Welcome to Back To School NightWelcome to Back To School NightJ.E. Fritz Elementary School

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Topics for Tonight’s Presentation

• Team approach- Departmentalizing• Communications• Math• Social Studies• Science• 4Sight: Pennsylvania Benchmark• Homework Hints• Using the planner/agenda book• Conference reminder

6th Grade Team TeachingTEAMS:

Mr. Burkholder - Math, Science, Social Studies

Mrs. MacDonald- Mellish-Communication Arts

Ms. Rowe- Communication Arts

Ms. Moore - Math, Science, Social Studies

Both teachers in each team will be communicating on a regular basis about the students’ behavior and academic progress.

For conf erences, you will meet with both teachers at the same time.

Our goal with this scheduling f ormat is to help prepare the students f or middle school.

Team Approach

Advantages of Departmentalization Specialization. Students receive basic education from teachers specialized in particular disciplines. From the teachers' perspective, instructional time is better utilized by concentrating on fewer disciplines.

Instructional teams. Grade-level instructional teams can be formed to coordinate teaching efforts across each discipline. Students benefit because they are exposed to the instructional wisdom of more than one teacher.

Teacher retention. With a more focused workload, teachers are able to complete their teaching assignments with greater satisfaction. The result is greater stability and retention of highly qualified teachers.

Transition. Departmentalization in elementary schools aligns with middle school organization, better preparing students for transition.

Flexibility. Departmentalization allows students to move between grade levels according to ability, and from ability group to ability group within grade levels

http://www.naesp.org

CommunicationsCommunications

*Silent reading*Independent reading and At-Home Responsibilities

-Student requirement is a minimum of 100 minutes per week

*Reaction to literature- Independent & Whole group*Scott-Foresman Reading Street

-comprehension-vocabulary-fluency-large and small group discussions-instruction in basic reading skills-related activities-homogeneous ability-grouping by team

*Read Aloud- book read by teacher for enjoyment and modeling

ReadingReading

*Parts of speech*Sentence structure*Parts of a sentence*Different types of sentences*Punctuation*Writing skills*Paragraphs*Sentence edits

Grammar/WritingGrammar/Writing

Specific lessons are taught to help the students pull together the skills needed to create a successful story, paragraph, etc. The writing process is incorporated- pre-write, draft, revise, edit, and publish.

Assessment-*Periodic prompt assessments*District-wide assessment

Grading- PA state rubric of the 5 domains will be used as the grading tool for all writing assessments

Writing

Pennsylvania's General Performance Level Descriptors

Advanced: 90-100% The Advanced Level reflects superior academic performance. Advanced work

indicates an in-depth understanding and exemplary display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.

Proficient: 70-89%The Proficient Level reflects satisfactory academic performance. Proficient

work indicates a solid understanding and adequate display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards.

Basic: 60-69%The Basic Level reflects marginal academic performance. Basic work

indicates a partial understanding and limited display of the skills included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. This work is approaching satisfactory performance, but has not been reached.  There is a need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student academic

commitment to achieve the Proficient Level.Below Basic: Below 60%

The Below Basic Level reflects inadequate academic performance.  Below Basic work indicates little understanding and minimal display of the skills

included in the Pennsylvania Academic Content Standards. There is a major need for additional instructional opportunities and/or increased student

academic commitment to achieve the Proficient Level.

• Students will receive a spelling packet after

the pretest.

• These packets include strategies and activities that will help the students learn spelling rules and word patterns.

• The students will have a post-test on their word list every 5 to 6 cycle days

27.35x .02

l x w x h= v

87 %

probability

Math

Homogeneous grouping will be employed amongst each 6th-grade team. Quizzes, tests, class work, homework, & projects will be assigned and may be used as assessments

• Units include: – All operations with decimals– Data, statistics, & graphs– All operations with fractions– Algebra– Geometry: Perimeter, Area, & Volume– Ratio, Proportions, & Percents– Probability**Please encourage your child to ask questions in class and practice the

skills at home!**

Social StudiesSocial Studies

• Current events will be a part of the requirements for social studies. Frequency will be determined by teacher.

• Social studies text, internet, library references, and outside resources will be used to study various countries

• Main units of study:– Latin America– Ancient Civilizations– Foundations of Geography

* Location -- Where are things located? A location can be specific (for example, it can be stated as coordinates of longitude and latitude or as a distance from another place) or general (it's in the Northeast). * Place -- What makes a place different from other places? Differences might be defined in terms of climate, physical features, or the people who live there and their traditions. * Human-environment interaction -- What are the relationships among people and places? How have people changed the environment to better suit their needs? * Movement -- What are the patterns of movement of people, products, and information? A study of movement includes learning about major modes of transportation used by people, an area's major exports and imports, and ways in which people communicate (move ideas). * Regions -- How can Earth be divided into regions for study? Regions can be defined by a number of characteristics including area, language, political divisions, religions, and vegetation (for example, grassland, marshland, desert, rain forest).

5 Themes of Geography

Latin AmericaLatin America

                                                                                                  

                  

Ancient Civilizations

ScienceScience

• Assignments will include– Assigned readings from text– Vocabulary homework (flash cards)– Projects– Written homework– In class experiments

• Main units of study:– The Changing Earth– The Nature of Matter– Meteorology

Science Series

• Harcourt publishing

• Piloted in 2008 and approved by the Conestoga Valley School Board for implementation in the 2009-2010 school year.

Math, Science, and Social Studies

Reminders• Test preparation begins the day a new unit is started. • Rereading the assigned text or notes will help them

to understand the concepts more clearly.

• Your child should bring their book home often for reading and studying purposes, even though there may not be much written homework.

• Ask them to explain concepts to you because it will help them grasp these concepts that can be abstract.

4Sight: Pennsylvania Benchmark Assessments

*Your child will be taking three 4Sight assessments duringthe school year: September, January, and May.*The students take assessments in Reading and Math.*The 4Sight test was developed as a predictor of achievementfor students who will be taking the PSSA tests.*However, teachers use the assessment as a formative tool that can give us a general overview of your child’s strengths and weaknesses.*In turn, by using this formative assessment, we can focus ourefforts in a more efficient manner. This will benefit the studentswhen they take the PSSA in March, 2011.

• Establish homework as a top priority for your child• Make sure homework is done in a quiet environment• Establish a daily homework time• Provide positive support when homework is completed• Don’t allow children to get out of doing homework• Contact the teacher if your child has problems

completing homework

• All assignments will be completed

• Students will do homework on their own to the best of their ability

• Students will turn in work that is neatly done

• Students will turn in work on time

• Students are responsible for making up homework assignments missed due to absence

• Homework late slips, lunch detentions, & other consequences will be assigned for late homework/behavior issues.

Student Agenda/Assignment PlannerStudent Agenda/Assignment Planner• 6th grade is a transition year

for your child. Expectations for a 6th-grade student include assuming a greater responsibility for their work. The assignment planner is the tool to help them do this.

• The agenda book helps develop organizational skills

• Please check your child’s planner and emphasize the importance of keeping this book up-to-date.

Mr. Burkholder & Mrs. MacDonald-Mellish-More information will be forthcoming from your child’s homeroom teacher.

Ms. Rowe & Ms. Moore-Sign-up sheets out on table in hall.

We greatly appreciate your attendance and look forward to a great 2010-2011 school year. Please be sure to pick up a packet. One per student please. Class dismissed :)