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    Click here to access Mrs. Olinger's Interactive Classroom

     Follow classroom activities on Instagram at 6th_grade_with_Mrs.Olinger

    Google Classroom Codes:

    Mrs. Olinger's homeroom code: 5sfd7ba

    Mr. Arntzen's homeroom code: xhbgzzu

    Team Grading Scale:

    • A=90-100
    • B=80-89
    • C=70-79
    • D=60-69
    • F=59 and below

    Team Expectations:

    • Students will be on time and prepared for each class.
    • Students will be respectful and active learners.
    • Students will demonstrate a positive attitude.

    Absences and Makeup Work:

    Students are responsible for making up missed work due to absences. Students, please check Google Classroom for make-up work.  Parents/guardians, please inform the school office when students are absent.  For planned absences, an advance notice is appreciated.I will try to provide make-up work ahead of time when possible.  I often cannot replicate what I am doing in the classroom with a worksheet or other individual assignment.  When I provide work in advance, I do my best to predict what will be happening on the dates of absence, but things don’t always progress according to plan.  Checking Google Classroom for absent make-up work will be the most accurate way to get information about missed classroom time. 

    Communication:

    Please plan to read the weekly parent/guardian email every week for important announcements, upcoming projects/assessments/assignments, as well as a general overview of what is happening during the week.

    Classwork/Homework:

    Any work that is not completed in class is homework and is due the following day.  Long-term projects are due on the day indicated.  Students can re-submit assignments for credit and missing work can be submitted until the end of the grading period.  

     Social Studies:

    This year, we will be focusing our efforts on learning about ancient history (Neolithic Revolution, Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, India, and Greece).  We will spend the first few weeks reviewing and enhancing knowledge of geographic features and terms.

    Students are required to respond to vocab warm-up prompts every day. This leads to our discussions in class and provides student insight into the topics we will be studying, and it is a good way to review previous content. In addition, this allows students time to express knowledge and opinions with their peers in a non-threatening way.  Warm-ups are due at the end of the unit, unless otherwise noted. Students are responsible for looking in the warm-up book or on Google Classroom to complete prompts for the day(s) they are absent.  
     
    A folder should be utilized to keep paperwork. Classwork and homework is important to complete in order to build on skills, review learning targets and to study for assessments. Classwork will be graded on a standards-based score (4, 3, 2, 1).  See these  slides for more information.  Please review our team expectations for homework completion.  
     
    Required items for class:
    Agenda
    Folder
    Warm-up booklet (provided)
    Pencil(s)
    Nice to have: colored pencils, ruler, glue
     
    English Language Arts:
     
    This year, students will dive deep into literature and really focus on writing and reading at high academic levels. By the end of the year, students will be expert writers at using evidence-based responses and will read content with a critical eye.
     
    One of the books we will be analyzing is the novel Percy Jackson the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.  Read it already? Seen the movie?  Great! We will be analyzing this story on a deeper level, and I bet you will find that you'll see it with a new set of eyes.  Other books include Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis and Restart by Gordon Korman.
     
    Sixth graders are readers!  Students should dedicate time to reading for fun and they should have a book ready to read in every class. Students will be required to read for the first 15 minutes of WIN. See these SSR slides to learn more about the self-sustained reading (SSR) process. If you are having a hard time finding a book, come talk to me. Talking about books is one of my favorite things to do!
     
    We will also be spending time on learning and implementing robust vocabulary words.  Students can receive extra credit for documenting any vocabulary words used outside our classroom by writing the word, where it was found/heard, and a brief description of its meaning. Happy vocabulary hunting!
     
    Required materials:
    Agenda
    Book
    Folder
    Pencils
    Nice to have: Highlighters, sticky notes, earbuds or headphones
     

    Please consider donating any used books to our class account at the Book Exchange.  To access the account you will use first name: Mrs. Olinger, last name: WMS.  Thank you for helping us build our classroom library!

    Physical Education: 

    In gym class, students are expected to always try their best and to have good sportsmanship.  Students should wear non-marking shoes on gym days, or have a change of shoes. It's recommended that students wear comfortable clothing on PE days.  The option to change will be available, but students are responsible for storing clothes as there is no access to lockers.
     
    Students are graded on the following:
    • Effort (participating to the best of his/her ability)
    • Conduct (demonstrating a positive attitude and following through with instructions)
    • Skill/concept (demonstrating proficiency/mastery of that week's learning target)