Welcome to Team Guczwa Haines!
Ms. Guczwa - Social Studies, Language Arts, & Reading Mrs. Haines - Science, Math, & Reading
Room 36 Room 37
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Phone: 785-3225 ext. 7336 Phone: 785-3225 ext. 7337
Weekly Newsletters - Our team newsletter (The Guczwa Haines Gazette) will be sent every Friday. They will be sent by email unless parents request a hard copy. If you would like to be added to the email list or if you need a hard copy, please let us know.
Reading
We begin the year in Reading with an overview of the Keys to Comprehension: making connections, questioning, predicting/inferencing, synthesizing, visualizing, determining importance, and checking for understanding. We will use and refer to these Keys to Comprehension throughout the year in all classes.
Units of study:
*Reading Literature: During this unit, students explore plot elements (exposition, rising action, conflict/resolution, climax, and falling action), characterization, theme, literary techniques (flashback, foreshadowing, irony), and more. Students read the fiction novel Crash by Jerry Spinelli and work through a practice assessment with this book. Students will follow this up by reading in a book study group with a novel of their choice. They will complete the assessment for the unit with this novel.
*Reading Nonfiction: During this unit, students will read Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson. We will learn a great deal about nonfiction elements but also the history of the United States.
*Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: Students will learn about Latin and Greek affixes and roots, connotations and denotations, context clues, figurative language, using reference materials, and word relationships.
We will complete several read alouds this year as well.
Students are expected to read 120 minutes of reading each week for Reading class. See Recreational Reading Logs below.
Units of study:
*Reading Literature: During this unit, students explore plot elements (exposition, rising action, conflict/resolution, climax, and falling action), characterization, theme, literary techniques (flashback, foreshadowing, irony), and more. Students read the fiction novel Crash by Jerry Spinelli and work through a practice assessment with this book. Students will follow this up by reading in a book study group with a novel of their choice. They will complete the assessment for the unit with this novel.
*Reading Nonfiction: During this unit, students will read Chasing Lincoln's Killer by James L. Swanson. We will learn a great deal about nonfiction elements but also the history of the United States.
*Vocabulary Acquisition and Use: Students will learn about Latin and Greek affixes and roots, connotations and denotations, context clues, figurative language, using reference materials, and word relationships.
We will complete several read alouds this year as well.
Students are expected to read 120 minutes of reading each week for Reading class. See Recreational Reading Logs below.
Recreational Reading Logs
Study after study has shown that recreational reading improves reading and writing skills across the board. Students are required to read 120 minutes per week at home for Reading class. Recreational reading logs are handed out on Friday in Reading class. On these forms, students are asked to track what they read, the genre, and the number of minutes read. Students must also write a detailed take-away from their reading and have a parent sign their paper. These reading logs are due each Friday. A PDF copy is attached below, which may be printed. If students lose their paper, they may also write the reading log on lined paper.
recreational_reading_log.pdf | |
File Size: | 1472 kb |
File Type: |
Language Arts
In Language Arts, students will work intensively on their writing, reading, listening, and speaking skills. Our curriculum is aligned with the ELA Common Core. The three main types of writing taught include informative/explanatory writing, argumentative writing, and narrative writing. Speaking and listening are woven into the curriculum throughout the year. Students will also learn about grammar, spelling, conventions, and much more. In Language Arts, there will be a focus on the 6 + 1 traits of writing throughout the year. These traits include ideas, organization, sentence fluency, voice, word choice, conventions, and presentation.
Students are completing Quickwrites several times a week in Language Arts where students are focusing on conventions (grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation) as well as sticking to the topic and using transitions to help their writing flow.
Students are completing Quickwrites several times a week in Language Arts where students are focusing on conventions (grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation) as well as sticking to the topic and using transitions to help their writing flow.
Science
Sixth grade science is focused on Earth science. Units include Engineering and Design (also known as Scientific Method), Our Place in Space, Systems and Cycles of the Earth (this includes rocks, soil, and weathering, fossils, plate tectonics, and weather), and Human Impact on the Earth. Our goal is to make science class as hands-on and interactive as possible.
Units of Study:
Engineering Design: Students will conduct experiments which may include film canister rockets, hoop gliders, and soda geysers. The focus during this unit was teaching students how to go through the Scientific Process (question, hypothesis, experimental design, data collection, analyze/interpret data, and conclusion) and complete a lab write-up. The culminating project for this unit is bridge building. Students will work to design a bridge with a small group. After testing it, they will change their design and build a second bridge.
Rocks/Rock Cycle - Students learn about types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic). They also learn how each type is formed. The assessment is to explain the types of rocks and how each type is formed.
Soil - Students will learn about what soil is made up of and how humans are negatively and positively impacting soil.
Weathering and Erosion - Students will learn about the difference between weathering (the breaking down of rocks and soil) and erosion (the carrying away of weathered material). Students will also learn about chemical vs. mechanical weathering and the agents of erosion.
Geologic Time/Fossils: Students will learn about how scientists organize the history of the world. They will also learn about how fossils and rock layers are used to figure out different time periods in history. This unit will lay the foundation for the unit on plate tectonics.
Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics: In this unit, student will learn about the layers of the Earth as well as the theory of plate tectonics, the theory of continental drift, and the various effects of the movement of tectonic plates (earthquakes, volcanoes, rift valleys, sea-floor spreading, etc.)
Units of Study:
Engineering Design: Students will conduct experiments which may include film canister rockets, hoop gliders, and soda geysers. The focus during this unit was teaching students how to go through the Scientific Process (question, hypothesis, experimental design, data collection, analyze/interpret data, and conclusion) and complete a lab write-up. The culminating project for this unit is bridge building. Students will work to design a bridge with a small group. After testing it, they will change their design and build a second bridge.
Rocks/Rock Cycle - Students learn about types of rocks (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic). They also learn how each type is formed. The assessment is to explain the types of rocks and how each type is formed.
Soil - Students will learn about what soil is made up of and how humans are negatively and positively impacting soil.
Weathering and Erosion - Students will learn about the difference between weathering (the breaking down of rocks and soil) and erosion (the carrying away of weathered material). Students will also learn about chemical vs. mechanical weathering and the agents of erosion.
Geologic Time/Fossils: Students will learn about how scientists organize the history of the world. They will also learn about how fossils and rock layers are used to figure out different time periods in history. This unit will lay the foundation for the unit on plate tectonics.
Earth's Structure and Plate Tectonics: In this unit, student will learn about the layers of the Earth as well as the theory of plate tectonics, the theory of continental drift, and the various effects of the movement of tectonic plates (earthquakes, volcanoes, rift valleys, sea-floor spreading, etc.)
Math
In Math, we follow the Common core Mathematics Standards. The complete list can be found online at: http://www.corestandards.org/Math/
Units of Study:
Operations with decimals (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing)
Long Division with two and three digit numbers
Greatest common factor, least common multiple, and using greatest common factor to form distributive property expressions
Multiplication and Division of Decimals
Expressions and Equations (including algebra)
Geometry
Statistics and Probability
Resources to continue working on math skills:
Units of Study:
Operations with decimals (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing)
Long Division with two and three digit numbers
Greatest common factor, least common multiple, and using greatest common factor to form distributive property expressions
Multiplication and Division of Decimals
Expressions and Equations (including algebra)
Geometry
Statistics and Probability
Resources to continue working on math skills:
- Discovery Education (Math Techbook) - We are using this techbook for math in Middle School. It is especially helpful for students to log on and click on Practice under their current unit and complete the "Coach" or "Play" problems.
- Xtra Math - I have all students loaded on Xtra Math. Students practice this at school, but they may also log on at home to practice their facts. The goal is to move through every operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division).
- Prodigy - Students are having so much fun exploring Prodigy. This is a very engaging, but also educational game. I have all students set to 6th Grade Common Core standards although Prodigy does adjust to a student's level. Students do not usually work on Prodigy during math class but they may choose to work on it during advisory, break, or at home.
- KHAN Academy - This website has helpful short videos for every concept that is taught. Check it out if students are confused and you don't know how to help them.
- Compass Learning - Students know their username and passwords for this website. They can choose Math and simply follow their Learning Path.
Social Studies
In Social Studies this year, we have a focus on the Western Hemisphere which includes North and South America. We will study the geography, history, culture, and government for the countries in the Western Hemisphere. We will apply the Five Themes of Geography (Location, Place, Region, Movement, Human-Environment Interaction) as the year progresses.
Geography Games
Latitude and Longitude Map Game
Continents Map Puzzle
North America Map Puzzle
United States - States and Capitals Puzzle
South America Map Puzzle
Central America Map Puzzle
United States Map Match Game
Guess that State!
Copycat - Continents
World Map Match
North and South America Map Match
U.S. Capitals Game
Historical Sources
Primary and Secondary Source Website - Do this first! If finished, you can go onto one of the quizzes.
Primary and Secondary Source Quiz
Primary and Secondary Source Quiz #2
Five Themes of Geography
http://www.quia.com/pop/4680.html
http://www.quia.com/jq/15748.html
http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=five-themes-geography_2
http://www.quia.com/cc/42004.html
http://www.quia.com/mc/42004.html
http://www.shelton.wednet.edu/Teachers/AFortier/WorldGeography/5themesquiz.htm
Maya, Aztec, and Inca websites - quizzes and more!
Virtual Tour of Incas
Virtual Tour of Chichen Itza ( Maya)
Virtual Tour AztecsGreat Maya Info and Math Games!
Inca Quiz
Aztec Quiz
Maya Quiz Aztec Quiz
Inca Quiz
Full Screen Virtual Tours around the World
Virtual Tours
Meet the Teachers!
Ms. Guczwa
This is my 17th year at Kenowa Hills. This year I will be teaching Social Studies, Language Arts, and Reading. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Northern Michigan University and continue my journey in education focusing on best practice strategies and implementation.
I have three adventurous children! Noah is 13 years old and is in seventh grade, Tanner is 11 and is in sixth grade, and Meghan is 9 and is in third grade. West Michigan Fury soccer keeps us all very busy, but I love sports (go Lions!), music, spending time outdoors, sharing stories around a campfire, reading, writing, and laughing!
I have three adventurous children! Noah is 13 years old and is in seventh grade, Tanner is 11 and is in sixth grade, and Meghan is 9 and is in third grade. West Michigan Fury soccer keeps us all very busy, but I love sports (go Lions!), music, spending time outdoors, sharing stories around a campfire, reading, writing, and laughing!
Mrs. Haines
This is my 17th year at Kenowa Hills and I have always taught 6th grade. This year I will be teaching Science, Math, and Reading. I graduated with a bachelor's degree in education from Western Michigan University and then completed my master's degree in Reading education from WMU as well.
I have been married to my husband Kyle for 16 years. He is a residential contractor. We have two children. Hannah is 11 years old and is in sixth grade and Tyler is 7 years old and is in second grade this year. They definitely keep me busy! In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing Sudoku, biking, golfing, swimming, camping, traveling, and riding roller coasters.
I have been married to my husband Kyle for 16 years. He is a residential contractor. We have two children. Hannah is 11 years old and is in sixth grade and Tyler is 7 years old and is in second grade this year. They definitely keep me busy! In my spare time, I enjoy reading, playing Sudoku, biking, golfing, swimming, camping, traveling, and riding roller coasters.