This document provides an overview of the curriculum and classroom policies for Mrs. Tran's 6th grade language arts, literature, social studies, and literacy classes. It outlines the key areas of focus and materials used for each subject. It also reviews homework and grading policies, upcoming events and donation requests.

1. Back to School Night
Mrs. Tran

2. Language Arts
• Focus
 Vocabulary
 Spelling
 Oral presentations
 Text analysis
 Informational text
 Writer’s Workshop
 Grammar
• Goal setting for all content areas
• Teaching methods and materials
 Vocabulary workbook and handouts
 SCOPE magazine

3. Language Arts and 1:World
• Google Drive
 Presentation
 Document
• Glogster
• NewsELA
• SCOPE Magazine
• Spelling and vocabulary study aides
 Spelling city
 Quizlet

4. Literature
• Focus
 Reading fluency
 Informational text
 Comprehension
 Text analysis
 Vocabulary development
 Writing
• Informative / Explanatory
• Response to literature
• Narratives
• Arguments / Persuasive
 Writing process

5. Literature
• Teaching methods and materials
 Textbook (student copy stays at home)
 Interactive Reading Guide (IRG workbook)
 Core literature books (Maroo of the Winter Caves)
 Literature projects and essays
 Reader’s Workshop
• Student selected novels
• In-class reading
• Monday – during Literature
• Tuesday & Friday – during Literacy (6th period)
• Expectation is 20+ pages per night, 140 pages per week
• Must have a book at school EVERY day, EVERY period
• Status of the Class taken weekly
• Part of the Literature grade

6. Literature and 1:World
• On-demand research opportunities
• Google Drive
 Presentation
 Document
• Voice thread
• Blogger
• Interactive curriculum websites
 SAS Curriculum Pathways
 Discovery Education
• Formative assessment measures
 Socrative
 LAN Student / Teacher

7. Social Studies
• Topics covered – Ancient Civilizations
 Early Man
 Beginning of Civilizations
 Mesopotamia
 Ancient Israelites
 India
• Focus
 China
 Egypt
 Greece
 Rome
 Expository reading
 Expository writing
 Summary writing
 Note-taking
 Integration of technology and the arts

8. Social Studies
• Teaching methods and materials
 Textbook (student copy stays at home)
 Interactive Reading Guide (IRG workbook)
 Teacher Curriculum Institute (TCI) lesson plans
 Document Based Question projects (DBQ)
 Internet research
 Map work
 Cornell notes
 Projects
 Educational videos
• Spiral Notebooks
 Mead 5 STAR single subject (or similar) recommended
• Can be purchased from Mrs. Tran for $2.00
 Organizing notes, worksheets, maps, etc.
 Used to prepare for tests and quizzes
 Will be graded at the end of each chapter

9. Social Studies and 1:World
• On-demand research opportunities
• Google Drive
 Presentation
 Document
• Glogster
• Voice Thread
• NewsELA
• Webquests
• Powtoons
• Interactive curriculum websites
 SAS Curriculum Pathways
 Discovery Education
• Formative assessment measures
 Socrative
 LAN Student / Teacher

10. 21st
Century
Skills
and
1:World
Images from Partnership for 21st Century Skills (http://www.p21.org/our-work/resources/for-educators/1007)

11. Literacy
Monday, Wednesday, & Thursday Tuesday & Friday
Band / Choir for those students enrolled
in a music elective
Literacy for students not enrolled in a
music elective
Focus:
• Reading literacy
• Math literacy
• Computer literacy
Activities may include:
• SRA Individualized Reading
• Literature circles
• Math enrichment activities
• Compass Learning (individualized
online reading and math activities
based on MAPs data)
Literacy for all students
Focus:
• Reading literacy
Activities:
• Book talks (15 – 20 minutes)
• Reading Zone

12. General Classroom
Information

13. Communication
• Email: stran@powayusd.com
• Phone: (858) 538 – 5478 x3736
• MyConnect
 Announcements
 Homework
• MyPlan & Synergy
 Grades (updated on Fridays)
 MAPs data
 Attendance
• Are you receiving my weekly emails?

14. Homework
• Plan for 1-2 hours to complete homework
• Must be turned in on the due date, unless
absent
• Late homework –
 1 day late: 50% credit
 2+ days late: no credit
 Contact me for special circumstances
• Absences
 2 days to make up work for every 1 day
absent
 Better sooner, than later

15. Grading Scale
98 – 100 A+
97 – 93 A
90 – 92 A-
88 – 89 B+
87 – 83 B
80 – 82 B-
78 – 79 C+
77 – 73 C
70 – 72 C-
68 – 69 D+
67 – 63 D
60 – 62 D-
59 and below
F
• Grades are weighted as follows
 Classwork* – 50%
 Homework – 20%
 Tests, quizzes, & projects – 30%
* Assignments started in class and finished at home
are categorized as “classwork”

16. Conferences
• October 6th – 10th
• Minimum days on Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday
 School dismisses at 12:07
• Late start day on Wednesday
• Required for students not meeting
proficiency
• Optional for students at or above proficiency
• Scheduling will begin in late September

17. Donations
• SCOPE Magazine – donation of $5.00 per child enables each
student to have a copy of their own
• Visiting Poet – donation of $13.00 per child is greatly appreciated
and will help to pay for 5 lessons
• Please make checks payable to MVMS. One check for both items
is permissible. Make sure your student’s first and last name are
on the check.
• Students may start bringing checks tomorrow morning.
Upcoming Donations
• Natural History Museum field trip: $23, Early 2015
• Outdoor Education (aka 6th grade camp): $380, March
• Olympic t-shirts: April
• Playwright project: Late winter / early spring
• End of the year event: June

18. Dates to Remember
• 9/19 – Progress notices for 1st quarter
• 9/22 – No school, Professional Growth Day
• 10/6 - 10/10 – Parent teacher conferences
 Dismissal at 12:07 on M, T, Th, F
 Students can attend
• 10/22 – End of Quarter 1
• 11/3 – Quarter 1 report cards go home
• 3/2 - 3/6 – 6th grade Camp
• 5/22 – 6th grade Olympics