Welcome to the River Otters Team! 2011-2012

1. Welcome to the River Otters Team! 2011-2012

2. River Otter Team Teachers • Team Leader & Science Teacher: Kennan Poulakos • kpoulakos@crec.org, x3250 • Social Studies Teacher: Dave Giangrave • dgiangrave@crec.org, x 3252 • Math: Andrea Caggiano • acaggiano@crec.org, x 3254 • Integrated Language Arts: • Love Peace:lpeace@crec.org , x3255 • Martha Stepnowski: mstepnowski@crec.org, x3256 • Resource: Gina Carbone • Gcarbone@crec.org, x 3257 • Paraprofessionals: • Barnett Senegal:bsenegal@crec.org • Polly Griffin (temporary)

3. TEAM APPROACH • Transition to Middle School • Team Meetings • Concerns • Contact • Collaboration • Parent Conferences - Fall • November 8 – letter to go home in October • Parent Conferences - Spring • Held in March • Students are invited (and encouraged) to attend

4. Supplies • Part of our universal support system for all students. • Important to the success of your son or daughter, especially in the beginning of the year, AND throughout their whole lives! • Please replenish your student’s supplies often!

5. Standards Based Report Cards • Parent session will be held by administration this evening to give you more detailed information. • Please refer to page _26_ in the planner for the RUBRICS • Achievement • Homework • Classwork • Citizenship

6. PLANNER/AGENDA • Students should be writing all homework in their agenda during each class. • Teachers may also write notes to the parents in the agenda. (page 51) • Parents will sign the agenda to indicate they have seen the teacher note. • Several missing assignments will get a phone call or email home.

7. HOMEROOM • Morning homeroom begins at 8:25. This is a time for us to make sure students are prepared for the day, are familiar with the schedule and are compliant with dress code. • PM Homeroom is at 3:05. This is a time for students to check their agendas and make sure they have all necessary materials for homework.

8. HOMEWORK • Integral part of day • Approximately 60 minutes per night plus 20-30 minutes of an Accelerated Reading book • Team Page - www.tworivers.crec.org • Highest quality: every paper, every class, every day

9. Math • Inquiry Based Program - Investigations– Class work, Homework • Fact Fluency www.honorpoint.com • Pre-Assessments • Informs instruction (compacting out/MIT) • Students will track their progress • Post-Assessments • Students will bring home their progress monitor for a parent signature for all assessments. • We will be keeping Data Portfolios in our classrooms • CREC Common Assessments • Given four times a year • Students will track progress in their data folder. • Parents will be informed of progress.

10. Unit 1 – Expressions Equations Unit 2 – Operating with Fractions Unit 3 – Operating with Decimals Unit 4 – Positiveand Negative Numbers Unit 5 – Ratios and Rates Unit 6 – Geomery Unit 7 – Algebraic Reasoning Unit 8 – Statistics Unit 1 – Relationships among Fractions, Decimals, Percents Unit 2 – Problem Solving with Fractions Unit 3 – Algebra Part 1 Unit 4 – Problem Solving with Decimals and Whole Numbers Unit 5 – Problem Solving with Ratios and Proportions Unit 6 – Geometry and Measurement Unit 7 – Add/Subtract Rational Numbers Unit 8 – Multiply and Divide Rational Numbers Unit 9 – Probability and Percents Math Units Grade 6 Math Grade 6 Advanced Math

11. 6th Grade Science • 1st Unit-Matter • Materials can be classified as pure substances or mixtures, depending on their chemical and physical properties. • 2nd Unit-Ecosystems • An ecosystem is composed of all the populations that are living in a certain space and the physical factors with which they interact. • 3rd Unit-Weather • Variations in the amount of Sun’s energy hitting the Earth’s surface affect daily and seasonal weather patterns.

12. 6th Grade Science Assessments • Common Assessments are indicators for 8th grade CMT’s when students will be tested in the area of science. • It should be understood that these tests are intentionally rigorous and should only be looked at as an indicators. • In house assessments will be on grade level and counted for achievement.

13. Social Studies: Modern World Cultures • Unit 1: Japan, India, China • -Economic Powerhouses • Unit 2: Nigeria & South Africa • -Developing & Developed Economies/ Democracies • Unit 3: Venezuela & Brazil • -Developing Economies & Emerging Democracies • Unit 4: European Union • -Division & Unification of Modern Europe

14. Social Studies • Responsible for the direct teaching of • Expository writing in preparation for CMT’s in the spring • Persuasive writing after CMT’s • Formatives given throughout the units that indicate knowledge of material • Study guides provided at least 1 week before assessments – to be completed by using all handouts used during the unit • Reflections sent home after each assessment and Performance Task – for communication • All handouts are numbered and are to be kept in order • Follow the same standards set in ILA for writing

15. Integrated Language ArtsWhat is WRITER’S WORKSHOP? • students explore multiple genres of writing • mini lessons: teachers use published sample texts as models for author’s craft • focus on strong idea development with an emphasis on the writing process • daily opportunities to write • direct instruction to improve mechanics and conventions of standard English • Students are expected to demonstrate a basic understanding of punctuation and capitalization to make goal (4)

16. What is READING WORKSHOP ? • an instructional model where students participate in whole group, small group and/or individual instruction, and discussion • the teacher begins with an interactive read aloud and/or an mini-lesson • students read self-selected texts and applies skill or strategy from mini-lesson

17. READING WORKSHOP • daily opportunities to read and respond to literature • direct teaching of reading strategies that support deeper understanding of the text • responses to literature: emphasis on critical thinking supported with text evidence and personal connections • regular student-teacher conferences to monitor progress and set goals • differentiated instruction to meet all learners’ needs.

18. AT HOME READING REQUIREMENT to reach student’s individual goal, determined through Accelerated Reader • REGULAR WEEKLY HW includes: • Record of reading in planner: 20-30 minutes x 5 nights a week minimum

19. TIER 3 LIT • Intensive instruction 5x/week during Core • Significantly below grade level • Below Basic on CMT) • TIER 2 LIT • Intensive instruction 4x/week during Encore • Below grade level • Basic range on CMT • TIER 1: ALL STUDENTS • Core Integrated Language Arts (ILA) 10x/week • Accelerated Reader • Differentiated instruction • Universal screening Response to Intervention:RtI Please take an LIT handout for more details and teacher contact information

20. LIT: Literacy Intervention Team LIT at Two Rivers is small group reading instruction for students who have not yet reached the Proficiency level on the CMT. • Literacy: reading and writing with understanding • Intervention: identifying a student’s reading weakness and designing and implementing a plan that will measurably improve comprehension. • Team: LIT teacher and Associate Instructor, ILA teacher, core teachers, parents/guardians, student

21. MIT: Math Intervention Team • Small group instruction to address students’ specific learning needs. • We support learning that is occurring in the Math classroom. • We reinforce specific foundational skills that are critical to mathematical success. Grades in MIT • Citizenship/Full-Value Contract • Classroom Performance. • Students are not assessed on academic performance. • Generally, homework is not assigned in MIT class.

22. We Need Your Help! • Donations for an auction of high-five stamps • -box/bag of cookies or snacks • -large chocolate bars • Popcorn bag and soda can • -gift cards in small amounts ($5) from any where! • -sports equipment • -items from the Dollar store! • -small gift sets of cream, shampoo • -school supplies • -art supplies/crafts • -hair stuff • -ITunes Gift Cards • -movie tickets • -paraphernalia/small promotional items from YOUR company • (t shirts, pens, hats, etc)