Dear Students and Families,
Welcome to 6th grade standard and gifted Earth and space science! I am excited to begin a new school year filled with opportunities and challenges as we begin our new curriculum in Earth and space science. I am looking forward to meeting each new student and parent at Open House so that we can take some time to share ideas, expectations, and concerns for the upcoming school year.
I have outlined my course and academic policies below so that you can familiarize yourself with the expectations of our classroom.
- The curricular focus for each quarter will be: First Semester (Earth’s surface and below): Scientific process, nature of science, geologic time, plate tectonics, rock cycle and landforms, and hydrosphere. Second Semester (Above Earth’s surface): Weather and troposphere, upper atmosphere, human impact, space exploration, solar system, and sun and stars.
- My homework policy is: Homework will be given throughout the nine week quarter. Homework is worth 10% of the student’s overall grade.
- My Grading Policy is: a simple point system. All scores will be added together for a total amount divided by the total possible number of points for a percentage. Most points are as follows: labs out of 50 points, quizzes out of 10-30 points, tests out of 40-100 points, classwork out of 25 points, projects out of 50-200 points, etc.
- Special projects planned for this year include: There are projects in every unit we study. In addition, students will develop Science Fair projects throughout the first and second nine week grading periods. Students will be guided through the process, taking small steps with intermittent assessments, to reach a final project and presentation grade at the end. Each student will use the scientific method to investigate a question or problem they find interesting. Timelines, formats, requirements, ideas, hints and forms will be given as soon as it becomes available from the county. Each project will be displayed at the Teague Science Night, however you will be able to choose the level of involvement your child has in the county science fair, as indicated in information that will be sent home in the upcoming weeks.
- Textbooks: The Interactive Science: Earth and Space Science (for Florida) textbooks will be passed out during the first week. Students will visit the bookroom during scheduled times. If students are absent on scheduled pickup days, they can visit the bookroom during lunch times.
- Make-up/Late Policy: Students are given the number of days they are absent plus one day to make up work. If students turn in assignments late and were not absent they will get a deduction of 10 points per day in the first semester and 25 points per day in the second semester. Late work will not be accepted more than a week past due.
Studies show that parental involvement in a child’s education is one of the strongest indicators of student achievement. We have planned several student and parent resource nights in order to bridge the communication between school and home. We certainly hope you can make it a priority to attend as many school-sponsored events as possible. Please refer to our school’s website at www.teague.scps.k12.fl.us for important dates of upcoming school-wide events. Mark those dates…we look forward to seeing you!
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact me at (407) 320-1441. The best times to reach me are 8:30AM and 4:00PM. If you would like to set up a conference with each of your child’s teachers, please call Mrs. Consolato in guidance at 407-320-1554 and she will assist.
Once again, welcome to 6th grade standard Earth and space science! Let’s work together to make this the best year ever!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Mercedes Gonzalez
Email: Mercedes_Gonzalez@scps.k12.fl.us
Website: http://mrsmgonzalez.edublogs.org/
