1. Welcome to Curriculum Night Walker Intermediate School 2015-2016 Mrs. Medendorp 6 th grade - Science

2. Discipline Policy The Walker Way: BE RESPECTFUL, BE RESPONSIBLE, BE SAFE Procedures/Rules are a part of life and are intended to make our classroom/school a respectful, responsible, and safe environment. I have a ZERO tolerance policy for disrespectful behavior as well as bullying.

3. Discipline Policy Students will be expected to follow all procedures outlined in the PBIS expectations matrix (posted in my classroom and included in parent information packet) as well as other procedures taught throughout the year. Should a student violate any of the above, a proper consequence determined by the teacher and or the Administration Team will be issued. Consequences are as follows: verbal warning, loss of intermurals, detention(s), phone call(s) home, conference with teacher, change of seat, referral, and/or visit to the office. Compliance with procedures/rules will result in following rewards: constructive learning, verbal praise, PBIS tickets, free time, participation in end of year activities, and/or participation in various activities throughout the year.

4. Positive Reinforcement To encourage students to follow classroom procedures/rules, I will reinforce appropriate behavior with rewards. Rewards can be whole group and/or individual. Students can earn PAWS for our class and tickets individually. Tickets can be redeemed at “PawMart” during lunch on designated days.

5. Assignment Notebook Tool for communication between classroom and home. Daily homework assignments are posted in class as well as on my webpage. Students should write EVERYTHING that I write on the class assignment notebook page. Decisions on whether to bring home work completed in class should be established by parents/guardians. I do not force students to bring home materials – each student must decide and make choices for themselves and be held accountable for their decisions. All assignments are handed back throughout the week.

6. ABSENCES / TARDIES ABSENCES When a student is absent, it is the responsibility of the student to ask for his or her absent work. Assignments missed due to illness will be given one day per day of absence plus one day. Requests for homework should be given to the school office before 11 AM and picked up at the school at the end of the school day. Summit Hill School District 161 appreciates parents taking an active role in the child’s education both at school and at home. Students may take advantage of studyhall or academic assistance to complete work.

7. ABSENCES / TARDIES TARDIES Students are required to arrive to class on time. Students that are not in class by the time the bell rings will be subject to the following policy: Per quarter, for each class: 1 st tardy – verbal warning 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th tardies will be recorded in Powerschool Once the student has 4 tardies for the same class, the student will receive a referral for a ‘major’ offense, and will be sent to the office. The student will receive a detention. For every tardy after the 4 th offense, the student will receive further disciplinary action that can include detentions or other consequences Student starts each quarter with a ‘clean slate’

8. Homework Policy HOMEWORK The parents and the school are joined in the common purpose of helping students make the greatest possible educational advancement. When homework is assigned, the school will endeavor to explain what is to be done so that the child can work independently. Homework is a vital part of the learning process, and all homework assigned is meant to reinforce concepts learned in class. Students must be prepared every day for class discussions, group work, and independent assessments. My expectation is that all work assigned should be completed with the student’s best effort, and turned in on time.

9. Homework Policy Homework that is not completed by the due date counts as a missing assignment - MISSING ASSIGNMENT slip(pink slip) will go home for parent signature. Homework must be turned in the NEXT school day and will be penalized with a 20% deduction from student’s grade on the assignment. Missing Assignment slip (pink slip) must be returned with parent signature along with completed homework. If student has completed assignment but does not have signed slip (pink slip), student will sit out of intramurals until slip is returned to school. If the homework is not turned in the next school day, students will receive a 0% for the assignment. THREE missing assignments in any one class will result in a minor referral and student will serve a lunch detention. If a student receives 3 minor referrals for missing assignments ( 9 total missing assignments) the student will be issued a major referral and will serve an after school detention. Parent/Teacher will develop a plan to assist student; student may be required to attend Academic Assistance after school. STUDENTS BEGIN EACH NEW ACADEMIC QUARTER WITH A CLEAN SLATE

10. Class Participation and Readiness In accordance with Common Core Learning Standards, students must be prepared to participate in class and collaborate with peers. Students will be assessed on their class participation, preparedness, and collaboration daily. Once per quarter, students will earn a grade based on their class participation and preparedness. It will be entered into PowerSchool at the end of the quarter and it will count as a homework grade.

11. Next Generation Science Standards The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) create K–12 science standards through a collaborative state-led process. The NGSS are arranged in a coherent manner across grades and provide all students access to a challenging science education, and are based on the Framework for K–12 Science Education, developed by the National Research Council, the staffing arm of the National Academy of Sciences. Every NGSS standard has three prongs: content, scientific and engineering practices and cross-cutting concepts. The integration of rigorous content and application reflects how science is practiced in the real world.

12. Science Curriculum 6 th grade science curriculum is aligned to NGSS standards - Common Core Learning Standards are embedded within the NGSS Illinois adopted these standards and refers to the NGSS as The New Illinois Learning Standards - Science (New ILS-Science) ; effective Feb, 2015 NGSS Implementation Team - meetings in 2014-2015 : Articulation with Summit Hill Junior High Collaboration with all feeder districts for Lincoln-Way High School 210. Introduction to Science (Book P) Physical Science Earth Science Electricity and Magnetism (Book N) - Physical Science Earth’s Changing Surface (Book G) - Earth Science Inside the Restless Earth(Book F) - Earth Science Weather and Climate (Book I) - Earth Science Astronomy (Book J) - Earth Science

13. Science Curriculum What to expect in class: Group work/ Collaboration Independent inquiry Whole class discussions Class demonstrations Lab work / group experiments Analysis of data / scientific explanation for results Lesson/ chapter reviews What to expect at home: Preparation for all class discussions - note taking and re-reading text sections Extensions of any independent work Written explanations for any class demonstrations / data analysis Formal lab reports Preparation for lesson quizzes and chapter tests

14. Science Curriculum Assessments: Various reinforcements of lesson concepts Note taking / re-reading sections from text Interactive Textbook Packets Critical Thinking Activities Math Skills Science Skills End of Lesson Vocab Review / Lesson Review Lesson Quiz Performance-Based Assessments End of Chapter Test Performance-Based Assessments

15. Science Curriculum Grading: Homework 25% of final grade Some assignments are checked-in and marked in PowerSchool with a green √(no letter grade). These assignments are just as important as any other assignment, and are subject to the homework policy just like any other assignment. Quizzes 35% of final grade Tests 40% of final grade Long term projects and formal lab reports may be counted as a test grade

16. Quiz and Test Corrections Students will be allowed to make quiz or test corrections to earn back 1 percentage point for every correct answer. Students must use the following format: - Student must use looseleaf paper. - Student must write in complete sentences unless I specifically state otherwise. - Student must state where the correct answer was found (notes, textbook, handout, etc.) -Corrections are due the next school day. In order for a student to be eligible to make test corrections: -Student must have completed the corresponding lesson review (for quiz) or study guide (for test) and have the assignment in class on the due date in order to be eligible to complete quiz or test corrections -Lesson reviews and study guides are not assessed for a grade.

17. Mrs. Medendorp’s Webpage Visit my webpage to stay updated on what is happening in the classroom/school each week. Go to www.summithill.org, click on Hilda Walker (left hand side), click on Teacher Pages (left hand side), click on Mrs. Medendorp. Notes, Important Dates, Overview of Weekly Lessons, General Information, Upcoming Quizzes/Tests NOTE: Things are subject to change as needed. Homework is posted on my webpage, but is subject to change – please refer to your child’s assignment notebook for all homework assignments.

18. Contact Information Phone: Call the office 7:45am – 8:00am or after school until about 3:20pm Write a note E-mail anytime jmedendorp@summithill.org

19. Thank you!!! Please contact me with any questions or concerns-your concerns are my concerns! We are all working towards the same goal – providing the best possible environment for your child to reach and exceed any goal they set for themselves.