We will be using “Making Meaning” to help teach reading skills such as comprehension, decoding unknown vocabulary, and making connections to real life. We will look at many different genres of books and other media such as newspapers, magazines, and the internet.
“Becoming a Writer” allows us to read a variety of books to think about our own writing style, and guides us through the writing process to create masterpieces in poetry, narratives, informative texts and more.
We will utilize the Daily 5 structure, which includes time to read self-selected texts independently, read with partners/listen to reading, work on writing, teacher time, and word work (vocabulary and spelling). The spelling curriculum consists of Words Their Way, which allows students to become familiar with words by discovering patterns in spelling or meaning, breaking words apart, and making connections with other words. Not everyone in class will have the same spelling list each week. Our vocabulary instruction will focus on Glencoe Vocabulary Power, with additional materials as needed.
“I know nothing in the world that has as much power as a word. Sometimes I write one, and I look at it, until it begins to shine.”—Emily Dickinson
Math
Using the mastered vocabulary and Minnesota benchmarks as the basis for instruction, we will use the McDougal-Little Math book to practice skills such as algebra, geometry and measurement, probability and data analysis, and mathematical reasoning. Your student may discover or be taught concepts in a way that is different than you and I remember learning. In order to decrease frustration for parents and students, I will try to send home papers that show strategies for solving the type of problem we are working on. The more tools in your child’s math tool belt, the better!
Social Studies
This year students will discover a lot about their home state as we talk about Minnesota’s history and present. We will learn about the branches of government, geography, history, and economics. We will also do current events on a regular basis to stay informed about the world around us, become familiar with newspaper formats, and practice non-fiction reading strategies.
Science
.We will be using the textbook “Science: A Closer Look” to explore 6th grade science concepts. We will talk about the relationship between science and engineering, and physical science terms like matter, motion and energy. We will also use experiment kits and materials to do some hands-on investigating.