Middle School Programs

6TH GRADE ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING PRACTICES

Assignments are given at the discretion of the teacher and will vary from teacher to teacher in terms of how often it is given and how it will be used as part of the student’s grade. It is reasonable to expect that these assignments will comprise approximately 20% of a student’s quarterly grade. The remaining 80% will include, but not be limited to, tests, quizzes, essays, projects, and class participation.

HOMEWORK INFORMATION
Homework assignments are written on the board in each classroom.  On a daily basis,
students are reminded of these assignments.

Assignments are also recorded on the Homework Hotline: (518) 398-7181 Press 7
Dial Extension 370.

Additionally, the assignments can be found on the internet at: www.teacherweb.com 
(Hint:  bookmark for future reference)

In 9th period study hall, each teacher has a record of daily assignments.  During that period, students can confer with any core subject teacher for additional help.

If your child is absent from school, the work is available upon your child’s return to school or can be obtained in the Middle School Office after 10 a.m.  If you would like to pick up your child’s assignments, please call (518) 398-7181 ext. 340.
Additional help is available through:

Math Learning Center – Students can get help with their Math homework from H.S. math Honor Society students.  Help is available in the library - Monday through Thursday from 2:25 – 3:00. 

Paige George Literacy Foundation – The Tutoring Center, located at 7730 South Main Street, Pine Plains, NY, is now open.  Tutoring is done in all subjects K-12.  For more information call (518) 398-5795 or (518) 965-2967. 

Effort and organization are the keys to success.

Please be involved in your child’s education.

6TH GRADE SUBJECT DESCRIPTION
 

6th  Grade  Science                Mr. DePutron
6th  Grade  Reading               Mrs. Tierney
6th  Grade  English                 Mrs. Plover-Smith
6th  Grade  Social Studies      Mr. Ray
6th  Grade  Math                    Mrs. Kjetsaa

6th Grade Science - Mr. DePutron
This is the last year of General Science where all of the sciences (Life, Health, Earth and Physical) are taught. A variety of materials are used including Current Science magazine.

During the first half of the year, students do experiments and investigations both outside and in the classroom. The students learn research skills to prepare, present and display an integrated Research Project during the second half of the year.

6th Grade Reading - Mrs. Tierney
The McGraw-Hill reading series "Spotlight on Literacy" and various grade-level novels are used as the basis for the 6th grade reading program. This material allows reading for meaning to be emphasized throughout the year. Students will work on such skills as sequencing, analyzing characters and note-taking to achieve the goals set forth by the English Language Arts (ELA) standards of New York State.

6th Grade English - Mrs. Plover-Smith
Grammar and writing are related focuses in 6th grade English classes. The Grammar Practice Book, which is part of the McGraw-Hill reading series, is used, and it is supplemented with additional materials. Study guides are provided, and concepts are reinforced with overhead projection, songs, raps, and games. Student writing assignments run the gamut from cooperative efforts; plays on peer pressure and fairy tale parodies, to individual tasks; essays, personal narratives, fiction, poetry, business letters, and outlines. Opinion prompts taken from Scope and Action magazines afford opportunities for persuasive writing. Instruction in ELA "bullet driven" responses is also offered. Additionally, students have opportunities to choose topics of personal interest.


6th Grade Social Studies - Mr. Ray
In 6th grade, students study Ancient Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. Along with these ancient cultures, students learn about European history by studying the Middle Ages and ending with the Holocaust. Students cover current events through Weekly Reader Senior Edition and newspaper articles. Additionally, students focus on various map and geography skills.

Books used: World: Adventures in Time and Place
Maps Globes Graphs
Number the Stars


6th Grade Math - Mrs. Kjetsaa
The 6th grade math curriculum follows a scope and sequence developed by Pine Plains and other area teachers in Dutchess County through the efforts of a BOCES Consortium in 2000. This curriculum has been modified and improved upon each year to match the New York State standards in middle level math. End of the year exams have been developed and used for grades 5-8 with exams being developed at the lower grades. Aligned to the Standards, this course also uses a textbook for some topics and a great deal of supplemental materials for others. During the year, students have the opportunity to explore math concepts with a wide variety of manipulatives. The textbook used during the course is Middle School Math: Course 1
 

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