Berrien Springs Middle School
Sixth Grade Syllabus
SIXTH GRADE TEACHERS (Contact Info)
Mrs. Amanda Barrett
Science
473-0586
[email protected]
www.shamrockscience.wikispaces.com
Mrs. Kimber Sotnyk
English Language Arts
473-0588
[email protected]
www.bsmsenglishrocks.wikispaces.com
Mrs. Heather Shembarger
Reading
473-0573
[email protected]
www.shemmysite.wikispaces.com
Mr. Tony Scaccia
Math
473-0585
[email protected]
http://bsms6thgrademath.weebly.com
Mr. Joseph Miller
Social Studies
473-0584
[email protected]
http://bsmsjmiller.wikispaces.com/
Mr. Luke Antvelink
Special Education
473-0572
[email protected]
http://lukeantvelink.wikispaces.com/
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. All 6th Grade teachers follow the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE’s) or Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for their subject area.
- Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE’s) can be found at the Michigan Department of Education Website: http://tiny.cc/tfvy8
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) can be found on the CCSS website: http://www.CoreStandards.org
INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY:
All students will succeed in our classes. Students will follow the ROCKS classroom expectations, and by doing so, ensure their success. Students will work to their fullest potential and disruptions to the learning environment will not be tolerated. Failure is not an option. Course work will be completed using various learning methods – cooperative groups, teacher talk, class discussions/debates, project-based learning, Internet research and simulations, and independent work.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
Student will be evaluated through projects using rubrics, cooperative learning activities, individual assignments, labs, and summative tests/formative quizzes.
● Grading scale:
Formative Assessments
E - Exemplary - I have displayed a master of knowledge and skills of a standard in and advanced manner.
P - Proficient - I meet the expectations of the standard
G - Growing - I understand the basic elements but I am still working on developing the associated skills.
N - Needs Improvement - I understand some of the expectations of the standard with help but need some more practice.
W - Warning - I have little to no understanding of the foundational material even with help.
Summative Assessments
4 - Advanced mastery of content, knowledge and skills.
3 - Proficiency of standard knowledge and skills
2 - Understands foundational material and progressing toward concepts and skills
1 - Some understanding of foundational material with support
0 - No understanding of the foundational material even with support
Categories and Weights
● Homework/Formative Assessments 0%
● Summative Assessments 100%
AREAS OF STUDY
Math
Chapter 1 - Factors/Multiples Chapter 9 - Inequalities
Chapter 2 - Prime Factors Chapter 10 - Positive/Negative Integers
Chapter 3 - Division Chapter 11 - Coordinate Plane
Chapter 4 - Decimals/Long Division Chapter 12 - Ratios
Chapter 5 - Ratios/Tables/Graphs Chapter 13 - Geometric Figures/Area/Volume
Chapter 6 -Percents Chapter 14 - Cubes
Chapter 7 - Roots/Variables/Expressions Chapter 15 - Stats/Data/Reports
Chapter 8 - Simplify Expressions/Distributive Property Chapter 16 - Mean/Median/Mode
Science
Physical Science – kinetic and potential Energy, energy transfer, changes in state
Earth Science – soil, rock formation, plate tectonics, magnetic field of Earth, fossils, geologic time
Life Science – producers, consumers, decomposers, interactions of organisms, relationships of organisms, biotic and abiotic factors, environmental impact of organisms
Social Studies
Unit One - The Geographer’s World
Unit Two - Canada and the United States
Unit Three - Latin America
Unit Four - Europe and Russia
Unit Five - Africa
Unit Six - Southwest and Central Asia
Unit Seven - Monsoon Asia
Unit Eight - Oceania and Antarctica
Reading
The Reading Process - predicting, picturing, questioning, making connections, identifying a problem, summarizing, fixing.
Word Study - word origins, roots, prefixes, suffixes, specialized vocabulary, multiple-meaning words, connotation, denotation, idioms.
Literature Genres - fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, folktale, action, adventure, fantasy.
Narrative Texts - character analysis, plot, climax, theme, prior knowledge, summarization.
Informational Texts - organizational patterns, textbooks, summarizing informational essays, how-to articles, research reports.
English Language Arts
The Writing Process—pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.
Writing Traits—ideas, organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, conventions, presentation.
Writing Genres—personal narratives, essays (compare/contrast, cause/effect/ expository), folktales, action/adventure, poetry.
Author’s Craft—imagery, internal/external conflict, dialogue, elaboration, symbolism, irony.
Grammar—independent/dependent clauses, simple/compound/complex sentences, appositives, adverb phrases, transitive/intransitive verbs.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
Respect for myself and others Ownership for my actions Compassion for others Knowledge for growth Success for life
Individual Classroom Procedures Will Vary Slightly
Sixth Grade Syllabus
SIXTH GRADE TEACHERS (Contact Info)
Mrs. Amanda Barrett
Science
473-0586
[email protected]
www.shamrockscience.wikispaces.com
Mrs. Kimber Sotnyk
English Language Arts
473-0588
[email protected]
www.bsmsenglishrocks.wikispaces.com
Mrs. Heather Shembarger
Reading
473-0573
[email protected]
www.shemmysite.wikispaces.com
Mr. Tony Scaccia
Math
473-0585
[email protected]
http://bsms6thgrademath.weebly.com
Mr. Joseph Miller
Social Studies
473-0584
[email protected]
http://bsmsjmiller.wikispaces.com/
Mr. Luke Antvelink
Special Education
473-0572
[email protected]
http://lukeantvelink.wikispaces.com/
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
1. All 6th Grade teachers follow the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE’s) or Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for their subject area.
- Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCE’s) can be found at the Michigan Department of Education Website: http://tiny.cc/tfvy8
- Common Core State Standards (CCSS) can be found on the CCSS website: http://www.CoreStandards.org
INSTRUCTIONAL PHILOSOPHY:
All students will succeed in our classes. Students will follow the ROCKS classroom expectations, and by doing so, ensure their success. Students will work to their fullest potential and disruptions to the learning environment will not be tolerated. Failure is not an option. Course work will be completed using various learning methods – cooperative groups, teacher talk, class discussions/debates, project-based learning, Internet research and simulations, and independent work.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT:
Student will be evaluated through projects using rubrics, cooperative learning activities, individual assignments, labs, and summative tests/formative quizzes.
● Grading scale:
Formative Assessments
E - Exemplary - I have displayed a master of knowledge and skills of a standard in and advanced manner.
P - Proficient - I meet the expectations of the standard
G - Growing - I understand the basic elements but I am still working on developing the associated skills.
N - Needs Improvement - I understand some of the expectations of the standard with help but need some more practice.
W - Warning - I have little to no understanding of the foundational material even with help.
Summative Assessments
4 - Advanced mastery of content, knowledge and skills.
3 - Proficiency of standard knowledge and skills
2 - Understands foundational material and progressing toward concepts and skills
1 - Some understanding of foundational material with support
0 - No understanding of the foundational material even with support
Categories and Weights
● Homework/Formative Assessments 0%
● Summative Assessments 100%
AREAS OF STUDY
Math
Chapter 1 - Factors/Multiples Chapter 9 - Inequalities
Chapter 2 - Prime Factors Chapter 10 - Positive/Negative Integers
Chapter 3 - Division Chapter 11 - Coordinate Plane
Chapter 4 - Decimals/Long Division Chapter 12 - Ratios
Chapter 5 - Ratios/Tables/Graphs Chapter 13 - Geometric Figures/Area/Volume
Chapter 6 -Percents Chapter 14 - Cubes
Chapter 7 - Roots/Variables/Expressions Chapter 15 - Stats/Data/Reports
Chapter 8 - Simplify Expressions/Distributive Property Chapter 16 - Mean/Median/Mode
Science
Physical Science – kinetic and potential Energy, energy transfer, changes in state
Earth Science – soil, rock formation, plate tectonics, magnetic field of Earth, fossils, geologic time
Life Science – producers, consumers, decomposers, interactions of organisms, relationships of organisms, biotic and abiotic factors, environmental impact of organisms
Social Studies
Unit One - The Geographer’s World
Unit Two - Canada and the United States
Unit Three - Latin America
Unit Four - Europe and Russia
Unit Five - Africa
Unit Six - Southwest and Central Asia
Unit Seven - Monsoon Asia
Unit Eight - Oceania and Antarctica
Reading
The Reading Process - predicting, picturing, questioning, making connections, identifying a problem, summarizing, fixing.
Word Study - word origins, roots, prefixes, suffixes, specialized vocabulary, multiple-meaning words, connotation, denotation, idioms.
Literature Genres - fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, folktale, action, adventure, fantasy.
Narrative Texts - character analysis, plot, climax, theme, prior knowledge, summarization.
Informational Texts - organizational patterns, textbooks, summarizing informational essays, how-to articles, research reports.
English Language Arts
The Writing Process—pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing.
Writing Traits—ideas, organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, conventions, presentation.
Writing Genres—personal narratives, essays (compare/contrast, cause/effect/ expository), folktales, action/adventure, poetry.
Author’s Craft—imagery, internal/external conflict, dialogue, elaboration, symbolism, irony.
Grammar—independent/dependent clauses, simple/compound/complex sentences, appositives, adverb phrases, transitive/intransitive verbs.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
Respect for myself and others Ownership for my actions Compassion for others Knowledge for growth Success for life
Individual Classroom Procedures Will Vary Slightly