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Learning Targets
A classroom of students with diverse social & academic needs is most successful in reaching learning targets when school & family support a common set of expectations.
Communication: Our communication this year is critical to your child's success in school. Thank you for your patience as we get the year up & running. I look forward to getting to know your child & working with you. The best way to reach me is by email: [email protected], if you have questions that can't be answered here or on Powerschool. Please don't hesitate to pick up the phone & call me though, or jot me a note in your child's planner if we need to set a time to visit in more length about your child's progress. Because our instructional day is so full & I often have meetings before & after school, I've found these seem to be the the best ways to initially contact me.
Curriculum: We will be studying math & science using Prentice Hall & Glencoe Publications, along with a variety of supplemental hands-on labs throughout the year. Key concepts will be presented formally and reviewed frequently. Students will continue to learn to think critically, & communicate mathematically to solve problems while making meaningful connections to the science & math curriculum. Please visit the curriculum links shared in our information packet to preview Arizona 6th Grade Standards in math & science. Students will have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs, in small cooperative groups & as a whole class. We will be engaged routinely in writing about the concepts for which we are learning.
Homework: Homework plays an important role in education, providing practice with skills or extending learning initially taught within the classroom. It encourages self-discipline & development of responsibility while providing a channel of communication between parents & teachers. Your child should spend about 20-45 minutes Monday-Friday on homework. Homework grades are based on effort and for the purpose of practice, so if your child is struggling with a particular problem, please make sure s/he attempts it in writing, but doesn't become overly frustrated. Homework is expected to be completed on time. However, I do understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is an occasional night when completion of homework is impossible, please write me a note & additional time will be allowed the day the assignment is due. If your child appears to have a habit for incomplete homework, this will impact learning & overall grade. Incomplete or missing assignments in & outside of class will result in a zero the day they are due unless prior arrangements have been made with me. The most current & reliable posting of homework is in our classroom, on our whiteboard. While I do record homework on this website at the beginning of the week, it is monitored and adjusted in our classroom daily, based upon the needs of students. Please encourage your child to write current homework from our whiteboard in their planner for the most up-to-date homework assignment, as technology may not always be available from home.
Late Work & Absences: If a student is absent, a make up day is given for each day to complete & return the work. Our goals this year are challenging, & will require consistent & timely attendance to class. Please avoid scheduling doctor's appointments & trips during instructional time as much as possible. Your child's learning is compromised when they aren't present.
Math & Science Grading: In a nutshell, grades are weighted according to the following categories:
-Quizzes, Tests & Projects: 60% of student’s grade is earned based upon her/his performance on tests, quizzes & projects. How well does the student demonstrate understanding of material taught in class? Quizzes occur about every week, and end of chapter tests occur about every 3 weeks, depending on how we’re progressing overall. Students’ quiz and test grades are final.
-Homework & Focused Class Participation: 40% of student’s grade is earned based upon participating in class work and having completed homework in class to go over, on time. Examples of what class work ethic might sound like or look like include: asking questions, initiating relevant feedback, like, “I don’t understand X,” or, “How did you get Y?” or, “I solved it this way,” taking notes, body language showing active listening, engaging fully in processes for learning and labs, and timely, legible, evidence-based attempts at completing written class work. How well does the student use the learning process to capitalize on the learning in and out of class? Homework grades are based on effort, showing evidence in his/her composition book/math book that s/he’s attempted assigned problems with directions & each problem recorded, & work & corrections shown. This format is helpful when studying. Homework is reviewed together in class the next day, and serves as a reference when preparing for tests and quizzes. Students need a red pen to make corrections on homework. Exemplars are shared in class.
How Homework is Graded:
100%: Every problem with directions for context is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted, work is shown, assignment has a complete header, it is written in pencil, is orderly and legible.
60%: Not every problem with directions is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted with work shown, or one or two of the above items have not been met.
25%: Less than 75% of problems are attempted as indicated above, and more than two of the other items have not been met
0%: Less than 50% of problems attempted
Homework not at school the day it’s due is the same as homework not attempted, since there is no evidence for me to base your grade if it’s not here when we go over it in class. No late assignments are accepted for a grade, and will result in a “0”. Certainly, I understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is a special circumstance that prevents the completion of an assignment on time, please make sure a note accompanies your student prior to, or on the day the assignment is due. A not after the fact will not be accepted.
Discipline: Discipline is necessary for success in all aspects of life. In our classroom, it is the student's job to learn & the teacher's job to teach. Student behaviors disrupting this process aren't allowed. Most students, when treated with respect & given the opportunity to develop a sense of belonging in any group setting generally don't present a disruption in a structured classroom where expectations are clear & consistent.
Expectations in our classroom are:
1) Show up. Every day. On time.
2) Engage in active listening & learning.
3) Follow directions.
4) Respect others, environment, & materials in word & deed.
5) Work & play appropriately & safely.
However, there are exceptions to any situation involving diverse groups of students with a wide range of academic & social needs. So for the sake of those students who are ready to learn our daily academic targets, disruptions during instruction will be addressed as follows:
1st disruption: verbal/visual warning
2nd disruption: Student will create a behavior plan outside the classroom that will help support his/her learning needs while respecting the rights of all learners in class. Parents will need to review the plan with their child, sign & return it to school in support of the school's effort to support their child's learning, while protecting the learning of all students in class.
3rd disruption: Students will receive a discipline referral notice & parents will need to come in for a conference with student and school staff to determine further action that will support learning objectives.
I'm sure you can imagine how much energy is consumed in the process of dealing with disruptions in class, & the impact this has to everyone's learning. Please speak to your child early about his/her purpose in the classroom and support all of our learning so we are able accomplish our goals.
Volunteers: I love having parent-volunteers help in & outside our classroom. Please check with your child to determine his/her comfort level with this however, as some of his/her social needs may be shifting now that they are in middle school. Please indicate if you'd like to volunteer, as well as throughout the year if your schedule changes, and I'll get you hooked up.
I'm looking forward to working with you and your student this year. I'm excited to watch your child grow & learn!
Sincerely,
Ms. Schamber
Communication: Our communication this year is critical to your child's success in school. Thank you for your patience as we get the year up & running. I look forward to getting to know your child & working with you. The best way to reach me is by email: [email protected], if you have questions that can't be answered here or on Powerschool. Please don't hesitate to pick up the phone & call me though, or jot me a note in your child's planner if we need to set a time to visit in more length about your child's progress. Because our instructional day is so full & I often have meetings before & after school, I've found these seem to be the the best ways to initially contact me.
Curriculum: We will be studying math & science using Prentice Hall & Glencoe Publications, along with a variety of supplemental hands-on labs throughout the year. Key concepts will be presented formally and reviewed frequently. Students will continue to learn to think critically, & communicate mathematically to solve problems while making meaningful connections to the science & math curriculum. Please visit the curriculum links shared in our information packet to preview Arizona 6th Grade Standards in math & science. Students will have the opportunity to work individually, in pairs, in small cooperative groups & as a whole class. We will be engaged routinely in writing about the concepts for which we are learning.
Homework: Homework plays an important role in education, providing practice with skills or extending learning initially taught within the classroom. It encourages self-discipline & development of responsibility while providing a channel of communication between parents & teachers. Your child should spend about 20-45 minutes Monday-Friday on homework. Homework grades are based on effort and for the purpose of practice, so if your child is struggling with a particular problem, please make sure s/he attempts it in writing, but doesn't become overly frustrated. Homework is expected to be completed on time. However, I do understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is an occasional night when completion of homework is impossible, please write me a note & additional time will be allowed the day the assignment is due. If your child appears to have a habit for incomplete homework, this will impact learning & overall grade. Incomplete or missing assignments in & outside of class will result in a zero the day they are due unless prior arrangements have been made with me. The most current & reliable posting of homework is in our classroom, on our whiteboard. While I do record homework on this website at the beginning of the week, it is monitored and adjusted in our classroom daily, based upon the needs of students. Please encourage your child to write current homework from our whiteboard in their planner for the most up-to-date homework assignment, as technology may not always be available from home.
Late Work & Absences: If a student is absent, a make up day is given for each day to complete & return the work. Our goals this year are challenging, & will require consistent & timely attendance to class. Please avoid scheduling doctor's appointments & trips during instructional time as much as possible. Your child's learning is compromised when they aren't present.
Math & Science Grading: In a nutshell, grades are weighted according to the following categories:
-Quizzes, Tests & Projects: 60% of student’s grade is earned based upon her/his performance on tests, quizzes & projects. How well does the student demonstrate understanding of material taught in class? Quizzes occur about every week, and end of chapter tests occur about every 3 weeks, depending on how we’re progressing overall. Students’ quiz and test grades are final.
-Homework & Focused Class Participation: 40% of student’s grade is earned based upon participating in class work and having completed homework in class to go over, on time. Examples of what class work ethic might sound like or look like include: asking questions, initiating relevant feedback, like, “I don’t understand X,” or, “How did you get Y?” or, “I solved it this way,” taking notes, body language showing active listening, engaging fully in processes for learning and labs, and timely, legible, evidence-based attempts at completing written class work. How well does the student use the learning process to capitalize on the learning in and out of class? Homework grades are based on effort, showing evidence in his/her composition book/math book that s/he’s attempted assigned problems with directions & each problem recorded, & work & corrections shown. This format is helpful when studying. Homework is reviewed together in class the next day, and serves as a reference when preparing for tests and quizzes. Students need a red pen to make corrections on homework. Exemplars are shared in class.
How Homework is Graded:
100%: Every problem with directions for context is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted, work is shown, assignment has a complete header, it is written in pencil, is orderly and legible.
60%: Not every problem with directions is recorded/accounted for in your composition book and attempted with work shown, or one or two of the above items have not been met.
25%: Less than 75% of problems are attempted as indicated above, and more than two of the other items have not been met
0%: Less than 50% of problems attempted
Homework not at school the day it’s due is the same as homework not attempted, since there is no evidence for me to base your grade if it’s not here when we go over it in class. No late assignments are accepted for a grade, and will result in a “0”. Certainly, I understand the busy schedule of some students. If there is a special circumstance that prevents the completion of an assignment on time, please make sure a note accompanies your student prior to, or on the day the assignment is due. A not after the fact will not be accepted.
Discipline: Discipline is necessary for success in all aspects of life. In our classroom, it is the student's job to learn & the teacher's job to teach. Student behaviors disrupting this process aren't allowed. Most students, when treated with respect & given the opportunity to develop a sense of belonging in any group setting generally don't present a disruption in a structured classroom where expectations are clear & consistent.
Expectations in our classroom are:
1) Show up. Every day. On time.
2) Engage in active listening & learning.
3) Follow directions.
4) Respect others, environment, & materials in word & deed.
5) Work & play appropriately & safely.
However, there are exceptions to any situation involving diverse groups of students with a wide range of academic & social needs. So for the sake of those students who are ready to learn our daily academic targets, disruptions during instruction will be addressed as follows:
1st disruption: verbal/visual warning
2nd disruption: Student will create a behavior plan outside the classroom that will help support his/her learning needs while respecting the rights of all learners in class. Parents will need to review the plan with their child, sign & return it to school in support of the school's effort to support their child's learning, while protecting the learning of all students in class.
3rd disruption: Students will receive a discipline referral notice & parents will need to come in for a conference with student and school staff to determine further action that will support learning objectives.
I'm sure you can imagine how much energy is consumed in the process of dealing with disruptions in class, & the impact this has to everyone's learning. Please speak to your child early about his/her purpose in the classroom and support all of our learning so we are able accomplish our goals.
Volunteers: I love having parent-volunteers help in & outside our classroom. Please check with your child to determine his/her comfort level with this however, as some of his/her social needs may be shifting now that they are in middle school. Please indicate if you'd like to volunteer, as well as throughout the year if your schedule changes, and I'll get you hooked up.
I'm looking forward to working with you and your student this year. I'm excited to watch your child grow & learn!
Sincerely,
Ms. Schamber