Sixth Grade 2010-2011
Mrs. Mary Ann Frankola Room
310
We are WILD about
6th grade and WILD about learning! This year will be full of adventure and personal growth.
I will teach Language
Arts (except for English) and Social Studies to all sixth grade students. I will also teach Religion to my homeroom
students.
Supplies
Check the school
supplies list (on the school website) to make the correct purchases.
Here is some
clarification about notebooks: Students in Room 310 will need two “single subject” notebooks – either
composition or spiral - for my subjects. Students in Room 311 will need one “single subject” notebook – either composition or spiral – for my subjects. Please
don’t go ape and buy multiple-subject
notebooks or notebooks with lots and lots of pages. Seventy or so pages in each notebook will be
PLENTY.
Also, please
remember to replenish your supplies – especially erasable pens and filler paper
- throughout the school year.
Religion Lord, the earth is full of
your creatures. Psalm 104:24
We Believe – We Are God’s
People (published
by Sadlier) is our textbook. We will study the history of God’s people and
our faith, focusing on the Old Testament and the early Church. We will also study the Liturgical year,
Catholic Vision of Love, and the lives of some saints. Prayer and scripture will be a strong
focus. Assessments will include tests,
journals, and special activities. If you
are interested, check out the Sadlier website at: http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/
We will attend liturgy
weekly, usually on Fridays. You may add
to your liturgical experience by being a member of the Cantor Choir, an altar
server, or a lector. We will also deepen
our faith through community service.
Language Arts
Our reading
anthology is Triumphs (published by Houghton Mifflin). We will complete six themes, which include a
variety of literature such as fiction, expository prose, and poetry.
You will develop the
four components of language arts – reading, writing, listening, and speaking –
in a lion’s
share of work and learning adventures. You will have weekly spelling tests and frequent vocabulary quizzes. You will complete Practice Book pages and
Comprehension Workbook lessons. Of
course, you will also participate in special projects. You will develop effective communication
skills through various assignments, including the composition of short stories
as well as essays. You will use the
Criterion online program for some writing assignments.
We will also read
several novels this year. (I have copies
for you to use, so you do not need to buy any.) Through our literature in the Triumphs anthology and the novels, we will deeply explore such topics as
the Holocaust, ancient Egypt, and the age of European exploration.
Check out the Houghton Mifflin website for additional information about our anthology as well as lists of spelling words at: http://www.eduplace.com
Social Studies
My World Geography (by Pearson) will be our main tool as we
explore world geography, history, and culture. We will visit every continent and nearly every country in the world!
You won’t have
time to “monkey around” in social studies. You will be quite busy. You will
have chapter tests and quizzes. You will
complete workbook assignments, draw maps, maintain a social studies folder
(which I will give to you), and participate in various special projects. You will be able to earn extra credit points
by reporting on current events to your classmates. We will occasionally get a little “wilder” about
some of the countries or regions that we study by having special celebrations
and activities. We will integrate the
curriculums of social studies and language arts, making our “travels” and adventures
more exciting. Maybe you will develop a memory
like an elephant.
If you want to
learn more, visit the website for our textbook at: http://www.myworldgeography.com
Centers
As you make your
way through the jungle of expectations in the 6th grade, you will
also enrich your studies through specific activities called Centers. You will complete several Centers every
month. These activities will help you develop
your independence and higher level thinking skills. They will be part of your grade in reading
and social studies.
Finally
Please remember
that you are expected to come to school prepared – with all needed supplies,
with your assignments completed, and WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
I may be contacted
at: maffam429@yahoo.com at any time.
Let’s make 6th grade a wild, wonderful journey of learning and adventure.
