Dear Families:
As the beginning of the new school year arrives, I’d like to introduce myself. This will be my fifth year teaching sixth grade Language Arts and Science. In 2008, I completed my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, with instructional focus on the integration of technology and community service within the classroom. Also here at the Greenfield Middle School I am the Student Council Advisor. I love animals, and in my spare time outside of school I rescue cats and kittens and then work hard to place them into healthy, happy, loving new homes.
In order to help prepare for the school year in both Science and Language Arts I have included below an outline of the main topics and books we will be covering, along with a list of supplies that will allow students to be prepared for school.
English Language Arts
English Language Arts this year will look different from previous years. This year we will be doing most of our instructional focus through reading different novels. Most of the novels relate and will be integrated into both the Science and the Social Studies curriculum. Also in Language Arts we do lots of writing. I ask that students come to class open minded, willing, and prepared to write everyday. Some writing pieces we will be focusing on this year are how to write a formal letter, persuasive essay, creative writing, and descriptive writing. We also will acquire pen pals from around the United States.
Homework
Students also have a regular schedule of homework for Language Arts, where they will be required to read Monday through Thursday nights for at least twenty minutes a night. Besides reading on a regular basis students have no other homework, unless they have not completed an assignment in school, if they are absent, or to study for a quiz or test.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary lists will consist of five words chosen from our novel or theme. These lists will be sent home on Monday. The words should be studied at home during the week. A quiz will be given each Friday. Students will be asked to spell the words, give the part of speech, write the definitions, and use the words in sentences correctly.
Sustained Silent Reading
Each student will be required to always have a book for silent reading both in school and at home. This book choice will need to be approved by me. Students will be required to read Monday through Thursday for homework and record their reading in a reading log. These logs will be collected and graded on Fridays.
Tests and Projects
We will have a test at the conclusion of each theme/unit and at the conclusion of each novel. A project will also be assigned as a culmination activity for each theme/unit and each novel.
Below you will find a list of supplies that I ask students come prepared to school with.
- Three-ring binder (one inch), with while lined paper and tab dividers
- Lots of #2 pencils
- Markers, Colored Pencils, and Crayons
- Highlighters (any color)
- Pocket Folder
- Pencil Sharpner
Science
Sixth Grade Science is very exciting! This year we will be learning about weather, how weather occurs, natural disasters, and we will even practice being meteorologists. Also this year in Science we will focus and learn about the six kingdoms of life, how species adapt and change to their environments, ecosystems and the species that inhabit those ecosystems, and we also have a unit on chemistry. In Science every day students are actively engaged in hands on activities and labs that will help further their understanding of the concepts we will be covering. I have always believed that children learn best from doing.
Also this year for Science we purchased a brand new curriculum called Interactive Science. This new curriculum allows every student to have their own text book that they are able to write and work in. It also has a very big emphasis on technology. Students are able to go home and log onto
www.myscienceonline.com and complete virtual labs, take practice tests and quizzes, watch educational Science videos and much more.
In Science students do not have homework on a regular basis. Students do have homework if they did not complete an assignment in the classroom, if they were absent from school, or to study for tests and quizzes.
Below you will find a list of supplies that I ask students come prepared to school with.
- Three- ring binder (one inch), with white lined paper and tab dividers.
- #2 pencils
- Glue
- Markers, Colored Pencils
- Pocket Folder
Grading Policy
One important thing that is very different for both parents and children this year is the grading system. Students will now be receiving letter grades instead of numbers. Often this can be a hard adjustment for students, due to the fact that a four in fifth grade does not always equal out to an A in sixth grade. We will work together on this in the beginning of the year so students will fully understand this new grading system. Also as a parent you will now have access to Power School. Power School is just like a teacher’s grade book, but the great thing is you have access to see how your child is doing at any time. In Power School I will have every assignment listed with a grade, so you are always able to see how your child is doing on all assignments. In the beginning of the year you will receive a log in ID and a password so that you are able to access your account.
Grades are determined as follows in both subjects.
Daily work: 25%
Effort and participation: 15%
Quizzes and Labs: 20%
Test, Projects, Essays: 40%
Assignment Notebooks/Agendas
Students will be required to keep an agenda which will be provided by the school. Please refer to this agenda for important information on assignments.
Field Trips
Sixth Grade is also an exciting year for field trips. This past year we went on numerous field trips to give students as many real world experiences as possible. For example, this past year the Sixth Grade went to the Bronx Zoo in New York City, we went hiking, skating, to the YMCA, and to the movies. This year our goal is to have students engage in these kinds of experiences as much as possible.
Communication
Parent-Teacher communication is important to me, so my door is always open. If you have something to share or any concerns ever arise, please don’t hesitate to send a note with your child, call or email me. My email address is
melcal1@gpsk12.org and my phone number is 772-1360 ext.1208.
I also have conference times during the day, if you’d like to speak with me in person. The times and days of these regular conference times will be sent to you in a later letter.
Also, I have a classroom glog so that both parents and students can interact and follow what is happening within our classroom. The glog’s web address is,
http://caloongms.blogspot.com/.
Please look at it as the school year approaches.
Absent
Students who are absent from class are responsible for finding out what work they have missed. Students need to make up all class work. Students are more than welcome to see me during recess, before or after school or check in with another classmate to find out what work they have missed. Make up work is due no later than one week after an absence.
Wish List
I also ask that if or whenever possible classroom supply donations are always accepted and welcomed. Some of the things we will need this year are the following: markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue, scissors, hand sanitizer, tissues, cleaning wipes and anything else that comes through that door.
Again, I am really looking forward to having your child this year and to working with you!
Sincerely,
Melissa Caloon
Grade Six Teacher
