Your child left a “QUIZ” for you on his/her desk. Please take a moment to fill out…

1. Your child left a “QUIZ” for you on his/her desk. Please take a moment to fill out… • Index cards have been left at your desk for any questions or concerns you may have for me.

2. 6th GradeBack to School Night MaryBeth Johnston September 8, 2014

3. 3rd of 6 back to school Nights…

4. Education 1996 University of Delaware Bachelor of Science in Finance, Minor: Economics • Territory Representative • Logic Works, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey • Pharmaceutical Representative-Chester County • Sanofi-SyntheleboPharmaceuticals, Inc., New York, New York 2000 Holy Family College Masters in Elementary Education 2000 - Cold Spring Elementary 2012 Kutz PEN 5-6th Grades 2014 Doyle & Mill Creek – 2nd & 3rd Grade PEN

5. contact Information E-mail: mjohnston@cbsd.org Phone: 267-893-3600 extension #3658 • The phone goes directly into voicemail during the instructional day to limit disruptions. • Email – Checked throughout the day • Dismissal changes - please contact the office directly to ensure that we receive the message.

6. 6th Grade Swag • Work Hard… • To Play Hard…

7. MissioN Statement To prepare students by helping them to become active, independent learners, providing safe opportunities, where diversity is accepted, problem solving and creativity is a focus, and students are challenged, as they develop essential skills for personal development, responsible citizenship and lifelong learning!

8. SCHEDULE • Homeroom 8:15 - 8:35 • Morning Meeting 8:35 – 8:50 • Math 8:50 – 10:10 • Language Arts 10:10 – 11:15 • Lunch/Recess 11:15 – 12:15 • Reading 12:15 – 1:45 • Science/Social Studies 1:45 – 2:30 • Special 2:30 – 3:10 • Dismissal 3:15

9. Specials • Monday Computer Lab • Tuesday Art • Wednesday Music • Thursday Gym • Friday Library

10. Mill Creek's Homework Beliefs • Purpose: Promote student growth and reinforce what is learned in the classroom. Students independently practice what they learned as well as their time management skills. • Assessment: Homework is not graded. However, students will be held responsible for completing all assigned homework. • Time Allotment: Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday. No routine weekend or holiday assignments will be made. As a rule of thumb 10 minutes per grade level. • Differentiation: Homework can vary depending upon the specific needs of students. This may include time, amount and purpose of homework. • Long-term projects: Long-term projects are directly related to the curriculum. Such projects require children to use secure skills only. Expectations are clearly defined and timelines are established and published.

11. Homework Policy District Guidelines: 60 minutes/day Goals: Apply knowledge and develop Study Skills • Assignments • 20 minutes: Reading • Tests: announced 4-5 days in advance • Study Zones: help students learn how to study • Time Management: Reading Log, Projects, Spelling

12. Reading Materials: • Comprehension Toolkit • Quest • Read Aloud • Shared Texts • Literature Circles

13. SSR • Independent reading at school and at home • Flexible time at home • Students will read, respond, discuss, and create projects to share their understanding. Non-Fiction Genre • National Geographic • Content Area Texts • Research

14. Reading and the Content Areas Skills: • Using Non-fiction texts • Note-taking • Study techniques • Test-taking skills • Presentation skills

15. Language Being a Writer/Writer's Notebook • Daily model, practice, and sharing •  Write one formal piece per unit Units of Study • Narrative, Persuasive, Informative, Creative Writing Process • Focus, Content, Organization, Style, Conventions

16. Language Skills Grammar: • Build a common language and knowledge of Parts of Speech and Sentence Structures • Apply during the editing and revising processes Spelling: • Patterns, Base Words, Affixes, and Homophones Editing/Mechanics: • Mentor Sentences and Paragraphs • Importance increases as writing becomes more complex

17. Social Studies History Alive: Ancient Civilizations • Early Man (Hominids) • Mesopotamia • Egypt, India, and China (2 out of 3) Online Textbook – www.learntci.com This curriculum provides a foundation for studies of Greece and Rome in 7th grade.

18. Science Earth's Changing Surface • Rivers/streams- Erosion and Sedimentation • Landforms and how they are formed • Plate Tectonics • Water Pollution • Point/Non-point Source • Hydrologic Cycle – pollutant movement • Water Quality: Macro-invertebrates, pH scale • Field Trip: Peace Valley Park “Clean Streams”

19. Body Systems • Cells, Tissues, and Organs • Human body systems • Health Topics • Internet Safety • HIV/AIDS • Human Growth and Development

20. Technology Internet Safety Communication • Word Processing • Presentations: PowerPointand SmartNotebook • Projects: Audacity, Video Editing, and PhotoStory Research • Finding and evaluating sources • Simulations to location information

21. LOGINS

22. CBSDEffectively CommunicatingStudent Progress

23. Standards Based Reporting

24. Learning is a Journey Descriptors describe the specific learning goals being reported on. • Progress: The degree of growth made by a student over time. • Process: The learning behaviors demonstrated by students as they learn. • Product: The degree to which a student reaches the reporting standard.

25. Resources Parent Handbook

26. Cover Sheet Conference Report Progress Report

27. Marking Periods 1 & 3:Conference Report

28. Marking Periods 2 & 4:Progress Report

29. Parent Portal http://www.cbsd.org/cbelementaryreportcard

30. Looking ahead… Sixth Grade Assessment Testing Window: Late February to Early March 2015 • Research: Write questions and find information • Report: Write a 5 paragraph essay • Visual: Create a PowerPoint for the information • Presentation: Share information with an audience PSSAs • English Language Arts - March 13-17, 2015 • Math - March 20-24, 2015

31. PSSA – ELA (English Language Arts) Standard Categories: • Foundational Skills • Informational Text • Literature • Writing Text Dependent Responses: Reading responses will be assessed for their writing quality. Combination of Reading and Writing, on grades 3-8 PSSA will be the biggest change!

32. PSSA – Math Reporting Categories— • Numbers and Operations • Algebraic Concepts • Geometry • Data Analysis and Probability • Measurement and Data • Statistics and Probability Mathematical practice - application is critical; it’s not just about computation

33. 6th Grade Activities • Monthly Activities: Halloween Howl, Highpoint, Bowling, and Survivor Nights • Geography Bee • 6th Grade Social • Promotion

34. Ropes Course Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd Challenge By Choice Activities: Team Building, Low Ropes, High Ropes www.diamondridgecamps.com

35. Low Ropes Course The low ropes provide: • Team problem solving • Planning, cooperation, paying attention, encouragement and safety • Real-life experiences

36. High Ropes Course • The high ropes: • Create individual opportunities to “stretch” beyond perceived limitations • Encourage to accept challenges • Teach responsibility for others’ safety • Strengthen communication skills

37. Class Webpage Our classroom website is a resource for you and your child. Go to the district site, www.cbsd.org, and type “Johnston” in the search box. The first option will open to our class page.

38. Almost There !!! Supplies – Thank you, Thank you Homeroom Parents/Parties Conference Sign-ups - Online Questions???

39. Math Classes