Good evening.

1. Good evening. • Please sit at your child’s desk. Name tags are on the front. • Read the letter they left for you. • Write something back if you’d like.

2. Welcome to Mr. Knobbe’s Class Room 17 Curriculum Night

3. No need to take notes! • This Powerpoint slide show is on my website. • Just sit back and relax!

4. Typical Day • 8:25 – 8:45 Warm-up and stretches • 8:45 – 9:35 Science • 9:35 – 9:45 snack • 9:45 – 10:35 Social Studies w/ Mrs. Morgan • 10:35 – 11:25 Special • 11:30 – 12:15 Lunch • 12:20 – 1:25 Mathematics • 1:25 – 1:45 Recess • 1:45 –– 3:05 Language Arts • 3:05 – 3:15 clean-up, dismissal

5. Mathematics • Math Warm-ups every morning consisting of ten (10) problems. A quiz will be given on most Fridays covering these essential skills. • Number Systems, Ratio and Proportional Relationships, Expressions and Equations, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability • Common Core Mathematics, meaning inquiry-based learning with an emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

6. Mathematics continued • Math practice daily • Use notes and textbook • Show your work!!! If they said they did it mentally, question them. Use your best judgment!!! • No calculators unless directed!

7. Mathematics Grading • Grading – Math practice graded for completion on a 3-point scale, tallied up for one homework grade per week leading up to the weekly skills quiz. • 3 points given if assignment is done AND work is shown. • 2 points given if mostly completed AND work is shown. • 1 point given if many problems are incomplete. • 0 points if over half are incomplete or it is missing. • Math practice points are tallied up in Powerschool each week. • 20% of final grade. This is to encourage students to practice. • Quizzes – every Friday (unless we don’t have one.) • 30% of final grade • Tests – 50% of final grade

8. Mathematics continued In case of a mathematics emergency, go to www.Khanacademy.com -This is a great resource if your child is absent, confused, or both. Interactive Math Journal – use this!!!

9. Mathematics • Please check your child’s math teacher’s website for their weekly schedule of lessons.

10. Science • DISCOVERY SCIENCE and Next Generation Science Standards – web-based science curriculum for the “digital learner.” • Focus on modeling scientific phenomenon • Online simulations, videos, reading passages • Taught through informational reading lessons, demonstrations, and investigations • Science Videos can be viewed at home. At times, they will be assigned to watch these at home. Ask ‘em about this.Be sure they click the “marked as complete” button on the screen.

11. Science • Topics of study include: Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Populations, Fossils and Geological time, The Rock Cycle, Weathering and Soil Formation, Matter and Energy

12. Social Studies – Mrs. Morgan • Focus on being responsible citizens • Study of our northern and southern neighbors in the Western Hemisphere. • Practice critical thinking skills, disciplinary knowledge, democratic values, and citizen participation • Lessons will focus on geography, history, and cultures

13. Social Studies • Daily viewing of CNN10 will keep students up on current events. • Students will keep a social studies folder which consists of daily notes and worksheets. Students should study material in their folders • “Mini-Society” economics unit will begin in January

14. Language Arts – Readin’ • Whole group instruction from the anthology • Reading skills for comprehension • Spiral notebook for written responses to prompts • Small group with leveled readers • Skill reinforcement • Novels • Weekly quizzes on assigned chapters

15. Language Arts –Readin’, Writin’, and Spellin’ • Reading Wonders resources are available online (from my website). • ConnectEd • Students have login id’s and passwords in their red folders. • Students will utilize a spiral notebook for brainstorming, rough drafts, and skill development

16. Language Arts – Grammar and Writin’ • Writing projects include personal narratives, informational/explanatory writing, as well as opinion/ argument writing. • A “Flash Drive” can be very helpful for slow typers or those suffering from writer’s block. Our version of word uses a .docx file extension.

17. Handwriting • Cursive skills will be taught periodically throughout the year. • It appears on the report card. • People are still asked for their signature, aren’t they?

18. Spellin’ & Vocabulary • Spelling and vocabulary practice is through Spelling City online tutorial program. • www.spellingcity.com • Students use same login id and password as ConnectEd (reading). • Activities are due on Fridays(unless otherwise indicated). • Spelling tests and vocabulary test are given on Fridays (unless otherwise indicated). • Spelling and vocabulary units are supported through the reading anthology. • Spelling patterns through sorting and word meaning will be stressed.

19. Agenda Notebooks • These are filled out daily as practice is assigned. • You should see it out while they practice their lessons. • If you don’t see their agenda, ask about it. This is a great tool to keep them organized, especially if your child has had issues in the past with missing or late work.

20. Absences • If your child is absent for any reason, it is important that they keep up on their studies. • It’s easy to fall behind but hard to catch up. The sooner they start to feel better, the sooner they should complete lessons they may have missed. • If you call the office, I can arrange to have the work left in the office after school or send it home with a sibling or buddy.

21. Conferences • Conferences will be held in November. • Sign-up using the Sign-up Genius link on my webpage.

22. Report Cards • The first marking period report will be discussed at the November conferences. It will be sent home with the student for all other marking periods. • Grades are earned, not given. True learning is often accompanied by frustration in the beginning. Expect this, and encourage your child to have grit! • I do not offer extra credit. The effort needs to be put forth throughout the marking period. Watch their progress on the Parent Portal.

23. Citizenship and Work Habits • Citizenship and Work Habits: The report card states that a “3” means “Meets Expectations”. • If your child desires a higher marking, they need to work for it.

24. Completed Assignments • Completed work and notes are sent home on Mondays. • Look over their work and check their progress. Talk about what they did well and what they need to work on. Communication is the key.

25. Parent Portal • Allows you to monitor your child’s academic progress • This SHOULD replace progress reports. • Your portal ID will allow you to track your child’s progress through high school. There’s no need to get a new ID every year.

26. Field Trips • A list of Dates to Remember will be updated on my website as the dates become firm. • Check it before emailing me. • Camp is on October 30th. We will leave Beck at 7:30 and return by 3pm. Chaperones will pay a fee. • A Volunteer Background check needs to be filled out prior to the trip.

27. D.A.R.E. • Drug Abuse Resistance Education class is taught by the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department. • Deputy Twomey will (hopefully) teach the class again this year during the winter semester.

28. 6th Grade Expenses • $129 dollars this year. • due by Friday, October 20th. • This covers Camp, t-shirts, DARE program, Mini-Society program, and various opportunities and activities. Please refer to the 6th Grade Expenses document on your child’s desk. • Please make checks payable to the BFV

29. Birthday Treats • Due to the prevalence of food allergies, we are transitioning away from food for birthday celebrations. • Allergy letter on desk. • Send in something else. • How about crickets for Lucy and Ethel? • Who are they? Ask your child.

30. Scholastic Book Club • Please order the books online. Our class code is: LBR9L

31. How to check out my classroom website • Get to the UCS home page • Drag red bar to Schools- Elementary • Choose Beck • Click on Beck Staff located in menu bar near the top • Scroll down to 6th Grade • Click on Mr. Knobbe

32. My website • mrknobbeswebsite.weebly.com • Weekly Schedule • Dates to Remember • Discovery Science link • This presentation will appear

33. This year’s goal: • Independence • Learning to think problems through on their own • Advocate for themselves. • We should want our 6th graders to solve problems on their own.

34. Disclaimer • All classroom policies are subject to change.

35. Weird question of the evening! • Are you a taxidermist? • No. Seriously. • If not, do you know of any? See me if you do.

36. Sign-up • Please sign-up for class parties and our camp field trip on round table near the hallway door. • Sign-up for your conference using Sign-Up Genius on my website!

37. Good night.