Sixth Grade Survival Guide

Sixth Grade Survival Guide

Your Team 603 Teachers

Miss Harrison, Team Leader, Mathematics

Mr. Dixon, Science

Mr. Greer, Social Studies

Miss Rozier, Language Arts

Written by: Miss Harrison

Welcome

Welcome to Eagles Landing Middle School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Middle School is a new and exciting time for students. For the first time they will be changing rooms for all of their classes. They will have four academic teachers and as many as six connections teachers throughout the school year. The students will have lockers and will have the opportunity to make friends with the one hundred or so students on our team.

Realizing this will be a lot to keep up with, we are going to begin the school year with classes that will help our students become organized, develop good study skills, learn how to research topics they may need assistance with and learn the procedures for middle school.

As with any change, there can sometimes be growing pains. By having supportive parents/guardians, our students will finish sixth grade stronger academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.

As a team, we look forward to working with you as we help the students get the most out of sixth grade.

The Eagle’s Nest

Ease of Transition

The transition from elementary to middle school is an important one. Though parents and students are often concerned about this transition, we find that with the right support, encouragement and attention, students and parents thrive at our school.

• All sixth grade classes are on the 700 hall and connections hallway.

• Sixth graders take all of their classes and have lunch with sixth graders only.

• The academic teachers work as a team for language arts, math, science, and social studies and share the same students. Last year we were team 601. This year we are Team 603.

• During the first few weeks of school, our sixth grade students will participate in activities to help them become familiar with the school building, the policies and procedures for Eagles Landing Middle, team building, studying skills, organizational skills and note taking skills.

Supplies Needed to be Successful

A Pencil Pouch for Each Academic Class

Having the appropriate supplies for every class every day is necessary for students to be academically successful. As teachers, we have learned that it is often difficult for our sixth graders to keep up with their supplies from class to class. Supplies become lost, misplaced and/or forgotten at home. Therefore, your child’s four academic teachers are going to store a bag of supplies in each of their classrooms for your child to use. One bag each for math, language arts, social studies, and science. We ask that your child brings the following supplies to class. The teachers will work with the students to separate the supplies and prepare the bags for their classes.

• 1 two inch binder – to be shared among math, language arts, science and social studies
• 8 packs of notebook paper
• One pack of dividers – NOT folders
• Kindle, Laptop or Ipad with internet capability and at least a 7 inch window. We will be utilizing the internet in all classes. Our math program is not telephone internet compatible.

Each student will need four pencil pouches or four baggies large enough to hold the items listed below. Please have your child write his/her name on all supplies in permanent marker prior to coming to school.

• Four packs of 10 pencils
• Four glue sticks
• 4 permanent markers
• 4 highlighters
• 4 erasers
• 1 six inch ruler – no larger please
• 4 packs of colored pencils or crayons – Crayola brands are preferred
• 4 pencil sharpeners with covers
• For those students who will not be bringing in int2 basic calculators – one for school and one for home. A basic calculator adds, subtracts, multiplies and divides. The calculators shouldhave at least a 1 inch view window and should be durable.We have found that calculators purchased at The Dollar Store do not last more than a week and ask that you do not purchase these.

Helping your child be successful

• Create a consistent supervised study time for your child. Establish a study area that can be monitored. Ideally, students should be doing written homework and studying for a minimum of twenty minutes per academic subject area.

• Encourage your child to ask for extra help when needed.

• Check in periodically with the teachers about your child’s progress. The most effective way to reach the teachers is through email. To do so, go to the Eagles Landing Middle School website, go to teachers and find the teacher’s name.Know that our voice mail system is not working so please do not attempt to leave voice mail messages. Should you desire a parent teacher conference, please e mail Team Leader Harrison.

• Infinite Campus (IC) is used to document student grades and attendance. Log into the IC website. The username is your child’s six digit id/lunch code. The password is your child’s first initial of their first name, first initial of their last name and their six digit date of birth. Should you have any difficulties accessing IC, please contact the guidance office.

• Allow your child to become responsible. Ensuring that they are exhibiting respectful behavior at school, good study habits, being prepared with supplies and homework daily will aid them as they progress in their education.

• Encourage your child to practice good hygiene.

• Have your child “pack” up for school before going to bed. It will make things easier in the morning and ensure a less stressful day.

Developing Good Study Habits

Recording and Organizing Assignments – The Agenda

The agenda is a basic yet essential organizational tool in which student’s record daily and long-term assignments, quiz, test and project dates. This is also an excellent tool to help parents monitor their child’s work and communicate with teachers.

Students with poor study habits are often inaccurate when recording assignments for they tend to leave out important details. Some students choose to rely on their memory, write down assignments in different places, or choose not to use an agenda at all. This lack of organization often leads to forgotten, late or incomplete assignments. This in turn leads to poor assessment scores and low averages.

Here are some suggestions to develop good habits:

• Use the agenda daily and in every class. Your child should neatly and accurately record all homework-----including quiz, test and project dates.

• Check your child’s agenda every evening to ensure that homework is written accurately and completely. The word “none” should be written next to a subject that has no homework.

• Verify that assignments are completed each day. Insist that that your child brings home all of his/her assignments to show you that they have been completed.

• To keep a record of completed assignments, you might consider using a bright colored pen or highlighter to mark the work that have been completed.

Homework Time

Structuring homework time for maximum results

When your child comes home and you ask them if they have homework, the

response if often a quick “no” or “I finished it at school.”

At the end of the school day, many students find it challenging to settle down and

complete their homework. Playing outside, using the computer, talking to friends

on the phone, and playing video games can be more interesting than school work.

Helping your child understand the importance of homework is key to their

academic success. Student’s ability to organize their materials, prioritize

activities, and discipline themselves is a combination of acquired/learned

skills and individual maturity. Until these important characteristics are

developed, children will require adult supervision and support to meet their

responsibilities at home and in school.

As children become excited about getting home and playing, it is important

that they receive a clear message that homework is a priority – it is their

job. They need to understand that homework provides them an opportunity

for additional learning, serves as a review of classroom instruction, prepares them

for future learning, and is directly linked to their becoming a successful student.

Parents and students should discuss the importance of homework and devise

a consistent studyplan for accomplishing the goal of completing assignments

neatly, accurately and on time. These are building blocks for academic success

that willassist students develop responsibility, independence and self- confidence.

You may keep up with your child’s daily homework assignments via Remind 101 and

the Infinite Campus Message Board. Specific information regarding these two will

forthcoming.

How to Make the Most Out of Middle School

Being a success academically and behaviorally

BE PREPARED FOR ALL OF YOUR CLASSES

• Homework
• Pencils
• Paper
• Notebook
• Calculator
• Be Ready to Learn

BE ORGANIZED

• Set aside a time each night to study and complete all homework
• Get your book bag ready for school the night before
• Write homework assignments, quiz and test dates, and project due dates in your agenda daily

MEET NEW PEOPLE

• Join a club that interests you
• Get involved in school activities

BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR

• Stay away from trouble
• Avoid drama
• Avoid negative peer pressure
• Do not get involved in bullying
• Treat others as you want to be treated
• Be respectful at all times

Bits and Pieces

Additional Important Information

• Students who arrive prior to 8:25 report to your assigned area. If they choose to have breakfast, they are to report to the cafeteria.

• Instructional Focus or IF Time is from 8:25 to 9:20 Monday through Friday. During this time students receive extra help or enrichment from their teachers.

• Please be certain to familiarize yourself with the Henry County Parent/Student Handbook. It contains everything you will need to know as a parent.

• Progress reports are available on Infinite Campus every six weeks. Report cards are available at the end of each semester. Since the county is going “green” no hard copies are distributed.

• Car riders – drop off and pick up is in the front of the building

• Students who are staying after school for clubs, extra help, etc. must have written parent permission. Students may not remain at school waiting for athletic events to begin due to a lack of supervision. Students are to go home and return when the game begins.

• To avoid disruptions to the learning environment, students are permitted to use cell phones during the school day for instructional purposes only. Should you need to contact your child during the day, please telephone the main office.

• Daily Schedule:

8:25 – 9:15 Instructional Focus

9:15 – 9:20 Morning Announcements

9:20 – 10:30 1st period

10:30 – 12:20 2nd period

12:20 – 1:25 3rd period (lunch is from 11:00 to 11:32)

1:25 – 2:35 4th period

2:35 – 3:24 5th period – Connections

3:24 – 4:05 6th period - Connections

Helpful Resources

Books and Websites

Books for Students

Too Old for This, Too Young for That:Your Survival Guide for the Middle School Years by Harriet S. Mosathche

How I Survived Middle School by Nancy Krulik

Middle School: The Real deal – From Cafeteria Food to Combination Locks by Juliana Farrell

Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf: A Year Told Through Stuff by Jennifer L. Holm and Elica Castaldi

Books for Parents

The Everything Tween Book: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the Turbulent Pre-Teen Years by Linda Sonna

The Rollercoaster Years by Charlene C. Giannetti

Websites for Parents

Transitioning to Middle and High School

parentreport.com/resources/ages/teen/education/624.html

Parenting a Preteen

Websites for Assistance with Math

• Myscrip calculator
• Graphing calculator
• iMath Tools (virtual manipulatives)
• Common Core (math and language arts)
• Singapore math
• Mathmateeer (Apple only)
• Sushi Monster (Apple only)
• Dissect math Tricks
• Your Teacher (apple only)
• Virtual Nerd (apple only)
• Buzz math
• Mathemagic (Android only)
• Iformulae (Apple only)
• Elevated math
• Teeneinstein
• Middle School math 6th Grade

Free Apps

• Myscript Calculator
• Graphing calculator
• QR reader
• Your teacher
• Lumosity
• Middle School math 6th grade
• Sixth Grade learning games
• Math Brownie Points
• US 6th mathUS 6th Ratios
• Doodle Buddy
• Math Concentration
• Pick a Path
• Animoto
• Calculator Free

Websites for Assistance with Projects/Presentations

• Talker (apple only)
• Doodle Buddy (apple only)
• Pic Collage
• Animoto
• Flipagram
• Thinglink
• ShowMe Interactive Whiteboard
• Educreations (apple Only)
• Smartboard Lite
• StoryCreator
• Prezi
• Visual Poet
• Tellagam

Websites for Science

Georgia Professional Standard

Brain Pop

Science Printable Worksheets for Kids

Websites for Social Studies and Language Arts

Learning Resources/Study Tools

• Khan Academy
• Quizlet
• Study Blue
• Edmodo
• Henry County School Digital Textbook (Flexbook)
• Start at the home page for Henry County Schools:
• Click “leadership and learning” tab on the top of the page
• Click “curriculum and instruction” on the left side of the page
• Click “Mathematics” on the left side of the page
• Click “Henry county Schools Digital math Flexbooks” on the left side of the page
• Scroll to the bottom to the page and clickon the grade level and version of the Flexbook that you need (Online, PDF, kindle or iphone/android)

Thank you for reviewing the Team 603Sixth Grade Survival Guide booklet.

We look forward to working with you this school year to ensure the academic and behavioral success of your child.

Please sign and return this page to acknowledge that you and your child have read, discussed and understood the information provided in this booklet.

Keep the booklet for your reference throughout the year.

PRINT parent name ______

Parent Signature ______

PRINT student name ______

Student signature ______

Thank you,

Your Team 603 Teachers

Miss Harrison, Team Leader, Mathematics

Mr. Greer, Social Studies

Miss Morrison, Science

Miss Rozier, Language Arts