Meet the Teacher Night September 15th, 2011 Team Teachers: Mrs. Mann, Social Studies/Language Arts Mrs. Kramer, Science/Reading Mrs. Belt, Math/Pre-Algebra Mrs. Ranayhossaini, PURPOSE Miss Sherge, Student Teacher

Miss Sherge  Slippery Rock University  Elementary Education/Minor in Elementary Math  Action Research/Observations  Rotating every 5 weeks between the team.  From a parent’s view, any suggestions for me

Language Arts Language Arts Units Houghton Mifflin English Text:  Language and Usage: The Sentence  Mechanics: Capitalization and Punctuation  Language and Usage: Nouns  Language and Usage: Verbs  Language and Usage: Modifiers  Language and Usage: Pronouns  Language and Usage: Prepositional Phrases D.O.U.(Sentence Editing) utilizing grammar skills and spelling

Language Arts Spelling Units  From Houghton Mifflin Reading Series coordinated with reading excerpts/selections Writing/Oral Communication Units  Quality of WritingPresentations  Writing Process Skits  Essay WritingSpeeches  Dialogue Writing Debates  Research Writing  Informative Writing  Persuasive Writing

Reading Possible Novels: *Number the Stars, Zlata’s Diary, The Westing Game, *The Cay, The View From Saturday, *Out of the Dust, Journey to Jo’burg, and The Little Prince Monthly Independent Novels: Students will be assigned a monthly reading genre and will be required to complete an independent book project. Genre selections include: non-fiction (area of student interest), science fiction, mystery, historical fiction, biography/autobiography, adventure, animal, and free - choice

Reading Reading Strategies and Skills addressed:  Predicting, inferring, evaluating, summarizing, noting details, making judgments, sequencing events, drawing conclusions, identifying topic, main idea, and supporting details, making generalizations, cause and effect, problem solving and decision making, categorizing and classifying, author’s viewpoint, comparing and contrasting, story structure, and vocabulary development Assessments :  Journal entries, Practice Book pages, quizzes and tests, written and oral projects, and presentations

Science  Encompasses 27 weeks of Earth Science * Studying Soils Scientifically * Rocks and Minerals * Erosion and Deposition * Plate Tectonics * Weather and Atmosphere  Embedded within instruction are the following science process skills: observation, hypothesizing, research, experimentation, classification, data analysis, and the use of scientific tools

ScienceScience  Curriculum Delivery System: SEPUP  SEPUP = Science Education for Public Understanding Program  Allows for hands-on, cooperative learning opportunities  Includes the four principles to guide inquiry and promote learning: *Relate science to students’ current knowledge base *Emphasizes the science focus of the lesson *Allows students to reflect on new knowledge *Use assessments to build understanding

Health  Two units of study  First, a review of drug/alcohol/tobacco/steroids awareness occurring the week of October 24th during Red Ribbon Week  Second, two major body systems: immune and reproductive  Includes one week of HIV/AIDS instruction  Delivery system: Teen Health Course 1 Glencoe Publishing 

Reality Tour  HMS 6 th Grade/Reality Tour Partnership  Anticipated Team date: Thursday, December 8 th

Math Overview Math Grades: Student grades are made up of homework, daily assignments, quizzes, pop quizzes, exams, and projects Homework Policy Homework will be given daily, except for Friday. If your child would not have his/her homework, they have the opportunity to fill out a “Missing Assignment Form”, have it signed, and turn in the homework with the form the next day for ½ credit. They will also lose $10.00 (classroom dollars) from their checkbook.

Online Pre-Alg/Math 6 Book Pre-Algebra is up and running – all codes are working. Follow the yellow paper to register and they will be ready to go! Pre-Algebra is up and running – all codes are working. Follow the yellow paper to register and they will be ready to go! Math 6 was reset this morning Math 6 was reset this morning User name: 6THGRADE (all caps) User name: 6THGRADE (all caps) Password: HMSMATH6 (all caps) Password: HMSMATH6 (all caps)

Format of a Typical Math Day The “Walk in Work” activates students’ prior knowledge of concept Prior knowledge comprehension Daily Word Problem/PSSA Direct Instruction Leveled Practice of Skill (one-on-one work, worksheets, stations, etc.) Reasoning/Problem Solving Independent Practice/Homework

6 th Grade Math First Nine Weeks: Volume 1 (Number Theory, Decimals, Fractions) Second Nine Weeks: Volume 2 (Fractions, Ratio, Rates, and Proportion) Third Nine Weeks: Volume 3 (Percent, Integers, and Geometry) Fourth Nine Weeks: Volume 4 (Measurement, Data, and Pre-Algebra)

Pre-Algebra First Nine Weeks: Algebraic Expressions, Integers, One-Step and Two- Step Equations, Inequalities, Operations with Decimals Second Nine Weeks: Factors, Fractions, Exponents, Operations with Fractions, Ratios, Proportions and Percents Third Nine Weeks: Enriched Equations and Inequalities, Linear Functions, Graphing and Spatial Thinking Fourth Nine Weeks: Area, Volume, Right Triangle Ratios, Data Analysis, Probability, Functions and Polynomials

Social Studies Introductory skills and content: geography, government, and economics Regions studied: Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Content: geography, government, history, culture, and economics  Assessments are based on quizzes, tests, writings, presentations, and project based learning.  Tests are based on Map Skills and Text Book Chapter or Unit Tests  Written and oral projects are based on history, culture, economics and other resources and handouts used. (Current events will be addressed periodically.)

Social Studies Examples of Possible Projects:  Story, journal, diary, and script writings  Broadcasts, panel discussions, and talk shows  Trade Simulation  Olympics Project  Song writing and music videos

Homework Policies and Practices  $10.00 deduction taken directly out of student’s checkbook  Parent signature required directly in checkbook indicating awareness of missing/incomplete work  Points lost from content area grade  Indication in assignment book work was not completed While students have a 35 minute CARE period at the end of each day – unless they are involved in band, chorus, art club, Academic Games, MicroWorlds, PE Club, or Technology Club, students cannot count on this time period as study hall. Up to 60 minutes of homework would be reasonable (10 minutes per grade level)

Intervention/Enrichment   During the 1:50-2:25 period, students will be given enrichment and/or remediation work.   Enrichment or remediation work may include:   Compass Math and Reading   PSSA prep work in both reading and math   Accelerated Reader (AR)   Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) with monthly book projects   Handwriting practice   Independent projects   Help with classwork   PURPOSE pullout classes   Enrichment puzzles, games, and activities in various subjects

November Parent – Teacher Conferences Conferences will be held throughout the week of November 7 th with the majority of conferences held on the evening of Thursday, November 10 th, 2011 and the morning of Friday, November 11 th.  Please sign up for your November Parent – Teacher conference this evening.  Sign-up sheets are located in each homeroom (301, 302, and 304).  Please sign-up for a conference with your child’s homeroom teacher only, conferences are limited to 15 minutes.

Updated Webpage Select “ HAINE MIDDLE SCHOOL ” Each teacher has their own webpage Each team has their own webpage Work in progress…if you would like to see an addition to our pages, please let us know, we’ll try our best.

Classroll.com Please visit frequently WITH YOUR son or daughter to keep up to date on their progress in the classroom. Log in for parents is the same as last year. Be on the lookout for an envelope containing usernames and passwords. The envelope will be sent home on Friday, September 16 th along with student PSSA Reports from Spring of 2011.

Compass Compass is a district wide, web-based program that is individualized for each and every student. Each student’s personalized results from the NWEA assessments are used to create an specific learning path for your child. The learning path will target your child’s problematic areas, while enriching them in the content areas where they excel.

Thank you for attending Meet the Teacher Night!