This has been a busy week, and I hope everyone is looking forward to a restful weekend. When we get back on Monday, we will be reviewing the concepts taught in math--place value, exponents, comparing numbers, and rounding numbers--in preparation for a quiz on Tuesday. We will spend the rest of the week working with various estimation strategies. There are many "rules" to learn and the rules for estimating sums and differences are different than the rules used when estimating products and quotients so your sixth grader will need to be on his/her toes! They will also be assigned a problem solving worksheet which is due Thursday. I have decided to move the due date up to Thursday for purely selfish reasons--fewer papers for me to check over the weekend!! DGPs will also be due on Thursday. We will alternate between problem solving and DGP; this week there is problem solving, next week there will be DGP.
In Social Studies we will be taking a closer look at different types of maps and deciding which maps works best to answer different types of questions. We will then apply all we have learned about maps to create our own maps.
Assignments for the week:
Monday
Math--Domino Place Value Social Studies--NA
Tuesday
Math--Quiz NA Social Studies --NA
Wednesday
Math--NA Social Studies--Design Shieldlandia Map (due Friday)
Thursday
Math--P1-5 Social Studies--Begin working on Create a State Project (due date TBA)
Friday
Math--P1-6 Social Studies--Continue working on Create a State Project
Friday, September 6, 2013
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Johnson's Journal--September 4, 2013
The sixth graders have grasped the concepts of integers nicely. What I have noticed, though, is that the kids are rusty when it comes to their math facts and multiplying two digit numbers by two digit numbers. These are skills that sixth graders need to have down cold. We can spend a bit of time brushing up on those skills, but we have too many new skills to learn in sixth grade to focus on skills that should have been mastered in fourth and fifth grade. We will take our RTI math time this week to drill on multiplication facts, and a time test will be given on Friday to see who has their facts mastered. Mastery is completing 95 or more problems in five minutes.
I am asking that you spend some time with your sixth grader working on flash cards or helping them find an online game or activity to drill on the multiplication facts. Today we went to multiplication.com and worked with the games on that site to get our skills back in shape. I am confident that with a bit of work, we can get those math facts down cold. When your child knows those math facts instantly, the rest of sixth grade math work is so much easier. Thanks for your help.
Just a reminder that you can check on your child's progress via Campus. If you are having troubling accessing your student's grades or need help setting up an account, please contact me, and I will be glad to help you. By keeping abreast of your child's grades throughout the quarter, there will be no nasty surprises when report cards come out, and we can be proactive instead of reactive.
Reminder--Daily Geography Practice (DGP) is due on Friday.
Ruth Johnson
I am asking that you spend some time with your sixth grader working on flash cards or helping them find an online game or activity to drill on the multiplication facts. Today we went to multiplication.com and worked with the games on that site to get our skills back in shape. I am confident that with a bit of work, we can get those math facts down cold. When your child knows those math facts instantly, the rest of sixth grade math work is so much easier. Thanks for your help.
Just a reminder that you can check on your child's progress via Campus. If you are having troubling accessing your student's grades or need help setting up an account, please contact me, and I will be glad to help you. By keeping abreast of your child's grades throughout the quarter, there will be no nasty surprises when report cards come out, and we can be proactive instead of reactive.
Reminder--Daily Geography Practice (DGP) is due on Friday.
Ruth Johnson
Friday, August 30, 2013
Johnson's Journal Friday, August 30, 2013
Whewww! We made it through a full five days of school! I would say your sixth grader has definitely got the schedule down and is settling into the routine of school! I really enjoy working with your student, and I see great potential in each of them. When we come back from Labor Day, Mrs. Suntken and I will both expect our students to use lots of self-control. The sixth graders are Jacobson's role models, and by this point, they should know what the rules are without a lot of reminders. Also, remember that starting on September 3rd students who do not have assignments done will be asked to stay after school. You will be contacted in the morning to make arrangements if it is necessary for your child to stay after school. Hopefully, this will not be an issue for your student.
Here is an outline of what will be covered during the week:
Math
Tuesday--Exponents--Assignment--page 70, Set 1-2 #1-8, 13
Wednesday--Exponents--Assignment--Worksheet P1-2
Thursday--Comparing and Ordering Numbers--Assignment--Worksheet P1-3
Friday--Rounding Numbers--Assignment--Worksheet P1-4
Social Studies
Daily Geography Practice will be assigned on Tuesday. The whole worksheet needs to be completed by Friday.
Tuesday--Latitude and Longitude--No assignment
Wednesday--Latitude and Longitude--Assignment--Packet p. 3
Thursday--Different Types of Maps--No assignment
Friday--Using Different Types of Maps--No assignment
I hope all of you have a safe and relaxing weekend. Hopefully, it will be cooler and recess more pleasant when we return in September!
Ruth Johnson
Here is an outline of what will be covered during the week:
Math
Tuesday--Exponents--Assignment--page 70, Set 1-2 #1-8, 13
Wednesday--Exponents--Assignment--Worksheet P1-2
Thursday--Comparing and Ordering Numbers--Assignment--Worksheet P1-3
Friday--Rounding Numbers--Assignment--Worksheet P1-4
Social Studies
Daily Geography Practice will be assigned on Tuesday. The whole worksheet needs to be completed by Friday.
Tuesday--Latitude and Longitude--No assignment
Wednesday--Latitude and Longitude--Assignment--Packet p. 3
Thursday--Different Types of Maps--No assignment
Friday--Using Different Types of Maps--No assignment
I hope all of you have a safe and relaxing weekend. Hopefully, it will be cooler and recess more pleasant when we return in September!
Ruth Johnson
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Johnson's Journal August 28, 2013
It was another fine day in sixth grade! Just wanted to let you know your sixth grader got a study guide for the continents and oceans quiz today. The quiz will be on Friday. All the kids agreed that identifying the continents and oceans would not be a problem; the challenge will be spelling them correctly. Please quiz them on the spellings of the continents and oceans tonight and tomorrow night.
The sixth graders have a crossword puzzle about the continents and oceans due tomorrow, and problem solving is due Friday. I'm looking to have 100% of the students turn those assignments in on time.
Most have been doing a great job getting assignments in on time, but a few missed deadlines. This week, those students lost recess as a consequence. Next week, students who turn in late work will have to stay after school. I certainly hope I will not have any company next week after school :)
Ruth Johnson
The sixth graders have a crossword puzzle about the continents and oceans due tomorrow, and problem solving is due Friday. I'm looking to have 100% of the students turn those assignments in on time.
Most have been doing a great job getting assignments in on time, but a few missed deadlines. This week, those students lost recess as a consequence. Next week, students who turn in late work will have to stay after school. I certainly hope I will not have any company next week after school :)
Ruth Johnson
Monday, August 26, 2013
August 26, 2013 Johnson's Journal
Here's the first update to the post I made on Friday...
Students in 6J math need to have their all about me posters done tomorrow (Tuesday).
We didn't get as far in 6S so I told those students they could have until Wednesday to complete their posters. They won't have any additional class time to work though; the posters will need to be completed at study hall or at home.
All my sixth grade math students got their problem solving assignment today. It focuses on using a calculator accurately. That assignment is due Friday, August 30th.
Keep cool!
Students in 6J math need to have their all about me posters done tomorrow (Tuesday).
We didn't get as far in 6S so I told those students they could have until Wednesday to complete their posters. They won't have any additional class time to work though; the posters will need to be completed at study hall or at home.
All my sixth grade math students got their problem solving assignment today. It focuses on using a calculator accurately. That assignment is due Friday, August 30th.
Keep cool!
Friday, August 23, 2013
Johnson's Journal August 23, 2013
What an awesome start to the 2013-2014 school year we had this past week. It was good to meet so many of you parents on Wednesday, and we had a great two days in the classroom on Thursday and Friday. We spent much of our time settling into the routines of sixth grade and getting better acquainted. As I said at our Back to School Conferences, please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. I cannot help to solve a problem if I am not aware of it.
We will be getting down to work this week in both Math and Social Studies. I will give you an outline of what we will be covering this week and the assignments/quizzes I have planned. Please realize these dates may change. I will try to update you with any changes via this blog, but the best way to know exactly what assignment were given each day is to check your child's planner; the planner will contain the most up to date information.
Math
Monday--The problem solving assignment for the week will be given. It focuses on using calculators accurately. It is due Friday.
Complete your All About Me in Numbers poster. Due Tuesday.
Tuesday--Place Value--No assignment
Wednesday--Place Value--No assignment
Thursday--Place Value---Complete worksheet P-1. You learner also learned to play a new version of Battleship, and I will send home a gameboard and directions so you can play together.
Firday--Problem solving due.
Exponents--No assignment
Social Studies
The sixth graders will be introduced to Daily Geography Practice (DGP) this week. We will work through the first DGP together this week so they will be ready to do next week's independently.
Monday--Map Skills Review--Cardinal directions, Intermediate directions, Relative direction--No assignment
Tuesday--Building a human compass rose
Complete packet page 1--It's All Relative--due Wednesday.
Wednesday--Identifying Continents and Oceans--Students will be given the study guide for Friday's quiz. Students will be expected to identify the world's continents and oceans and spell the names correctly.
Complete Continents and Oceans crossword puzzle--due Thursday.
Thursday--Latitude and Longitude--No assignment
Friday--Continents and Oceans Quiz
We will be getting down to work this week in both Math and Social Studies. I will give you an outline of what we will be covering this week and the assignments/quizzes I have planned. Please realize these dates may change. I will try to update you with any changes via this blog, but the best way to know exactly what assignment were given each day is to check your child's planner; the planner will contain the most up to date information.
Math
Monday--The problem solving assignment for the week will be given. It focuses on using calculators accurately. It is due Friday.
Complete your All About Me in Numbers poster. Due Tuesday.
Tuesday--Place Value--No assignment
Wednesday--Place Value--No assignment
Thursday--Place Value---Complete worksheet P-1. You learner also learned to play a new version of Battleship, and I will send home a gameboard and directions so you can play together.
Firday--Problem solving due.
Exponents--No assignment
Social Studies
The sixth graders will be introduced to Daily Geography Practice (DGP) this week. We will work through the first DGP together this week so they will be ready to do next week's independently.
Monday--Map Skills Review--Cardinal directions, Intermediate directions, Relative direction--No assignment
Tuesday--Building a human compass rose
Complete packet page 1--It's All Relative--due Wednesday.
Wednesday--Identifying Continents and Oceans--Students will be given the study guide for Friday's quiz. Students will be expected to identify the world's continents and oceans and spell the names correctly.
Complete Continents and Oceans crossword puzzle--due Thursday.
Thursday--Latitude and Longitude--No assignment
Friday--Continents and Oceans Quiz
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Welcome to Sixth Grade!
I'm looking forward to working with you and your sixth grader in the coming year. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. My contact information is listed below:
ruth.johnson@bkcsd.org
school number 641-444-4794 Ext. 334
home phone 641-444-4694
I will be using this blog to keep you posted as to happenings in sixth grade. Stop back soon!
Ruth Johnson