Welcome!

Welcome!Welcome!

2008-2009 School Year2008-2009 School Year

Santiago HillsSantiago Hills

Beth Andrews, 6th Grade APAASBeth Andrews, 6th Grade APAAS

Agenda Personal Background Professional Background Philosophy of Education Classroom Policies

Students’ Responsibilities Homework Academic Subjects Grading Blackboard Special 6th Grade Events Contact

About Me Mom, Wife Step Aerobics Instructor Reading, Music, Piano,

Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, The Beach, Walking, Any

outdoor activity Eternal Student GATE/APAAS Coordinator Orange County Educator Rep -

CAG (CA Assoc. for Gifted) Writer - curriculum for gifted

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Learning Preferences -styles, readiness, interests Setting Goals Asking for Help…but not too much In class~

students run morning opening everyone has a job “ask three before me” daily agendamy role is to facilitateBlackboard

Students Are Responsible for Their Learning

Students Are Responsible for Their Learning Inventories beginning of the year Goal-Setting Conference Help from Me -

in-class during instruction time, one-on-one appointment (pre-arranged) email or note to let me know

Help from You - address specific questionsprovide space and timeplace burden on 6th grader (no excuses, consistency, working toward goals)

Homework What is the Purpose?

Time~ providing additional learning/practicing time at home; there are not enough hours in the school day for necessary practice of skills

Discipline~ learning to delay gratification, learning perseverance

Practice~ making sure skills and concepts are understood

Homework What is Expected?

Six hours per week (on average) Work habits - in class and at home

Math homework is assigned every night Monday through Thursday

Vocabulary: weekly analogies, Wordly Wise (?) On-going various long-term projects:

Novel Studies approximately 3-4 weeks

(four during the year) Social Studies varies depending on topic (approx. six during

the year) Digital assignments - Photo Story, Google Earth, PowerPoint

or Podcast (approx. 3 during year)

Academic Subjects Math

Pre-algebra with three levels of readiness: Level 1 (challenging), Level 2 (very challenging), Einstein (extremely challenging)

All homework is typically the same and provides necessary practice with skills to be mastered. Homework is worth 10% of grade, assessments and projects are 90%

Class work will vary, buteveryone is encouraged to try all levels!

Academic Subjects Language Arts

Reading: Literature Text, novel studies Teacher selected, Independent student selected

Vocabulary development (instead of spelling) Analogies, Wordly Wise (or similar)

Writing: response to literature, Writer’s Lab, comprehension skills, in-class assessments, poetry, social studies (explanations, supporting ideas,

evaluating information)

Academic Subjects Social Studies and Science

Social Studies:Ancient Civilizations, World Geography Text, United Streaming, Supplemental Resources

Science: Lab w/ Miss Babish Textbook w/ me

On-line Science Text

1. Go to: http://glencoe.mcgrawhill.com/sites/0078741831/2. Click where it says “Click Here to Enter Student Center.”3. On the left, click on Online Student Edition.4. Click on “For online student edition click here.”5. Complete User Name: FESCCA07 (case sensitive)6. Complete Password: d2fd87c6 (case sensitive)7. On the left, click the plus sign in front of Contents in Brief.8. Click on the Plus Sign in front of Table of Contents.9. Click the plus sign in front of the unit you want to view.

Then click the plus sign in front of the chapter you want to view. Click the lesson or activity you want to view.

Physical Education

Everyday except for WednesdaySoccer, volleyball in the park, dance, running, basketball, Frisbee golf, Capture the Gold, hockey, Whoopla ball, etc.Students must either dress appropriately, or bring easy to change into clothesOnly excuse is from a written note from mom, dad, or doctor

GradingWhen grades become too important, learning is equated with knowing how to get good grades.

Gifted kids sharpen their skills at figuring out what the teacher (or the test writer) thinks is right, instead of the idea that knowledge is what’s important and the key to achievement.

Learning is a worthwhile pursuit; Learning is a worthwhile pursuit; independent and critical thinking is very independent and critical thinking is very important.important.

Grades and tests are simply assessments of whether students learned the concepts.

Grading system assesses individual level of growth ““excellence”excellence” … …

requires effort, encourages intellectual risk, necessitates persistence, and provides opportunities to develop academic coping skills.

Grades and assessments provide the focus of feedback and goalsGrades and assessments provide the focus of feedback and goals All Core Subjects (reading, social studies, science, math), IOLA

assessments, projects, essays and/or written responses to demonstrate understanding of concepts, homework

Progress reports are emailed home every week

(make sure your email info is updated)

Blackboard

Blackboard

How to access Blackboard Go to http://blackboard.iusd.org Click on Login, then click on ‘Preview’ Click on file tab at top of pages that says ‘Courses’ Click on Course Catalog ‘Elementary Schools’ Click on Santiago Hills Click on 6th Grade APAAS (0731481486) You are now on the opening page!

Special 6th Grade Activities and Events

Outdoor Education Wild Rivers…well…something like WR Business Days Promotion

Contact in order of preferred mode…

Email works the best for quick response [email protected]

Notes Letters in the mail Phone (949)936-6046

Don’t forget about

Goal-Setting Conferences

schedule in library