2014-2015

6
th
Grade
Handbook






Welcome!
6
th
Grade: Living the HabitsLeading the Way!

The 6
th
grade year is a critical year in your childs
education. Not only is it the last year of
elementary, but it is a stepping stone to Middle
School. It is my job to equip your child with the
necessary tools to enable them to be successful at
the Middle School. Therefore, I, along with the
administration, have designed procedures that will
help us to have a successful school year! Please do
not hesitate to contact me at any time with
concerns or questions. Lets get started!

Mrs. Sharp

Contact information:

E-mail address: tina.sharp@barren.kyschools.us
School phone number: 270-629-2300
Planning period: 10:35-11:20 a.m.
Lunch: 11:25-11:50 a.m.



Homework/Class work
We believe that homework is necessary for practicing skills and it is an important part of a quality
education. Homework assigned in our classes will be used as practice or review of the skills that have
been learned in class. At no time will your child be asked to complete work we have not thoroughly
covered in class. You can expect your child to have homework at least three nights a week: Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday. Homework should never take your child more than one hour each night. If you
notice that your child is spending more than this amount of time, please contact me so we can discuss this
issue.
I understand how important it is to have family time. Weekends, holidays and breaks are very valuable
times and homework will not be given during these times. Occasionally, your child may have an activity
he/she needs to complete over the weekend, but this would be very rare and only if he/she has not used
class time wisely.
Throughout each nine-week period, many grades will be taken on homework and class assignments. We
expect all homework and class work to be turned in on time. In the event that a student does not have
his/her homework, the child will receive a mark and lose recess privileges in order to help finish the
assignment. A grade of zero is not an option. There will be time allotted for your child to complete the
work if he/she chooses not to complete the assignment within the time given. A possible option would be
in-school suspension if necessary. We understand that there may be times when circumstances occur that
are beyond your child's control and if needed, please just send a note to school with your child.
Adjustments will be made for these situations. A note will be put in your child's agenda each time that
homework is not completed as assigned so please check the agendas daily.

We will provide feedback either individually or as a class for each homework assignment that is given. We
feel that if the work is important enough to ask your child to do during his/her time at home with the
family, then it is important enough for us to give feedback about it. If the feedback is addressed as a class
and your child needs individual feedback, all they have to do is ask and we will go over the assignment
individually with him/her.

We would appreciate your support in expecting your child to complete homework on time and with
effort. By providing your child with a set time and place to complete work, and by offering your
assistance, you will be teaching your child responsibility and good study habits. By checking over
homework assignments, you are showing your child that you are interested in what they are learning and
that learning is important to you. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Assessments
We will be using various forms of assessments throughout the school year. Some of these include:
1. Open responses
2. Multiple choice exams
3. Oral exams
4. Performance assessments

You will be informed well in advance when an assessment will be given. Each time we have a test, a copy
will be sent home in the Monday Message Folder. This is to keep you informed of how well your child is
doing in class. There will also be times that we will ask for the exams to be signed and returned to school.
We like to keep samples on file.


Grading
Several grades will be taken throughout the nine-week period. Assessments will count as 75% of the final
grade and classwork/homework/labs, etc. will be averaged and accounts for 25%. The lowest
homework assignment grade will be dropped. We do NOT drop assessment grades.

The following scale will be used:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
<60 F
A midterm report will be sent home in the middle of the nine-week period to let you know how well your
child is performing in class. You may also check Infinite Campus or contact me by email.
Monday Message Folders
Monday Message Folders are a means of communication between school and home. Every Monday, your
child will bring home a folder, and inside you will find graded work and other forms of correspondences.
There will also be a sheet for you to sign, indicating that you had a chance to review the contents of the
folder. All papers should be removed from the folder, and it should be returned by Wednesday. Please
help your child be consistent with this routine.
Agenda
As in the past, your child has been given an agenda and it is very important to your child's success at
school. It is also a valuable means for communication between school and home. It is your child's
responsibility to fill out his/her agenda daily in order to stay organized and complete work as needed.
Various teachers will write notes in the agenda to keep you informed of late work, test grades, and also
praise reports! We ask that you PLEASE check it nightly, but signature is only required on Thursday
night. This is a way for us to make sure you have seen any communication that has been written, as well
as any notes your child has been asked to write. Thank you in advance for all your help with this!
Leadership/Behavior
In order to encourage your child to become a leader, there will be numerous opportunities provided for
him/her to develop their leadership skills. Ambassadors will be chosen each month based on the 8 Habits,
as well as Leaders of the Week. The students chosen will be asked to take on various leadership roles
within the school and also in the community.
The 8 Habits that we focus on at North Jackson are as follows:

8 Habits
1. Be proactive (take action and be responsible)
2. Begin with an end in mind (consciously plan out and visualize your actions)
3. First things first (set priorities and carry them out)
4. Think win-win (in negotiation, seek solutions that help both yourself and the other person)
5. Seek first to understand, then be understood (in communication, listen actively before you talk)
6. Synergize (in work, open yourself to others to work effectively in teams)
7. Sharpen the Saw (relax, rejuvenate, and revitalize yourself)
8. Find Your Voice (examine your natural talent, what you absolutely love to do, what interests you)


Jaguar Ambassadors
Each month a student will be recognized as the Ambassador of the Month and
recognized at the monthly PTO meeting. The teacher may nominate a student based on
classroom observation or through the recommendation of another faculty member.
Members of the class can nominate a fellow classmate by filling out a nomination form.
Specific reasons must be given in order to make the nomination that lists specific ways
the classmate has shown the Habit during the school day, as well as outside of school.
Battle Buddy Program
In order to promote accountability, this school year we will enact a Battle Buddy
Program. In Basic Training for the Military, each soldier is given a Battle Buddy. He/she
is accountable to look after and to check on their partner. As 6
th
graders, we are in
preparation for the Middle School and want to enrich our team-building skills.and to
SYNERGIZE!
With this program, students will be assigned a buddy and will adhere to the following
procedures:
You will check in with your buddy at least once per week.
Ask how he/she is doing in school and at home.
Eat lunch at least once per week with your buddy.
Keep your eye out for your buddy if you see he/she is in trouble or sad.
Provide words of encouragement to your buddy.
ALWAYS let your teachers, Mrs. Waldrop, or Mr. Frazier know if your Battle
Buddy is in any dangerous or harmful circumstance!
Lastly, the students will encourage each other to reach their VISION!

Leadership Teams
This school year, we will be dividing our students into Leadership Teams. In these
teams, students will rotate leadership roles in the classroom and will work together on
class projects.

Social Media
While we realize that students are involved with social media such as Facebook and
Instagram, we will not be utilizing these for communication between teachers,
parents, and students. All communication will be made via school email or the school
phone. Twitter may be available on the school website at a later date.

Technology
The use of Cell Phones, IPhones, and other devices will not be allowed to be turned on
in the classroom. (Please see NJE Handbook for additional information.)

We are very excited about the uses of technology in schools today. Chalkboards and
overheads have become a thing of the past! In the sixth grade, we encourage the use of
tablets or other handheld devices as long as they are used appropriately. The use of
Kindles, Nooks, etc. will be allowed for READING purposes only with a signed
permission form. An Ipad or Ipod may be used if a Reading App is available. Please
understand that the school will not be held accountable for lost or broken devices.
Permission forms will be sent home upon request.



Sixth Grade Leaders
In order to help each child find his voice, each will be encouraged to become involved
in extra-curricular activities at NJE. Here are a few:
Choir Drama Club
KJHS (Kentucky Junior Historical Society) Green Team
SWAT Team (Students With a Testimony) Video Club
Academic Team STLP
Future Problem Solving K-Kids
J-Fit (Jaguars-Friends in Training) BETA
ART SMART 21
st
Century Afterschool
NJE Student Lighthouse Team Yearbook Club


Science/Math Integration- Mrs. Sharp
Science Binder/Log
Each student will be required to keep a math/science binder that will include notes from class,
experiments, and other related activities. Students will add science notes to the back of their math
log. The students will not have a science book that will be brought home; therefore, the binders are going
to be very important. It will be the students' responsibility to get the notes from a classmate in the event
of an absence. I will be using a variety of tools to teach the science concepts this year, such as Science
Court, United Streaming, Compass Learning, SMARTBOARD, and hands-on activities. Much of our work
will be inquiry-based and will be done in class, so science homework will be minimal. I always provide a
review sheet over each unit before a test, so the students will be prepared to ace the tests!! Most of my
assessments are designed just like our state assessments; therefore, they will consist of multiple choice,
short answer, and extended responses. There will also be inquiry-based labs used as assessments
throughout the year.

Science Fair Projects
Towards the middle of the school year, we will be designing Science Fair projects! This is always an
enjoyable learning experience for the students and a stressful time for me since most of the work will be
done here at school! Parents, you can thank me later! Some research and materials may need to be
brought in from home, but I will oversee the majority of the projects.



Social Studies/Language Arts Integration-
Mrs. Sharp
Language Arts
Language Arts will continue accommodate the new standards. In lieu of the weekly spelling tests, we are
going to focus on vocabulary words, in addition to the spelling. The students will not only have to spell
these words, but will keep a word bank of definitions and the use of the words in context. Students will
have a spelling/vocabulary test on a bi-weekly schedule. Shurley English will be used when appropriate. In
addition, the SF Reading Street Grammar/Writing books will be used. The students will be utilizing a
Grammar Journal to use as a resource.


Writing
Your child will also be spending time strengthening his/her writing skills. The students will be writing-but
not limited to-short stories, folk tales/myths, feature articles/editorials, letters, and essays. Some writing
pieces will be integrated with their current study in Power Reading and Social Studies.
Writing Journals: The students will be keeping a writing journal/word bank. The students will be free-
writing and will be given journal prompts.
Students will also be keeping a Communication Folder of all writing pieces that will be checked by
administration, as well as to collect pieces that will be sent to BCMS.

World Geography
During the course of this school year, your child will be studying World Geography in Social Studies. We
will travel the world and study ancient cultures, as well as modern-day countries.
The first two weeks will be a map skills unit, followed by a unit of study on the Americas. I will also be
incorporating Current World events into the curriculum.
I also ask that parents and family members be involved in any way that you can. If you have experiences
with another culture, language, or country-please let me know and I would love for you to be able to
contribute to our class. In addition, if you have any experiences with missions you are also welcome to
come and share with our class.

During this class, your child will be assessed using a variety of means. Besides the normal paper/pencil
test, I will also be using performance tasks to assess your childs knowledge. This will be done mostly
during class time, but occasionally your child may have to work on this at home. If you would like to
volunteer to help during these projects, it would be greatly appreciated. I may also ask for donations of
supplies during these tasks.


Current Events
In order to build your childs awareness of todays society, we will also be doing Current Events Activities.
Occasionally, I may ask them to watch the news or read newspapers to gain information about a current
event. I would also like to have donations of newspapers and magazines. NOTE: Your child will not be
penalized if you do not allow them to watch TV or read newspapers. Please let me know if this is a
problem and I will find an alternate task for your child. In addition, time will be allotted at school to do
these projects if there is no computer, TV, or newspaper access at home.




Power Reading- Mrs. Sharp


Reading Street Curriculum
At the beginning of the school year, students will be issued a Reading Street textbook. These books will be
used throughout the year and will cover a variety of genres. Students will practice a variety of reading
strategies in this course of study. These include comprehension, inferring, finding main ideas, making
generalizations, and summarization skills. In addition, each student will receive a Reading Street Practice
Workbook that will be used with each story. These practice pages will help to reinforce the skills learned.
Students will also study Story Elements and Figurative Language throughout the year.
In addition, I will be incorporating Laying the Foundation Pre-AP strategies.

Additional Literacy
In addition to the RS textbooks, students will be required to read four additional pieces of literature.
Canyons, Hatchet, Roll of Thunder, and The Miracle Worker will be read in class. These books will be
studied in a variety of ways, including the use of Literature Circles. With Canyons and Hatchet, alternative
assessments will be used that will include a performance assessment. If time permits, we will choose
another piece of literature to read following spring break.
Additional Required Readings: Instead of requiring the students to read a specific number of Accelerated
Reader points, the students will be required to read additional books from the 6
th
grade suggested
reading list. Books will be obtained from the class and school library and the public library. The students
will also complete one Literacy Response Packet per 9 weeks on one of their books. Students will receive a
test grade for the Literacy Response Packets. A packet outlining the additional readings will be given out
in Power Reading.

Homework and Assessments
Students will have homework in their Power Reading class. The reading of stories and the completion of
practice pages will be required. Students will be given some time in class to work on their homework, but
with such limited time, they will have to take some things home to complete.
Students will also be keeping a Readers Response Log this year while reading their literature pieces.
Grades will be given for homework for their practice pages, reading assignments, and Response Logs.
Assessments will be in a variety of forms. The Reading Street assessments are comprehensive and include
multiple choice, short answer, and essay-type questions.
Open Responses will also be given on a regular basis, as well as performance assessments.

Power Math- Mrs. Weygandt
Power Math
This year, your child will have at least two Math times during the school day. First, each student will have
a Power Math session in which basic skills will be taught using the Saxon Math program. Your child will
be issued a Saxon Math book at the beginning of the school year and it will be used each day during the
"Power" class. Saxon Placement tests, MAP data and teacher recommendation will be used to determine
the best placement. The students will be grouped during this math class so that they will be provided with
instruction that best fits individual needs. In addition to this time 45 minutes, an integration study of
Math and Science will be a focus for approximately another 70 minutes a day. During this time, the focus
will be the Common Core Standards and the integration with Science content. Please contact me if you
have any questions regarding your childs Math placement.

Math Logs
Your child will be given a composition book or he/she may decide to purchase one. The composition book
is referred to as a "Math Log" and it will be a valuable part of class. Your child will take notes daily and
work various computation problems in this notebook. It will serve as a math dictionary as we write the
definitions to our vocabulary and draw examples of important math terms. Your child will also write
reflections about learning and sometimes do homework in the Log so that I may have various samples of
your child's work. I will also ask the child to bring it home occasionally to show you some of the work
being done in class.
The Math Log has been great in the past to help student's study for an upcoming exam or quiz. There will
be times that I will let students use the Log during a test if we are working on such things as formulas. It is
very important and it will be your child's responsibility to bring the Log to class EACH day. If your child
chooses to come to class without the Log, he/she will be considered "unprepared" and a mark will be
given.

Calculator Use
My students will be learning to solve increasingly complex mathematical word problems this year;
however, students may use a calculator to complete homework only if I have asked the student to do so
and then I will ask him/her to write it at the top the homework page so that you will know it is acceptable.
I have had very little trouble with this system because students are always required to show their
computational work; otherwise their work is incomplete. Your child should never use a calculator for skill
drills or basic computation.

I have read the NJE 6
th
Grade Handbook and will do
my utmost to support my child in following these
procedures.


Students Name: ____________________________
Parent/Guardian Name: ______________________
Date: ___________________