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Welcome to the 2025-2026 School Year!
Class overview
Throughout the year, we will be working on developing our reading, writing, and speaking skills through fun, creative, and collaborative ways to help each student grow in their abilities and confidence. Our plan is to read several books: A Wish in the Dark, A Long Walk to Water, and a book of the student's choice in a book club setting. We will also be reading short stories and participating in a poetry slam towards the end of the year. In addition, we have the exciting opportunity to host talented storytellers from our area a few times throughout the year. That is always a favorite day for many students! The goal is to set our students on a path to success in their high school years and beyond.
***In 6th grade, students are encouraged to read independently. The school and I have tons of books to choose from or they could grab something outside of school. I encourage you to check in with your kiddo about what they are reading and make sure it aligns with your expectations.
I love donuts- plain chocolate frosted donuts for me. No need to get fancy!
I am the oldest of 3 siblings. My sister lives here in Littleton and my brother lives in Cincinnati, Ohio
My dog, a maltipoo named Oakley, is 7 years old
My favorite movie of all time is Pretty in Pink
My secret superpower is being able to find good deals wherever I go
My perfect Saturday is sleeping in, going for a bike ride on a beautiful day, then trying a new restaurant for dinner
If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to the island of Curacao
My Story...
I grew up in the Midwest, mostly Indiana, and earned my teaching degree from Ball State University. I taught middle school in Texas for a couple of years before getting married and moving to Cincinnati, Ohio where I worked as Director of Education at Sylvan Learning Center for almost a decade before starting a family and staying home. I have 3 kids- a daughter who just graduated from college, a daughter in college, and a son starting his freshman year this year at Heritage! All of my kids attended Goddard, and I have been a part of the Goddard family for 8 years. This is truly a special place with wonderful staff and administrators, and I am thrilled to have the chance to get to know, teach, and care for your new middle schoolers this year.
In language arts, our first quarter work spilled into second quarter, but we are now heading into our next unit and are loving seeing how your kiddos are rising to our increased expectations. Here are a few updates for our class:
Second quarter will bring the start of weekly grammar and word part lessons with quizzes once a month.
Homework will continue the same with an expectation of two hours of independent reading a week.
In language arts class we are excited to move from our whole class novel A Wish in the Dark (or Counting by 7s for 5th period) into literature circles. All of the novels and nonfiction articles will be around the theme that there is marginalization in the world and we need to work to be more inclusive. Kids will be placed into novels (listed below) based on their iReady reading levels and observations made in class.
Please continue to support your students and guide them as independent learners by prompting them to bring a charged chromebook to school, making up any work from days missed, and encouraging your student to write emails to their teachers with questions or concerns.
Here is a list of novels and nonfiction articles we will be exploring including the topic that it hits on.
All books have been approved for 6th graders through the district policy.
Please reach out if you have any concerns about a topic or would like to ensure a title is not offered to your student.
Novels Chosen by Classes:
Wonder by RJ Palacia (dealing with birth defects)
Ugly by Robert Hoge (dealing with birth defects)
The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis (dealing with gender issues)
Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick (dealing with learning and physical disabilities)
Esperanza Rising by Pam Munez Ryan (dealing with immigration/migratory farmers)
Sticks and Stones by Abby Cooper (dealing with disabilities)
Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes (dealing with social injustice)
Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros (dealing with immigration)
Restart by Gordan Korman (dealing with bullying)
Linked by Gordan Korman (dealing with anti-semitism)
One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (dealing with foster care)
Out of My Mind by Sharron Draper (dealing with physical disabilities)
Bystander by James Preller (dealing with bullying)
Charlie Hernandez and the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo (dealing with bullying and cultural disrespect)
Freewater Amina Luqman-Dawson (dealing with slavery)
The Lost Year by Kathrine Marsh (dealing with religious persecution)
Thin Wood Walls by David Patneaude (dealing with internment camps)
Catherine Called Birdie by Karen Cushman (dealing with gender stereotypes)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (dealing with class and gender discrimination)
Nonfiction Articles (more to be added as needed)
“Discrimination Against Muslim Women”
“What’s the Connection Between Poverty and Race in US Schools?”
Resource for families: Literature Circle Scope and Sequence
Resources
Here are links to some helpful resources:
Student sites
**Families may request optional assignments if the planned curriculum offends their religious or person values. Please inform me in writing if you prefer that your students read an alternative selection to a particular literary work, and please offer a reason for your preference. Please see the district’s website for more information: Parents' Rights
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