6th Grade Parent Newsletter Principal's Message The State of Minnesota has closed school for the remainder of the school year. This is a huge sacrifice for many people. The teachers, paras, administration, secretaries, culinary, and custodians all miss the students as well as each other. When we cannot see each other for an extended period of time, we truly understand how much we mean to each other. However, the focus of this message is on what is not closed... - Relationships are open. Be sure to stay in contact with your friends. Call, FaceTime, or even write a letter to a classmate that you haven't connected with this past month.
- Family is open. Enjoy time with your family. Play a board game. Go on a walk. Talk with each other. Make plans for the future together.
- Outside is open. Keep plenty of distance, but get out and play. Work in the yard or garden. Sit by a tree and read a book or create art.
- Learning is open. Distance learning may not be the same as traditional school but learning is still happening. Maintain a growth mindset and enjoy learning new things.
- Habits are still open. Make a list of healthy habits that you want to master. Create a schedule and start step-by-step to develop a new habit. Start small and build on your success.
- Gratitude is still open. Take time every day to reflect on what you are grateful for. Maybe express gratitude toward people that make your life better. (BTW: next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. They have been working extra hard to make school work for us this past month.)
These are just a few things that remain open. I am sure you can add to this list. So when you feel overwhelmed and stressed, or unmotivated, look at this list and remember EAST Mode. Thank you for your effort, attitude, self-discipline, and Trojan Pride! Distance Learning Expectations The PBIS team (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) has developed online learning expectations for all EMS students. Our goal is to set up a virtual environment that is safe and respectful for all students and staff. This is a new experience for all of us and hopefully this will help clarify what type of behaviors are expected. EMS Media Commons - Resources Available Online There are many ways to get books and other materials online. Beth Benezra, our Media Specialist, has created a Canvas course for students that will lead them to those places. Also in the Canvas course are reminders of where to go for reliable research tools, how to apply for a Hennepin County library card, and what to do to request an Honor's Reading conference. If you have other questions, please email Beth Benezra. What We've Been Working On - 6th graders learned how to find volume and surface area and started exploring acute, right, obtuse, and straight angles.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the difference between an acute and obtuse angle?
What We're Working on Next - Moving forward, 6th graders will continue to learn about transversal, parallel, complementary, and supplementary angles.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the sum of the interior angles in a triangle?
What We've Been Working On - Volume and Surface Area of prisms and cylinders
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How can you use the same strategy to find the volume and surface area of prisms and cylinders?
What We're Working on Next - Spheres
- Arc Lengths
- Area of Sectors
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Imagine having a piece of pie. Using only a ruler and a protractor, how could you figure out the total area of your piece of pie?
What We've Been Working On - We finished our Unit 3 Literature/Poetry assessment.
- We are currently in our novel study unit which will continue into Mid May. Students are working on mini lessons (setting, theme, mood/tone, characters...) and applying them to their novel. By Friday, students should be at least 50% through their novel.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What novel are you reading?
- How has the character been impacted by the events in your novel?
What We're Working on Next - Mini lessons will continue each week. This week will be descriptive settings that impact the character and tone (author's attitude)/mood (reader's emotion) in their novel.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the tone of your novel? How does it impact the character?
- Does the author use any vivid descriptions to help you understand the novel better?
Notes - Continue to find the Online Learning page on the Language Arts Canvas page. Open the week and you will see day by day plans and videos. Thank you for all your support and patience as we continue this distance learning.
What We've Been Working On - We have been working diligently on Light and its properties and behavior (Chapter 4 of the Sound and Light Textbook).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the term used for when light bends as it travels through a new medium?
What We're Working on Next - There are upcoming assessments on Waves , Sound and Light and on the Anatomy of a cow eye - May 8 and May 11 Respectively....Start studying now!
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What are the parts of a cow eye and what do they do?
Notes - Please, check Skyward for missing assignments. All student work is entered into Canvas. (this is the only way teachers receive and manage student work) Thank you for all the help you do with your children! - We could not do it without you!
What We've Been Working On - Students have been learning about the late 1800's and early 1900's called "The Progressive Era" and will be able to:
- Describe why people started the Progressive Movement.
- Give examples of problems Progressive reformers identified in government, corporations, and society and examples of ways they decided to solve the problems.
- Explain how government regulation can affect the economy
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What were some things that were wrong with the government at the turn of the twentieth century?
What We're Working on Next - Chapter 14 WWI Students will be able to:
- Explain how WWI began, and name countries fighting on the sides of the Allies and Central Powers.
- Describe some things everyday Minnesotans did to support the war effort.
- Describe tensions in Minnesota communities that developed as the government enforced loyalty.
- Name new methods of warfare that developed during the war.
- Identify who won the war.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What was the Commission of Public Safety?
What We've Been Working On - Students have completed the 12 Major muscle test. They have also started logging their physical activity.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How can you fit your daily activities into these 12 major muscle groups?
What We're Working on Next - Students will continue with the activity journal and also learn about the game of Ultimate Frisbee.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Are you staying active? How is this helping you?
- Is Ultimate Frisbee a game we can play while social distancing?
Notes - Please remind your students to check our Canvas pages each Monday at 10:00 a.m. for the upcoming weeks assignment. Thank you!
What We've Been Working On - Using Sight Reading Factory alone
- Learning solo rehearsal skills
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - How do you record in Sight Reading Factory?
What We're Working on Next - Continuing the process of sight reading alone
- Finishing singing assessments with concert music
- Final project with concert music
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - Are you more nervous about sight reading challenges or singing assessments?
Notes - Please check Encore pages daily.
What We've Been Working On - Assessed sections of concert songs
- Reviewed Songs and rhythms
- Composition with rhythm
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Which song from the book did you turn into Canvas?
What We're Working on Next - New notes and Key signatures
- Assessment on Concert F scale
- Composition-transfer pitches to rhythm
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the new note you learned?
What We've Been Working On - Eighth Notes
- SmartMusic Account Creation
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is SmartMusic and how can you use it to practice?
What We're Working on Next Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - How do you have to change your bow to play different notes?
Notes - Students should still be practicing 20 minutes 5 days a week. All e-learning is posted on Canvas and can be found on the homepage.
What We've Been Working On - Students have just completed their Color Theory explorations this past week!
- Moving forward we will be continuing this practice of observation, and begin our Drawing unit. Students will begin by developing the relationship between their eyes and their hands. Observing practical, everyday objects when "seeing the world around them" students will be focusing on elements such as line, shape, form, and perspective/scale.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What is the difference between shape and form?
What We're Working on Next - We will be continuing our drawing unit(s).
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is proportion, and why is it important to know?
What We've Been Working On - Multi view Drawing concepts
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What id the difference between a visible line and dotted line?
What We're Working on Next - Finish simple multi view drawings
- Complex multi view drawings
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What is the biggest difference between simple and complex drawings?
What We've Been Working On - Eugene - Ask and answer questions about classes
- Rudolph - Telling time
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - Eugene - What questions did you write? How did you answer them?
- Rudolph - Ask what time your student does different activities. Also say at what time they study for different classes in distance learning.
What We're Working on Next - Write about what other people do in class.
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What do your teachers do in class?
- What do other students or friends do in class?
What We've Been Working On - Daily Riddles on school days
- KMO for interested students on Tuesday at 12:00 (check Canvas calendar for invite)
- Weekly lessons from Fighting Invisible Tigers (stress reduction techniques) chapters 3 and 4
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About What We've Learned - What ways have you learned to reduce stress?
What We're Working on Next - Daily riddles
- Tuesday KMO
- Chapters 5-6 in Fighting Invisible Tigers
Question(s) to Ask Your Student About Upcoming Material - What new stress fighting techniques did you learn?
Notes - Have your student try the virtual break out boxes. They are posted daily at 1:00 p.m. Central time. It is a short 5-10 minute video with theme based puzzles that can be completed alone or with a team. Lots of fun!
Wayzata Education Fund’s Thank a Teacher Program We have the best teachers and staff around, and never has it been clearer than during these unprecedented times. Whether they’ve helped make a difference in person or virtually this year, show your appreciation by participating in our Thank a Teacher program. From May 4 to June 3, any donation you make to the Wayzata Education Fund honoring a teacher or staff will come with a certificate of appreciation from your student. Additionally, if you donate $25 or more, they will also receive a bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes Minnetonka. Say thank you and support a good cause at the same time! Certificates will be sent via email. Bundlets will be delivered at a later date when it is deemed safe to do so, and when teachers and staff are back on school property. What can I do to protect myself and others? - Avoid being around others who are sick – when to keep your child home. When reporting attendance in Skyward Family Access, note that we have added Influenza-like Illness (oral temperature of 100° F or higher with a cough or sore throat) as an option. If your child has an oral temperature of 100° F or higher, please keep him/her home until they have been fever-free without medication for 24 hours.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Do not share drinking cups and straws.
- Frequently clean commonly touched surfaces (doorknobs, refrigerator handles, phones, water faucets).
- Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus – Child Mind Institute.
We've had so many great Ask Ali questions in our inbox – thanks to all who have submitted! Ali, along with her network of local experts, has been working hard to answer these questions. Responses are posted every Monday on her blog at partnersinpreventionmn.org/askali. Parents, you've got to check out the responses to these questions! There are some interesting ones that have been asked; chances are you might be wondering some of these things. New Online Classes We welcome you to our online classrooms! Our online classes ensure that you are able to gain valuable information, stay on track with your fitness routine, learn new skills, and connect with others during the next month. Our buildings may be closed, but lifelong learning never stops. We are offering a variety of online classes for adult and youth. You can find all the online options on our registration site. Monday, May 11, 2020 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Monday, May 18, 2020 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 12000 Ridgemount Avenue, Plymouth, MN 55441 | 763-745-6200 |