Welcome to Crossroads

1. Welcome to Crossroads 2012-2013

2. Crossroads Daily Schedule • 8:00 – 8:34 Advisory (Band/Orchestra/Chorus/Essentials) • 8:37 – 9:22 Elective #1 (period 1) • 9:25 – 10:58 Crossroads Block #1 (periods 2 & 3) • 11:01 – 11:31 Lunch (period 4) • 11:34 – 12:19 Elective #2 (period 5) • 12:22 – 1:55 Crossroads Block #2 (periods 6 & 7) • 1:58 – 2:43 Math (period 8) • 2:46 – 3:00 S.O.S.

3. What We’ve Done So Far Code for Community Categories of Culture Develop Routines Community Building Begin Culture of Family Unit

4. Family <> Community <> Nation Highlights from first half of school year • Family organization project • Philly mural field trip • Family Novel: Tuck Everlasting • Writing: A family vignette • Powering Up project/presentation • Community Novels: City of Ember, Girl • Who Owned a City, Gammage Cup • Community Perspectives: interview, essay, and presentation • American Experiences (immigrant group) literature circles and research project • Rocks and Natural Resources

5. WORLD: Second half of school year • Ancient Cultures: Mesopotamia Egypt Greece Rome China India Maya Inca Aztec • Other Cultures: 18th Century Japan Medieval Europe Afghanistan Guatemala India Russia Israel and Palestine Zimbabwe Haiti

6. Self Assessments • 8 per year (about one per month) • Students complete them. • Teachers review and comment • Parents review, comment, and sign • Please refer to schedule – posted on our website

8. Reading Journal Expectations • 25-book goal • Three ways to validate books: 1. reading journal – daily entries after S.S.R. (need three entries spread out across length of book) 2. book talks 3. book reports – use Summer Reading form • Nightly reading expectations: 20 min/night

9. Log Response • Prompt given 2-3 times per week • Students respond • Used to: - assess recall of information taught or discussed in class - encourage extension or analysis of topics - make connections between topics of study - practice/build writing skills – especially, supporting ideas

10. Goals Three Levels of Goals: Year-long goals (parents sign off on this) Monthly goals (on self-assessment) Weekly goals (set every Monday morning)

11. Mid-year and End-of-Year Assessments • Major, teacher-generated rubric and narrative assessments of progress • Early February and mid-June

12. Field Trips • Approximately 9 Crossroads only trips. • Total Costs: approximately $210 • We must collect payment well in advance for most trips • Can be paid in three lump sums (Oct., Dec., and Feb.) • Some cash only trips (typically train fare) • This does NOT include Sixth grade field trip costs • Contact Lauren Raines if cost is an issue. All students will participate.

13. Field Trips (continued) • Chaperones needed for all trips (sometimes capped by room on bus). Typically parents pay their own entry to museums, etc. • Blanket permission slip with exact cost and due dates will come home in the next two weeks. • Some Dates: • Wed. Oct. 10 – Philadelphia Mural Tour (tentative) • Tues. Oct. 30 – Coal Mine #9 and Eckley Miners’ Village (7:15 departure and 4:3o return) • Thurs. Nov. 29 – National Constitution Center (tentative) • Tues. Jan. 8 – NYC-Tenement Museum and United Nations (tentative – 7:15 departure and 6pm return) • Thurs. Feb. 21 – Univ. of Pennsylvania Museum • Three trips to Philadelphia in conjunction with Model United Nations (Jan, March/April, May) • Goddard Science Center (May – tentative – extended day trip)

14. Be a Partner in Your Child’s Crossroads Year • Keep in contact with us: email (phone, notes) • Use the Crossroads website to monitor all long-term assignments, as necessary • Respond to self-assessments • Encourage nightly reading • Be a field trip chaperone • Be a literature circle helper (December & May) • Attend Crossroads Open Houses: Thursday Jan. 24th and Monday June 10th

15. Thanks for Coming!