Holiday Sweater Reminder

A quick reminder that tomorrow (Thursday) we are going to make holiday shirts!
Two More Days... 
but who's counting?

Thursday

- Bring an old shirt to decorate! You will not likely be able to return it to it's original state, so send it one you are okay with 'altering'.  It can be a T-shirt, long sleeve, sweater, sweatshirt.... 
- Bring any odds and ends you have at home or decide to pick up from the dollar store that you'd like to add to your shirt. 
- Decorations, ribbons, cotton balls, felt, jingle bells, lights, buttons, fabric markers, glitter-glue, sequins, sparkles, stamps, ornaments, fabric paint, pom poms, etc.

We have a few supplies and 6 glue guns, however not enough for both classes.  You are welcome to offer left-over or extra supplies to the class.  If you need any excess back, please label the bag or container you send it in.

Friday 
The last day of classes for 2018

The last two periods of the day on Friday will be a time to celebrate the hard work this year and share in the movie time (decided upon by vote at the 'Assembly').  Students are not required, but invited to bring in a plate of goodies, especially if they are healthy...? ish?

Friday, December 14th

Looking Back:

Math:

• Fractions, Decimals and Percent conversions and number line quiz
• Comparing decimals
• Intro to Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions - booklet of work went home to be started but does not need to be finished

Science

• Fingerprint analysis
• Tire track analysis
• Fabric analysis

Humanities

• Humanities Athens Quiz Part 1, Multiple Choice and Part 2, Short Answer. Scores will continue to be posted on power school over the next day or two.
• Students have worked hard with their partner on the book review presentations for next week.  Some very creative and thoughtful work is happening.  Please remember that this is NOT a retelling of the story in writing or in spoken presentation. The focus is on the relationships between character, problem/conflict and how this can relate and connect to real life.  It is wonderful to see kids have so much fun with a book! Many are asking to stay in at lunch time or even stay late after school to keep working! 
• Practice with editing for first two qualities of writing, Conventions and Organization using "Proofreading Marks"
• 6-2 did a Home Journal entry, 6-1 did not write this week.  They will do theirs on Monday.

Looking Forward:

Thursday we are going to make holiday shirts!
- bring a shirt to decorate! T-shirt, long sleeve, sweater, sweatshirt.... 
- During period 6 we will use our creativity and collaboration to make ourselves fun "Holiday Shirts"
- Bring any odds and ends you have at home or decide to pick up from the dollar store that you'd like to add to your shirt. 
- Decorations, fabric markers, sequins, stamps, ornaments, fabric paint, pom poms, etc.

Humanities:

• Introduction to the next unit of study, The Haudenosaunee/Iroquois Confederacy.
• Book Review Presentations
• Self, peer assessment/reflection of collaboration process and how to manage time and work load in collaboration project work
• Editing practice on the two specific qualities of writing (Conventions, Organization), intro to next quality (Content)
• Circle Share and Tell, what we think we know or want to know
• Vocabulary : Confederacy, Consensus, Indigenous, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Longhouse

Math:

• Improper fractions and Mixed numbers
• Fraction work with fraction blocks and rods
• Conversion and number line assessment

Science

• Soil analysis
• Footprint analysis
• Chromatography
• Handwriting analysis (Graphology)
• The secret word this week is helicopter
• Evidence and Investigation test - Thursday, Dec 20th

Important Notes:

• Monday, Dec 17 - Pajamas and Hot Chocolate Day - bring your own mug
• Thursday, Dec 20 - Talent Show (period 5)
• Friday, Dec 21 - last day of classes before break, 6-1 and 6-2 are invited but not required to bring in a snack to share during the last 2 periods of the day/morning.
• Monday, Jan 7 - PD Day - No school
• Tuesday, Jan 8 - First day back to school after break

Checking Student Progress on PowerSchool

There has been a lot of confusion about how to check student progress in PowerSchool. We as teachers continue to learn and try different ways of using this tool to communicate, however there are many ways we assess that do not show through Powerschool.

When you log into PowerSchool to view your child's progress, the screen shows all of the courses your child is enrolled in.  The first column is “Semester 1”.  (S1)

To view assignments from now until the first report card, click the small (i) in this column.  This will give more information about the course you want to see. 

If there is one number to the right of the assignment, this is likely not the "mark". This number may just indicate the number of criteria your child was assessed on for a specific assignment.

To see the marks click this blue graph (some assignments do not have outcome marks, they may just have “collected”/”missing”/”late” markers, or only comments.

The small blue speech bubble means there is a comment on the student’s work

Click the word “view” to see the comments and the assignment description

December 6, 2018

Thursday, December 6, 2018
Thank you to all the parents who were able to make it on for Student Lead conferences this week.  As you could see, we have been busy in Grade 6!

Looking Back:
Math:

• Conversions with Fractions, Decimals and Percent
• Plotting Fractions, Decimals and Percent on a number line
• Review of steps in problem solving
• Fraction, Decimal and Percent Quiz are posted in PowerSchool

Science

• Observations vs Inferences
• Trees and Forests Unit test marks are posted in PowerSchool

Humanities:

• Students completed flip page 'study guide' on Roles and Government Structures in preparation for this Monday's Quiz-December 10
• Vocabulary cards were checked in
• Reviewed Study skills and strategies and how they like to prepare for tests or presentations
• Prepared space for student lead conferences

Looking Forward:

Math:

• Decimals (hundredths and thousandths) on a number line
• Improper fractions and Mixed numbers

Science

• Analyzing fabric samples
• Analyzing fingerprints
• Analyzing soil samples

Humanities:

• Humanities unit quiz on Ancient Athens - 25 M.C and 5 Short Answer (connecting 4 pillars to ancient Athenian Democracy)
• Students will have 4 work periods to collaborate with boor review partners 
• 25 in 15 writing prompt activity, practice with targeted editing (specifically for conventions, sentence structure, organization, vocabulary, or content)
• Outlining elements of narrative story structure both as a reader and a writer
• Home Journal. 

CTF: 
6-1 - Finishing Color Theory with Mrs. Senholt and Beginning Pottery with Mr. Parker
6-2 - Finishing Pottery with Mr. Parker and Beginning Color Theory with Mrs. Senholt

Important Notes:

• Friday, Dec 7 - Non- Instructional Day 
• Tuesday, Dec 11 - Watch Band Concert in Gym 
• Wednesday, Dec 12 - Last day for Calgary Drop In Centre Sock Drive Donations
• Wednesday, Dec 12 - Just Dance Club starts (second half of lunch)
• Some students have overdue books. Please return them or renew them.
• Friday, Dec 21 - last day of classes before break
• It's getting colder! Please remember to dress for the chilly weather.
• The secret word is TELESCOPE

December 1

Friday, December 1, 2018
It's hard to believe December is here already!  

Looking Back:

Math: 

• Students continued to examine parts of a whole as decimals, ratios, equivalent fractions and percentages
• Short quiz/Check-in on place value and representing numbers in different forms.

Science:

• Introduction to new unit on Evidence ad Investigation

Humanities:

• Completed Agora Role Play Activity
• Reviewed basic components of paragraph structure: Topic, Detail and Concluding Sentences
• Wrote two reflective paragraphs on the experience of role play and mosaic group task  
• Student had 4 research periods to create their 'study guide' flip page to conclude Athens unit
• Reading response to record independent reading 
• Worked with Partner to choose a presentation style and make a materials plan and timeline for Book Review December 17-20

Looking Forward:

Math:

• Problem solving with Fractions, Decimals and Percent

Science

• Beginning Evidence and Investigation 
• Looking at Scientific Method
• Examining fabric samples and finger prints

Humanities:

• Students will have 3 more periods to complete flip page 'study guide' on Roles and Government Structures in preparation for Quiz on December 10.
• Vocabulary cards are due for check -in on Monday Dec 3.
• Review Study skills and strategies such as planning ahead, creating an outline, highlighting, taking jot notes, flash cards, different types of creating questions, etc.  Talk to your families about how they like to prepare for tests or presentations.
• 25 in 15 writing prompt activity, practice with targeted editing (specifically for conventions, sentence structure, organization, vocabulary, or content)
• Home Journal.  Excellent work getting these in every week folks! Students are to complete all criteria as pasted into the front of their journal the best they can.  Sometimes these get a bit rushed, however can be completed at home. Be sure not to 'list' the weekly activities, but to explain or describe one highlight and one challenge so parents can picture your life at school.

CTF: 
6-1 - Color Theory with Mrs. Senholt
6-2 - Pottery with Mr. Parker

Important Notes:

• Lockdown Practice #1 – Dec 4
• Student Lead Conferences - Dec 5&6 - Sign up for a shared time slot 
• Non- Instructional Day – Dec 7