Seadogs NewsletterOctober 2016
Dear Families,
Sixth Grade is fully underway. We have six new students (after losing five) and they are welcome additions to our team. They have done an amazing job of figuring out the layout of this school, schedules, and rules. Our first field trip was successful in that it did not rain, the students all enjoyed it, and everyone, including the teachers, learned something new! Back-to-School night was well attended, and we sent home the materials to all families who could not be here. Pictures were snapped and the retake day is October 24. Students have completed the mile run in PE classes. Taste of the Arts when all the life arts classes’ teachers will be here is October 26. The theme for Connections, which meets twice a month, is responsibility. The theme for September was team building and each group has a motto and a distinctive name. Students also wrote a personal SMART goal.
We have finished reading a novel in language arts, either Crash or Belle Prater’s Boyand Seadogs have used six Signposts from the resource Notice and Note for close reading. They are currently completing an assessment of constructed response aligned with Common Core. Using Mug Shots (mechanics, usage and grammar) we are reviewing all the rules learned in fifth grade. The next unit will be poetry during which students will learn about figurative language. We will read and write many poems, eventually choosing six to ten poems to be turned in for grading. Meanwhile, Seadogs have chosen a non-fiction book from the media center to read and complete an at-home book talk. Reading logs are due every Wednesday with a parent/guardian signature. Twenty-five minutes a night is the minimum time your child should be reading each day, please. I hope your children told you we won the summer reading contest for the entire school! The PTA treated us to pizza.
In social studies, we began a mini unit on the American Revolution by watching some of the Liberty’s Kids episodes both at home and school. For each episode we watch, we are making a card that has a drawing, title and two to three sentences on it. Next, students identified four locations of revolutionary events that they personally considered important (as in helping to start the drive for independence, or in leading to the next event). They researched in library books, text books, and on certain websites. Moving into the U.S. Constitution, students read a chapter in a text and took structured notes. While the field trip to CT River Museum was basically a science trip, there was an amazing primary source document on the Turtle, David Bushnell’s first submarine used in the American Revolution. The students did an awesome job deciphering the document they were assigned in a small group and pulling together the information to discover the accurate, historical account of the event. Students were also introduced to the Lion’s Club International Peace Poster contest. We made origami doves and listened to a couple music videos about peace. All students may complete the poster for extra credit. Official entry paper is available in my room with proof of a rough draft. Only students age 11 by Nov. 15th are eligible to enter the contest, though. Students moved throughout six stations about the constitution this week. The stations included: vocabulary; branches of government; The Bill of Rights; Federal, Local or State Powers, and examining four current event articles for rights, taking notes and defending the rights. Please read my webpage (Weekly Windup section) where you will also find out what is coming up next!
In math, the students have been working on computing with positive rational numbers. We began the unit by dividing fractions and mixed numbers. Next, the students reviewed a few concepts taught in fifth grade including dividing multi-digit numbers, and adding, subtracting, and multiplying decimals to the thousandths place. The students are now beginning work on dividing decimals. We have started with dividing decimals by whole numbers and will move into dividing decimals by decimals. Also included in this unit are topics such as; least common multiple and greatest common factor, and volume. The students have been spending a good chunk of time applying the concepts taught in class to word problems. They have been paying close attention to the information the word problem is giving them, what the word problem is asking of them, and making sure that their answers make sense. At home, please make sure the students are doing their assigned homework and working on their math facts. If there are any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact me!
In science, students have had a good start to the year learning about some of the properties of matter and its importance to technology and engineering. Students have had the opportunity to get hands-on experience in laboratory activities. They have included learning to use a triple beam balance to weigh objects, measuring objects and calculating their volume and simulating taking depth measurements using a model of the ocean floor. As part of the latter activity, students learned the meaning of technology and the importance of engineering. We discussed and compared the advantages and limitations of different technologies. A significant part of the Connecticut River Museum field trip involved hands on use of different technologies to assess water quality and discussion on the importance of water quality assessments to the health of our local ecosystem. Students are currently working on a laboratory activity to explore density. As part of the laboratory experiences, lab safety, the use of units and the metric system as well as a scientific approach to investigations/activities are highlighted and reinforced. Later this month and next, students will be introduced to the atom, additional properties of matter and the periodic table.
Infinite Campus information, the new online report card, will come to you on or about October 21. We are currently learning how to enter our grades. We also do our attendance for every class online. There is a new report card with new categories and more information is coming to you about that, as well.
Thank you for your continued support at home, signing papers and reading logs, and helping with general questions. Check out the digital backpack for the district and ELMS for announcements and news about the school. Seadogs has a webpage with a homework page, and each teacher has a webpage, so check those for resources. Student-led parent conferences are coming on November 8 and you will receive the date and time for your conference later. We look forward to seeing you then. Working together, we can ensure success for every child.
Sincerely,
The Seadog Teachers