6th Grade Classroom Update - September 7, 2018

6th Grade Parent Newsletter

September 7, 2018

Principal's Message

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!

East Middle School is deliberate in the effort to create a culture of learning for each and every student. We create this culture by implementing the practice of positive interventions and supports (PBIS or Trojan Pride). PBIS teaches positive expectations and provides students the skills to interact with others in a respectful way. Having clear expectations allows a person to make decisions that support reaching these expectations.

Staying in touch with school can be a challenge for parents. Here are a couple of tools that will help. First, we invite all parents to attend the Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 13. This is a parent only event. You will learn what your child's experience will be at East Middle School this year. The Classroom Update is another important tool for keeping up to date with your child's school experience. Each class will provide information on what has been happening in class the past two weeks, questions that may prompt a conversation with your child about what they have learned. In addition, we will describe the upcoming learning in the next two weeks and include questions that you can use to prime the learning for your child. The Classroom Update is published every two weeks.

The first days of school have been wonderful. We look forward to the rest of the year.

Reminders

Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 13 at East.

Learn about the curriculum and routines at the following presentations:

6th Grade Team Classes: 6:00 in the Gym
Encore Classes: 7:00 in the Gym
7th Grade Team Classes: 7:50 in the Gym
8th Grade Team Classes: 7:50 in the Locker Bank

Teachers are in attendance from 6:00-8:30 and are available to meet when they are not presenting.

This is a parent only event (no students).
Doors close at 8:30

Math

What We've Been Working On

With the beginning of the school, we have been doing a lot of team-building and community activities to get to know each other better.
The students are also aware of classroom expectations in math. We are looking forward to a great year!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

How did your child think of the #1-100 game?

What We're Working on Next

Moving forward, in addition to continuing to learn how to work well in teams, the students will be learning how to represent mathematical ideas and the relationships between area and perimeter.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is something you are excited to learn in math this year?

Notes

East Curriculum Night is Thursday, September 13.

Accelerated Math

What We've Been Working On

With the beginning of the school year, we have been working on a lot of team-building and community games and activities to help get to know each other better. All of these activities will help our students understand our math curriculum all the better!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What did your child think of the #1-100 activity game?

What We're Working on Next

Moving forward, in addition to learning how to work well in teams, the students learn the "big ideas" of the course and the many facets of probability, including dependent and independent.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What is something your child is excited to learn this year in math?

Language Arts

What We've Been Working On

Welcomed the new 6th graders and went over routines.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Can you find all of your class?
Can you open your locker?

What We're Working on Next

Writing Baseline - In class
Visit Media Center
Reading Contract
Introduction to Honors reading

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What did you write about for your baseline about firsts?

Notes

Make sure they have a composition notebook daily.

Science

What We've Been Working On

We are off to a great start! We are learning what science is and what scientists do.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Show me your notes on Chapter 1 in Notability.

What We're Working on Next

We will be working on Scientific Inquiry and how scientists conduct science.
We will have a quiz on Wednesday covering the vocabulary and concepts and will conduct our first experiment on September 13 and 14.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What are the steps of the Science Inquiry Method?

Notes

Check the calendar in Canvas for daily operations! Check Skyward for grades! :)

Social Studies

What We've Been Working On

We have started Social Studies by discussing the shared history and shared culture that we all have as Minnesotans.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is one place you have decided to put on your "What MN Means to Me" map and why? How is this place special both to you, and to Minnesotans in general?

What We're Working on Next

Primary and secondary sources, the U.S. Constitution on Constitution Day, and the diversity found across Minnesota.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What person from Chapter 20 did you research, and how does that person express their culture in a unique way?

Phy. Ed.

What We've Been Working On

We have introduced ourselves to our students and talked about what Effort, Attitude, Self-Discipline and Trojan Pride look like in PE class.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is an example of Effort, Attitude, Self-Discipline, Trojan Pride in PE class?
Do you know the combination to your PE locker and who do you ask for help?

What We're Working on Next

The next two weeks we will being establishing a routine for class, and hopefully getting outside with some great weather incorporating some fitness into our class time. This will involve running, jumping, skipping, hopping, etc.
In addition, we will be beginning some basic soccer or rugby and beginning to build upon either of those two sports.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What are the required materials (clothing) I need to have to be successful in PE class in the upcoming weeks?

Notes

Please make sure your son or daughter has their PE clothing and shoes for class. They will have their own separate locker in the boys or girls locker room to use for storage the entire school year.

Choir

What We've Been Working On

Welcome, introductions, and expectations

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

When are your choir concerts this year?

What We're Working on Next

Review/basics of reading, writing, and analyzing written music, singing in unison

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How do you read the language of music?

Notes

Please watch your email for info coming soon regarding choir concerts.

Band

What We've Been Working On

Welcome to 6th grade band!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Describe the band room.

What We're Working on Next

Reviewing handbook/checkoff assignment
Learn how to get a sound on your instrument

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Are you excited to learn a new instrument?

Orchestra

What We've Been Working On

Classroom Expectations and Orchestra Handbook
Instrument parts and posture

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Where can you find everything you need to know for orchestra?

What We're Working on Next

Playing Posture

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How do you set your instrument up with success?

Notes

Students need to have the following supplies by the week of September 10: instrument, method book: Essential Elements Book 1, binder with 5 tabs.
Violins/violas should be brought to and from school each orchestra day.

Art

What We've Been Working On

Welcome to 6th grade art!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is the art room like?

What We're Working on Next

Student will choose an artist to research for an artist research project.
Students will create a "crazy coil pot."

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

Who is your artist, what made researching this artist meaningful and what new things did you learn about them?
What are the steps of making a "crazy coil pot"?

Tech Ed

What We've Been Working On

Welcome to Tech Ed!

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What will you do in Tech Ed?

What We're Working on Next

3D Printing with TinkerCAD
Starting the Production Lab

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What type of design did you create for the 3D printer?

Spanish

What We've Been Working On

We have gotten to know the Spanish classroom and teacher.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

What is your technique for memorizing vocabulary? Does it work?

What We're Working on Next

We will review basic conversation and then work on telling what we like to do.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What activities do you like to do that you want to how to say in Spanish?

Gifted & Talented

What We've Been Working On

We will not start seminars for a couple of weeks. I will contact you and your students by email when we are ready to start.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

When are we starting seminars?

What We're Working on Next

Our first couple of meetings will be "get to know you" in nature, we will also look at setting a SMART goal for the year.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

What type of academic goal would you like to set?

Young Scholars

What We've Been Working On

We will not start seminars for a couple of weeks. I will contact you and your students by email when we are ready to start.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned

Do you know where Ms. Simson's room is?

What We're Working on Next

We will start by getting to know each other.
I will be checking in with the Young Scholars weekly to check on homework, study skills and after school opportunities.

Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material

How do you think Ms. Simson can be of the most help to you this year?

PTO News

Join or Volunteer

Community Education

Destination ImagiNation Information Night for parents and Team Managers is Tuesday, Sept. 25, from 6:30-7:30 at Central Middle School. Visit www.wayzatadi.org for more information on D.I.

Chess Team
Electronics and Programming
Computer Sciences-Python/JavaScript/Ruby on Rails