Welcome back Quest families!!
We had a great start to our 6th grade school year. Our goals were to connect with classmates, set expectations, and have fun and we did all of the above. Last Thursday and Friday, we worked on math and LA activities. This week we will start all of our core classes. Students will have math and language arts in the morning, and after lunch will have science or social studies. If they are in science, they will have Mrs. Williams for 6 weeks and then switch to social studies with Mr. Taylor. If they are in social studies, they will have Mr. Taylor for 6 weeks and then switch to science with Mrs. Williams.
School Supplies - In an effort to create more space in backpacks, students are only asked to keep the following items in their backpacks: pencils, headphones, a reading book, and a blue home folder that we gave them. All other notebooks and folders can be kept in the classroom.
Math - Our first few days of math class focused on group work. We brainstormed how we want our classmates to act in small groups and then did some fun problem solving. Small group problem solving will continue to be an important part of math class. This year we will be starting with a geometry unit. Our focus will be area and surface area as we build on what students experienced in 4th and 5th grade. Here is more information about our first unit. This year we are excited about our new math program, Desmos, which mixes paper and computer-based lessons. More information can be found here.
Language Arts - Last Monday, students went to the library to get a silent reading book. Students will be expected to read a book that is one they have not read before, but is also at their reading level. We shared our reading books and built connections with what we are reading. Next week I will be introducing a reading challenge for the month of September and October, as well as our first book group books.
Our first books for book groups will be biographies. Students had the choice of the following books:
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzi
Kareem by Kareem Abdul Jabaar
Soul Surfer by Bethany Hamilton
I Got This by Laurie Hernandez
Reaching for the Moon by Katherine Johnson
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance
With the votes in and a bit of wrangling, Mrs. Hill and I are offering book groups for the first five on the list. Everyone was able to get one of their top 3 choices. I will be using Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery as a mentor text. If students would like to read Elon Musk by Ashlee Vance, I am happy to run a small book club during iblock using that as an independent reading book. Otherwise we will start these books on Thursday. I will have a calendar of reading dates posted on the website for all books.
Science - Our first unit in science will be ecosystems. We will have a combination of indoor and outdoor lessons and activities.
Social Studies - Our first unit in social studies will be building off of our last unit in 5th grade on the American Revolution. We will be learning about the early establishment of government in the United States and will continue to learn about the 3 branches of government. Throughout the unit, we will learn how to use atlases, discuss current events, and practice our geography skills.
Important Dates
9/21 - Walk & Ride to School
9/22 - Back to School Night
9/22 - CBMS Community Dinner
10/7 - No school for students
10/10 - No school
10/11 - Picture Day
Questions to ask your student:
What books were you interested in reading?
How was the fashion show?
What are you doing during recess?
What problems did you solve in math?
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