6th Grade English and Social Studies

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6th Grade English and Social Studies

• Welcome
• to
• Jordan Middle School

2
Who is this Mr. Lightfoot?

• Masters in Instructional Leadership and
  Curriculum Design
• Taught kindergarten, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade
  at the elementary level
• At Jordan Ive taught 7th grade math, 6th, 7th,
  and 8th grade English 8th grade Social Studies
  Computers 6th, 7th, and 8th grade yearbook and
  GATE English/Social Studies.
• Mother who was an English professor

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How can I contact you?

• Richard_at_lightfoot.com
• www.richardlightfoot.com
• Please note-the web site is informal writing,
  meant to keep parents informed. I write it
  quickly with class notes and comments. It is not
  meant to be a replacement for instruction or as
  an example of formal writing.

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How can your parents help me?

• Not exciting work, but very helpful
• Tasks
• Making copies
• Cleaning
• Hanging papers
• Fieldtrips
• Correcting simple work
• Sign up sheet. I take helpers on Thursdays.

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What do I need to know?Know the rules and
consequences

• Rules
• In order to guarantee you the excellent learning
  environment that all students deserve, the
  following rules need to be maintained in the
  classroom
• 1. Walk into the classroom quietly2. Follow
  directions the first time they are given
  (Listen)3. Stay seated4. Raise your hand and
  wait to be called on5. Treat everyone with
  respect

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And if I break these rules?

• Acknowledgement of errors
• This will work with 99 of students because it is
  based on mutual respect and if I need to switch
  it means Ive lost respect.
• If talking in a respectful manner doesnt work
• 1st-Verbal Warning2nd and 3rd-trash pickup and
  or detention4th-Letter sent home to parent for
  parent signatureBeyond this expect, detentions,
  A.M. detentions (30 minutes), referral to
  principal and possible two hour Saturday school
  assignment.
• At any point a telephone call or email to
  parent is possible.

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Ways you can help
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Ways you can help

• Bring your reminder binder daily
• Ask about homework
• Put homework into reminder binder. It isnt
  always posted online!

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Ways you can help

• Reminder Binder
• Asking about homework
• Going over returned work with your parents
• Check web sites frequently for grades, upcoming
  events and assignments

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Ways you can help

• Reminder Binder
• Asking about homework
• Going over returned work
• Checking web site

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Ways you can help

• Donations
• Kleenex
• Candy for prizes
• Pencil sharpeners

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The GATE Program

• District provides training for the GATE teachers.
• Fears of studentscompetition, surrounded by all
  GATE, am I as smart as I think I am?
• Differentiating through open ended projects

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English

• text book
• reader
• Ten Major Themes
• Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, character and
  setting, narrative nonfiction, plot, science
  fiction, theme, and persuasive speech

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English

• Grammar
• Writing
• Enjoyment of reading
• Comprehension
• Increased Vocabulary
• Speaking before a group
• Speaking within a group
• Interrelationship skills

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Every Four Weeks A Book Project

• Book club
• Book reports
• Bookmarks
• Plays
• Billboards
• Group Project
• Test
• Etc

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Social Studies

• Core Topics- Ancient World
• Geography
• Early Man
• Mesopotamia
• Egypt
• India
• China
• Greece
• Rome

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Homework

• Most of my homework can be done ahead of time and
  is meant to be done over a period of time. Do not
  wait until the last moment. I believe in giving
  longer assignments because it allows students to
  have outside interests. But, if the student waits
  until the last minute it will probably be
  unacceptable.

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Homework Part II

• Social Studies has weekly current events special
  credit on designated days.
• Students need to do a current event every week
  and need to be prepared to present these current
  events. Presentations will be graded on eye
  contact with audience, voice projection, body
  posture, and content.
• Students need to earn 60 points of special credit
  (This is NOT extra credit!)

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Mid Terms and Finals

• In social studies there will be midterms and
  finals. Tests will be cumulative. Each test and
  quiz given should be saved for future reference.
• In English there will be midterms and finals.
  Tests will not be cumulative.

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Grades in History

• Current Event Presentations 5
• Current Events Weekly Assignments 5
• Special Credit 5
• Homework 10
• Quizzes, tests, class work 75

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NOW

• How about we all meet each other with a game?

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Grades in English

• Book Reports 5
• Homework 5
• All other assignments, quizzes, and tests 90