MS. COTTER

6 th Grade Math and Science

Welcome Parents!

▪ You are your student’s first and most important teachers.

Communication

Please contact me with ANY questions or concern!

email [email protected]

phone - 760-290-2800 x 3251

There is only one dumb or stupid question… The question you never ask!

What is inquiry?

Inquiry involves learners to: ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ tackling real-world questions, issues and controversies developing questioning, research and communication skills solving problems or creating solutions collaborating within and beyond the classroom developing deep understanding of content knowledge Introduction to Inquiry Based Learning by Neil Stephenson http://www.teachinquiry.com/index/Introduction.html

Chromebook 1 to 1

Each student has access to a chromebook to: ● Complete work (working toward a paperless class), ● Research and explore topics ● Simulations ● Collaborate on presentation using Web 2.0 tools to help prepare them for the 21st Century workforce

Internet down at home?

Students have access before school 7:15 or later daily and after school, except Wednesdays.

Chromebook Responsibilities

Students need to take care of their Chromebooks while in the classroom, or they could lose the privilege of using technology.

We will be learning in Math:

● ● ● ● ● Number Theory Ratios and Expressions Equations and Inequalities Geometry Statistics

Science

● Earth Systems & Processes ● Plate Tectonics & Earth’s Structure ● Weather & Climate ● Ecology & Resources

ParentVue and StudentVue

➔ Both students and parents can see all grades ➔ Scores are usually updated within a week, sooner if possible ➔ Please have students check for accuracy and let’s fix errors quickly

Textbooks

Holt Mathematics, Course 1: Numbers to Algebra on-line only as a resource http://my.hrw.com

Username: semsmath6 Password: eagles Pilot textbook: California Go Math, Middle School Grade 6

http://my.hrw.com

Username: Password:

Prentice Hall Focus on California Earth Science

www.phschool.com

Username: alfred.wegener

Password: sems1415

TenMarks https://www.tenmarks.com/ A supplemental math program we will be piloting this year.

Username: Student login will be “smusd” followed by the student ID#, leaving no spaces (for example – smusd999999). Password: student’s birthday backwards YYYYMMDD.

Ms. Cotter’s Class Rules

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Follow ALL DIRECTIONS the first time.

Respect everyone and everything.

Never INTERFERE with other’s learning.

Be IN YOUR SEAT when the BELL RINGS,

Prepared each day (supplies and attitude).

Assignments

▪ ▪ ▪ more than 20 minutes to complete.

Skills must be practiced to be mastered!

▪ concepts. Brain changes with practice.

25% of Math grade.

Work must be shown!

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

No Work No Credit! [NWNC]

Spaces must be skipped between problems. Lines on paper should guide work, please do not ignore them.

Work must be NEAT and clearly readable.

Math work is always done with pencil only!

Quizzes, Tests & Benchmark Exams : 70% of student’s Math grades 50% of Student’s Science Grade

Assignments : 20% of student’s Math grades 50% of Student’s Science Grade Participation: 10% of Math grade Included in Science Total Weekly Points

Late Work

▪ ▪ Students earn only 70% of the points possible if late.

Late work needs to be turned in by the following week for any credit to be earned

The Twelve Steps to Success

▪ Be Confident.

▪ Be responsible.

▪ Be here. ▪ Be on time.

▪ Be friendly.

▪ Be respectful.

▪ Be polite.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Be prepared.

Be a listener.

Be a self-starter.

Be a doer.

Be a risk-taker.

Be a hard-worker.

Be a goal-setter.

PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT GETS 9 TO 10 HOURS OF SLEEP EVERY NIGHT.

Sleep affects behavior and learning.

Absences

▪ Check website for assignments.

▪ For each day missed, they have one day to get work made-up.

▫ (So that means double the work!) ▪ Students should check with other students about missed work.

Communicate with the Attendance Office Please!

▪ ▪ Please call and leave voicemail or email the the school to report absences – 24/7!

Family Trips of 5 days or more, must request work from office at least TWO WEEKS prior to leaving.