WELCOME TO

HICKORY CREEK

MIDDLE SCHOOL

6TH GRADE CURRICULUM

NIGHT

SEPTEMBER 12th, 2012

Team 6B-

Gold Medalists Mr. Ferraro

Mrs. Fletcher

Ms. Lewkowski

Mrs. Sandowski

Ms. Bouck

Ms. Sabo

Frankfort 157-C Curricular Initiatives

Background:

Illinois adopted Common Core National Standards along with 47 other states

Created newly aligned curriculum in English Language Arts & Math

Old standards were very broad & not challenging

K-12 College & Career readiness

Rigorous skills, reading more complex text, higher-level thinking and problem solving

Changes you might see:

New resources: Many new titles and genres that kids will be

reading

Hands on approach to Math where kids will be spending a longer time going into depth with math skills

Kids will be writing more frequently about their reading of both fiction as well as informational text

Grading…

For the 2012-13 school year all three schools will report grades to parents on a quarterly basis.

The report to parents every quarter will remain the same with only minor changes in some buildings at this time.

Where can I see what my kids will be learning?

www.fsd157c.org

District office

Curriculum

ALL curricular expectations are listed for parents

Co-Teaching

Although the philosophy of Co-Teaching has been in existence for several years within the Frankfort District, starting this year, we have

formally introduced it five days per week within several classrooms at both Chelsea and Hickory Creek. Although we have a variety of continuum options available to all students,

we pride ourselves in being an inclusive district.

Within the Classroom, your Child may have the BENEFIT of TWO

Highly Qualified, Certified Teachers! Within the classroom, the following

models may be used:

•One Teaches/One Supports

•Parallel Teaching

•Station Teaching

•Alternative Teaching

•Team Teaching

Positives of Co-Teaching:

Increases instructional options for ALL students

Increases overall student performance

Provides support to ALL involved in the educational process

Provides alternatives for teaching options within the classroom

Reduces stigmatization of ALL students by allowing students to be educated within the same setting, instead of segregating students who learn differently

RtI: Response to Intervention A Regular Education Initiative

In order to better address students’ needs, students will be assessed three times a year to ensure that they are progressing within the curriculum. HCMS students will complete their first assessment in September. These assessments will be given both by the classroom teacher and additional staff members.

Perhaps the greatest benefit of an RtI approach is that it

eliminates a “wait to fail” situation because students get help promptly within the general education setting.

Our RtI system is divided into a three-tier intervention

model:

Tier 1 – All students are provided with flexible, small group/differentiated instruction using scientific, research based materials. Tier 2 – If a student is not making progress at the rate expected, additional interventions will be developed that provide students “more and different” reading or math assistance and progress will be monitored more frequently. Tier 3 - In some cases, additional, targeted supports are necessary. In those instances, students will be provided increased time in reading or math and provided more intensive and/or targeted assistance throughout the student’s day. Parents are a big part of the RtI process. For additional

information you can pick up an RtI Parent Brochure in the Main Office. We encourage you to communicate with us as we

work with your child throughout the year!

Math and

Honors Math

2012-2013 Curriculum

Overview

Ms. Lewkowski (Ms.

Ellinghaus)

Ms. Bouck

Pearson/Addison Wesley’s Pre-algebra

Overview

Numeration

Variables, Expressions, & Properties

Operations with Decimals

Solving Equations

Number & Fraction Concepts

Decimals, Fractions, & Mixed Numbers

Overview (cont’d)

Geometry

Adding & Subtracting Fractions & Mixed

Numbers

Multiplying & Dividing Fractions & Mixed

Numbers

Ratios, Rates, & Proportions

Integers

Overview (cont’d)

Whole Numbers

Introduction to Integers & Algebraic Expressions

Fraction Notation: Multiplication & Division

Fraction Notation: Addition, Subtraction, &

Mixed Numerals

Decimal Notation

Introduction to Graphing & Statistics

Overview (cont’d)

Ratio & Proportion

Percent Notation

Geometry & Measurement

Polynomials

Science

2012-2013 Curriculum Overview

Mr. Ferraro

Glencoe McGraw Hill

Ecology

Interactions of life

Non-living environments

Ecosystems

Conserving energy

Conserving life

Life Structures and

Functions Exploring/classifying life

Cell structure

Cell processes

Cell reproduction

Heredity

Electricity and Magnetism

Electricity

Magnetism

Light Waves

Waves

Electromagnetic waves

Lights, mirrors, and lenses

Astronomy

Exploring space

Solar system

Stars and galaxies

English Language Arts

(ELA) Mrs. Fletcher

Mrs. Sandowski

Ms. Bouck

ELA Curriculum Overview

• Genre Study

• Literary Elements

Reading for Information

Internal/External Conflict

Point of View

Context Clues

Compare/Contrast

Predictions

Figurative language, Interpretations, Tone, Imagery

Novel Studies: Historical, Multicultural, Biography

Extended Response Writing

Narrative, Expository, and Persuasive Essay Writing

Grammar

Vocabulary

Textbooks: Elements of Literature

Holt, Rinehart & Winston,

2007 Edition

Novel studies

Prentice Hall

Writing Coach

Independent Reading

Studies show that students who read daily are

more successful in other areas of their

education. One goal we have for this year is

to make reading an enjoyable experience.

20 – 30 minutes daily

Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award

The award is named in honor of Rebecca

Caudill who lived and wrote in Urbana,

Illinois, for nearly 50 years.

•Students have the opportunity to vote for their favorite books!

•Students can attend the celebration if at least 3 nominated titles have

been read by February. •As always, thank you to the Frankfort Education

Foundation for supporting this program.

Rebecca Caudill

Party

Social Studies

Journey Across Time

Glencoe McGraw Hill

Mr. Ferraro

Mrs. Fletcher

Ms. Lewkowski

Mrs. Sandowski

Geography Skills

Overview of geographical terms

Types of map projections

Map skill work-

latitude/longitude/scale/key

Charts/graphs/diagrams

Timelines

Units of Study

Early Man

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Greece

Rome

Within each unit:

Geography

Political Systems

Culture

Daily Life

Location and it’s effect on their civilization

Connecting past and present

Expectations and Policies

Assignment Notebook/Teacher Web Pages

PowerSchool

Tardies

Independent Practice

IDs

Online textbooks

Advisory

In the fall and throughout the holidays, 6th graders combine efforts with the Student Council and send letters of support and packages to the many area service men and women serving our country in foreign nations. In the past, we have received letters of thanks from the soldiers and family members letting us know the importance the letter, card, or package from HCMS students has made.

Some of the past recipients of our letters and packages have been so touched by the generosity and support of the students, staff, and community, they have visited HCMS.

Making a difference a letter at a time.

Students , parent, & staff volunteers deliver the bags to the Frankfort Terrace Nursing home.

In conjunction with Direct Effect Charities

A school wide program, run and managed through 6th grade Advisory classes.

HCMS students, staff, & the community “adopt” the Santa Letters from an inner city Chicago Public School.

Bullying 2012-2013

Bullying is…

When someone is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more persons

Bullying can be…

Behavior that is aggressive, malicious, and highly subversive

Repeated over and over…

A relationship where there is an imbalance of power

Happening for no reason

Teasing that is mean spirited and hurts others’ feelings

All of the above but NOT friendly teasing

Bullying is different from:

Peer to peer conflicts

Friendship challenges

Isolated teasing

• Since 1995 the Education Foundation has granted over $1.3 million dollars to our children. Grants include:

Installing SMART Boards in 19 classrooms.

Purchasing more than 5000 award winning books.

Enabling each student at Hickory Creek to play the guitar, drums, and even compose music.

Distributing Tablet PCs at Hickory Creek.

• To learn more visit our website at: http://www.ef157c.org/

• Join us at our annual dinner auction.

• April 19, 2013

give. grant. grow.

The FSP is the Parent Teacher Organization for District 157-C. Our mission is designed to strengthen the partnership between home and school through parent volunteer opportunities, student enrichment activities and fun family events. Some of the ways that we have enriched and supported the curriculum include: •Funding for field trips •Sponsoring special assembly programs •Providing scholarships •Providing curriculum enrichment funding to each school •Coordinating volunteers for all our events and programs Each year we also hold FREE fun family events such as: •Fall Family Fun Night and Creative Arts Showcase at Grand Prairie •Exploration Night and Family Fitness Night at Chelsea Come visit our table at Curriculum Night and visit us at www.fsp157c.org to learn more about our organization, our events, registering and volunteering.