Open House Informational Letter

Keith Perrins

2007 - 2008

Welcome to the sixth grade! We are looking forward to a productive, fun, exciting, and interesting year ahead.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CURRICULUM

LANGUAGE ARTS

READING:

Students will be involved in language experiences which will integrate reading, speaking, listening and writing, using a variety of materials. We will primarily use the District adopted Houghton Mifflin reading program. The goals of my reading and language activities include developing an appreciation for literature, teaching and reinforcing skills, and stressing comprehension. We will build on strategies for reading from a variety of sources. The students will continue to learn through reading in all areas.

We will have a quiet reading time set aside throughout the week for the enjoyment of reading. During this time called DEAR (Drop Everything And Read), the students are encouraged to read enriching literature from a variety of genres. I have a growing collection of chapter books, available to all students for their own use.

I also set aside about 20-25 minutes where I read aloud to the students. This usually occurs before their lunch/recess break. This is my chance to model reading and to share some wonderful literature with them. Many of the books I read aloud are those by Newbery Award winning authors. It is during this time that we also work on comprehension and listening skills.

In addition to in-class reading, I will require each student to report on a book of their own choosing. Students will be required to share their book with the rest of the class through a written and orally presented report. This year we will read several books together as a class. Currently we are reading Hatchet. Students will be assigned their own copy of the book for use at home and in the classroom. Students may be assigned different chapters to read at home, and may be required to keep a literature response journal. Their writing in these journals will be used for assessment of their writing skills and comprehension.

CREATIVE WRITING:

The students will practice writing for a variety of audiences. The purposes for writing are to inform, explain, describe, entertain, and persuade. We will be writing and publishing a variety of works following the six steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, conferencing, revising,editing, publishing. We will use both Microsoft Word, and Apple Works word processing programs in the computer lab. My English instruction includes work in grammar, mechanics, usage, composition, sentence and paragraph building, vocabulary, research and report writing. We will focus on the six traits of writing throughout the school year. The Six Traits of writing that we will explore and reinforce are: word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, ideas, organization, and voice. Students will also work at improving their editing skills through the Daily Language Workout program (DLW). Our first writing project, Pieces of Me, proved to be fun and entertaining.

SPELLING:

I use the district adopted Houghton Mifflin spelling program to maintain skills. Pretests are given on Monday, along with individual word practice throughout the week. I will send home a "Home Study" list, on Monday, for help from home. A practice test will be given on Thursday and a final test will be given on Friday. Daily home practice is strongly recommended.

MATH:

O'Malley Elementary uses the District adopted Everyday Math curriculum. This program is not a text based program, but the students are required to use the assignment Journal, in class and at home. Homework will involve work in their Journals, Study Links, and Math Boxes. Features of this exciting math program include: problem solving common life situations, cooperative learning through partner and small group activities, daily routines, year long projects, practice through games, and establishing links between past experiences and explorations of new concepts.

This year 6th grade students will also get a hardcover student reference book. This can be a very useful tool to both you and your child. This is a wonderful reference book that can help them with their math work.

Through the lessons in their Journals and the ongoing introduction of new concepts in class, students will improve their problem solving skills and demonstrate how math applies to their everyday lives. Some of the math assignments are taken from other resources and may include practice worksheets form prealgebra workbooks. I find that it is important to supplement the Everyday Math program for extra skill and practice. Daily math assignments are given and those not completed in class should be finished at home. If your child shows frustration in math, help at home is invaluable. If you notice a specific kind of difficulty, send a note and I will work with the students at school. I try to give individual attention whenever I can, and I encourage students to work cooperatively in class.

SCIENCE:

Several years ago the district adopted a new science program which involves new grade level kits. The sixth grade focus will be Scale and Structure. We will study: Astronomy, There is No 'Away,' and Structures. We will concentrate on the processes of observation, classification, measurement, communication, prediction, experimentation, questioning and hypothesizing. Students will work individually and in groups in their exploration of each science kit.

HEALTH:

O'Malley School uses the district adopted "Great Body Shop" curriculum to cover units relating to personal safety, human growth and development (fourth quarter), nutrition and exercise, disease and accident prevention, and environmental health.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Our social studies program is based on a thematic approach within three major fields: Geography, History, and Civics/Government. Curriculum materials include the text Our Country, atlas sets, maps and globes, Daily Geography and historical literature sets. In addition, I occasionally use videos, and the Internet for discussions on current and historical events. Students will have geography questions on Monday to complete as homework for review of their answers on Tuesday morning. The geography quiz will be given on Friday.

COMPUTER MINI-LAB:

In our classroom we have an iMac with Internet connections. In addition, Intermediate grades have access to a new and improved computer lab. We use the new eMac computers in the Lab for keyboarding skill practice and Internet research.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS - EVALUATION:

Letter grades are given for sixth grade: A (90-100), B (80-89), C (70-79), D (60-69), F (50-59), 0% for non-completion. A "pink slip" will be sent home for parent signature on any papers receiving a "D" or "F" grade. I will allow these assignments or tests to be redone within one week for a better grade. Grades will be kept for daily class work and homework assignments. Notebooks will be maintained for students' work in Science, and Creative Writing.

BEHAVIOR:

My classroom environment is one where students are expected to act in a responsible and respectful manner. Students are rewarded individually and as a group, for proper behavior in class as well as other areas of the school. I expect all students to be considerate of others' rights, feelings, and property. Our classroom expectations are posted and discussed throughout the year. I feel that every child should feel safe and respected at school. I will do my best to insure that our classroom promotes that school environment.

I believe in giving students the opportunity to learn in an atmosphere that promotes self-pride and self-respect. I believe that each student brings a uniqueness to the class that each one of us can learn from and appreciate. Developing and maintaining a healthy sense of humor, a feeling of self-confidence, and a positive attitude toward life-long learning are important parts of our classroom everyday.

HOMEWORK:

Homework may be assigned Monday through Thursday nights. Long term projects or reports may be worked on as homework over the weekend. Students are required to maintain a homework log where daily assignments can be written down. This helps students to become responsible for their work. Their homework log enables you to keep track of what your child is working on in class. I encourage you to view this log every night and to sign it on those days that homework is assigned. I review the logs and completed homework every morning. Students that do not have their homework completed on time will be given a late homework slip, which will notify you that the assignment was not completed. The student must complete the homework and turn it in with the late slip signed by you, for credit.

WEB PAGE:

We have two web pages designed to offer you information. All teachers have a web page set up by the Anchorage School District (ASD). My ASD web page is linked directly through the ASD home page.

Our classroom web page, that I designed, can be accessed through the ASD web page or through its own URL: www.asdk12.org/schools/omalley/pages/ClassWeb/Perrins/perrins.htm

Please look for it for classroom information, event updates, notices, announcements, nightly clues to Word Wizard, and nightly homework assignment reminders. Homework reminders are updated nightly to reflect what should be written in your child's homework log.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS:

YES, please! I encourage family to get involved in the classroom. Thanks to those who have already offered assistance. If you would be willing to help out in the classroom in any way it would be welcomed and greatly appreciated. We will need assistance during class parties and class field trips too.

We are off to a great start! I am looking forward to a wonderful school year ahead.

Thank you for your support!

Keith Perrins