Welcome!

1. Welcome! Inquiring Minds 2011 Language Arts with Mrs. Abbas

2. FLEX Time The FLEX period follows fifth period daily. Students will report to their FLEX classroom for 30 minutes. This time may be used for conference preparation, reading, makeup tests, homework, enrichment, and/or remediation.

3. SchoolView What is SchoolView? SchoolView provides parents/guardians access to their child’s schedule, attendance record, and academic performance in a timely and secure manner. Parents may also use SchoolView to update their phone numbers and e-mail addresses in the Dakota Hills Student Information System. Stop in the main office and talk to one of the secretaries if you have not received information for accessing your child’s information on SchoolView.

4. E-Mail E-Mail addresses can be found in the DHMS website directory, on each teacher’s website or in the back of the DHMS calendar. All E-mail addresses follow this format: firstname.lastname@district196.org Diane.abbas@district196.org

5. Websites http://www.district196.org/dhms On the DHMS website you will find links to teachers’ classroom pages. The websites my include: Weekly agenda, worksheets, links www.inquiringminds2011.wordpress.com (Something new I am trying this year.)

6. Student Led Conferences • Students and parents attend • Sign-up with FLEX teacher only • Notify your child’s FLEX teacher as soon as possible if you need to change your scheduled time.

7. Planners Students must have some type of planner/calendar to keep track of daily assignments.

8. Reading • Bring to class each day: • Planner • Composition notebook • Independent reading book • Pencils • Correcting pens • 3-Ring binder/English Supplies needed: • Planner • Composition notebook • Pencils • Correcting pens • Glue sticks • Colored pencils • Sticky notes • Highlighters • Notecards • 3-Ring binder/English We need magazines for cutting out letters, pictures!

9. 3-Ring Binder for Both Classes Label Dividers • Word Study • SWS • Reading • Vocab. • Notes

10. Reading • Assessments will be administered to each child for individualization of instruction. • Appropriate reading practice materials will be determined. • Opportunities to respond to reading will be provided. • New academic vocabulary words will be introduced with each unit. • Comprehension strategies will be introduced and practiced.

11. Reading Appropriate Independent Reading MaterialsThe STAR assessment will determine a student’s zone of proximal development. This allows the student and teacher to select appropriate reading materials for growth in reading fluency and comprehension. Additional information that helps selection will be oral fluency checks and interest inventories and background information.

12. STAR Reading Test • Uses computer-adapted questions • Provides immediate results • Provides a reading level range to assist in independent book selection • Allows for differentiated instruction • Progress is monitored closely

13. Reading Fluency Fluency refers to a student's speed, smoothness, and ease of oral reading. Fluent readers read more quickly and smoothly, allowing them to focus on comprehension. Because fluency leads to comprehension, fluent readers enjoy reading more than students who devote all their energy to sounding out words. Grade 6 recommended fluency rates for oral reading - 135-160 words per minute. Grade 6 recommended fluency rates for silent reading - 190-220 words per minute.

14. Accelerated Reader • Makes independent reading practice more effective for every student. • Personalizes reading practice to each student’s current level. • Students choose books at their appropriate reading levels and read them at their own pace. • Students take a reading practice and/or literacy skills quiz. Students receive immediate feedback on their reading progress.

15. Academic Vocabulary Academic vocabulary is the vocabulary critical to understanding the concepts of the content taught in schools. Academic vocabulary will be introduced with each unit.

16. English • Bring to class each day: • Planner • Composition notebook • Independent reading book • Pencils • Correcting pens • 3-Ring binder/English Supplies needed: • Planner • Composition notebook • Pencils • Correcting pens • Glue sticks • Colored pencils • Sticky notes • Highlighters • Notecards • 3-Ring binder/English

17. English Students will: • Write frequently in various forms • Use the writing process and the six traits of good writing • Write simple, compound, and complex sentences • Learn new spelling patterns and root words weekly • Write well formatted paragraphs using the TIES strategy

18. Types of Writing Students will write frequently throughout the year in a variety of forms including: Poems Essays Personal Narratives Stories Research Journals

19. Writing Process Students will follow the steps of the writing process: Prewrite Draft 1 Revise Draft 2 Draft 3 Edit Proofread Publish

20. Six Traits of Good Writing Students will understand and use the six traits of good writing. Ideas and Development Word Choice Organization Voice Writing Conventions Sentence Fluency

21. Sentence Writing Strategy Students will learn to write sentences using the following formats:Simple: SV, SSV, SVV, SSVV Compound: I ,c I and I ; I Complex: D,I and ID S=subject, V=verb, I=independent clause, c=coordinating conjunction D=dependent clause

22. TIES Students will learn the TIES strategy for writing paragraphs to answer questions and write research papers. T=Turn the question into a statement or Topic sentence I = Include at least 3 supporting details E = Explore transition words S = Sum it up with a concluding sentence

23. Tween Tribune TweenTribune is a daily news site for tweens. Each day links are posted to the day's most compelling news from a tween's perspective. Stories chosen for TweenTribune are selected by tweens working closely with professional journalists. Students will be reading and commenting on articles throughout the year.

24. Google Documents Google Docs is an easy-to-use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables the students in my classes to create, store and share documents instantly and securely, and collaborate online in real time. They can create new documents from scratch or upload existing documents, spreadsheets and presentations. There's no software to download, and all work is stored safely online and can be accessed from any computer.

25. Google Accounts This is an optional method for students to be able to send work for me to print for them, edit or revise. A flashdrive is another way to transfer documents between home and school. Our classroom computers are not connected to the internet. The age requirement for Google Accounts is 13. As a parent, you could monitor the use of google documents.

26. Example of Google Documents

27. Example of Google Documents

28. Academic Vocabulary Academic vocabulary is the vocabulary critical to understanding the concepts of the content taught in schools. Academic vocabulary will be introduced with each unit.

29. Inquiring Minds 2011 My aim is to create a classroom that nurtures, supports and challenges each student as they strive to reach their goals. I also understand how important it is for us to work together as a learning community – students, parents and teacher – and invite you to contact me if you ever have a question or have something you would like to share with me. I am looking forward to a great year!