Sixth Grade Language Arts/Social Studies

Sixth Grade Language Arts/Social Studies

Pine Lake Middle School

September 1, 2016

Dear Students and Families:

Welcome to Pine Lake Middle School! I’m very excited to be back after a relaxing summer! A little about myself: My husband of 30+ years and I have lived here on the Sammamish Plateau for over 20 years. We have two grown sons, both of whom graduated from Washington public colleges, and are living and working in Washington. I have 20 years of middle school teaching experience in Special and General Education and a Master’s Degree in Education.

Your first days and weeks will be filled with renewing old friendships and making new friends with 6th graders from other elementary schools. You may be concerned about lockers, lunches, and bathroom locations, but I will help you in any way I can to make these adjustments easier. You’ll also be asked to adjust to a new and challenging curriculum right off the bat! Again, I’ll do everything I can to make these academic challenges fun and rewarding. Please read and discuss this letter together so that our expectations are fully understood.

Course Description

Here is a general timeline that we will stick to throughout the year. We will study Language Arts during first period and Social Studies during second period every day.

General Overview of Language Arts

We have a new Reading and Writing Curriculum this year from “Schoolwide.” The Reader’s Workshop model is an approach to reading that is based on incorporating student selection in the reading process. Since a variety of books are offered, we can accommodate a range of instruction reading levels. Students learn how to choose books at an appropriate reading level that interest them. The overall goal is to instill the love of reading. Students also participate in skill development lessons, learn new vocabulary, and develop comprehension. After their first reading, students have an opportunity to discuss their personal reactions in a literature circle and apply their focus lessons skills to their book. Prompts for lessons are selected to measure the common core standards for reading, speaking and writing.

Our students will understand that writing is a process comprised of many steps. They will have opportunities to apply observations to their own writing while exploring the different genres and purposes for writing. At the end of the unit, our students will publish their first pieces of writing that will provide a baseline for their writing and help monitor their growth throughout the year. By the end of the school year, our students will hopefully identify their Writers’ Notebooks as not just a safe place to write, but also as an ongoing resource filled with memories and ideas for writing to be added to year after year.

First Trimester

Language Arts: Reading, Speaking, and Listening to Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick; Writing Personal Narrative.

We also are very lucky to have a subscription to Junior Scholastic this year. There will be bi-monthly reading selections from this magazine. It also has a fantastic website that kids and parents can visit.

Social Studies: Textbook: McGraw-Hill Discovering our Past: A History of the World. History, Geography, Economics, and Citizenship, Early Humans and the Agricultural Revolution, and Mesopotamia.

Second Trimester

Language Arts: Reader’s Workshop: Humor; Writer’s Workshop: Feature Article; Reading for Information.

Social Studies: Ancient Egypt and Kush; The Israelites; and The Ancient Greeks.

Third Trimester

Language Arts: Reader’s Workshop: Hero’s Journey; Writer’s Workshop: Argument Essay; Reading for Information.

Social Studies: Greek Civilization, Roman: Republic to Empire; Roman Civilization; The Rise of Christianity.

Materials

Being prepared is essential to a successful year. This area of organization may be very challenging to some sixth graders. By September 6, you should have:

Two inch three ring binder with one section each dedicated to LA & SS. Many students include a third section for their elective. In this binder, please make files for

1.  “Take Home & Leave Home” (papers that have been returned to you),

2.  “Take Home and Bring Back to School (papers that need to be signed, or homework that needs to be completed or mended), and

3.  “Homework Completed.”

Two journals of any style (non-spiral) that will stay in the classroom for Writers’/Readers’ Workshop (those black and white marbled composition books are inexpensive and work very well). One for writing/reading, and one for Social Studies.

Scissors, scotch tape, and glue stick

Plenty of loose leaf paper

Pencils and Pens (black or blue only please – no gel pens)

Flash Drive (labeled with name and named electronically)

Optional: Please bring a box of facial tissue, a container of disinfecting wipes, and a pump container of hand disinfectant to help defer my cost. (Thank you.)

Text books will stay in the classroom.

Each day you will need to bring your binder, PLMS Planner, flash drive, Library Book (we’ll visit the library the second full week of school), and writing implements.

Late work and absences (Please read carefully.)

Time management is another area that may be difficult for incoming sixth graders, but is a major factor that contributes to school success. When deadlines are set, everything possible needs to be done to meet them. “Homework” is generally classwork that has not been finished in class, and is due the next day.

Electronics in B26

Sixth graders may have a very difficult time with impulse control, concerning their electronic device. If your student owns a cellphone, it should be kept in the locker and turned off. If your student brings the cellphone into class, it needs to be placed into the pocket holder at the front of the classroom. If your student is using the cell phone for research or reading only, I expect that the student demonstrate integrity at all times. The cellphone is never to be used for texting or games during homeroom, class or free times. At these times, students need to be “unlatched” from their electronic devices.

General Classroom Expectations and Homework

I expect students to arrive on time and prepared every day. There is sufficient passing time between classes to visit the lav, go to your locker, and pick up books and materials. I understand that emergencies happen, but passes out to the bathroom or lockers should be a rare exception. My five classroom expectations are:

·  Be a good community member

·  Respect yourself, others, and others’ property

·  Strive for excellence (not perfection)

·  Display a sense of discovery and wonder

·  Demonstrate integrity

Communication between home and school is important!

·  If you have any questions, please feel free to

·  E-mail me at

·  Visit my website at http://www.krishillshumanitiesplms.com/index.html

·  The calendar page of my website in usually caught up on Fridays for the next week.

·  Call me at 425.837.5746 (leave a voice mail and I’ll return your call within 48 hours)

·  I am also available for short conferences before or after school -- by appointment only, please.

·  Hope to meet you at Curriculum Night September 13, 2016.

Looking forward to an amazing year,

Kris Hill

(Please sign and return the bottom portion by September 6, 2016.)

______

Student Signature Parent Signature

CC: Michelle Caponigro, Principal

Mike Deletis, Assistant Principal