6th Grade @ NHS  

Hello parents & students!

The summer is a nice, long, well-deserved break but often I get questions from parents about what they can do to help prevent the “summer slide” and retain knowledge over the course of the summer.  We have a few great options for parents and students.  All you need is a connection to the internet.

Regarding Math:

Option 1: Khanacademy.org

Students have existing Khan Academy accounts through their Google Classroom accounts.  We have used Khan Academy in class as a way to review and practice concepts.  It is comprehensive, has excellent videos which explain concepts in detail, allows for independent study, and gives me excellent data regarding their progress.

Option 2: Mangahigh.com

All 6th grade students have accounts.  This website is more game-based and interactive than Khan Academy.  It gives recommendations to students with regards to what they should practice or learn next.  It does not give students the same amount of support that Khan Academy does when they are stumped but is a fun option.

Option 3: Amplify Fractions: Fractured Tales

This site is currently in BETA but students can register using the class code: WV4NVC and can use their Google Classroom accounts to sign up.  This site was developed by a larger education tech company called Amplify.  This is a great resource because it focuses heavily on fraction understanding which is a important pre-cursor to more abstract reasoning in algebra.  They have a great explanation of “why fractions?” and some of their research at this link: https://fractions.amplify.com/why-fractions/

Option 4: Summer Work Packet!

For those of you who prefer the visceral sensation of pencil on paper, here is a digital copy of a summer work packet that you can use to practice your skills: Summer 2017 Math Packet

Just for Fun!

If you have never Ken-Ken’ed, you should!  It’s like Sudoku with a mathematical twist.  Check it out at http://kenkenpuzzle.com/

Regarding Language Arts:

Mrs. Johnston would like to remind students to continue to reading over the summer.  Students should read at least one book for each month!  Be ready to talk about your summer reading when you return next year.

Hello former 6th grade Parents & Students!

We hope that the first weekend of your summer was excellent.  If you were not aware, one of our 6th grade teachers, Pam Tobey, will be retired from teaching as of tomorrow.  She wanted to send home this letter to parents before summer begins:  Dear parents of almost 7th graders

Also, Mrs. Crowley wants to remind students to please check the garden over the summer as the bountiful produce starts rolling in!

We will also be sending home some information regarding summer reading and math so please stay tuned!

 

Dear parents & students,

The end of the year is fast approaching and for math students in the middle school that means a final exam!  The exam will take place Tuesday and Wednesday of next week with time allowed for make-ups if students are absent or need additional time.  The final exam is a cumulative test of all of the major math topics and standards covered this year and we have covered a lot!  Students were given a practice version of the test to work on in class and take home over the weekend.  Students are being given opportunities to practice, ask questions, correct their work, and review in class.

One resource that I recommend to students who want to practice a particular skill at home is Khan Academy.  Students can find practice problem sets and videos related to any mathematical topic broken down by grade level or content strand.  Students also have access to accounts on Mangahigh.com for additional practice.  Students are also encouraged to look through their “study guide” composition notebooks which they have been filling all year long with definitions and examples of topics that we have covered.

The final exam in 6th grade is one final opportunity for students to demonstrate skills that they may not have been successful with previously in the trimester.  It is also a way to measure retention of topics and skills as students move on into 7th grade.  The data gathered from the final exam is used by myself to plan the scope and sequencing of math topics for students in 7th grade as well as possible interventions and enrichments for individual students.  The final exam is also used by the students as they begin 7th grade to set goals and take greater ownership of their math learning.

The major units and subtopics that we have covered this year are:

• The Number System, foundations:
  • Fluency with standard algorithms for whole number computation
  • Understanding whole number factors, multiples, Greatest Common Factor, & Least Common Multiple
  • Utilizing the correct order of operations in expressions where there are more than one operation.
  • Evaluating exponents and the square roots of perfect squares
• The Number System, fractions:
  • Applying and extending previous understandings of multiplication and division to fraction relationships.
  • Fluently Add, Subtract, Multiply, and Divide with fractions, mixed numbers, and improper fractions.
• The Number System, decimals:
  • Fluently add, subtract, multiply, and divide multi-digit decimals using the standard algorithm for each operation.
• Ratio & Proportion
  • Understanding the concept of a ratio and how a ratio is used to compare quantities
  • Understand and calculate a unit rate given a ratio
  • Use ratio and rate reasoning to solve problems
  • Understand percent as a rate per 100
  • Find a percent of a given number
• Expressions and Equations
  • Write and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers
  • Write expressions from verbal phrases (“four more than twice a number”)
  • Identify parts of an equation using mathematical terms (sum, product, term, factor, coefficient)
  • Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables
  • Apply the properties of operations to generate and identify equivalent expressions
  • Reason about and solve one-variable equations
  • Represent and analyze relationships between two variables.
• Geometry
  • Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume of triangles, rectangles, and shapes made up of triangles and rectangles.
  • Utilize a four quadrant coordinate system to describe the location of points on a plane as well as whole number distances between points

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the exam.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Chris LaCroix
clacroix@sau21.org

 

Hello everyone and welcome back!

Due to the rainy weather tomorrow we will have to cancel our trip to Pawtuckaway State Park.  Unfortunately, because the end-of-the-year schedule is so busy we will not be able to reschedule the trip.

Here is the overview for this week: WEEKLY OVERVIEW 6-5

We will do our best to keep you updated as any additional changes come up.

Have a nice week!

Hello everyone!  We hope that you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  It was so great to see many of our sixth graders participate in the parade in one way or another.  This week is a short but busy one

Here is the overview for the week:  WEEKLY OVERVIEW 5-29

Some important FYIs that are mentioned in the overview:

Dear Parents,

In our Monday blog post we attached an invitation from Officer Poppalardo to attend the DARE graduation today from 12:00-1:00pm.  We apologize that it wasn’t clear that parents are invited to attend.

So if you are interested in attending and are available please join us in Mrs. Crowley’s room (320) from 12:00-1:00.

Sincerely,

– The 6th Grade Team

Hello and welcome back everyone.  We hope that you enjoyed some of the wonderful weather this past weekend.

Here is the overview for the week: WEEKLY OVERVIEW 5-22

You can see in the overview that a lot of end-of-the-year activities are starting to come up.

• D.A.R.E. graduation will take place this Friday (5/26) between 12:00 and 1:00: DARE Graduation Invitation
• The 6th grade dance will be next Wednesday (5/31) from 6:00-7:30.  The dance is casual, not formal, and we are discouraging “dates” or asking someone else to the dance.  The 6th grade dance is meant to be a fun, no-pressure introduction to middle school dances.
• Next Monday is Memorial Day and a day off from school!
• We have a field trip coming up on Tuesday, June 6th to Pawtuckaway State Park.  More details will be shared soon.

Have an excellent week!

Welcome back everyone.  We aren’t sure about you but we are so looking forward to some warm weather later in the week.  Also we are quite thankful to have a normal school week.  There is plenty of work to be done this week so please check over the overview.

Here is the overview for this week: WEEKLY OVERVIEW 5-15

Have an excellent week!

Hello everyone and welcome back!

Here is the overview for the week:  WEEKLY OVERVIEW 5-9

We are finishing up the Smarter Balanced Testing this week with the Math Computer Adaptive Test Tuesday from 12:30-2:30 and the Performance Task from 8:45-10:45 on Wednesday.  Make-ups will hopefully be completed by the end of the week and then we are done!

The end of the year will approach quickly and there are some big events remaining.  In the next few weeks expect to hear more information about a sixth grade dance, an end of the year field trip, and a math final exam.  We will do our best to keep you informed.

Have a nice week!

Welcome back everyone!  We hope that you had a wonderful and relaxing week off.  6th graders will begin their ELA Smarter Balanced tests this week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  Students will also have the Smarter Balanced Math tests next Tuesday and Wednesday.  Due to the testing our schedule and homework expectations will be quite different.  Please do your best to be well-rested, well-fed, and on-time for the testing dates.

Here is the overview for this week: WEEKLY OVERVIEW 5-1

Have an excellent week!