assignments, and study help for quizzes/test

to students during: • Lunch (if not at Lunch Duty)• After school until 3:00• During 3rd Period- Study Hall

Thank You so much for coming tonight

I anticipate a great school year!

Feel free to contact me with any concerns or

questions