This week will be filled with Units 1 and 2 reviews and our final assessments for the First Quarter.
– Monday – Tuesday: Review
– Wednesday: Unit 2 Assessment
– Thursday: Units 1-2 Cumulative Assessment
READING:
Our final reading assessment for First Quarter will be a Character One Pager. See instructins below. This will be done primarily in class, however, students are free to bring in any supplies and notes that they’d like to use in their project. The Character One Pager is due on Friday.
Character One Pager
A typical one pager gives you a chance to show what you know about what you have read. This time, I want to know about one of the characters from the story. You will need to pay close attention to direct and indirect characterization so that you can collect different types of information about your character. Their appearance, their personality, their likes and dislikes, their fears, hopes, and dreams all of these should be covered in your one pager. A one pager also gives you a chance to express this information in a manner that is unique to you. Each student reads differently, and a one pager gives you the opportunity to express your understanding in a creative way.
The Must Dos: (each of these must be done)
• All work must be on only one side of the paper. You may only use unlined copy paper.
• Your first and last name must be clearly displayed (but not so large that it takes away from the actual work).
• Create a border that is relevant to your character (this can include, words, symbols, pictures, or even quotes).
• Make sure you put the title of the work, the author, and the name of your character somewhere on the page where it will be noticed.
• Include your analysis of at least FOUR quotes from the text, two direct characterizations and two indirect characterizations (said by them or said about them). Your quotes must be cited with act, scene, and line numbers, and you should explain the relevance of each quote.
• Ask a thoughtful question that you would like to ask the character, something that wasn’t answered for you in the reading, and then answer in the manner the character would.
Things to do: (You may choose to do any or all of these to fill the page. It’s up to you! But remember, the page MUST BE FILLED!)• Use visual images, either drawn, cut from magazines, or printed from the internet, to create a visual focus. These images are what you had in mind while you were reading.
• Create an acrostic that explains your character.
• Use 4 8 adjectives to describe the character.
• Comment on how the character handled conflict.
• Use the character to add to your visual draw their picture, analyze the meaning of their name in the context of the story, comment on their personality, etc.
• Make a comparison between the character and someone else you have read about or know (could come from any outside reading or a life experience). This connection should have depth to it, in other words, it should not be obvious.
• Use color and pattern, perhaps even texture, to illustrate your thoughts and ideas clearly and creatively.
What NOT to do:
• Do not merely summarize, ANALYZE.
• Do not think that a half page will do, FILL UP THE PAPER
Grading:
• Be colorful and neat. Your entire page should be filled with the above elements. If you have more room, choose another element to add. No space should be left blank, and nothing should be left in pencil.
• Full credit depends on completeness, and imagination counts too!
WRITING:
Again, as this is the final week of the First Quarter, we will be focusing on our final assessments. Students will be busy finalizing their drafts and publishing their writing on Monday and Tuesday.
On Wednesday – Friday, they will be completing their final Expository Writing piece for this quarter and put into practice what they’ve learned so far.
All assessments will be sent home for review and signing once completed and graded.
– DRA Assessmenets will be taking place over the next couple of weeks. There will be no Grammar objectives or Grammar homework this week.
WRITING
We are continuing our Expository Writing unit, focusing on the following parts:
– Students will be able to narrow down their topic
– Students will be able to read about their chosen topic to learn more.
– Students will be able to learn how to find reliable and usable sources
– Students will be able to read for information so they can learn more about their chosen topic
– Students will be able to read and take notes about their topic
READING
Dear Families,
In the coming weeks we will begin to read a powerful book in class, The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman. This book covers homelessness through runaway children in Chennai, India.
As stated on the book summary:
Life is harsh in Chennai’s teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter–and friendship–on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city’s trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.
The book while inspirational and thought provoking is also heavy and dark at times.The Bridge Home describes accounts of violence and hardships. It is not overly graphic or gruesome, but anytime we read about violence and hardships in the world, we need to be extra thoughtful to make sure that everyone feels safe. We will discuss strategies we might use to support safety during a difficult reading (such as: taking a break from reading, talking to an adult or friend about your thoughts, journaling, or writing a note to the teacher). We encourage you to discuss this book with your child each week and ask them about their thoughts and feelings.
We also encourage you to read the book as well but please do not have your child read ahead as we want to be able to prep the students and guide them through the material.
On a personal note, this book is incredibly powerful and inspiring. We suggest, if you have time, to read it so that you can have discussions with your children about the world, homelessness, struggles, and love. We are so excited to have this book as part of our curriculum.
‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Reminders
Continue Charleston Wrap, signing up and selling! Deadline has been extended.
Picture Day this Wednesday!
Friday, 4th October: Dress Down and Fruity Friday!
I’m posting these videos again to aid with studying tonight for our Unit 1 test tomorrow. Students were told to place a text book in their bag again this evening. Please let me know if you have any questions.
I am Jared Bremner and I will be your child’s Grade 6 homeroom teacher this year. This is my second year at FBCS and I look forward to working with your family this year. My goal is to ensure that learning is fun and challenging while guiding your child to become more independent. All I expect from your child is for them to give their best at all times.
My Background:
I was born in Cape Town, South Africa. I attended a prestigious Boys’ High School in Cape Town and after school I took a gap year doing community work around my country. A year later, I was employed by my local church to be a Children’s Pastor for children aged 1 to 13 years old. After 3 years, I decided to study to be a teacher and continued to be a part-time Children’s Pastor. My first teaching post was at my childhood elementary school. My wife and I decided to move to the Cayman Islands last year so that we could travel the world and meet new people.
If you would like to know more about me as a teacher:
(This was created for a project in our last year of university.)
Communication:
We are a team and communication is very important for us to be successful together! If you ever need to contact me, please don’t hesitate. Below is a list of the teachers that will teach your child.
Grade 6 Homeroom teacher, Numeracy, Science, Social Studies, Art, Bible and Character Education
School begins each day at 8:00am. Students may begin to arrive from 7:30am every morning and must go to the gym. I know that the mornings can get very busy at times. Please make sure to try your best to get your child to school on time so that they can get settled for the day.
School ends each day at 2:45pm. If you are picking your child up from school at the end of the day, you will be able to pick them up from the breezeway closest to the elevator. A teacher will be on duty to wait with your child until 3:00pm. If they are not in After School Care (ASC) and you are running late, they will be sent there to wait for you. A schedule for ASC can be seen in front of the school office.
Throughout the year, there will be times that your child may get sick, need to go to the doctor, etc. If your child is absent from school, please make sure to contact the office or please send a note with your child the following day regarding their absence.
After School Clubs
Our school offers a wide range of clubs throughout the year. The list of clubs will be sent out via email. There is an extra fee for each club and spaces are normally limited.
Schedule
Please see your child’s schedule below. If there are any changes to it, I will email you about it. Your child will be taking different specials each day of the week. These specials include Music, Library, Technology, Spanish and Physical Education (P.E.).
Snack, Recess, Lunch, and Specials:
Please remember that we are a nut-free school.
Snack Grade 6 has snack time at 9:10-9:25 every Monday and Wednesday; 9:25-9:40 Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. This time is for your child to eat a HEALTHY snack and have a bit of time to run around and unwind. Please ensure that you pack a nutritious snack for your child to enjoy before lunch.
Recess Recess is given every day at 11:40 – 12:20. Please remind your child to bring his or her FBCS hat to school every day. Outside can get extremely hot most days, so your child is required to wear an FBCS hat whenever outside. No FBCS hat means no outside recess and they will have to sit inside the gym or in the breezeway.
Lunch Each day, we will be eating lunch at 12:00-12:20 in the gym. Your child can have lunch provided by Jump Start Cafe for $5.50 per lunch (see the school office or check your email for the monthly menu) or you can pack a lunch for your child to eat that does not require the use of a microwave.
Academics:
Your child will receive a report after each quarter (4 in total). It will be a hybrid of grades and comments. There are two official parent/teacher meetings but I am happy to meet at any time during the year. The first meeting is compulsory for all parents to attend.
Assessment Dates
We will communicate assessment dates on the blog, via email or in student agendas.
Student Portfolios
All your child’s assessments will be stored in their portfolio. When it is sent home, please look through their assessments and sign them. The folder has to be returned to school the next day. Their portfolio is proof of their achievements.
D.E.A.R
Drop everything and read will happen everyday for 15 minutes after recess. We will rotate between whole class reading and individual reading. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have an appropriate book to read during this time.
Bible
Students will be required to learn and memorize scripture throughout the year. We will practice in class and learn actions in order to help them memorize it but they will need to spend time doing this at home as well.
Classroom Management:
Learning should be fun and enjoyable. Our classroom and school is a safe place for all students. In order for this to happen, I use a few systems to help achieve this.
‘How Am I Doing Today?’
Each day, your child starts off with his or her name on ‘Ready to Learn’ and. Each student has the ability to move up to ‘Way to go’ and ‘Superhero’ where they will earn a small classroom reward.
If a student does not do what is expected, I will give them a warning by moving their name down to ‘Make Better Choices’. If the behavior continues, your child will move their name down to ‘Mr.B’s Choice’ where your child will receive a consequence (this can range from losing free time in the classroom, classroom computer privileges or missing some time from recess). If the behavior still continues, they will move their name down to ‘Parent Contact’ and I will call or email to let you know about your child’s behavior for the day.
However, I don’t expect perfect students and they can always improve when they might not make the best decision.
We will also be working hard to earn classroom parties throughout the year to celebrate our classroom successes!
Classroom Jobs
Each student will have a role to perform in our classroom. These roles will be displayed in the classroom and will be rotated throughout the year. However, some jobs will be a yearlong commitment. They will need to show responsibility and carry out their individual tasks. All students are responsible for the tidiness of our class.
Classroom Rules
As a class, we will create our own classroom rules next week. However, respect will be the number 1 rule in my class.Respect for God, respect for oneself, respect for others, respect for their belongings, respect for their environment and the list can go on forever.
Book Points
I believe neatness and creativity is very important in the classroom. Not all children are strong academically but are very creative and I want to reward those that put in the extra effort or try their best to make their work presentable. In their books, by my signature, I will put the following (+5). The amount of points will range and the points chart will be displayed in the class. At the end of each term, they will count all their points and receive a reward for their hard work.
Homework and Agendas:
Everyday your child will bring home their agenda with homework and/or reminders written inside.
Please try to sign this agenda daily! It is one of the ways for us to communicate.
It is the responsibility of your child to make sure that you sign it for them.
The agenda will be your child’s to keep all year. The most important thing to remember about this agenda is to make sure your child brings it to school EVERYDAY. This agenda is very special and important and needs to be taken good care of because your child will have their homework written in it. Your child will also have a homework folder to help keep him or her organized with any homework papers that need to be completed and also papers and letters throughout the school year to communicate with you.
Homework serves a very positive purpose in that it helps to reinforce topics learned during the school day. Please ensure that your child completes the homework assigned to them on time. Any child that does not complete the homework will have to complete it during their recess playtime in my class. Exceptions to this rule are only made with an email or note from you explaining the circumstances behind the incomplete work.
Reading will also be a part of nightly homework. Please ensure that your child is reading at least every week night for 20-30 minutes. This can range from them reading alone, being read to by you or another family member, or to even listening to an audio book. Reading is fun and we want to help foster that love for reading. They will have library every week with Ms.Suckoo and she will guide them on which books to take out.
We only assign work that has been taught in class and in fitting with our school policy, homework should be able to be completed in at least 60 minutes.
Field Trips:
I will email you about field trip dates and details. Our biggest field trip is our trip to Cayman Brac. The cost of the air ticket will need to be covered by you. In the past, return tickets have cost +-130 USD so please plan accordingly. This field trip normally takes place in the 3rd term. Parents are welcome to join us for the day.
I look forward to a prosperous and fun academic year ahead!
A Mind Map is a visual thinking tool that can be applied to all cognitive functions, especially memory, learning, creativity and analysis. Mind Mapping is a process that involves a distinct combination of imagery, colour and visual-spatial arrangement. The technique maps out your thoughts using keywords that trigger associations in the brain to spark further ideas.
Each student has their own username for the Maths website Mathletics. I have provided them with their login cards. They have used the website many times during their Lab period and students are accustomed to using it. I will let you know via the blog and their agenda when I have assigned a task for them to complete.
The students may access the website on a PC or you can download the app from your relevant app store.
Visit the following website:
https://community.mathletics.com/signin/#/student
Download the app:
All results are recorded for me to see and students can attempt the activity as many times as they want in one sitting. Let me know if you would like me to reassign the task for your child. If they get stuck, there is an “I” button at the top right of the page and it will explain the concept to them.
There is also an abundance of fun, interactive Maths games for them to play on the website.
I introduced our students to the Quizizz app last week. It is a fantastic application which can be used to test a student’s ability or knowledge in various subjects. The app also allows me to set a quiz which can be completed at home for homework. You will need to download the app onto your phone or tablet. If you are unable to do so, I can print the test out for you. (There will be charges if you use your mobile data.)
Please follow the following steps: (App and Web browser)
App:
1. Download the free Quizizz app from your app store.
2. Once you’ve downloaded the app, launch the app and you will be greeted by the home screen. Press where it says “6-digit code”.
3. Enter the game code that I have given your child. I will either email you / write it on the homework board or load it onto the blog. This code will change for every quiz.
4. Once you’ve entered the game code, press “Proceed”.
5. Enter your child’s name. First name and first letter of their surname (Wendy B). Press “Join Game” and then “Start” when they are ready to begin. Some quizzes will have timed questions.
6. The quiz will be multiple choice. Once they’ve selected the answer, they will be told if they are right or wrong. After each question,the correct answer will be displayed. (The time bar is the coloured bar at the top)
7. At the end of the game, they will receive a summary and can press on “Review Questions” to see where they went wrong.
8. To exit the quiz, press the “X” in the top right hand corner. I will receive all the results and be able to see how they performed. For some quizzes, the learners will see a leader board and where they finished in the class.
Web Browser:
If you can’t download the app, your child can complete the quiz on a computer. Click on the link below, enter the game code and their name.
https://quizizz.com/join
If you need any help, please let me know. (This is also not a reason for them to be given a mobile or tablet for their birthdays)
