Welcome
to MMS! I am glad we have class
together!
Teacher: Niki Pokladnik Connor Course: 6th Grade GT Social Studies
Phone: 713-251-3993 Conference Period: 12:28 -1:15
Email: Jennifer.Connor@springbranchisd.com (nota bene: [.com] not [.org], [Jennifer]
not [Niki] )
6th Grade Gifted and Talented Social Studies is a differentiated
program focused on the study of world cultures and how the physical world
impacts culture and history. The social studies textbook - along with many
other resources are used such as stories, articles, poems, video clips, and
non-fiction books. The curriculum is advanced and accelerated with an emphasis
on higher level thinking skills. Pre-AP
skills are included in the GT SS program.
Students who like to read and write, who have an interest in the world
around them, and who exhibit task commitment are successful in this class.
Respectful, self-disciplined behavior of each student is necessary for
achievement of his or her personal best – and expected as a member of a
learning community.
You will need the following materials
and supplies EVERY DAY for this class:
- Binder section or
folder to store work that is in progress
- loose-leaf paper (DO NOT take paper out of your ISN – you will
run out of pages.)
- agenda/planner
- SS ISN (It will have
a place to live in the room, but you may take it home overnight as you wish.)
-
pencils, black ink pens (No fancy
colors for class work – your words should sparkle, not your ink! However, you
may grade and take notes in any ink that makes you happy!)
-
scissors
-
map pencils
-
Scotch tape (I suggest you buy a big
economy pack and bring them one at a time.)
Your Social Studies Textbook should live at
home. There is a class set in my
room for use in-class.
Tutorials: During Activity and by appointment.
Please schedule non-Activity tutorials with me at least 24 hours in
advance as I attend many meetings and appointments each week.
Make-up
Work: Quizzes and tests may be made-up during
Activity and by appointment. Please
schedule non-Activity make-ups with me at least 24 hours in advance. If you are absent, check with me before
or after class or during Activity for make-up work. If you were absent on the day the assignment
was handed out, you have as many days as you were out (excused) to make up the
work. If you were present on the day the
assignment was handed out, but absent on the due date, it is due the day you
return to school.
Semester
Exams: You will take final exams in December and
June. The final exam will
count as 14% of the semester grade; the remaining 86% is made up of the two
nine week grades.
Late Work: Work that counts
as a test grade or a daily grade* will be accepted one day late for a
maximum of 75 and two days late for a maximum of a 50.
*Time-sensitive assignments such as homework will not be taken late.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will always be an extension of
the current unit and come DURING the unit. Please, do not ask for extra credit
the last week of class; you will have
had opportunities. If you believe you may need extra credit, please do it
when it is offered. Late extra credit
will not be accepted.
9 Week Grades:
50% Tests, Projects (Major
Grades)
30% Quizzes, Mini-Projects
20% Daily Work/Homework**
**The single lowest daily grade
will be dropped each
nine-week grading period.
Class Reading: We are going to read many, many
interesting and relevant texts this year.
If you are taking GT LA, you will read I Am Malala by Malala
Yousef second semester. If you are not
taking GT LA, it would be a good idea to go ahead and read it. We will be reading A Long Walk to Water by
Linda Sue Park and Three Wishes
by Deborah Ellis in Social Studies. Class sets are available for students to read in class, but they may not be taken home. If you think you will need to do some reading
at home, you may want to purchase or borrow a copy.
General
Information:
-
You are expected to record all homework, assignments
and due dates in your Agenda each day. I
will post big dates and important information of my blog. http://nikiconnor6thela.blogspot.com/
I suggest you bookmark it or sign up for email notifications.
-
Be sure that all
written work has the proper heading and title. Any work without the proper
heading may be returned, and therefore may be considered late. Or, lose points.
Pencil or black ink only.
First Last Niki Connor
Date August 27, 2016
Period 5
-
Phones and all other electronic devices:
o
Must be TURNED OFF and in a pocket at
the front of the room unless I have given you express permission to have it out
and on.
o
If you want to use your phone on the break,
pick it up on your way out of the room and re-store it on your way in.
o
If I see or hear your phone
during class and you have not been given permission to use it, I will send it
to Mr. Roth, and you will have to get it back from her at the end of the day. L
o
All the rules you agreed to for school-based
technology apply to your personal phone when you are using it on campus –
including no picture taking unless you have express permission from an
adult.
-
Please make sure your desk is empty, the floor
around your desk is free of trash and your chair is pushed in or stacked at the
end of class each day. When this is
accomplished, I will dismiss you by group or class.
-
We have rotating jobs in this class:
The Passer – passes out things.
The Supplier – makes sure the book shelves and the
supplies are all returned and orderly at the end of class; deals with supplies
during class.
The Runner – takes anything that needs to leave the room for me
(no mazes or grieversJ).
The Tech-er – makes sure all technology devices have been shut down properly and
plugged into the appropriate spot before anyone can leave the room. Turns
on/off lights when needed.
I look forward to traveling the world with you this year!
