6 th Grade Block Language Arts & History

1. 6th Grade BlockLanguage Arts & History Ms. Lyons

2. Welcome • Please sign in at one of the 3 sign in sheets: • Circular table • Cart by file cabinet • Table under window • Write your name and email address next to your child’s name • Please take one of each: • School Site Council ballot (pink) • Block presentation summary (canary) • We’ll begin shortly.

3. Background • 20th year in the teaching profession • 6th Grade Block: Language Arts & History • B.S.- San Diego State University • M.A. –St. Mary’s College • Ed.D. in progress at University of San Francisco • Defend dissertation last week of October!!! • Officially Dr. Lyons, Dec. 17th

4. 6th Grade Transition • Procedural • What does each teacher require? • How do I organize my materials so I know what’s happening for each class? • How do I arrange my time to meet all the demands in my life? • Social • New friends, cliques, differing levels of maturity • Academic • Grading system point-based • Less one-on-one support • More need to be independent learners

5. Support the Transition • Check teacher websites weekly • Make sure child writes homework in organizer • Initial organizer • Help your child make weekly plans to attend to their tasks • Acknowledge students’ positive efforts for self-control, self-management, and independence

6. Harvest Park Character Ed. • Compassion • Honesty • Respect • Responsibility • Integrity-Academic Integrity • Self-discipline

7. Professional Mission • Inspire inquiry • Encourage risk-taking • Foster perseverance • Facilitate independent learning skills • Develop depth of thought • Celebrate students’ unique gifts

8. Educational Philosophy • Parents & teachers are partners • Utilize multiple modalities for learning • Honor individual strengths • Explicit instruction • Assessment drives instruction • Deliver instruction in concert with BRAIN-MEMORY learning theory

9. Differentiated Curriculum • Acceleration/Compacting • Testing out of material, independent work, self-paced • Depth • Develop expertise & learn a subject in great detail • Novelty • Student centered, interest-based, exhibit creative products demonstrating learning • Critical Thinking Skills: • Open-ended assignment, higher level of Bloom’s Taxonomy

10. Differentiated Instruction • Bloom’s Taxonomy • Knowledge—recall, listing, defining • Comprehension—summarizing, • Application—use knowledge in new situation • Analysis—compare/contrast/ infer/deduct • Synthesis—create novel ideas from prior knowledge • Evaluation—judge & defend judgment • Habits of mind • Self-motivation • Self-regulation • Independence • Reflection

11. Curriculum • California Standards for History and Language Arts • Pleasanton Unified School District Course of Study

12. Reading • General Topics • Plot elements • Characterization • Literary Devices • Non-fiction-research • Poetry • Required Reading • The Boy in the Painted Cave • The Cay • Where the Red Fern Grows • Literature Anthology- Holt

13. Reading continued • Class work-Gradual Release of Responsibility • Thinking aloud-Read aloud • Shared response-Shared text • Independent reading response/Conferencing • Homework • Reading logs-practice reading strategy • Literary Analysis-(three throughout the year) • Grading • Project Rubric score • Literature Anthology-story tests • Response Journals/reading logs/book projects

14. Writing • Main focus-Essay-(1-2 per genre) • Autobiographical Narrative—1st quarter • Persuasive—2nd quarter • Response to Literature-3rd quarter • Research Reports-4th quarter • Writer’s Workshop • Analyze Mentor Texts • Mini-lesson • Independent practice/conferring/reteaching • Pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing • Publishing

15. Spelling/Vocabulary • Guiding Questions • What are the origins of English words? • What are the structural elements of words? • How can you learn the meaning of new words? • What are the levels of “understanding” a word? • How does word knowledge impact your understanding of the curriculum? • Learning Material • 2 prefixes, roots, suffixes • 10 vocabulary words • Text: Vocabulary for Achievement • Weekly homework menu—on website • Weekly quiz on Friday

16. Grammar • Guiding Questions • How are different parts of speech formed? • How does knowledge of POS impact writing? • How does punctuation or lack of it impact writing? • What dictates which words are capitalized? • Assessments • Monthly grammar pre-assessments & quizzes • Compact out if score 90% higher on preassessments • Drill & practice work—2 homework assignments/week • Text: Easy Grammar Pro & Holt Handbook • Requesting a $20 donation

17. Language Arts Grading • 15% Spelling • 10% assessments & 5% assignments • 15% Grammar • 10% assessments & 5% assignments • 35% Reading • 25% assessments & 10% assignments • 35% Writing • not weighted

18. Social Studies • Utilize GRAPES as overarching theme • Geography • Religion • Achievement • Political System • Economic System • Social System

19. Social Studies Topics • Early Man • Mesopotamia • Egypt • Kush • Ancient Israelites • Ancient India • Ancient China • Ancient Greece • Ancient Rome

20. Social Studies-Continued • Class work • Reading for information • Demonstrate comprehension • Grading • Unit packets—homework, class work, notes • 1 test-end of unit • Daily work- completeness, accuracy • 50% test/quizzes/50% class work/homework • Text • Ancient Civilization

21. Learning Objectives • For each unit, your child will receive • Objectives & Vocabulary • Weekly review of instruction matched to instructional objectives • 2 homework assignments per week • Study guides • Review games on website • Study strategies instruction and reflection

22. Homework • Homework is assigned every Friday & is due the following Wednesday or Friday • Spelling/vocabulary- 4 times a week • Grammar- 2 times a week • Reading or Writing- 1 or 2 assignments a week • Social studies- twice a week • Tutorial & make up days • Mondays & Wednesdays after school

23. Homework • Missing homework • Immediate communication-email/phone call • Show our partnership • Miss break times to catch up on homework

24. Late Work • Missing Work • Student will email/call home when work is not turned in on a due date • Receive a failing grade on assignment • Extenuating circumstance-note/phone call • Late work accepted only during the first quarter • the day after it’s due for 50% credit • After the 1st quarter, no late work will be accepted

25. Grades • Updated weekly onZangle • Can use your own code to access your child’s grades as often as you’d like

26. Assessments • Based on evidence of mastering the state standards: • Projects/Writing/ Assignments- • Rubric descriptors correlate to grades • Skills practice- percentage scores • Tests • fill-in, multiple choice-percentage score • essay response-rubric scores

27. Absent/Late Work • Absences • Retrieve work from weekly file • Have one week to turn in work

28. Discipline Policy • Rules 1. Arrive to class on time. 2. Follow procedures and directions. 3. Begin work immediately. 4. Focus attention on person speaking. 5.Treat others with kindness & respect • Consequences 1. Warning 2. Think Sheet 3. Miss Break 4. Home Contact 5. Office Referral

29. Communication • Website • Update on Fridays • Post homework on website weekly • Instructional objectives • Project descriptions, due dates • Upcoming school events • Phone calls • Share success and concerns • Check in • Notes & email • Communicate progress • Share successes

30. Contact information • E-mail • Preferred means of communication • elyons@pleasanton.k12.ca.us • Web page: • Link from Harvest Park site • http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/ELyons/

31. LET’S HAVE A FABULOUS YEAR!!! • Time of transition • Change takes time for some kids • Challenge is its own reward • We are a team 