6th Grade Syllabus - Math, Science & ELA

Classroom Description:

My classroom is located in Wing C, Classroom C12. I teach ELA, Math and Science. I team teach with Ms. Amell. Her classroom is also in Wing C, Classroom C8. I teach Science to both classes and she teaches Social Studies to both classes. We spend a lot of time building a classroom community through morning meetings, discussing Growth Mindsets, and incorporating Positivity Project into our daily routines.

We discuss and follow the Wiley Classroom rules:

I am a Respectful, Responsible, and Safe Student in the Classroom

Be Respectful

• Follow directions and procedures.

• Use kind words and positive body language.

• Listen attentively while someone else is talking.

• Raise your hand to contribute.

• Do not bully others and include students who are left out.

Be Responsible

• Have all materials ready and complete assignments on time.

• Be here and actively engaged in the lesson.

• Keep comments focused on the topic.

• Help students who are bullied.

Be Safe

• Respond to the quiet signal.

• Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

• Keep your work area, window exits, and floor clean.

• Notify staff of unsafe or bullying behavior.

Logical Consequences:

1. Students are asked to change their behavior - “You break it- you fix it”

2. Loss of privilege - Students are asked to think about how to change their behavior in the “fix it place”.

3. Time-out (Reflection Room) - The student’s parent/guardian is notified and the student goes to the Reflection Room.

The goals of the logical consequences are to give the students a chance to regain self-control, help them recognize the connection between their actions and the outcome of those actions, fix problems, preserve their dignity and their relationships and to keep the students safe. If a rule is broken the student will have a consequence that is communicated with respect for the student, relevant to the action and realistic.

Google Classroom Codes:

• Mrs. Clayborne -

• Ms. Amell -

Classroom Expectations:

Students will be in school 2 days and remote 3 days a week. To help keep a consistent schedule, students will be expected to:

• Bring materials back and forth between home and school daily. These include: a charged Chromebook, Math Book, Science/ SS materials, ELA novel and materials, and planner. This way whether attending M/Th or T/F, the needed materials will be available at all times and locations.

• Respond to the Morning Message daily whether in-person or remote. Every day of the week there will be a morning message posted on the Stream in Google Classroom and a question that asks for a response. This will be an important step in building our classroom community and getting to know all of our classmates, both Purple and Cyclone peers.

• Log into ALL Google Classrooms (including special areas art,music, PE and library) on remote days to check for updates/announcements and to complete assigned work

• Check both the Stream & Classwork Tabs for all academic subjects (Math, ELA, SS, and Science)

• Check agendas daily to keep on track with in-person & remote assignments

• Ask any questions either through email or posting a private message to me in the Stream

• Ask to set up a conference with me during Wednesday office hours, if you need additional assistance

Math Grade 6:

New to 6th Grade! We recently adopted Kendall Hunt’s Illustrative Mathematics curriculum. This problem-based curriculum makes rigorous middle school mathematics accessible to all learners. Visit their website at https://im.kendallhunt.com

What supports are in the materials to help my student succeed?

• Each lesson includes a lesson summary that describes the key mathematical work of the lesson and provides worked examples when relevant. Students can use this resource if they are absent from class, to check their understanding of the day’s topics, and as a reference when they are working on practice problems or studying for an assessment.

• Each lesson is followed by a practice problem set. These problems help students synthesize their knowledge and build their skills. Some practice problems in each set relate to the content of the current lesson, while others revisit concepts from previous lessons and units. Distributed practice like this has been shown to be more effective at helping students retain information over time.

• Each lesson includes a few learning targets, which summarize the goals of the lesson. Each unit’s complete set of learning targets is available on a single page, which can be used as a self-assessment tool as students progress through the course.

• Family support materials are included several times in each unit. These materials give an overview of the unit's math content and provide a problem to work on with your student.

Here are this year’s units of study:

• Area and Surface Area

• Introducing Ratios

• Unit Rates and Percentages

• Dividing fractions

• Arithmetic in Base Ten

• Expressions and Equations

• Rational Numbers

• Data Sets and Distributions

Grading For Math:

Tests - 50% of Grade

Quizzes - 30% of Grade

Daily Work - 20% of Grade

Science Grade 6:

New to Grades K-8! Amplify Science

Amplify Science is phenomena-based and hands-on, with virtual simulations, experiments, content literacy components, and more. Each unit of Amplify Science engages students in a relevant, real-world problem where they investigate scientific phenomena, engage in collaboration and discussion, and develop models or explanations in order to arrive at solutions.

Student Investigation Notebooks

Available for every unit, the Student Investigation Notebooks contain instructions for student activities and space for students to record data, reflect on ideas from texts and investigations, and construct explanations and arguments. A full compilation of all unit articles are also included.

Digital Student Experience

Students can interact with the digital student experience as they conduct hands-on investigations, engage in active reading and writing activities, participate in discussions, record observations, and craft end-of-unit scientific arguments. Students access the digital simulations (“sims”) and modeling tools through the digital student experience. Developed exclusively for Amplify Science, these digital tools serve as venues of exploration and data collection, allowing students to explore scientific concepts that might otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.

Grading for Science:

Tests - 40% of Grade

Quizzes - 30% of Grade

Daily Work - 30% of Grade

ELA Grade 6:

Wit and Wisdom

This year we will be working on a variety of texts and genres. We will incorporate other outside sources when necessary. You can expect to study the following 4 modules:

• Module 1: Resilience in the Great Depression Module

• Module 2: A Hero’s Journey Module

• Module 3: Narrating the Unknown

• Module 4: Courage in Crisis

Objectives:

• We will be reading and responding to stories and nonfiction texts

• We will study one of the worst economic situations in United States history

• We will explore the hardships families faced and the triumphs they endured during the Great Depression

• We will analyze how the translations of myths expand our understanding of these texts

• We will study how the art and science of observation contribute to a more complete narrative of Jamestown’s development and decline

• We will discuss how the social and environmental factors can shape the development of a cultural period

Required Supplies:

You will need your Chromebook at all times. You will also need paper, pen/pencil, and highlighters. You will be provided with the necessary texts either digitally or in person.

Grading for ELA:

Formative assessments 50%

Summative assessments 50%