Course Description: This science year will start with a Nature of Science Unit that
includes a kick off ... These are the books that will be used in 6th grade science:.
2013-2014 SCHOOL SYLLABUS TEACHER INFORMATION Teacher Name: Mrs. Stone Room Number: 235 Phone Number: 414-393-2431 School Email:
[email protected] COURSE INFORMATION Course Name: 6th Grade Science Course Description: This science year will start with a Nature of Science Unit that includes a kick off to science or engineering fair! Science or engineering fair is an independently completed investigation about a topic chosen by the student but guided throughout the process by the teacher. It will be due by February and a tri fold board will be needed to display the student’s project. Semester 1 will also have an Earth Science Unit focusing on Water and the Changing Surface of Earth. We will also begin our Physical Science Unit called Introduction to Matter (Chemistry). Semester 2 will conclude chemistry and end the year with a Life Science Unit. We will learn about Microorganisms, Plants, Fungi and Animals. Course Objectives: To develop scientific literacy through rigorous and relevant hands on activities and project based assessments. Students will increase their skills in communication, problem solving and critical thinking. It is expected that students put forth great effort in order to be successful. State Standards: The 8 WI model academic standards for science are: Standard A--Science Connections Standard B--Nature of Science Standard C--Science Inquiry Standard D--Physical Science Standard E--Earth and Space Science Standard F--Life and Environmental Science Standard G--Science Applications Standard H--Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Within each standard are detailed objectives which can be read by following this link: http://dpi.wi.gov/stn_sciintro Throughout the year as each unit is covered, the related objectives will be communicated.
2013-2014 SCHOOL SYLLABUS EXPECTATIONS Classroom Expectations: Please refer to the 6th grade family information letter for the expectations of the classroom and our school. The three expectations of our school… Be Safe Be Responsible Be Respectful Tardy Policy Objective: Students will arrive on time for class, focused and prepared to learn. The classroom is the most important place for students to be. It is imperative that your child arrives on time to class. Tardy Policy Procedures: 1. Students who arrive to class late will be admitted to class and marked late by the classroom teacher. 2. Students who are more than 5 minutes late for class will receive a phone call home from the teacher to inform parents of this behavior, and the teacher will document tardieness in ESIS notes. 3. Students who receive 2 phone calls for tardiness will be referred to an administrator for after school detention. 4. On the last day of each week, administration will identify students who have been late to class 3 or more times within the week. Those students will receive a parent letter informing of them of the tardies. Discipline will proceed as follows: a. First Offense = Warning and Communication to Parent b. Second Offense = Detention, Tardy List, and Communication to Parent c. Third Offense = Detention, Tardy List and Communication with Parent d. Fourth Offense = In House Suspension, Tardy List, Communication with Parent and Loss of Privileges e. Fifth Offense TBD by Administration 5. Students who are listed on the tardy list will not be allowed hall passes for the following week of school. BE RESPONSIBLE! MATERIALS FOR COURSE/RESOURCES Materials that you will need every day Labbook (A binder or notebook/folder system with loose leaf paper) Morse•Marshall Agenda (provided) Writing Tools (Pens/Pencils are for sale when time permits) Materials that you will need occasionally- advance notice is always given on chalkboard Textbook (provided) Colored Pencils/Markers/Crayons Graph Paper Glue Sticks Dry Erase Markers
2013-2014 SCHOOL SYLLABUS The middle school science books are small, thin volumes that are either red, blue or green depending on the branch of science (Earth, Physical or Life). For every major unit that the student studies, s/he will check out one book at a time from the library. Before checking out the next textbook, the student must return the first one. A student that is unable to return the book issued to him/her is required to pay for the book (~$26) before the next one will be issued. Holt Science and Technology Holt Rinehart and Winston http://go.hrw.com/gopages/sc-ms.html These are the books that will be used in 6th grade science: Book Book Book Book Book Book
H Water on Earth G Earth's Changing Surface K Introduction to Matter C Cells, Heredity and Classification B Animals A Microorganisms, Plants, and Fungi
COURSE EVALUATION/EVIDENCE The academic grade is based on classroom assessments based on standards (CABS). In science class, there will be many assessments per unit to show an understanding of the learning objectives: tests, essays, letters, lab reports, projects, models, etc. For a passing grade, every student is expected to attempt every assessment. To be advanced (an A or B grade) more than half of the assessments must be proficient and some of them should also be at the advanced level in each unit. To be proficient (a C grade) means that the student has met the standards through the assessments at least half the time. To be basic or minimal (a D grade) means that the student is trying, but less than half of the time they have proven through the assigned work that they understand the content. Except for tests, all assessments in a unit can be resubmitted until they are proficient or advanced. Each assessment will have a direction sheet with a rubric or scoring guide to explain the writing or project. After grading, if the assessment is basic or minimal, the student is expected to use the teacher feedback to modify/add to the assessment and turn it back in, proving that they understand the science standard and learning has truly occurred. There is no limit on how many times a student can resubmit. In addition to the written feedback, I am also available for appointments before and after school and during lunch. Please note that resubmit does not mean finish later. It is unacceptable to turn in incomplete work and then expect to be able to finish it later after I have graded what is done so far. The best effort on time is expected and then fixing areas that were not quite right or adding aspects to make it an advanced assessment is the purpose of resubmits. Your child will maintain a portfolio in the classroom. This is where the evidence of his/her meeting each standard is kept. The portfolio assessments will match the ESIS gradebook. If you would like to see the portfolio, your child may bring it home but it is very important that s/he returns it the next day. You can also view the portfolio in the classroom at open house, conferences or with an appointment.
2013-2014 SCHOOL SYLLABUS Please see your child’s agenda for information every night because we will use it in class every day to tell you what we did as well as what work is due. I encourage you to sign the agenda nightly and use it as a communication tool for us throughout the year. In addition, I will send text alert messages out to families through an app called Remind 101. To subscribe to these, please send a text message to 414-255-3679 with the following message: Hour 1: @fafe3 Hour 2: @fc575 Hour 3: @90fa Hour 5: @a831 Hour 6: @19296
PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES Homework is given every day except Fridays and will be written in the agenda. Homework is reviewed in the classroom but it is not collected and graded. Your child will demonstrate an understanding of the standards through the assessments and the homework is practice work to help them prepare for the assessments. I expect all students to study for at least 10 minutes every night by reading the textbook, reviewing the notes, or completing the assignment. STANDARDS BASED GRADING Students will be graded on their ability to master the standards at their academic level. All student grades will be based solely on summative assessments. You will be provided a bi-weekly update on your child’s progress through the online grade book, Parent Assist. If you do not have access to Parent Assist, please sign up in the main office or on the MPS website. Each student is expected to master the standards taught in their course. Report cards will be provided quarterly (every 9 weeks) which means there will be (4) interim report cards given throughout the school year. The Academic and Effort Scale that will be used to assess student mastery will be as follows: AD
Advanced
Exceeding grade level expectations Meeting grade level expectations Just below grade level expectations
Opportunities for work that exceeds grade level expectations must be given. PR Proficient PR is the goal for all students in all areas by the end of the school year. BA Basic Student is within a year of grade level expectations; student is “on the bubble” and should be able to reach proficiency with some effort. MI Minimal Far below grade level Student is more than a year behind grade expectations level expectations, student is working to reach proficiency but much additional effort will be needed. All students at Morse-Marshall per district directives will have proficiency grades converted to letter grades for the 2013-2014 school year. eSIS grade book has been set up to make these conversions into letter grades at the end of each quarter.
