WELCOME TO 6TH GRADE SCIENCE!

Mr. Anderson's Classroom Policies and Procedures

If you have not reviewed classroom policies and procedures recently, I encourage you to review this information so that you may guide your child as he/she completes science course work.

GENERAL CLASS INFORMATION

What will we be learning in science this year?

The sixth grade science curriculum will utilize an inquiry based lab approach, that provides students with a rigorous academic experience. Reading and writing are elements that are taught across the curriculum and will be utilized in science also. Specific content areas that we will investigate through the North Carolina Standard Course of Study are: lab safety and procedures, experimental design and the scientific method, the Earth's lithosphere (crust, Earth's interior, plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, rocks, minerals, soil and the forces that shape the Earth), energy processes - such as energy transfer, the flow of energy through ecosystems and how life is impacted by the relationship between living and non-living things, analyze sound and light matter, and discuss cycles/components of our solar system. As part of these units, we will also discuss how technological advancements assist scientists in understanding the nature of science.

MATERIALS

All students should have a science3-ring binder, pencils and a DMS agenda in class each day. Students are encouraged to set up their binder with tabs. Recommended sections are Loose Leaf Paper, Handouts, Notes, Study Guides and Graded Papers.  Some students may be more comfortable setting up their science binder in order of activities being covered in class. If this is the case, students should place papers in order from most recent (in the front) to less recent in the back of the binder. Being prepared and organized is the first step in becoming a successful science learner!

COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS

Students should be utilizing both the textbook and notes to assist them in completing homework assignments. While homework is meant to be an independent REVIEW of material/concepts covered in class, it is also important for students to learn how to review resources when completing activities. Notes and handouts are kept (or should be) in each students science binder. Students are encouraged to utilize this information to assist with all activities. Text books may be checked out from class on a one day basis to assist with most assignments. Although, please note that students are encouraged to first utilize notes/handouts as they develop more independent study skill strategies.

HOMEWORK

"After School Opportunities" are provided on a regular basis (at least 3 out of 5 days per week). The average amount of homework that you can expect your child to have is 90 minutes per night (for all subject areas). This number is an average time per night rather than a total arrived at by dividing four core classes into 90 minutes;

All homework activities should be kept in the science folder or binder and are due the following day unless otherwise noted by Mr. Anderson;

Homework counts as 10% of the final grade and is reflective of effort rather than a percentage of what is correct or not - the goal is to develop scientific thinking that may be practiced independently;

Assignments should be turned in on the due date; all students begin the trimester with a 100% homework grade, please note the homework criteria below:

1) All completed homework assignments will be worth 5 points;

2) Assignments that are late or incomplete will be worth 3 points;

3) Any work that is not turned in will result in a score of 0;

4) Points will be tallied and a homework grade will be given every two weeks and posted on SPAN;

This should make it easier for parents to track student homework completion, and should more accurately measure a students effort on completing homework assignments.

TESTS/QUIZZES

Quizzes may or may not be announced.

Notice of Unit tests will be given at least two days in advance, and a tentative test date will be listed on the Dolphins team calendar. A study guide will also be part of the test preparation and will count as a homework assignment grade. After most unit tests, students will be provided with an opportunity to make corrections on the test itself, by choosing new responses and writing in pen. Students may use any notes or the text to assist them. Test corrections will be awarded one point per correct answer, and will be added to the percentage earned on the original test grade. 

All test corrections will be due the next day after graded tests have been returned. Test corrections returned later than the due date are generally not accepted.

GRADING SYSTEM   

 All grades are weighted as a percentage of a student's final grade. The weighting is distributed as follows:    

Homework                                10%

Labs                                        25%

Quizzes                                   25%

Tests                                       30%

Final Trimester Exam                10%

Final assignment and report card grades in middle school are distributed as A, B, C, D, and F. The grading scale is as follows:

A     =  100 - 93%

B     =   92  - 85%

C     =   84  - 77%

D     =  76  -  70%

F     =  69% and lower

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES

All extra credit opportunities will be embedded within existing homework assignments, tests and quizzes. Therefore, no extra credit opportunities will be offered at the end of a trimester, in hopes of boosting a grade to the next level.

Extra credit opportunities will include:

Thank you for your assistance as we work together in developing your child's independent learner strategies as we develop their scientific thinking!