Welcome to Sixth Grade!

1. Welcome to Sixth Grade! Avon Grove Intermediate School

2. HOMEROOM INFORMATION

3. schedule 8:10-8:30 Homeroom 8:35 -10:00 Specials 10:05-11:20 Block 1 11:25-12:40 Block 2 (snack) 12:45-1:15 RTII 1:15-1:45 Lunch 1:50-3:05 Block 3 3:10 Dismissal

4. SPECIALS CYCLES 4 cycles including: • Art • Science Lab (Chemistry Unit) • Technology • Music • Physical Education/ Health (every cycle)

5. Learning support Teachers • Mrs. Drinker • Mrs. Holden • Miss Hunt • Ms. Cornacchia • Mrs. Logue • Ms. Apgar • Ms. Salvi • Mrs. Deaner • Mrs. Staton • Mrs. Kowal • Mrs. Shoen

6. ESL Teachers • Ms. Boone • Mrs. Prinsloo • Mrs. Boyd • Mrs. Olski

7. homework • Typically given on a daily basis as determined by the teacher. • Homework is given Fridays. • Expected to be completed the next school day unless otherwise specified. • Recorded in agenda books.

8. AGENDA books • Excellent Parent/ Teacher communication tool. • Must be carried to each class. • Homework is written down daily in class. • NONE or a design is written if there is no homework. • If a student loses it, they will have to pay for a new one. • Responsibility Calendars should be kept with the agenda book.

9. responsibility calendar • Calendars should be signed with every mark AND every Thursday night. • Helps students monitor their personal behaviors and identify traits where there is room for improvement. • Communication tool between teachers, students and parents.

10. teacher websites • Accessible from AGSD homepage athttp://www.avongrove.org/avongroveintermediateschool_home.aspx • Click on Directory • Type in Teacher’s last name or select 6th grade and hit submit • Please check for AGIS calendar, announcements, assignments, due dates…

11. Thursday folders • All papers sent home will be in the folder (PTA, AGRA, etc…) • Goes home with the youngest student at AGI. • Please ask your child to see their folder!

12. behavior expectations EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO LEARN Be Respectful Be Safe Be Responsible Be Fair Do your personal best every day!

13. POWER ANNOUNCEMENT • District communication system • Automatically calls home for important information from AGI or the District • Snow Days • Reminders • Emergencies

14. wellness policy • Full policy is located online at the Avon Grove Website. • For the safety of all students, sixth grade will not have edible birthday treats. • Water bottles are permitted in class. • Please provide a healthy/ appropriate snack for your child. • Keep in mind, all classrooms are nut free.

15. field trips Sixth grade takes 3 field trips during the school year • Trip 1 is a team building experience. • Trip 2 is an educational field trip related to the curriculum. • Trip 3 is a celebratory field trip to mark the end of sixth grade. Two Trips are currently still in the planning process. When locations have been determined, you will receive more information. **To chaperone a field trip you must have valid clearances on file with AGIS. If applying for clearances, please be aware it may take up to four weeks to get them in the mail.

16. Conferences • Scheduling will be done online • Meet within your child’s team of teachers

17. 6th Grade Spirit • Countries • Purple – Greece • Orange – England • Orange – Madagascar • Red- Fiji • Blue – Bahamas

18. 8th Annual6th Grade Career Day • When: November 8, 2013 • Where: Avon Grove Intermediate School • Time: 10:00 to 1:00 You are invited to help make our Career Day a success! We are looking to expose our 5th and 6th grade students to a wide variety of career choices. Forms are available with the ambassadors located in the front of our school.

19. q & a General questions? Thank you for coming! We look forward to working with you and your child this year!

20. LANGUAGE ARTS

21. ELA MODULES 6-12 • Establishing a Community of Readers and Writers • Navigating and Understanding Informational Text • Understanding and Interpreting Literature • Comparing In, Between, and Among Texts • Understanding the World Through Reading and Writing

22. Progress Report • Reading: • Reading Informational Text • Reading Literature • Writing: • Demonstrates Writer’s Craft • Demonstrates Appropriate Command of Conventions • Qualities of a Learner

23. YEARLY FOCUS • Understanding and using writing traits. • Key concepts in written expression. • Emphasis on progression. • Writing and Research in ALL content areas. • Study Skills • Grammar • Oral Presentation skills

24. YEARLY FOCUS • Working collaboratively and reflectively. • Goal setting and monitoring progress in reading and writing. • Work ethic. • Building reading stamina through independent reading.

25. map testing MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS • 3 times a year • Students will set goals for improvement • Tool for teachers to differentiate instruction • More information at www.nwea.org

26. Content

27. social studies enduring understandings • Humans adjust to life based on their physical surroundings and they alter those surroundings to meet their needs and wants. (Geography) • Cooperation and conflict between groups of people have produced change in the world. (History) • There are different levels of government; each has its own responsibilities to work to form a unified government. (Government) • Trade influences economic structure and growth. (Economics) • Units • Mesopotamia • Egypt • Greece • Rome

28. science big ideas • Celestial bodies have patterns of movement based on the force of gravity. • All objects obey universal laws relating force and motion. • Systems interact with one another, have specific needs, and continually adapt and change. • Relationships exist among organisms in different ecosystems.

29. science units • Astronomy • Motion & Design • Populations and Ecosystems • Chemistry (Science Lab Special)

30. Current events • Current events should follow the guidelines that we discussed in class. • Current event forms should be stapled to the article. • Students who do not have access to a computer/newspaper will be able to get an article at school.

31. Additional Information • Writing concepts will be instructed in language arts. These strategies will be applied to writing assignments in language arts and content . Students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts taught and apply them to authentic writing pieces. • All assignments (current events, tests, writing assignments and projects) will require a parent signature once graded.