6 th Grade Earth Science Mrs. Jennifer Smith Pioneer Middle School

Pioneer Middle School’s Mission Statement “Maximizing every student’s academic potential and personal responsibility.”

Teacher to Home Communication (required for parents to access)  AERIES: (required for parents to access)  You have access to your student’s grades  Be sure your account has your current address – I use Aeries as a way to communicate with parents via  HAIKU – LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM : (required for students to access)  Access to our science textbook  Calendar for daily announcements – homework, journal question, objective from board  Handouts from class and for homework  Access to extra credit, helpful websites, videos, etc. for student success

Communication…  Other Ways We Can Communicate :  Your child’s Binder Reminder  Our Interactive Science Notebooks (ISN)   Phone conferences  Arrange appointments

Textbook  Text and workbook: Prentice Hall, Focus on Earth Science  PLEASE be sure your student can access the textbook by going to Haiku. Students can download and save the textbook in iBooks on their iPad. Science Text Book

Interactive Science Notebooks (ISNs)  11” x 8 ½” or 11” x 8 ½” spiral notebook  In addition to Pioneer’s Binder Reminder, student should have in class at all times.  We keep handouts, our daily journal, reflections, summaries, activities, notes, etc. in our ISN.  Can also stand for Interactive STUDY Notebook – a place to review important concepts and information before a unit test.

Extra Help  Extra help is available  Tutorial: Tuesdays and Thursdays  Before school, lunch, and after school when arranged ahead of time or announced ahead of time  Scheduled appointments

Units  Introduction to Earth Science  Plate Tectonics  Earthquakes (project/ performance task)  Volcanoes and Rock Cycle (project)  Weathering and Soil (performance task)  Erosion and Deposition  The Atmosphere  Energy and Material Resources (project/ performance task)  Human Growth and Development (parent permission required)

Pioneer’s Signature Practice  Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum (ERWC)  “Marking the text” – refer to poster  Read through first time  Number paragraphs  Read through second time  Circling academic key words  Discussion – author’s claim, evidence to support claim  Implementing now in preparation for common core standards

Grading System  Class work: 5 points/assignment  Homework: 5 points/assignment  ISN Checks: points, depending on unit  Labs: 5 points/lab  Projects: points  End of Unit Tests: points

Homework  Monday – Thursday (30 minutes)  Extension of current lessons  If no homework is assigned, the student is encouraged to study vocabulary or concepts using class handouts, the textbook, and Haiku for about minutes Turn in All Work!  Missing work receives a score of zero points; shows as a ‘0’ on Aeries  Zero points quickly reduces your grade!

Late Work  Accepted during current unit.  Accepted one week after the test for a unit. Missing Work  Accepted for possible full credit when turned in first semester only

Absences  The student is responsible for making up all work when absent.  It is the STUDENT’S responsibility to find out what they have missed  Homework and handouts are also posted on Haiku  Student may schedule a time to meet with me to discuss absent work or come into the next scheduled tutorial period  When assignment is turned in, write ‘absent’ on top, next to name

THANK YOU!  Thank you for all of your support! I am looking forward to working with you and your child, as I feel that us working together and our communication are both essential for student learning and success. THANKS FOR COMING THIS EVENING! Mrs. Smith Donations: Glue sticks Kleenex Hand sanitizer

Donations  Donations: Glue sticks, Kleenex, hand sanitizer, Clorox wipes, tennis balls, paper, anything else you can think of.  THANK YOU!!