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.

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!

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!

We are quickly approaching our “Hour of Code Night” for 3rd-8th Graders!! – it is next Thursday, 1/12 from 6-8pm.

We will be having 2 speakers open the night to tell us about how they use coding in their work.  The rest of the night will be open-house style for kids to see, try, and experiment with different types of coding applications.  Please click the link below to see the flyer that will go home in Friday Folders.

Code Night Flyer

If you have any questions please contact mwyman@sau21.org or lschmidt@sau21.org and RSVP at this link: https://goo.gl/forms/H2jFKqDJXDVUrO842

 

Hello everyone!  We hope that you had a fun and safe Halloween.

Here is the overview for this week: WEEKLY OVERVIEW 10-31

Here are a couple photos from our latest Mr. Caron challenge, “The Spider-web” where students need to work together to get everyone through the web without touching it.

 
Also, here are some pictures of students working on a tough number sense problem called “American Billions” in math, which requires students to use divisibility rules and knowledge of factors and multiples.

Finally, this Thursday we have a guest speaker coming in from the University of New Hampshire to talk about their research and findings on the rebounding bobcat population in New Hampshire.

Thank you to all of the parents who were able to attend our curriculum night.  Hopefully you found it informative and worth your time.  We understand that everyone has busy schedules so we appreciate you taking time out of your evening.

If you were unable to make it here are some of the important documents and materials that we gave out which you may find helpful:

1.  Our Merrowvista slideshow: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B39OwYsp9eNgUGJxRm53SWxxdVU/view?usp=sharing (please do not share this on social media)

2.  An excerpt from Chip Wood’s book “Yardsticks” about 11 year olds: yardsticks-11yr-olds

3.  Information about the Lifeskills Curriculum: life-skills-curriculum

4.  Advice for parents of math students: jo-boaler-Math-for-parents

5.  A link to the slideshow that we used to frame our curriculum night: http://prezi.com/ghjecm339z9t/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy

Also, this morning the 6th graders led the first NHS “community meeting”, a whole-school meeting that gives specific grade levels a chance to share exciting things that they have been doing.  We shared the slideshow with the school and the 6th graders led a camp sing-along for the whole school.  Check it out!

Finally, there is a permission slip coming home with your child today for our field trip to the Waste Management landfill in Rochester on Wednesday.  Please sign and return it as soon as you can.