6th Grade Hawks

Math – Thanks to all of you who were able to attend our spring conferences last week.  If you were not able to attend, you can always reach us through email at any time.  This week in blocks 1 and 2, we will be doing Power of U every day except Wednesday.  We will be working on CSAP practice on Wednesday-please remember to bring your completed homework packet from over break with you to class tomorrow.  You can always view your dashboard and skills at home by clicking here.

Block 3 will be finishing up our chapter by focusing on finding missing sides of similar shapes.  Students in this class will also be completing some CSAP practice as well.  On Friday, we will be doing the next round of  Sigma (a national math competition).  Students will have homework this week so be sure to check the homework calendar.

Science- This week the students will continue to identify changes on the surface that influence potential natural disasters.  The students will then move on to making predictions related to locations that may be prone to earthquake or volcano destruction.

Parent Teacher Conferences are Wed Evening Scheduled and Thursday Drop in From 8:30 am to 1:00 pm and 1:30pm to 7:00 pm.  Please check with your student to see when your time is or if you are invited to drop in conferences on Thursday!

Language Arts- Students finished their debates this week and will be assigned topics for their upcoming persuasive essay.  There is NO SPElling this week! Don’t forget to check for in progress grades on Tuesday! Have a great short week!

Math - Blocks 1 and 2 will have Power of U on Monday and Tuesday, and CSAP practice with their protege teacher on Wednesday.  Students need to turn in their completed SOAR Card (front and back) on Wednesday.  Students will be receiving a CSAP practice packet to complete at home over the long weekend.  It will be due on Wed., 2/22.

Block 3 will be working through the last part of Chapter 4.  We will be focusing on dilations and similar shapes.  Students will have one assignment (assigned today) that is due on Wednesday.

Science- This week in science the students will continue to investigate the forces that are at work changing the surface of the earth.  We will focus on the theories of pangea, sea floor spreading and continental drift to see how the surface of the earth has changed in the past and is still changing today.

I hope you all are staying well…we have a bunch of sick kiddos and adults around here!  Hopefully it will pass soon:) I wanted to let you know that on Monday 2/13 at 12:45 we will be passing out Honor Roll awards and Dog tags to the students during a mini assembly in the library.  They are so excited to receive these awards!

I also wanted to remind you that Parent Teacher Conferences are Wed and Thurs.  Wed night are scheduled and today I sent home with your child a white sheet stating your time.  If you do not receive a white sheet today then we would like to see you on Thursday for drop in conferences!  The times again are 8:30am to 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday for Drop in conferences.

Have a great weekend and stay well- Questions call 613-7358 or email alyssa.barnes@thompsonschools.org

Language Arts- Please check with your student about the conference slips that went home last wednesday.  If they received a pink or yellow they need to return the bottom portion to Mrs. Barnes by tomorrow!  Thanks! Also, this week the students will continue to learn about argumentation and persuasion by participating in a debate on the topic of their choosing. They will practice their speaking skills as well as create a formal outline for their debates. As always, we will continue with root words on Wednesday. This week is sure to be fun!

Math - This week in Blocks 1 and 2, the Power of U Program continues.   Remember to have a conversation with your child about how he/she is doing in Power of U, and what skills are challenging.  We encourage students to log-in each evening before their lessons to look at what they will be learning the next day to build background knowledge.  If your child feels he/she needs extra practice on any skills, Ms. Platkus and Mrs. Naughton are available every day at lunch to offer extra practice on those skills.  Students need to have a parent signature each week on their pink SOAR cards before they are turned in on Wednesdays.  To access the Power of U website, click here.  Students will be meeting with their protege teacher in place of Power of U on Friday, due to a 7th grade field trip.

In Block 3, students will be finishing up using linear models to represent relationships between parts and the whole to solve problems. The later part of the week will be spent representing data using a variety of forms (histograms, stem-and-leaf, box-and-whisker plots).  Students will continue to have homework, so please check the homework calendar for assignments.

Science- This week in science the students will be creating a timeline that shows some of the events that occurred before humans that helped shape the earth as we know it today.  Next we will begin to look at the forces still at work shaping our planet beginning with seafloor spreading and continental drift.

Math - This week in Blocks 1 and 2, the Power of U Program continues.   Remember to have a conversation with your child about how he/she is doing in Power of U, and what skills are challenging.  We encourage students to log-in each evening before their lessons to look at what they will be learning the next day to build background knowledge.  If your child feels he/she needs extra practice on any skills, Ms. Platkus and Mrs. Naughton are available every day at lunch to offer extra practice on those skills.  Students need to have a parent signature each week on their pink SOAR cards before they are turned in on Wednesdays.  To access the Power of U website, click here.

In Block 3, we are beginning Chapter 4 and this week’s focus will be using a linear model to examine part-whole relationships to help solve problems involving percentage.  Throughout the week, we will revisit a data display called “Box and Whisker Plots” that was covered briefly before winter break.  Students will continue to have homework assignments.  Please check the homework calendar.

Language Arts-Spelling Homework is #10 and the test is on Friday.  We will also be having Read-a-Latte Friday. This week the students will be delving into our persuasion and argumentation unit by performing guided note-taking on persuasion with practice activities, reading persuasive articles and summary writing, and exploring how to make an argument and counterargument. They will also learn about the root word “dia” and do some vocabulary exploration as well. Thanks and have a great week!

Science- This week in science we will begin to work with the scientific process with a practice lab.  We will also begin our new unit of study that investigates the features of the earths surface in relation to construction and destruction processes.

Hello Families,

Parent Teacher Conferences are Wednesday, February 15th from 1:30pm-7:00pm and Thursday,February 16th from 8:30am to 7:00pm.

This time around we will be sending Conference slips home with your student to schedule a conference on Wednesday if we would like to schedule a conference with you.

Most students will be getting a drop in conference slip letting you know what times we are available on Thursday.  You will then pick a time that is convenient for you to come meet with your students teachers:)

Please look for these slips to come home with your student on Monday or Tuesday of next week. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call.  Thanks- 613-7358-Mrs. Barnes

Language Arts- This week we are watching the Zachary Beaver Movie.  They have a Root word quiz wednesday and the students will begin the Argument and Persuasion Unit on Thursday with Ms. Wirt.  Spelling for the week is #9 and is due Friday. The students have library tomorrow-Tuesday so please remind them to bring in their books and fee money if they have a fine. Thanks and have a great week!

Math – This week in Blocks 1 and 2, students will be doing Power of U on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  On Wednesday, students will report to their regular (protege) teacher for reflection and to turn in their SOAR cards.  The SOAR cards need a parent signature by Wednesday every week.  We will be continuing to practice sixth grade CSAP material on Wednesdays.

In Block 3, we will our practice of the 5-D process for problem-solving.  We will end  Ch. 3 by Friday, and will have a small assessment on the 5-D Process.

Science- This week in science we will wrap up our review of the scientific process by identifying the steps in specific science experiments.  The students will also be working with comparing observation to inference in every day life.

Language Arts- We finished Zachary Beaver today and will complete the final assessment and story map on Thursday.  There will be Read-A-Latte Friday along with a spelling test #8 and the Homework is due.  We will begin talking about Argument/Persuasion topics.  Ms. Wirt is my student teacher this semester and will be the lead teacher during this unit.  She is studying English Education at CSU and is very excited to work with your students this semester. Please let me know if you have any questions but her email is valerie.wirt.thompsonschool.org so feel free to email either one of us with questions or concerns.  Thanks and have a great short week.

Math - In blocks 1 and 2, students have officially begun the Power of U Program.  Students will be learning two lessons per day, and assessed accordingly.  If students pass their assessment on a skill, they will move on to a new skill.  If students do not pass an assessment on a skill, students will be reassigned that skill for a second or third attempt if needed.  On average, it takes students around two attempts to master/pass an assessment.  To access the Power of U website to view your student’s progess, visit the website http://thompson.powerofu.com and log in using your student’s log-in and passwork.  Please check with your child to determine his/her log-in and password.

In block 3, we will be finishing up simplifying algebraic expressions for perimeter and area.  We will finish off the week solving word problems using a strategy called “The 5-D Process.”  (The first step to writing an algebraic equation.)  Students will have their first quiz of the quarter on Friday.

Science- This week we will continue working with the scientific method and related vocabulary.  We will also be working on how to ask good scientific questions and observation/inference.

Language Arts- This week we are going to continue reading Zachary Beaver.  The students will keep working on their story map and plot diagram.  The homework for the week is Spelling Packet #7 and is due on Friday.  Welcome Back:)

Math - Welcome back, hope you all had a great break!  Blocks 1 and 2 will begin training on the new Power of U math program this week.  For this program, students will need to have a pencil, their agenda, and a composition notebook for math with them everyday.  Students in this program will not have homework at this time but will be required to fill out their agenda and a SOAR card-both will require a parent signature once a week.   Block 3 will begin Chapter 3, where students will explore using algebra tiles to create algebraic expressions and practice combining like terms.

Science- This week we will begin out first unit of science study.  We will be focusing on the scientific method and students will begin to write scientific questions that we evaluate for proof

Math:  Blocks 1 and 2 will spend this week working on adding and subtracting fractions, and finding the area of parallelograms, triangles, and trapezoids.  Block 3 will be working on a section in Chapter 4 involving measures of central tendency and how they apply to data displays.  All missing work is due by Thursday.  Quiz revisions are due by the end of the week as well.  If students are in Blocks 1 or 2, they need to have a new composition notebook for when we return to school on Jan. 9th.  Block 3-whenever your notebook gets full, make sure you have a new one ready.  Have a safe and happy winter break!

Social Studies- This week we will be completing our civics/economics unit.  the students will finish through week 4 on their personal finance spreadsheets and on Wednesday we see if any of their investments added to their financial well being.  When we get back from the time off social studies will turn into science and we will begin with familiarizing ourselves with the state learning targets.  Have a great winter break!

Language Arts-This week will keep reading Zachary Beaver and the students will have NO NEW spelling homework this week!  They need to have all their missing work in by Thursday! We will have a shortened schedule Thursday and the students will take part in our spirt assembly!  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!