Sixth Grade Open House
Southgate Elementary School
September 17, 2014
• Ms. Dawn Harriman - Math
• Mrs. Amanda Meyers – Social Studies and Science
• Mrs. Debbie Ebersold – Mrs. Meyers’s Student Teacher
• Miss Sarah Dowden - Reading
• Mrs. Melissa Vatalaro/Ms. Victoria Schrom –
Alternate Math and Remedial Math
• Mrs. Beth Geragosian/Mrs. Shannon Ostwald
• Ms. Stacey Shepard - LEP
• Mrs. Pamela Gerfin - Classroom Aide
Communication is very important to us!
We are all on the same team,
and we are here to help your children.
https://southgategrade6.pbworks.com/
We check our voicemail and email daily, and we will respond
within 24 to 48 hours.
Ms. Harriman: 785-6607 x4262, [email protected]
Miss Dowden: 785-6607 x4277, [email protected]
Mrs. Meyers: 785-6607 x4250 [email protected]
Organization is very important in sixth grade!
1. We use color coded notebooks:• Blue: Math• Red: Reading• Black: Social Studies and Science
2. Organizational skills will be stressed.• Students will use a planner every day.• Students will be responsible for their own
materials.
Purpose:• Record homework assignments• Communicate school activities and important
dates• Foster organization and responsibility
Expectations:• Complete neatly and accurately during
homeroom and sections• Refer to planner when completing homework• Use as a tool to inform parents
1. We use color coded notebooks:• Blue: Math• Red: Reading• Black: Social Studies and Science
2. Organizational skills will be stressed.• Students will use a planner every day.• Students will be responsible for their own
materials.
To prepare for the rigors of the junior high and to meet meet the Common Core Standards, students will be expected to complete:
• 30 minutes of independent reading• Uninterrupted reading of an appropriate text
• Other daily content area homework
If students do not meet the following expectations, they will be required to serve a recess detention.• Complete all homework assignments• Be prepared for class• Behave appropriately
Please help your child form good study skills.• Be consistent with your expectations
• Expect high quality work
• Refer to planner as needed
• Designate an uninterrupted time and place for homework
• Review notes
• Make flashcards and graphic organizers
• Study facts
Absence • Homework and class notes will be collected.• Please call the office before 9:00AM to let us know how to get the
homework to your child.• You may pick up your child’s homework or have it sent home with a
classmate.
Early Dismissal• Send in a note with your child.• Collect homework assignments and class notes during homeroom.
Music Lessons• Be sure to get assignments and notes from the teacher or a classmate
before the end of the day.
While you were out…
Writing:
Use Writer’s Workshop Framework to teach informational, narrative, and persuasive writing
To practice skills, all students will be writing in Writer’s Notebooks
Grammar:
McGraw Hill Book
The Common Core Standards have put a renewed emphasis on grammar and usage
Reading Program Components
Read Aloud Shared Reading Independent Reading Book Clubs Guided Reading Vocabulary
Shared Reading
Interactive reading experience that occurs when students share the reading and discussion of a text while supported by a teacher
Short stories, articles, picture books Allows for strategy instruction that will benefit the whole
class Enables teacher to model strategy and for students to hear
each other’s thinking Students will be asked to show how they use each
strategy in a written response about the text read in class and for their independent reading books.
Guided reading instruction occurs in small groups.
• Small groups guarantee that all students have access to appropriate reading level text.
• Group members change based on need.
Hugo Cabret
Moon Over Manifest
Among the Hidden
Hoot
Hatchet Percy Jackson
Spiderwick Chronicles
The Mysterious Benedict Society
Flush Ida BA Series of Unfortunate Events
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Some of our popular selections!
Holes
Independent reading will be tracked through our reading logs and independentreading sheets. All sixth grade students are required to read twenty-five books by June.
o Greek and Latin Roots
o Vocabulary is the foundation of all areas of literacy
o Listening
o Speaking
o Reading
o Writing
Reading Units
o Beginning of the Year – Get Ready for Readingo Fiction Unit – Characters in a Serieso Nonfiction Unito Book Clubs – Mysteryo Reviewo Mythology/Folktaleso Additional book clubs and cross-curricular
projects to follow
Components of Reading Homework
o Reading Responseso One per weeko Free choice
o Blogs o One per week o Due on Fridayo Based on assigned topic
o Vocabularyo Homework due Thursdayo Quiz on Friday
o Reading Logo Signed and due every Friday
MathHoughton Mifflin Harcourt GOMATH! Series
• Students are provided with a write-in student edition and practice book. • They record, represent, solve, and explain as they discover and build new
understandings right in their student book.
• Students use models, manipulatives, quick pictures, and symbols to build mathematical understanding.
• Students have access to Think Central to print out homework and review skills.
Math• Number Systems
• Whole Numbers• Decimals• Fractions• Rational Numbers
• Ratios and Rates• Ratios• Rates• Percents• Units of Measure
• Algebra: Expressions and Equations• Expressions and Equations• Equalities and Inequalities• Relationships between variables
• Geometry• Area• Surface Area• Volume
• Statistics• Data Displays and Measures of
Center• Variability and Data Distributions
Sixth Grade Math Curriculum:
Mathematical Practices
• Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them• Reason abstractly and quantitatively• Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of
others• Model with mathematics• Use appropriate tools strategically • Attend to precision• Look for and make use of structure• Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning• 2-3 Mad Minutes per week to reinforce basic facts• Use technology to review, practice, and master concepts
ScienceSixth grade students will develop basic understandings in the following areas:
o Simple Machineso Weathering and Erosiono Basic Chemistry (Powders and Crystals)o Nervous Systemo Astronomyo Health
Science SkillsThroughout the year, the students will be
encouraged to act like scientists.
o Think criticallyo Make reasonable predictionso Apply knowledge to solve problemso Draw relevant conclusionso Synthesize information
Social StudiesStudents will investigate the following topics:
Geography of the Eastern Hemisphere First Humans Through the Neolithic Revolution Early River Valley Civilizations World Religions Classical Civilizations Mediterranean World After the Fall of Rome Interactions Across the Eastern Hemisphere
Social StudiesSixth grade social studies instruction is designed to
develop the following practices:
• Gathering and using evidence• Chronological reasoning• Comparison and contextualization• Geographic reasoning• Economics and economic systems• Civic participation
Sixth Grade Traditions
Trick or Treat for the Food Pantry Winter and Spring Concerts Musical Garage Sale (?) Boston Trip School Service Graduation
Testing Dates: CAT Testing:
Tuesday, September 16, 2014 – Thursday, September 18, 2014
NYS ELA Testing: Tuesday, April 14, 2015 – Thursday, April 16, 2015
NYS Math Assessment: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 – Friday, April 24, 2015
Sixth Grade Events
Concerts: Winter Concert: Thursday, December 18, 2014 Spring Concert: Thursday, May 21, 2015
Musical: Thursday, January 29, 2015 Friday, January 30, 2015
Garage Sale (?): Saturday, March 21, 2015
Boston Trip: Friday, June 5, 2015
Questions?
Thank you for coming!