Curriculum Night

Curriculum Night Sunset Ridge-6th Grade Mr. Chapman and Mrs. Blaine 2013-2014

Welcome to our class • Thank you • Teaching experience • Class expectations…jobs…citizenship…TEAM

Daily Schedule • 8:45-8:55 Attendance/Pledge • 8:55-10:25 Math/LA • 10:25-11:55 LA/Math • 11:55-12:40 Lunch and Recess (in that order) • 12:40-1:45 Science/ Social Studies • 1:45-2:45 Social Studies/Science • 2:45-3:00 Specials

Curriculum-overview • Social Studies: We will be studying geography, the history of ancient civilizations and world religions. • Science: We will be exploring subjects like the diversity of life, weather and water, cells, the scientific method, and research. • Math: A strong emphasis will be placed on fractions, geometry, decimals, percents, place value, graphing, and more fractions. We will conclude the year with a “house building” project and look forward to seeing you at our real estate sale. • Reading: We have a wonderful literature textbook containing great stories by well known authors. This will serve as our tool as we explore different genres of literature. We will utilize reading strategies and elements of literature to make connections and determine the theme of the stories we read. • Writing: Students will continue working with the six traits of writing. They will produce writing in several areas including reports, personal narratives, formal communication, and poetry. • Spelling: Our spelling program will come from Latin and Greek Roots: A Study of word families. Students are expected to do 50 points of spelling activities weekly along with a vocabulary development packet. Our spelling/vocabulary assessment will be given each Thursday along with the next spelling list and vocabulary packet.

Assessments-SBG • Assessments are used to guide instruction and gather data regarding student achievement. Students will be tested regularly in all subject areas. • Your child will have a spelling andvocabulary test every Thursday. • The reading comprehension tests will be given weekly on Friday. • Notice is always given regarding periodic assessments in all other subjects. • Standards-based grading--Final grades are based on these summative assessments. • Students can retake assessments until they’ve mastered a standard once they’ve completed all of the practice.

Practice(formerly known as homework) • As a general rule, less than 1 hour of practice is given nightly. The students are usually given time in class to work on assignments and to ask any questions. Interactive student notebook (ISN) reflections are worked on daily in class, but are sometimes completed as part of nightly practice. Outside work that will always be at home: • *Read 30 minutes nightly • *Weekly spelling/vocabulary menu, due Thursdays • *20 minutes of math practice nightly

Discipline • Our school’s mission statement: • “Sunset Ridge will build a diverse learning environment that will challenge our students to reach their highest level of academic potential. Opportunities for inquiry, reflection, practice, and mastery of basic academic and social skills necessary to be successful citizens will be evident.” • Along with our mission statement, we use a Hawk Pride Card which documents our positive as well as negative behaviors. Behaviors that impair the learning environment are handled in the following way: • 1st-offense= conference with student • 2nd -offense= parent phone call/ contact • 3rd -offense= parent phone call/ contact w/ detention • 4th -offense= Parent/Teacher/Student conference and 2nd after- school detention • 5th -offense= office referral

Rewards • We look forward to rewarding students for showing positive behavior, and for following the Six Pillars of Character. • Wewill be giving out “Hawk cards” for following school expectations which can then be entered into a drawing for an item from the Hawk Shop. • A quarterly breakfast will be provided for those students who consistently show good character.

Grades/Progress Reports • I will not be sending home progress reports unless there is a specific need. • Please use the Power School website to monitor your child’s progress.@ https://ps.dvusd.org/public/. Usernames and passwords can be obtained from the main office. • The expectation is that students will be monitoring their own grades. This includes missing, late, and absent work. • If your child is interested in joining NJHS as a 7th grader, s/he needs to have a year-end GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Accordion folders/communication • It is strongly encouraged that all students have an accordion folder to organize their papers. • We will clean out the sections periodically with students. • Planners have been provided for students to keep track of daily/weekly assignments…they can also be used as a parent/teacher communication tool. • We expect these to be signed nightlyfor those students needing extra support. • We will also be setting up a parent group to receive emails as needed.

Communication/Contact • Please visit our webpage to receive additional information about our class. • We can be reached: • sunsetridge6.weebly.com • Work phone-Blaine (623) 445-7873 • Work phone-Chapman (623) 445-7871 • Email: lori.blaine@dvusd.org • Or derek.chapman@dvusd.org

Any questions????? • Class procedures? • Curriculum? • Expectations? • Thanks again for sharing your wonderful children with us…we love them!!!

Curriculum Night