Students will be reading from Holt literature books as well as from trade books connected with the literature and/or the social studies units. These books come from the District Library and from Acacia’s Media Center. We have a writing program called Step Up To Writing.
Reading should be fun, engaged in often, and pleasantly challenging in sixth grade. In terms of home reading, I encourage active student participation in the use of the Accelerated Reader program. Primary reasons for doing so include ensuring students are reading at a high enough level for themselves while comprehending what they read at home. Accelerated Reader is a research-based program that builds in accountability to student reading. Tests on books are taken daily in the classroom during Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) and during library time. Students are to read an Accelerated Reader book at their reading level thirty (30) minutes per night minimum. The Accelerated Reader software allows students to take comprehension tests on the computer for Accelerated Reader books that they read. Trimester prizes are issued by me to the top student participants. Students take periodic assessments throughout the year so I can track their reading progress achievement. The absolute minimum level for sixth grade students is to reach 6.0 (pass Silver Star level). Many students, of course, will achieve much higher levels: Orange (6.0-6.9); Florescent Green (7.0-7.9); Light Blue (8.0+). Not all students are at grade level in reading when they enter my door in September. As the teacher, I must work together with the parents to ensure students are really reading every night. To assist, I provide the student and parents the student's correct reading level number at fall conferences. I mark the Accelerated Reader books with their corresponding level information, as well as provide online a master search engine of all available Accelerated Reader books with matching level/test information. Students may also read a book or other reading material of their choice at least fifteen (15) minutes + each night. In general, I also am a fan of literature circles where small groups of students read the same novel/chapter book and discuss it together, monthly book orders (Tab, Arrow, Click software), Soar To Success small reading groups, and of course, Acacia book fairs! Parent contributions and donations to the classroom library (e.g. books and magazine subscriptions) are extremely welcomed and appreciated. I also value my parent volunteers who rotate throughout the week in the classroom while I pull small reading groups. Their proximity to the rest of the class during SSR is appreciated. This will look like three individual parents volunteering for one day a week each (M, Th, or F) just thirty minutes immediately following morning recess. Also, one parent could do all three days if it works out that way.
Hey Kids! Not sure if your book is the right level for you? We have a new Accelerated Reader (AR) program that is web-based! Click here and search by title, author, AR quiz number, or ISBN.
http://www.renlearn.com/store/quiz_home.asp
Generally speaking, we will be using the Houghton-Mifflin spelling program this year, which stresses spelling rules and patterns. However, you can expect spelling contract homework to be differentiated for our friends who require the next level. This will look like more challenging words, and increased emphasis on suffixes (e.g. Greek and Latin). There will be weekly spelling homework and a test each Friday.
Harcourt Brace is our math textbook series.
It provides opportunities for leveling as well as enrichment.
In general, students will have math homework Monday – Thursday.
We have adopted a new textbook series (McDougal Littell). Students will be studying different aspects of Earth Science throughout
the year, including heat, energy, mass and weight, landforms and plate
tectonics.
Students will be reading and discussing units from the McDougal
Littell textbooks/Power Presentations (LCD projected). They
will also be doing many projects, Keynotes, and hands-on inquiries to enhance their
learning.
Students
will be participating twice a week in PE activities.
Students
will be responsible for reporting on current events throughout the year.
There
will be research (the Ancient Egypt research report and Science Fair-type
project are some student favorites), a DAR essay contest, and inquiry projects due throughout the year.
Students will have timelines and step-by-step guidelines or rubrics for these
projects.