6th Grade Parent Orientation

1. 6th Grade Parent Orientation “As each child is a new creation, as life is ever growing, ever changing, so must education, if it is to nourish the child, be ever developing, never finished.” Carleton W. Washburne 1889-1968

2. Adolescence: A Time of Change • Physical, emotional, social, cognitive changes • Different personas at school and home • Striving for independence • Gender differences • Questioning, challenging, exploring, doubting • Growing from child to adult

3. Middle School and Adolescence • Respecting childhood • Belonging to and creating community • Making choices • Social life • Academics • Balance • Learning from mistakes important

4. Teaming • School within a school • Structure • Looping • Location • Advisory

5. Advisory • Skill development • Social interaction • School/home connection • Communication methods • Service/student council • Security and identity • Relationships - Responsibility - Resiliency/ Reflection The advisor serves as a child advocate

6. Advisory/Team Placement • Placement goals • Child centered factors • Administrative factors • Input • Timing • Post-placement concerns

7. Math Placement • Goals of placement • Factors considered • Collaborative decision process • Track record

8. Math Program

9. Science Overview • 7th Grade: Life Sciences/Biology:from cells to the human body;dissections and experiments • 8th Grade: Physical Sciences:basic physics and chemistry;experiments and lab notebooks

10. Social Studies Overview • Thematic Units: • 7th Grade: World Religions, US History through the Civil War and into the Reconstruction Era; US Constitution Unit • 8th Grade: US History into the 21st century:WWII and the Holocaust Unit • Lots of reading, writing, and discussion

11. English Overview • Writing genres are aligned to the CCSS – include pieces in the narrative, information, and argument writing genres. • Teachers emphasize process writing • Modeling, generating ideas, drafting, revision/editing, and publishing • Students practice literary analysis through some whole class novels, as well as book groups. • Teachers emphasize the importance of independent reading.

12. Special Units • Sex Education • Mental Health: Claire’s Story • Project Alert • Building Community

13. Second Language • French or Spanish • Years 2 and 3 of our THREE YEAR PROGRAM • Academic expectations include regular homework, tests, note-taking, etc. • It may or may not be for your child

14. Academic Expectations • Daily homework, averaging 1.5 - 2 hours • Class participation • Self-advocacy • Organization • Assignment notebook • Schoology, technology etc…

15. Grades and Reporting • Letter grades at end of second trimester of seventh grade • One report card per trimester, other communication as necessary • Two Parent/student/teacher conferences. • Fall – advisor conference • Winter – teacher check-in

16. Academic Support • Teacher availability • Resource center and computer labs • Study skills class • After-school homework club • Special education services

17. Flex PeriodTuesdays & Thursdays Referral Drop-In Writing Lab Math Lab Resource Center Computer Lab • Writing Lab • Math Lab • Guided Study Quiet study hall for all students

18. Elective Program • Students have a choice of many electives • Elective classes have students from many teams • Electives are an opportunity to try new and exciting activities • Electives change every 12 weeks • If selected, French or Spanish take up one of two available elective periods • Students receive grades in elective classes

19. Experiments in Art 7 Stagecraft (7/8) Center Stage (7/8) Creative Drama 7 Musical Theater (7/8) Study Skills (7/8) Music Exploration 7 Beginning to Piano (7/8) Computer Engineering and Programming (7/8) Beginning to Guitar (7/8) Cyber Tools (7/8) Industrial Arts 7 Industrial Design, Engineering, and Architecture (IDEA) (7/8) Furniture Making (7/8) TV Studio (7/8) Carleton Washburne Broadcasting (7/8) Yearbook (7/8) Movie Makers (7/8) Art Design: Special Projects (7/8) Elective Choices

20. Elective Schedules Trimester 1 Trimester 2 Trimester 3 Plan 1 Plan 2 Plan 3

21. Schedule Overview • Two - 2 hour academic blocks LA/SS and MA/SC • Students move as a group within blocks • Academics taught by four teachers • One 36 minute period each of KW, Lunch, Electives, and/or Learning Strategies • Advisory 36 minutes – 2 times a week • Electives change every trimester

22. Advisory P 1-2: Academic Block P 3-4: Academic Block P 5-6: Academic Block P 7-8: Kinetic Wellness P 9-10: Elective P 11-12: Lunch P 13-14: Academic Block P 15-16: Academic Block P 17-18: Academic Block P 19-20: Elective Advisory P 1-2: Intro. To Guitar P 3-4: LA P 5-6: LA/SS P 7-8: SS P 9-10: French P 11-12: Lunch P 13-14: MA P 15-16: MA/SC P 17-18: SC P 19-20: Kinetic Wellness Student Schedules Sample 1 Sample 2 LA/SS or MA/SC MA/SC or LA/SS

23. Extra-Curricular Activities • Band & Orchestra: take place on Tuesdays and Thurdays – During Flex as well as one morning practice a week • Washburne Chorus: take place on Tuesdays and Thurdays – During Flex as well as one morning practice a week • Clubs at Washburne • Cardio-Club • Science Olympiad • Technology Club

24. WASHBURNE INTERSCHOLASTIC ATHLETICS Washburne’s Athletic program was designed to incorporate the positive benefits of organized sports while following the progressive educational philosophy upon which the Winnetka Public Schools is based.

25. Intramural Opportunities • Saturday Basketball Program • November – February • Open to Boys and Girls • New Trier Student Coaches/Facilitated by Washburne Staff • Program Philosopy

26. How Can I be Involved? • Skokie/Washburne PTO • Skokie/Washburne Book Club • Room Parents • Bridges Committee (Parent Committee) • Communication tools • Twitter: @chrosen36 • Parent Discussion Groups • Washburne Friday Flyer • Website – daily bulletin, information, forms, etc.

27. Question and Answer Period Thank You For Coming!!