Welcome to the Sixth Grade!

Please review this packet 2015 - 2016 with your child and keep for future reference. Inspectors Welcome to the Sixth Grade! Be sure to sign and Thomas Jefferson Middle School return the last page as soon as possible.

Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to Thomas Jefferson Middle School and the Inspectors Team. We are eager to get started, and are looking forward to a fantastic year! Getting students organized is one of the keys to success, and the right materials will ensure that students get off to a good start. Therefore, students on the Inspectors Team will be required to have the following materials as soon as possible: Supply List

Language Arts – Hartle Social Studies - Mooney  3 ring binder (include dividers and paper) * 1 composition book (9 ¾ x 7 ½ - marbleized type)

Math - Morris Science - Augustine  3 ring binder (include paper and dividers – 5) * 3 ring binder (1 inch with paper)\  Graph Paper * 2 composition books (9 ¾ x 7 ½ - marbleized type)  Dry Erase Markers (any color) * Black Dry Erase Markers  Calculator (TI 34 Multiview or TI 34) o NOT a TI 30

General Supplies for all Core Classes

Loose leaf notebook paper Glue Sticks Pencils Pens (any color) Colored Pencils Index Cards (3x5 or 4x6 your preference) Cap Erasers Highlighters Pencil Pouch Scissors

Donations of the following materials are needed for the classroom and will be greatly appreciated!  Tissues  Paper Towels  Clorox wipes  Candy for incentive rewards  Baggies (gallon, quart, sandwich, and snack)  Anything you think would be helpful would be greatly appreciated Classroom Expectations 2 We firmly believe that all students can behave appropriately; therefore, we will not tolerate any behavior that will prevent us from teaching and/or the students from learning. We feel strongly that, with a concerted effort, all students can be successful, and we pledge ourselves to help each of our students to achieve to the best of his or her ability.

Our team rules are as follows:  Arrive on time  Bring all materials  Complete all assignments  Raise your hand to speak & before leaving your seat  Treat school, teachers, other students and personal property with respect

Consequences include the following:  Warning/conference with teacher  Silent lunch/Working lunch  Loss of team time/Community Service  Parent contact by phone or note  Parent-teacher conference  Office referral  After School Detention (Note: Any of the above steps may be skipped depending upon the severity or repetition of the offense.)

TJMS Homework Policy

Your child will have homework nightly. To see if your child has homework you may:  Access the teacher’s web page through the TJMS Website or  Check your child’s agenda. It is the student’s responsibility to copy homework assignments daily from the board.  Refer to agenda for details.

Team Packs We believe that communication between home and school is vital. We will send home our Team Packs every Wednesday. These packets will include important school information, upcoming events and student work. It is the student’s responsibility to take these packets home to parents and to return these signed each week. Please make sure you see this packet weekly, and sign and return by Friday.

Cubbies  Cubbies and floors are not trashcans. Use the trashcans.  Do not accumulate trash or food in your cubby. (Roaches quickly make a new home!)  Periodically clean out your cubby.

Tutoring Schedule Tutoring will be available after school from 2:00-3:00. Students staying for tutoring may ride the activity bus. Pick up time for car riders are no later than 3:15 p.m. Tutoring schedule will be posted on each teacher’s website and will start in September.

Grading Policies 3 Projects – counts twice Homework/Classwork/Tests/Other Assignments – count once Grading homework is at the discretion of each teacher.

Access to your child’s grades: Your child’s grades may be viewed at any time during the school year through the Parent Portal (powerschool). This program can be accessed through the TJMS website under “Quicklinks” on the main page. Parents must have a login and password (login information from previous school is still valid). You may contact the school’s PowerSchool Manager, Steve Blair, ( 774 - 4630) if you need a login and password.

Language Arts Curriculum First Quarter  Focus on: Literary Elements, Main Idea, Point of View, Narrative writing  Writing prompts throughout the year will fulfill the requirements of the writing portfolio. Second Quarter  Literature studies following the CCES will prepare for the End of Grade Reading Test.  Novels will be utilized. (Part will be read in class/part will be read at home)  Literature will be the core of the Language Arts program.  Genre covered will include short stories, dramas, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, mythology and folklore.  Comprehension and vocabulary assignments will accompany the literature studies  Inferences Third Quarter  Language study will include the following.  Basic grammar skills, sentence and paragraph construction will be covered.  Grammar Exercises will review and extend concepts as well as build vocabulary.  Argumentative text Fourth Quarter  Vocabulary study will include a weekly vocabulary list and activities.  Research writing

Math Curriculum First Quarter  Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide Fractions  Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide Decimals  Divide multi-digit numbers  GCF, LCM, distribution of GCF

Second Quarter  Ratios, unit rates, equivalent ratios (proportions), percent of a number, ratios with different measurement units  Expressions: evaluate, write, identify parts, equivalencies, create real-world problems  Properties  Equations and Inequalities: substitution of numbers, variables, solve real-world problems  Create tables, graphs, and equations using dependent/independent variables Third Quarter  Measure Volume  Describe/categorize geometric shapes based on properties  Classify geometric shapes based on hierarchy  Find Area of triangles and quadrilaterals  Find Volume of right rectangular prisms with fractional edges 4  Create nets of 3-d figures to find Surface Area  Distribution of data (center, spread, overall shape)  Measure of center and variation  Dot plots, histograms, Box and whisker plots  Quantitative measures of center

Fourth Quarter  Positive and negative values  Coordinate plane: ordered pairs, plot points  Compare and order rational numbers; absolute value  Find distance between points on Coordinate plane  Draw polygons in Coordinate plane and find length, width, and area of figures  EOG review Extensions and Enrichment Activities  Math Superstars  Week by Week Essentials  Math Talk  Math Counts

Science Curriculum First Quarter  Forces and Motions - Properties of Waves and Properties of Energy (earthquakes, light and sound)

Second Quarter

 Matter: Properties and Change - Understand the structure, classifications and physical properties of matter.

 Energy - Conservation and Transfer and Interactions of matter and energy

Third Quarter

 Earth and the Universe - Earth, moon, sun and celestial bodies in the universe

 Earth Systems - Structures and processes (lithosphere)

Fourth quarter

 Structures and functions of living organisms - Survival of plants

 Ecosystems - Flow of energy

Social Studies Curriculum Human Geography & Map Skills Islam & the Muslim Empire Early Humans & the Rise of Man Culture & Kingdoms of Africa Ancient China Classical India Ancient India Imperial China Ancient Egypt & Middle East Medieval Japan Ancient Greece Medieval Europe Ancient Rome

 Assignments will incorporate a variety of materials.  Textbooks  Worksheet handouts 5