E A S T A V N E N U E

Teachers Message:
``
Mrs. Knox 6th Grade Class
Greetings parents/guardians! The end of trimester 2 is near! I will be sending out progress and grade reports the first week of
February to give you an idea of where your child is as far being successful in their academic studies. The end of the trimester is
February 18th, so any make-up work or test retakes must be done by this date.
Your child is preparing for seventh grade, which is a big step from the elementary level work they’re used to; however everything
learned in sixth grade is a great transition for this change. Please continue to encourage your child to do their best and to study
when they don’t have to. Seventh grade ELA and Math placement tests are coming soon (end of February or early March). This
test will determine which level of math or ELA class your child will be placed in (ex. pre-algebra with intervention, pre-algebra,
or algebra) for the seventh grade school-year. Please work with your child on their homework and studying past graded work,
ensuring that they have grasped and understanding of it, so that they are further prepared for what’s to come.

Your Child’s Teacher

A Bi-Weekly Newsletter Issue 9 January 2009
Upcoming Test and Science
Assignments Reading Grammar Social Science
-Summaries, test
- Summaries, test
Math Monday, Feb. 8th questions, and lesson questions, and lesson
Monday, Feb. 8th worksheet due Feb. 1st worksheet due Feb. 1st
-Students will be tested (in-class assignment) (in-class assignment).
Monday, Feb. 8th
on the reading -Students will be tested
­Students will be tested on   - st
Feb. 1st students will - Feb. 1 students will
strategies and key on the grammar
percents and fractions,  
vocabulary for theme 3 concepts taught in class begin working on their begin working on their
percents and decimals,  
story 3 and practiced for poster projects. Due Fe. 5th poster projects. Due Feb.
percents and proportions,   include: summaries, 5th tests, an individual
homework. drawing,
th and a group drawing that
and percent equations. -Book Reports due -Feb. 8 Content Test th

Feb. 1st represent the area -studied.

Feb. 9 Content Test

What’s Happening In:
Math Strategy Focus: Question Science

Comprehension Skill: Story Structure -Students are beginning a new unit.

For the next two weeks we will focus on 
the following concepts: percents and 
In this unit students will learn about
Grammar volcanoes. Students are summarizing
fractions, percents and decimals, percents 
and proportions, and percent equations.   chapter sections as a small group and
Students are learning how to identify
Students will be taught how to grasp  becoming familiar with vocabulary.
and write sentences with subject-verb
these concepts through various methods  agreements. -Students are working collaboratively to
and mediums.  Understanding these  read the chapter and write summaries on
concepts will help students in their  Social Science Earthquakes. They are developing an
advancement in solving algebraic  -Students are beginning a new unit. understanding of the key vocabulary and
equations. In this unit students will learn about
standards for the chapter, and the
scientific method on how volcanoes form.
Reading Ancient China. Students are
They are required to form test questions
summarizing chapter sections as a
We are within the third theme of the and a study group to help prepare them
small group and becoming familiar for a ten-question exam. The end product
reading curriculum, which is called, with vocabulary. will include: summaries, tests, an
“Growing Up?” Within this theme
individual drawings that represent
students are reading stories that - Students are working collaboratively to
different aspects of earthquakes, and a
focuses on characters facing obstacles read the chapter and write summaries on
group project. At the end of each chapter
and expressing emotions towards life Ancient China. They are developing an
studied students will have the opportunity
changes. Students are reading story 3 understanding of its historical facts and
to work on a whole class lab project that
standards, and their traditions and art
in theme 3, which is called “The represents the area studied.
work that represent the culture. They are
Challenge.” During this story required to form test questions and a
students are practicing the following study group to help prepare them for a
skills: 1 ten-question exam. The end product will
ome Study
M AT H   When identifying story structure, identify
the following: main characters, main Announcements and 
Study:  Writing percents as  events, and resolution. Reminders
fractions, fractions as percents,  Grammar
decimals as percents, percents as 
decimals, and solving percent  Study: Irregular verbs and subject- New
verb agreement.
equations. -End of trimester: February 18th
Strategies: Practice editing writing by
Strategies: Practice converting -Reports cards will go home February
proofreading and correcting sentences
percents into fractions and multiplying
with grammar and spelling errors. 25th
an equivalent form of one to create
100 as the denominator. Practice Circle irregular verbs and make sure
-Please help your child with their new
converting percents into decimals and they are written in the correct form. book report project. The rest of the
multiplying by two to get a percent of Underline subjects and verbs that school year will involve students
a number. Practice using models to show agreement. Example: There are approaching their book reports in a
find percents. students to play the other parts.
new and innovative form to give them
Example: Social Science variety.
Study: Ancient China chapter 7, -We need the following donations:
sections 1-5. Study the Great Wall of tissue boxes and hand sanitizer.
China and China’s Dynasty’s.
-Please make sure all science camp
Strategies: Study the history of the documents and monies are turned in,
Great Wall of China. Study the names
and locations of the ancient dynasties. Old
Practice writing Chinese writing from -Homework is due Tuesday through
the Shang period and the current Friday and should include a book report
period. page, math, grammar, and spelling. Each
homework sheet is a reflection of what
Science was taught in class, so please ensure that
HW is fully completed. Please remember
Study: Volcanoes chapter 6, sections to sign your child’s planner after
1-4. Study volcanic eruptions and reviewing their HW.
Volcano locations.
-Your child should bring their
Strategies: Study what causes volcanic notebooks home each day for the
Reading eruptions and pinpoint the location of purpose of studying and doing HW.
Study: Asking questions about confusing volcanoes across the world. Study the (Their notes are a reflection of what’s
parts of a story, things you maybe different landforms and the stages of
learned in class)
wondering, or about unknown volcanic activity.
vocabulary. Identify parts of a story that -Please check your child’s graded
reveals the story structure. Key work folder for any graded tests and
Vocabulary: notice, attention,
assignments.
encourage, awkward, conversation,
and managed.
Strategies: When asking questions, think
about the following: difficult vocabulary,
confusing parts, things you wonder about,
and what you think may happen next in  
the story.

If there are any questions please do not hesitate to e-mail me at tknox@husd.k12.ca.us, or call 510-723-3815 2