Welcome to
​Mr. Lott's 6th Grade Classroom

Class Moto:
Elevate The Basics

Announcements and Reminders

Welcome Back!
Open House: Friday August 16th 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
First Day of School: Monday August 19th (full day)
Early out: Friday August 23rd
Dollar Dress Day (Early Out): Friday August 30
Labor Day (no school): September 2nd

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6th Grade Disclosure Statement
Wasatch Peak Academy 2019 – 2020
 
We are excited to work with your children this year and to get to know you too. Sixth grade is a wonderful time of change, growth, fun, challenges, learning, and success. It is our ultimate goal as a sixth-grade team to ensure the students are prepared for middle school with all the necessary skills for their success. In order to succeed, students will need to give their best effort; be present, prepared, and attentive during class lessons and discussions; and stay on top of their work.
The following is a general outline of topics and expectations we will be covering this year. Please note that everything is subject to change.
 
Contact Information
Natalie Newman – Room 18
Email: nnewman@wasatchpeak.org
Class website: msnewmansclasswpa.weebly.com/
 
Bridgett Fiso – Room 18
Email: bfiso@wasatchpeak.org
Class website: fisoclassroom.weebly.com
 
Luisa Montalvo – Room 16
Email: lmontalvo@wasatchpeak.org
Class website: lfbmontalvo.weebly.com
 
John Lott – Room 17
Email: jlott@wasatchpeak.com
Class website: mrjlott.weebly.com/
 
Literacy
  • Literacy takes place during the first block of the school day from 8:00 – 10:00 am.
  • The standard literacy courses will be utilizing the research driven Wonders program by McGraw Hill Education in alignment with sixth grade Utah core standards.
  • The accelerated course aligns with the seventh grade Utah core standards and will include novel-study, writing (argumentative, informative/explanatory, and narrative/creative), grammar, and vocabulary.
  • It is expected that students spend 20 minutes reading at home each day.
  • Accelerated Literacy course: Please note that some of the content and themes discussed in the novels may require an emotional maturity expected of 6th/7th graders. Each topic that arises will be given the necessary context. If you do not want your child to read one of the books we are reading together as a class, please let Mrs. Fiso know so we can create alternate work.
 
Math
  • The math block takes place after morning recess from 10:15 – 11:45 pm.
  • The standard math courses will be utilizing Glencoe Math grade six curriculum.
  • The accelerated math course will be covering on Pre-Algebra content. We will be focusing on conceptual understanding of the pre-algebra material: can they prove their steps using laws and properties, can they explain the process, and can then apply the concept in many different situations (i.e. word problems)?
 
Science & Social Studies
  • Science and social studies will take place after lunch during our homeroom block from 12:30 – 1:30
  • In social studies, we will be covering the following topics this year: World Geography, Ancient Civilizations, The Middle Ages & The Renaissance, The Age of Revolutions, and The Modern World.
  • In science, we will be covering the following topics this year: Structure and Motion within the Solar System, Energy and Matter, Weather Patterns, and Ecosystems.
  • This year, in science, we are integrating a new rotating system within sixth grade. For the first three units, students will rotate to a different sixth grade teacher to learn a new unit. Each teacher will present a different teaching style in order to prepare the students for middle school.
    • Mr. Lott: Structure and Motion within the Solar System
    • Mrs. Montalvo: Energy and Matter
    • Ms. Newman: Weather Patterns
    • Ecosystems will be taught by the student’s homeroom teachers in preparation for the Teton’s field trip
 
Service Learning
  • This year, service learning will be taking place within the whole sixth grade.
  • The theme of Service Learning this year will be Food in connection with our social studies curriculum—civilizations chose their location based on food availability/potential for food cultivation. 
  • We will be incorporating Service Learning throughout the year into our other academic curriculums.

Spanish
  • Students will receive 30-minute Spanish lessons four days a week from 1:30 – 2:00. At that time, the Spanish teacher will be in charge of the classroom and students are expected to treat their Spanish teacher the same respect as when their homeroom teacher is leading the class.
 
Homework
  • Homework will be in all subject classes. Length and complexity of work will be subject to each teacher’s curriculum.
  • Students are encouraged to utilize the Work Period time to seek out help from teachers. 
  • If students are focused during independent work times and Work Period, they should have minimal homework at home. Students should not be spending more than 30 minutes doing their homework at home (excluding reading time).
  • The students are more than welcome to email us with homework questions (email listed above). We will do our best to answer them in a timely manner, but they need to also check their email for a response.
 
Corrections [Standard Math, Standard Literacy, Science, & Social Studies]
  • On math assignments (homework, quizzes, tests) and other chosen assignments within other subjects, students are strongly encouraged to re-do any questions they got incorrect.
  • Corrections should be completed and turned in the day after that are returned. Once all corrections are finished, the assignment will be marked “OK to file” and then the student may file the assignment under the appropriate tab in their binder.
  • When students complete their corrections, original point values will be added to the assignment grade (exception: late/incomplete work. See below for more details).
 
Corrections [Accelerated Literacy & Math]
  • On all math assignments (homework, quizzes, tests), students are required re-do all questions they got incorrect until they get the entire assignment correct. No additional points are given for corrections completed—this is a seventh-grade course.
  • Corrections are given based on specific assignments in accelerated literacy.
  • Corrections are due the day after that are returned. Once all corrections are finished the assignment will be marked “OK to file” and then the student may file the assignment under the appropriate tab in their binder.
  • Student’s grades on assignments will remain as a 0/M in the grade book on Aspire until the assignment is marked “OK to file”.
 

 
Late/Incomplete Work
  • Any homework not completed/turned in by the required deadline (beginning of subject class) will be marked as HALF credit.
  • We strongly encourage students to ask us questions during independent work time in class, Work Period, and to email with questions so that they have every opportunity to complete their homework and have their questions answered.
  • Late work must be completed within two weeks of the assigned due date to receive half credit. After the two weeks, assignments will be marked as a zero in the gradebook.
  • Accelerated Math: If a student’s homework assignment is not completed (anything less than the entire assignment completed), they will be asked to sit in the hallway and complete the assignment while we grade the homework in class. This is because when we grade the assignment in class, the students will see all of the work and answers for each problem.
 
Absent Work
  • If a student is absent, it is their responsibility to find their teacher and get the work they are missing.
  • Absent work must be completed. However many days the student is absent, that is how many days they have to make up the work. For example, if a student is sick for three days, they will have three days to make up the work. Meaning if Sally is sick Thursday, Friday, and Monday, the work will be due the following Friday.
  • Missed assignments due to a vacation/prolonged sickness will be provided to your student AFTER he/she returns to school.
 
 
Work Period
  • At the end of each day we will have a Work Period from 2:00 – 2:30. During this time, the students are expected to finish their homework first. After finishing their homework, the time becomes the students to work on their Service Learning projects and goals.
  • On some days, we will be pulling students individually or in groups for mini-lessons to re-teach and review content as needed.
  • This is also time set aside for students that are working on any group projects so they have time in school to meet.
  • Unless working in a group (at the side group table), the classroom should be silent so students may have a quiet environment to focus.
 
Organization
  • Students will need three binders: math, literacy, and homeroom (science, history, and service learning) and 4-5 tabs within each binder. (5 tabs for each of Newman’s classes)
  • Students will file each assignment properly in the correct subject binder under the respective tab.
  • When a student leaves their desk at the end of each class, the desk should be empty.
  • At the end of a unit/chapter, the students will “clean out” their binders and compile all assignments together for a “binder evaluation” in which they will turn in the assignment for an organizational grade.
  • Planners will be utilized within the whole sixth grade. Students are required to check in with their teacher at the end of each class for a stamp noting that it was filled out correctly.

Grading
  • Grades are based on student participation, classwork, homework, applications, projects, and performance on assessments.
  • Percentages for all classes will be as follows:
    • 15% Class participation / organization (i.e. class discussions, binder evaluations)
    • 55% Written work (i.e. in-class assignments, homework, projects)
    • 30% Quizzes & tests
  • In Aspire, you may view your child’s current overall grade. We will do our absolute best to update those each week.
A- to A+
90% -100%

B- to B+
80% - 89%

C- to C+
70% - 79%

D- to D+
60% - 69%

F
0% - 59%
  • The grading scale is as follows à

  • Please note, 6 or more tardies and/or absences (excused or unexcused) in one term will automatically result in a citizenship mark of U.
 
School Policies to Note
  • Chewing gum is NOT permitted in the school building.
  • Cell phones should NOT be brought into the classroom for any reason. If you need to get ahold of your child, please contact the front office and they will get the message to your child.
  • Birthdays are celebrated at WPA without food items.
 
Communication
  • Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you might have. The more you communicate with us, the better we can support your child.
  • The best way to reach us is via email.
 
Visitors and Volunteers
  • All visitors must sign-in at the office upon entering the building.
  • We always need parent volunteers! There is something powerful about the involvement of parents in their child’s education. If there is something you’d like to do, please reach out and I will try to make it work!
 
 
 
 


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