1. Sixth Grade Curriculum Night
8/19/2012
Mr. Caccavale
Mr. Gooding
Mrs. Stafford

2. Weekly Folder
Signature

3. Behavior Cards

4. Common Core Standards Top down approach
Focus is on depth of knowledge and understanding
Scaffolding of concepts from grade to grade
47 states on board
SIXTH
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
SEVENTH
Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
EIGHTH
Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

5. Continuous Classroom Improvement (CCI)
Focus on specific learning outcomes
Students take part in creating mission statements, analyzing data, and setting goals
Progress monitored throughout the year and tracked on graphs displayed in room
Plan Do  Study Act

6. Reading with Mr. Caccavale
Plot
Setting
Character Development
Reading with Mr. Caccavale
Vocabulary
Comprehension
“Digging” into the text

7. Reading Common Core Standards – “PROVE IT”
dig deep (explain, evaluate, defend, analyze, …)
look at writer’s technique
focus on various genres including non- fiction
Develop strong readers with a solid skill base to understand and retain varied types of literature
Focus literary elements – plot, character development, theme, point of view, etc…

8. Reading cont. Materials Class library – open to all sixth graders
Harcourt – McCall-Crabbs
Jr. Great Books – Reading A-Z
literature studies
Class library – open to all sixth graders
book orders help fill shelves
donations of books or money to purchase books are welcomed

9. Choosing a Book
Lexile numbers rate the difficulty or reading level of a book.
6th range is 850 – 1000
Most reading should be in this range or higher.
Most books on Scholastic are rated.
Check other books at

10. Reading Grades
Weekly packets – focus on weekly skill, vocabulary, plot and character development, elements of a story, text structure – PROVE IT
Weekly tests – comprehension and vocabulary
Literature studies – vocabulary and comprehension, projects, and tests and quizes
Reading Logs – 20 pages per night for total of 500 pages per month (in-class reading does count toward the 500/month, but not the 20/night)
Other – McCall-Crabbs, skill focused activities, Jr. Great Books, etc…

11. Science with Mrs. Stafford

12. This class uses FOSS (Full Option Science System) as the basis for study. FOSS is aligned with Arizona State Standards and was developed through rich collaboration of scientists, educational researchers, curriculum developers, assessment specialists, teachers, administrators, community members, and parents. Students learn by doing science. FOSS engages students to construct an understanding through investigations and analyses, using lab equipment, readings, and interactive technology.

13. Year at a Glance 2 Units
Water & Weather : energy transfer, air pressure, and water cycle(AugDec)
Diversity of Life: use microscopes to study organisms, including cell and life functions (Jan- May)
9 Topics per Unit
Each topic has 1-3 parts, each part
taking 1-2 days to complete

14. Water and Weather Investigation 1: What is Weather
Investigation 2: Where’s the Air
Investigation 3: Seasons and Sun
Investigation 4:Heat Transfer
Investigation 5: Convection
Investigation 6:Water in the Air
Investigation 7: The Water Planet
Investigation 8: Air Pressure and Wind
Investigation 9: Weather and Climate

15. Diversity of Life Investigation 1: What is Life
Investigation 2: Introduction to the Microscope
Investigation 3: Microscopic Life
Investigation 4: The Cell
Investigation 5: Seeds of Life
Investigation 6: Transpiration
Investigation 7: Plant Reproduction
Investigation 8: Snails and Roaches
Investigation 9: Kingdoms of Life

16. During Each Topic 1-2 hands-on student investigations “labs”
Science Interactive Student Notebook (ISN) – must be kept in binder
Power Point – outlines entire topic, notes taken from this– Will be posted to website after majority of content covered
1 reading per topic in resource book
Video clip(s)
Quiz (at conclusion of topic) No NOTES allowed on quiz– Students USE notes in ISN TO STUDY 

17. Grading Grades posted regularly
Not every assignment/activity is for a grade
Breakdown
25% Labs
35% ISN checks which includes class work and homework
40% Quizzes/Tests

18. Other Information: Cooperative groups (change each quarter)
4-5 kids per group
Website very helpful 
Homework
Power Points
Helpful websites

19. Science Fair 4th Quarter
Demonstration of Scientific Process using Scientific Method
Experimentation done at home with time in class to work on other components
Science Fair will be sometime in May

20. Sixth Grade Writing Curriculum
Using the Common Core Standards 20

21. Common Core: 3 Types of Writing
Argument: To persuade, bring about some action on reader’s part, or ask reader to accept a certain point of view; includes a claim, reasoning and evidence
Informative/Explanatory Writing: To clarify or increase readers’ knowledge or understanding of a subject
Narrative: To convey experiences, either real or imaginary, in order to inform, instruct, persuade, or entertain
Writing priorities change as one moves up the grades

22. Common Core cont.
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and
Shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Use technology to compose and publish documents
Speaking and Listening and Language
Use of Writing Process

23. The Writing Process Prewriting
- Using strategies to generate, plan, and organize ideas for specific purposes.
Drafting
- The use of prewriting activities to create a first draft containing necessary elements for a specific purpose.
Revising
- Evaluating and refining the rough draft for clarity and effectiveness. “Ask: Does this draft say what you want it to say?”
Editing
- Proofreading and correcting the draft for conventions.
Publishing
- Formatting and presenting a final product for the intended audience. 23

24. Writing Projects
There will be one big assessment per quarter: Personal Narrative, Informative/Explanatory, Persuasive (Argument/Claim), Narrative of student’s choice
Other projects/ units: six traits, friendly letter, functional (directions/ how to), author’s craft, organizational structures, poetry, literary response, and more!

25. Write from the Beginning
Writing program used by the district
Helps writers with the pre-writing step in the writing process.
Use of Thinking Maps to organize ideas before starting a piece.
A skill-based program.

26. Language Weekly Dictation - Demonstrate a command of conventions
- test every Friday
Daily Language Lessons
- Spiral model of incremental
development and continual review
- quiz will be given every 5 lessons
to assess student proficiency.

27. Social Studies 27

28. Civilizations to be studied
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Greece
Ancient China
Ancient Rome
And more…

29. Projects Three projects will be created during the year
Allow students to dig deeper into a topic
Designed to meet Common Core standards
Can be done individually, or in pairs

30. Interactive Student Notebooks
Used for chapter notes
Creative outlet
Excellent study guide

31. Grades Grades based on tests, quizzes, class work, and projects
Tests will be completed after each chapter
Two to four quizzes per chapter

32. Sixth Grade Math Mr. Gooding
Hello!

33. Important Things to Know
Curriculum—”Math Connects” —more problem solving based
Website-  glenco.com (One site has it all!)
Common Core! Shared Standards between states in the United States
Common Core! Philosophy for math…go for a deeper understanding of the concepts rather than teaching numerous standards with little depth

34. Different Approach for Teaching
Students will be given immediate feedback as they are working— ”Stecking”...a.k.a. Stamp Checking
Students who need additional help are called back to meet as a small group
Most work should be completed in class
Students will be taught to self-monitor their homework at home (odd answers are in the back of the book)

35. Math Grade Weighting
20% Homework
30% Daily Quizzes
50% Tests

36. Clicker!

37. Clickers in use!

38. Community Boards and Consensus!

39. More Consensus work!

40. Clicker Results Analyzed!

41. Class-work and Stecking!

42. Small Group Session during Class-work!

43. Clickers, Community Boards, Consensus, Stecking, and Small Group…
Clickers, Community Boards, Consensus, Stecking, and Small Group…..Machine!

44. Other Schedule: Homework 45-60 min. Weekly Folders
Newsletters:
Websites
PTA
8:45 – 8:55
DLR
8:55 – 9:40
Specials/Writing
9:40 – 10:25
10:25– 11:30 Hour 1
11:30 – 12:30
Social Studies
12:30 – 1:10
Lunch
1:10 – 1:30
Writing/Dear
1:30 – 2:30
Hour 2
2:30 – 3:30
Hour 3