1. BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT Room 10 Mrs. Gray

2. GENERAL INFORMATION

3. ALL ABOUT MRS. GRAY Born and raised in Irvine, CA Graduated as valedictorian from Westmont College, Santa Barbara 8th year teaching 2012-2013 Westpark Teacher of the Year Bar Method instructor

4. COMMUNICATION Communication between the home and classroom is key! Monthly updates– posted online (WP website – 6 th grade) OrangeCal – homework posted daily; nightly emails (if you subscribe) Email: katherinegray@iusd.orgkatherinegray@iusd.org Please complete parent information sheet and turn in tonight or tomorrow

5. EXPECTATIONS THE BIG R: RESPONSIBILITY DAILY: Math WEEKLY: Writing, Social Science, Science, Grammar, Literature, Spelling/Vocabulary MONTHLY: Special Projects Civilization Research EVERY TRIMESTER: Novel Studies

6. CLASSROOM ORGANIZATION  Curriculum Duties  No late work  Absent Work  Blue Moons  Attendance  Conduits  Table Points  Birthdays

7. A.I.R. Accountability, Integrity, Respect School-wide values Kick-off day Drawings every month

8. 6 th Grade Mottos Personal Best Make an Effort, not an Excuse Home Court

9. CURRICULUM

10. COMMON CORE What is Common Core? ◦ The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. What does this mean for Westpark? ◦ More in depth rigor and challenge with a developmental approach! ◦ Good-bye CST! Hello Smarter Balanced!  Please note this is the last year of NCLB standards being assessed through Star testing in May 2014.

11. LITERATURE  Novel Studies – RTI  Houghton Mifflin Series – RTI  Weekly quizzes and classwork packets  Flexible Groups  Trimester Book Projects  Historical Fiction, Biography, Informational Text  Projects Completed IN Class  Read book at home before due date

12. GRAMMAR/SPELLING Spelling pre-test: Monday Spelling test: Friday Vocabulary packets (during novel studies) Weekly grammar skill lessons; periodic grammar quizzes

13. AUTHENTIC WRITING  “WRITING DRIVES THINKING, THINKING DRIVES LEARNING”  Writing Process  Author’s chair  Publishing anthology  Multiple genres of writing

14. MATHEMATICS BALANCED CURRICULUM Holt Text Problems of the Week Investigations/Problem Solving PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE 21 ST CENTURY Problem Solving Strategies (Brain Books), Accuracy QUIZZES CHAPTER ASSESSMENTS

15. ONLINE SUPPPORT http://my.hrw.com For each chapter: ◦ Textbook Pages (identical to hard cover text) ◦ Videos and Activities (By lesson and example) ◦ Interactive Tutorials (For most lessons) ◦ Chapter Resources:  Interactive Practice Test  Extra Practice  Know-It Notebook  Intervention and Enrichment  Lesson Resources (By Lesson)  Homework Help On-Line

16. COMMON CORE - MATH STANDARDS FOR MATHEMATICAL PRACTICE Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them Reason abstractly and quantitatively Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others Model with mathematics Use appropriate tools strategically Attend to precision Look for and make use of structure Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

17. SCIENCE  Vicky Anthony  Hands-on Experiments  Participation  Required Science Fair Project  Classroom science instruction incorporating the science textbook and related projects – lesson outlines/study guides ◦ Schoolnet testing

18. OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL Pali Institute in Lake Arrowhead November 20-22 Parent Information Night August 27 at 6:00

19. SOCIAL SCIENCE Ancient Civilizations Research Projects – Big Book Simulations Daily Geography

20. MUSIC – ART LIBRARY – P.E. COMPUTER LAB Music: 80 minutes per week; district vocal or instrumental Art: 6 one-hour sessions throughout the year Specialist: Ms. Kayiran Library: 30 minutes per week P.E.: 60+ minutes per week Computer Lab: two 40 minute sessions for research or IOLA testing

21. TECHNOLOGY Online support for textbooks (handout) BYOD policy (handout) “Device Days” – type writing pieces; research for ancient civilizations etc. My Big Campus – coming soon

22. OTHER INFORMATION

23. HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD Encourage organization and responsibility Avoid rescuing/helping too much Use questions when helping with work Value learning Model thinking Monitor home reading High expectations

24. TEXTBOOK REMINDER Every textbook and consumable has a barcode Each textbook/consumable has been scanned and checked out to your child through the IUSD inventory system They have written their name in sharpie in each book – double check All textbooks issued to your child need to be returned in June

25. CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! If you can help, please fill out the form in your packet and return tonight or tomorrow! Clerical Helpers: Copies, Stapling, grading etc. Conduits Scholastic book orders Parent volunteer guidelines – I will send these home if you choose to volunteer

26. CLASS WISH LIST Copy paper Kleenex Disinfecting wipes Lined Paper Graph paper Ziploc bags (gallon size) Glue sticks

27. DON’T FORGET D.A.R.E – Officer D’Alena. D.A.R.E is Tues/Thurs for first quarter only Outdoor Science School Parent Information Night – August 27 th at 6:00 in the MPR Please sign up for a Parent – Teacher Conference (August 19 – 30) Donation letter for 6 th grade You can place all forms in “turn in box” by the door LEAVE A NOTE FOR YOUR CHILD