Welcome Parents!

Introduction Experience:  11th year of teaching, 10 th year at Wilson, 9 th year as a 6 th grade teacher at Wilson Goals for the year:  Inspire students to enjoy learning!  Prepare all students for 7 th grade by meeting state standards  Differentiate instruction to meet the needs and learning styles of all students (challenge/modify)

 Agenda/Assignment Calendar –Students are expected to write their homework in their agendas on a daily basis  Great tool for being organized and responsible  Homework Forecast – Found on class website - document/d/1A3NcyUe- qiDOYgnkqta- PggrbcYZD3Gf3H9r7Kfz 8JM/edit?authkey=CJTY _Cg&pli=1 – document/d/1A3NcyUe- qiDOYgnkqta- PggrbcYZD3Gf3H9r7Kfz 8JM/edit?authkey=CJTY _Cg&pli=1– document/d/1A3NcyUe- qiDOYgnkqta- PggrbcYZD3Gf3H9r7Kfz 8JM/edit?authkey=CJTY –Classroom phone  Website:  wilson-k-8/teacher-staff/mr- smerz-class-webpage.aspx wilson-k-8/teacher-staff/mr- smerz-class-webpage.aspx wilson-k-8/teacher-staff/mr- smerz-class-webpage.aspx –Forms/Handouts –Due Dates/Class Updates Communication

Grading  Standard grading scale: –A –B –C  6 th Grade Late Work Policy = - Automatic 60% on the first late day After day 1, NO credit. After day 1, NO credit. *Grades online—Parent Portal Reading and Writing will be combined into one grade. Grades will be inputted into the Reading class, not the Writing class for the Parent Portal. Then the grades will be duplicated at the end of each quarter for report cards.

ZAP ZAP stands for “Zeros Aren’t Permitted Lunchtime study hall to finish incomplete assignments TASK is available after school on Tuesdays to make up work; parent must provide transportation home

Overview of Year for Reading and Writing Quarter 1  Fiction and Nonfiction  Short Stories Quarter 2  Short Stories  Types of Nonfiction Quarter 3  Poetry Quarter 4  Drama  Themes in Folk Literature

Homework  Nightly reading – 30 minutes minimum per night  Vocabulary and Comprehension activities that are extension of class work  Writing and Grammar assignments not finished in class

Projects for the Year Quarter 1  Realistic Fiction: Power Point presentation Quarter 2  Nonfiction: Biography or Autobiography: 5 paragraph essay Quarter 3  Poetry: Song Parody Presentation Quarter 4  Fantasy, Science Fiction, or Historical Fiction project

Common Core Standards  Higher level thinking skills  Complex text  Vocabulary  Balance of literary and informational text  Using text based evidence for support  Writing in response to reading; argumentative writing

TEXTBOOKS Reading: Prentice Hall Literature Pearsonsuccessnet.comWriting: Prentice Hall Writing Coach Students will be able to access literature book online, submit assignments, and have access to essay scoring feature

AFT Academic Focus Time  Mondays and Wednesdays are teacher discretion: homework help, student advocacy, making up tests  Thursdays and Fridays: teambuilding and character development activities  AFT workbook and journal  Pass/Fail class

Social Studies Ancient World History –All students have a SS book at home. –Geography Unit: Maps (differences, purposes, how to read them, vocabulary) –Ancient Civilizations:  Ancient Mesopotamia  Ancient Egypt, India, China, America  Ancient Greek and Roman Civilizations  Medieval Europe and Africa  Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment  Major Religions (tied to their influence on cultures and civilizations) –geographic origins, founding leaders/teachings, traditions, customs, and beliefs

How We Learn the Content  Daily Oral Geography Bellwork  Textbook Reading  Comprehensive Tests  Expository Essay Writing  Hands-on Learning (mummies)  Computer Simulations (Decisions, Decisions)Feudalism Feudalism  Research

Social Studies Homework  Mapping Activities  Map locations (memorize for quizzes)  Textbook reading assignments (book at home)  Study for tests (using notes from units studied) –online support:  Completion of tasks started in class  5 paragraph Essays (Unit 8: Basic Essay--Writing in Content Areas) M:\Social Studies\Ch. 4 and 5 Greeks\Five Paragraph Essay for the Greeks.doc M:\Social Studies\Ch. 4 and 5 Greeks\Five Paragraph Essay for the Greeks.docM:\Social Studies\Ch. 4 and 5 Greeks\Five Paragraph Essay for the Greeks.doc

Donations Give “Fundraisers” the boot – Each family is encouraged to make a donation to PTO (this is not AZ tax credit donation, but is still a tax deductible donation). PTO money has purchased smartboard software, printer, and supplies for my classroom! Individual Supplies – Make sure to get supplies from the supply list Class Donations - Need them as they come throughout the year – s will be sent out ahead of time.

Thanks for coming this evening!