Welcome to Open HouseRoom 117 and Room 116

Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Communication Between Home and School

We believe that one of the main ingredients for a child’s success is a strong partnership between school and home. We intend to contact you from time to time either by phone, note or via email, and we invite you to do the same. If you ever have a question regarding our expectations, assignments, or your child’s progress, please do not hesitate us.

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• SCHOOL WEBSITE: www.norwellschools.org • Find the middle school page. • Find teacher pages and click. The team websites are

there under team pages. I have several pages to view within my site. The page links are shown on the left of the page.

• ROOM: 117- Mrs. Flanagan, 116- Mrs. Marani • PHONE: 781-659-8814 • LATE NIGHT: Tues.- Mrs. Flanagan, Wed.- Mrs. Marani • BEST WAY TO CONTACT US: EMAIL • mary.flanagan@norwellschools.org • jennifer.marani@norwellschools.org

CONTACTS

Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Expectations

We expect that students will be able to: • come to class on time and be prepared to learn. • pencil • homework assignments • stylus • a charged iPad • Math notebook EVERY DAY In their locker, for sometime use – Earbuds or Earplugs4

Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Homework Policy

• Homework = opportunity practice and review the concepts taught in class

• Will support student learning when completed each night. • Opportunity -learn time management. • In many cases, homework in one subject such as social studies may

be eliminated or less in order to have students focus on an ELA assignment.

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Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Homework Policy

• Teachers will break long term assignments into manageable due dates for students.

• Your conversations with your student about long term deadlines and time management will support those we will be having in class.

• Please communicate with teachers if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a child from completing his or her homework ( health, family emergencies).

• Also, if a student is spending an excessive amount of time on homework ( more than an hour total), please let teachers know. If possible, communicate the content area in which your student may be having difficulty

PLEASE SEE INDIVIDUAL SLIDES PER SUBJECT MATTER FOR BREAKDOWN AND WEIGHT OF HOMEWORK. 6

Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

GRADES WILL BE OPEN TO PARENTS THROUGH THE X2 PORTAL. • Effective way for parents to communicate with their children. • Allows parents to work with their student in developing study habits that are

appropriate for his or her learning style. • Please have a conversation with your child regarding specific grades of which

you may be concerned. • Identify how the assignment was completed or how the student studied when

you are concerned with a grade. This can help the teacher, student and the parent develop the best plan for the student in the future when dealing with similar tests, assignments or projects.

• We look forward to working with you to meet the academic goals for your student.

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SIXTH GRADE ELA CURRICULUM

READING

Prentice Hall Literature for Sixth Grade, on the iPad- Is the literature textbook, although teachers use a variety of supplemental poems, stories, memoirs and novels throughout the school year that support reading skills and emphasize the literary terms sixth grade students are learning.

GRAMMAR/WRITING/Vocab

• Text supports curriculum of writing, usage and mechanics, and using resources.

• Focused predominately on the Common Core Standards which are emphasized in the literature book.

• The Common Core emphasizes the strengthening of writing skills by practicing all types of writing.

• Text for Grammar= Holt Elements of Language online access through a password ( http://my.hrw.com/)

• Vocab - comes from the literature as well as other additional resources

SIXTH GRADE ELA CURRICULUM

Grading and Homework

• ELA Breakdown of Weighted Grades

ELA

VOCAB, GRAMMAR 25%

READING COMPREHENSION 25%

HOMEWORK 5%

CLASSWORK 20%

WRITING/PROJECTS 25%

100%

ELA/SS Homework• HOMEWORK

– Mon- Thursday sometimes longer projects on weekends.

• HOW IS HOMEWORK GRADED?

Homework will be graded by a √+,√and √-.

• √+ = 25 points

• √ = 20 points

• √- = 15 points

• Late homework is accepted the next day, for an automatic √- . • After this, students will receive a zero for that homework assignment. • Each week ( Mon-Thurs.) will be added for a weekly homework grade. • You will receive an email home if a student has more than three missing

homeworks per term.

MATH- The sixth grade is using a sequential math curriculum aligned with Massachusetts State Frameworks and the Common Core.

Number Sense: Whole number operations Estimation of whole numbers Order of Operations/Exponents Mental Math Operations with fractions/decimals/percents Factors/Multiples

Algebra: Patterns and Variables Translating between words and math Graphing functions in first quadrant Solving integer equations and inequalities Addition/subtraction of integers Plotting ordered pairs with integers Experimental/theoretical probability

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MATH- The sixth grade is using a sequential math curriculum aligned with Massachusetts State Frameworks and the Common Core.

Geometry

Measurement:

Area/Surface Area/Volume

Nets

Metric measurement/standard measurement

Statistics:

Data Collecting and displaying data

Interpreting data

Plotting ordered pairs with integers

Experimental/theoretical probability

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SCIENCE

Text: Science Explorer text by Prentice-Hall. This text is designed to engage students by using a hands-on, inquiry-based approach to learning. FOCUS:Science Explorer focuses on the life sciences starting with the six kingdoms of life. OTHER TOPICS: Ecosystems, Environmental issues, and the changing features of the Earth. OPPORTUNITIES: The students will learn to think like scientists. Science Explorer encourages students to improve their understanding of science by developing inquiry skills through directed instruction to open-ended activities and projects.

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Math and Science Grades

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Tests 40% - usually, two given per term. Based on an entire unit or chapter. Multiple quizzes given prior to break information down. Quizzes are useful study tools for tests. Class notes

and packets serve as study guides. Students will have at least a two day notice.

Quizzes 30% - quizzes are given frequently throughout the term. Students may only have a day notice. Based on recent classwork and current lesson.

Classwork 25% - assignments completed during class may be graded. These may include projects, labs, review sheets, graded homework, ect. Students will usually receive notice at the time of the

assignment.

Homework 5% - students should expect homework every week in Math and occasionally in Science.  

Description of HW grade: Science- students will receive either a check ,a check minus, or a 0

Math – The math homework is graded similarly.Math homework is required to be completed the following day that it is assigned, unless otherwise specified.

• Text= McDougal Littell World History: Ancient Civilizations. It is also found on the iPad.

• The sixth grade study of ancient civilizations begins with with a brief introduction to the terms relative to history and civilizations and continues through ancient Greece.

SIXTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM

Grading and Homework

• SOCIAL STUDIES

SOCIAL STUDIES

QUIZZES 30%HOMEWORK 5%

CLASSWORK 25%PROJECTS, TESTS 40%

Camp Bournedale & CORI ‘s

• We need chaperones for Bournedale • Therefore, lots of paperwork- CORI’s • CORIs take awhile to process • CORIs are good for three years • Recent mandates have also added a requirement for all who volunteer with

children to obtain fingerprints. The front office will work with those who do want to volunteer. More information on this new mandate will be forthcoming.

• If you DO NOT have a CORI, we would appreciate as many of you as possible submitting the paperwork to get one.

• You need a copy of your current driver’s license and the CORI form

What’s A.E. period?

The Academic Extension period found in grade six schedules is unique to this grade. This period allows teachers to extend lessons beyond the normal class time. Often students work on projects, writing, content area practice or reading assignments that support the curriculum. It is an opportunity for teachers to practice skills with students that may need further reinforcement. At times, this period is also used for unique team building opportunities.

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Mrs. Flanagan and Mrs. Marani

Technology: The students will be embarking in a new era with the integration of technology into the classroom. The math, social studies, and English language art textbooks will now be accessible on student iPads. iPads will be used to enrich lessons. Other Apps and internet websites will also help to expand on topics covered in the classroom. Students will be using an app called “Showbie” for classwork and homework assignments in ELA, SS, Science and Math. Students will complete work in class folders using the app Notability which allows students to “write” or “type” on documents and then resubmit these to Showbie with answers. Showbie also allows for teacher comments and verbal feedback. Students can also leave questions and notes for teachers in folders.

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THANK YOU FOR COMING TONIGHT. PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO EMAIL OR CALL US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ANY TIME THIS YEAR. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU AND TEACHING YOUR CHILDREN.