PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT 20082009

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PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT 2008-2009

• MS. KRAFT,
• MRS. MOLLEGAS,
• MS. WESCHCKE

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SCIENCE

• Science in the 5/6 houses is a hands-on inquiry
  based process
• Students are guided through the design of an
  experiment asking specific questions that can be
  answered by a procedure, making observations,
  then drawing conclusions from those observations.
  
• Students progress to asking their own questions
  and designing their own experiments.

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SCIENCE

• A very important component of Science is reading
  and writing!
• Throughout the year we will be working on the
  development of strategies to aid in nonfiction
  reading comprehension.
• We will also work on improving the clarity of
  students writing.

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SCIENCE

• How to be successful in Science
• Be curious!
• Listen and follow directions!
• Pay attention, make careful observations!
• Think!
• Work cooperatively!
• Be organized, turn in assignments on time!

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SCIENCE

• Units to be studied this year
• Motion and Design
• Neuroscience
• Levers and Pulleys
• Environments

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Reading Writing WorkshopRWW-Reading

• Read two unit novels per quarter
• Reading topics are integrated with our Social
  Studies topics. This year we will read U.S.
  Historical Fiction, biographies, Newberry Award
  books and poetry.
• Comprehension activities and book projects on
  theme book.
• Read a minimum of 30 minutes per night
• (reading calendars sent home this Friday!)
• Literacy Centers and small groups

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RWW-Writing

• Journal writing--in class topics, or free writing
• Usually one Polished Piece of writing assigned
  per quarter (story, essay, poems,etc.)
• Polished Pieces are pieces of writing that has
  gone through the entire writing process.
• Word Study, phonics and spelling skills Focusing
  on word parts, syllables, spelling rules, parts
  of speech/grammar

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SEM-R

• Schoolwide Enrichment Model-Reading
• Focuses on enrichment for all students through
  engagement in challenging, self-selected reading,
  accompanied by instruction in higher-order
  thinking and strategy skills
• Teachers conduct individual conferences with
  students and provide individual instruction
• Students keep a book at school to use for SEM-R
• Record time pages read in SEM-R log daily

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SOCIAL STUDIES

• The focus this year is United States history. We
  will begin with a study of Native Americans.
• Content reading skills will be taught during
  social studies.
• Polished piece writing will also be done during
  Social Studies.

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SOCIAL STUDIES

• The Minnesota Academic Standards that will be
  covered this year are the study of Indigenous
  people, the Age of Exploration, the Colonies, the
  American Revolution, Westward Expansion, the
  Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, Immigration
  regions, and the Decades 1900 - 2000.

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SOCIAL STUDIES

• The state standard of the States will be an
  individual study of the 50 states. Students will
  test out by identifying on a blank map of the
  United States the states, the state capitals, the
  Ohio, Mississippi, and Missouri Rivers, and the
  Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. They must score
  85 to pass.

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SOCIAL STUDIES

• The projects planned for this year are a Culture
  Strand poster for a class culture presentation
  about Indigenous people, a polished piece written
  biography on an explorer, a Podcast news report
  during the Revolution, a polished piece letter
  written during the Civil War, and a Power Point
  report about Immigration.

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MATH

• This year we have SIX teachers! Ms. Kraft, Mrs.
  Weschcke and Mr. Benes teach sixth grade Math.
  Mr. Getchell, Mrs. Mollegas and Mrs. Sindt teach
  fifth grade Math. We team to offer an
  opportunity for a more differentiated math
  program.
• We have scheduled a common math time, and have
  used standardized test data, information provided
  by previous teachers, and observations we have
  made already this year, to create groupings that
  will better meet the needs of all students.

- x - x - x - x - x - x - x - x
- x - x
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MATH

• 6th grade curriculum is Connected Math Program
  (CMP)
• 5th grade curriculum is Investigations
• Both curriculums are based in the belief that
  students learn best when they are actively
  involved in their learning.
• An important strength of both programs is the
  development of students mathematical thinking.

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MATH

• In these curriculums students explore problems in
  depth, find more than one solution to many
  problems, and use manipulatives and technology.
• Students will express mathematical thinking
  through drawing, writing, and talking.
• Students work in a variety of groupings
  (individual, pairs, small groups, large group).

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MATH 5 6

• Concepts included (introduced or mastered)
• data collection and analysis
• factors and multiples
• fractions, decimals and percents
• 2 and 3-dimensional geometry
• probability
• computation
• ratios
• measurement
• pre-algebra skills

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TECHNOLOGY

• Over the course of two years, 5/6 students will
  be involved in a variety of technology-based
  projects and applications
• word processing and research
• digital movies
• creation of web pages
• design of PowerPoint presentations
• Use of Excel for spreadsheets and graphs
• podcasts

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ART

• Art is integrated into our curriculum.
• Students are involved in a variety of media as
  well as introducing them to art from a variety of
  cultures.
• In addition, students will again be participating
  in Art Cart, the bi-monthly program created by
  members of the PTA.

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HEALTH

• Heath topics this year will be taught within the
  Neuroscience unit and will focus primarily on the
  prevention of drug abuse.
• The idea is that students who understand how
  drugs affect the brain and nervous system will be
  well prepared to make responsible and healthy
  decisions for themselves.

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BAND AND ORCHESTRA

• Band lessons are Monday and Wednesday and taught
  by Mr. Feller. Large group rehearsals for band
  will be six weeks prior to a concert.
• Orchestra lessons are Tuesday and Wednesday and
  taught by Ms. Bulger. Beginning Orchestra group
  meets Tuesday mornings, and the Advanced group
  meets Tuesday afternoons.
• Students need to remember their
• instruments !

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Homework Planners

• Students are expected to bring their planners to
  every class.
• At the end of each class, homework will be
  written in planners and initialed by the teacher.
• Please help your child get in the habit of
  checking their planner at home.

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www.engrade.com(Online Gradebook)

• Grades for RWW, Science, Social Studies and Math
  will be available on-line at www.engrade.com
• Students need to register at the site creating a
  user name, password, and their ID number. They
  can get their ID number from their teacher.
• You can check you childs work completion,
  progress, and grade in each class
• Opportunity for you to send messages to teachers
• Grades are updated on a weekly basis

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www.engrade.com

• Students created a username login
• When you are entering the classes/teachers, enter
  them all and you will be able to see all the
  classes on the same screen.
• If you have already registered and can only see
  one class, you can edit the access codes under
  Add Access Codes. Once on that screen, just add
  the teachers you need and save Access Codes.

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How to Contact Us

• Ms. Kraft 351-6429, krafte_at_stillwater.k12.mn.us
• Mrs. Mollegas 351-6430, mollegass_at_stillwater.k12.
  mn.us
• Ms. Weschcke 351-6451, weschckec_at_stillwater.k12.m
  n.us
• http//rutherford.stillwater.k12.mn.us/Kraft_Molle
  gas_Weschcke.html

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Thank you for coming!
We look forward to a great year working with your
child.