I hope all of you are enjoying a relaxing weekend with your family. It's hard to believe we already have two weeks of school under our belt. Things continue to go very well in sixth grade!
This week in math we will continue to work with ratios, in particular equivalent ratios. Through our study, the kids will recognize that 1:2, 6:12, 36:72, etc. are all equivalent and how to create equivalent ratios. Tape diagrams are a tool we will be using to help develop this concept and make the concept easy to see. Our new Engage New York math curriculum is exposing students to concepts that have not been taught at the sixth grade level in the past, but I am pleased at how thorough the explanations are. Most importantly these new materials really make the kids THINK and give them a deep understanding of why we do the things we do in math.
Don't forget that we will start the week with a quiz over the continents and oceans on Tuesday during social studies. The sixth graders will need to identify the continents and oceans on a map and spell the names correctly. We will continue to review using latitude and longitude, and end the week with a lesson on choosing the correct map for the job. Physical maps have a different use than road maps, and cultural maps have a different purpose than political maps. It will take us this week and the next to complete our social studies map skills unit. Then we will switch gears and dive into a science unit.
Both Ms. Halfpop and I are asking the sixth graders to use cursive penmanship on most assignments. This has caused a fair amount of groaning, but like anything, cursive will become second nature with practice. Perhaps you could have your learner write the grocery list or the Target list for you in cursive; look for times when they can practice at home.
Please don't forget the early dismissal on Wednesday, September 3rd. The teachers will be involved in professional development meetings that afternoon.
The sixth grade magazine sales drive will also kick off this week.
As always, please contact me if you have questions or concerns. I want to work with you to make this year a positive one for your sixth grader. I can be reached at 641-444-4300 ext. 334 or ruth.johnson@bkcsd.org.
Ruth Johnson
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