Sixth Grade ELL Humanities andMath/Science Core
In the ELL Department we maintain an "open door policy." While it is best to schedule an appointment, our Teachers and Instructional Assistants will make every effort to meet with parents at any time from 7:15 to 3:00. Bilingual Instructional Assistants are available to interpret in Spanish and Cambodian.
About Mr. Smith
I have been teaching for 14 years. This will be my 10th year at Denny.
BA in English, Western Washington University, Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, Wichita State University.
Where I really became a teacher: Peace Corps service in Tarnobrzeg, Poland.
I enjoy hiking, kayaking, reading, and camping with my family.
Mr. Smith's languages: native English, fluent Polish, rusty French, survival Spanish.
Our 6th grade ELL Core Curriculum is offered using a Sheltered Content Area instructional model. The same group of students meets for the Humanities component of this course 1st and 2nd periods, and then meet for the Math/Science component during 4th and 5th periods. Bilingual Instructional Assistants Mr. Diaz, Mr. Boonthong, and Mr. Dang are frequently with me in the classroom supporting students.
These core courses are designed for English Language Learners (ELL) with reading and writing abilities ranging from pre-literate to approaching proficiency. The course will include introductory language skills in oral comprehension, listening comprehension, and writing. Students will be provided with opportunities to learn and practice language skills with the use of direct instruction and communicative language methodologies. Reading activities and selections will reflect the cultural diversity of students. Hands-on activities, and content area activities will be integrated in this course.
Classroom Expectation:
· We respect one another.
· We are in school to learn, grow and improve ourselves.
· We are prepared for learning.
· We will create a supportive learning community.
· We will include others and stop all bullying and harassment.
· We do our best, always.
Language Arts
Language Arts Standards Taught in Class
Reading
1: The student understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.
2: The student understands the meaning of what is read.
3: The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes.
4: The student sets goals and evaluates progress to improve reading.
Writing
1. The student writes clearly and effectively.
2. The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.
3. The student understands and uses the steps of the writing process.
4. The student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work.
Students will develop vocabulary and writing skills through meaningful, individual learning experiences. Writing will consist of student-generated sentences and will progress towards paragraph writing. Students will study narrative, expository, descriptive, persuasive and letter writing techniques. Correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization will be modeled in reading and writing. Students will learn to employ a variety of vocabulary building strategies.
Course goals:
· Students will develop the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills necessary to advance to the next level course.
· Students will make measurable gains in WLPT Reading and Writing scores.
· Students will make measurable gains on Reading Strategies assessments.
· Students will make measurable gains on WASL Reading, Writing, Communications, and Mathematics standards.
Upon completion of this course students should
· Be able to form questions orally and in writing.
· Understand and use capitalization.
· Understand and be able to compare and contrast objects and ideas orally and in writing.
· Be able to identify and write complete sentences.
· Be able to discuss a story and relate it to personal experiences.
· Be able to identify main ideas and details from reading.
· Be able to summarize from reading.
· Be able to use the Six Traits of Good Writing.
Textbooks:English Yes! , various short works of fiction, and various non-fiction articles
Course projects:
Daily journal
Silent reading log
Autobiography
Book reports
Re-telling folk tales using oral history models
Interview of family member, school staff, or member of the community
Oral classroom presentation
Classroom reading of composition
Social Studies
Social Studies Standards Taught in Class
History
1. The student examines and understands major ideas, eras, themes, developments, turning points, chronology, and cause-effect relationships in United States, world, and Washington State history.
2. The student understands the origin and impact of ideas and technological developments on history.
Geography
1. The student uses maps, charts, and other geographic tools to understand the spatial arrangement of people, places, resources, and environments on Earth’s surface.
2. The student understands the complex physical and human characteristics of places and regions.
3. The student observes and analyzes the interaction between people, the environment, and culture.
Civics
1. Compare and contrast democracies with other forms of government.
Economics
1. Students understand the essential characteristics of past and present economic systems.
2. Students understand the role of government and institutions in past and present economic systems.
The Social Studies component of this course gives equal attention to both Social Studies content and acquisition of academic English proficiency in all areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
Course goals:
· Students will advance to 7th grade ELL Social Studies or mainstream Social Studies.
· Students will make measurable gains in Washington Language Proficiency Test (WLPT.)
· Students will make measurable gains on Reading Strategies assessments.
Textbooks:
World History and You, World Geography and You, The World and Its People
Upon completion of this course students should
· Be able to summarize thoughts, both orally and in a written paragraph.
· Be able to interpret and apply data from graphs.
· Be able to demonstrate use of mapping skills.
· Comprehend basic geographical and climatic concept and terminology.
· Be able to demonstrate a basic knowledge of world history.
· Be familiar with, and appreciate cultural, linguistic, and ethnic diversity.
· Be familiar with the contributions that diverse communities have made to world culture and American culture.
· Be aware of different types of communities and career opportunities.
· Be able to identify and demonstrate skill in using non-fiction reading strategies.
Social Studies course outline:
The world of geography
Earth's physical geography
The Ancient World
China
India
Africa
Two Thousand Years of Change
The Growth of Nations and Ideas
Revolutions
Social Studies course projects:
Class Social Studies field trip
Independent Social Studies field trip and report
Research paper and presentation
Community-based oral history projects
Math
Math Standards Taught in Class
1. The student understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics.
2. The student uses mathematics to define and solve problems.
3. The student uses mathematical reasoning.
4. The student communicates knowledge and understanding in both everyday and mathematical language.
5. The student understands how mathematical ideas connect within mathematics, to other subject areas, and to real-life situations.
This course gives special attention to Math vocabulary and problem solving strategies and skills. This course uses the same teaching materials and follows the same scope and sequence of the mainstream Math curriculum.
Course goals:
· Students will advance to mainstream 7th grade Math prepared to participate in the CMP Math curriculum.
· Students will make measurable gains towards WASL Reading, Writing, Communications, and Mathematics standards.
Textbooks:
Prime Time, Data About Us, Bits and Pieces I, Covering and Surrounding, How
Likely Is It?
Upon completion of this course students should
· Be proficient in basic Math terms and problem solving vocabulary.
· Be proficient in a variety of problem solving strategies.
· Be able to use read and define multi-step Math problems from a complex text.
Course Projects:
Math Unit Projects
Science
Science Standards Taught in Class
1. The student understands and applies the concepts and procedures of mathematics.
2. The student uses mathematics to define and solve problems.
3. The student uses mathematical reasoning.
4. The student communicates knowledge and understanding in both everyday and mathematical language.
5. The student understands how mathematical ideas connect within mathematics, to other subject areas, and to real-life situations
This course gives equal attention to both Science content and acquisition of academic English proficiency in all areas (listening, speaking, reading, and writing).
Course goals:
· Students will advance to mainstream Science.
· Students will make measurable gains in WLPT Reading and Writing scores.
· Students will make measurable gains on Reading Strategies assessments.
· Students will make measurable gains towards WASL Reading, Writing, Communications, and Mathematics standards.
Textbooks:
The Wonders of Science: Plant Life, Matter Motion and Machines
Instructional Kits:
The Diversity of Life
Solutions and Pollutions.
Magnets and Motors.
Upon completion of this course students should
· Be familiar with the scientific inquiry.
· Be able to use classification skills.
· Have a basic knowledge of science vocabulary in the areas of personal health, life science, earth science, and physical science.
· Be able to prepare, interpret, and apply data from graphs and charts.
· Be able demonstrate the ability to observe and record data.
· Be able to apply graphic organizers to science content.
· Be aware of educational and career opportunities available in science.
· Be aware of current worldwide, environmental, ecological, and health issues.
· Be able to relate scientific knowledge to personal life.
· Be able to summarize thoughts, both orally and in a written paragraph.
· Be familiar with the contributions that diverse communities have made to science.
· Be able to identify and demonstrate skill in using non-fiction reading strategies.
Course outline:
Spiders: What is science? What is a scientist?
Basic skills: observing, inferring, measuring, communicating, classifying, and predicting.
Integrated skills: identifying variables, construction tables of data, constructing graphs.
Constructing hypotheses and designing an experiment.
Experimenting with water and the phases of matter.
Diversity of Life
Solutions and Pollutions.
Magnets and Motors
Course projects
Science Fair Project
Science Notebook
Weekly hands-on lab