Who is Ms. T?
Before coming to Francis Parker, Ms. T taught closest to which ocean?
A. Atlantic Ocean
B. Pacific Ocean
C. Arctic Ocean
The Pacific Ocean
Sixth graders will encounter all of these in English class except one:
A. Greek gods and heroes
B. A highly controlled future society (dystopian)
C. Real and fictional young people facing difficult changes
D. A guide to becoming internet famous
A guide to becoming internet famous
“We got out of our seats in English today!”
What were students probably doing?
A. Avoiding their work
B. Participating in an active learning experience
C. Preparing to leave early
Participating in an active learning experience
I incorporate movement when it can help students engage more deeply with the lesson.
True or false:
Essays and tests are the only ways students demonstrate learning in English 6.
False
Students will demonstrate their learning in different ways. In addition to writing and traditional assessments, they may complete creative projects, participate in discussions, give presentations, or work collaboratively.
Our classroom expectations protect two important rights. What are they?
A. Everyone’s right to learn
B. The teacher’s right to guide learning
C. The student's right to sit on the comfy chairs
C. The student's right to solve math problems
Everyone’s right to learn
The teacher’s right to guide learning
Every expectation we create as a class centers around these two foundational values.
True or false:
Ms. T has worked as both a classroom teacher and an instructional coach.
True
This year, your students will analyze characters who…
A. Take responsibility for their choices
B. Question what they have always believed
C. Learn from their strengths and mistakes
D. All of the above
All of the above
“I got to choose how I completed part of the assignment!”
Why might Ms. T provide choices?
A. So every student can avoid the challenging parts
B. To help students connect their interests and strengths to the learning
C. So everyone completes an entirely different lesson
To help students connect their interests and strengths to the learning
I provide clear expectations and shared learning goals, but I also incorporate meaningful choices when possible so that students may develop ownership and recognize there can be more than one way to demonstrate their learning.
What is the best way to prepare for a weekly reading quiz?
A. Reread the entire book the night before
B. Memorize every character’s name
C. Keep up with the assigned reading
Keep up with the assigned reading
What does a colored pom-pom represent in English class?
A. Perfect grades
B. A class that fulfilled its shared expectations
C. A completed homework assignment
A class that fulfilled its shared expectations
Students co-create their classroom expectations at the beginning of the year. When a class fulfills that commitment, it earns a colored pom-pom. (End of trimester rewards!)
Ms. T earned her undergraduate degree from TCU and her master’s degree from a university in which state?
A. California
B. Texas
C. Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i
What consistent habit helps students arrive prepared for success each day as we discuss, analyze, and reflect on our reading?
A. Memorizing every literary term
B. Reading what is assigned
C. Writing extremely long answers
Reading what is assigned
“I used something from my own life in English today!”
Why might personal experiences belong in English class?
A. They help students connect reading and writing to their developing sense of self
B. They replace the need to read books
C. They allow students to avoid supporting their ideas
They help students connect reading and writing to their developing sense of self
Self-awareness is the sixth-grade theme, so we look for thoughtful opportunities to connect literature and writing to students’ lives.
What is one way students will take greater ownership of their learning later this year?
A. Teaching part of a class lesson to their peers
B. Grading all of their own papers
C. Selecting all of the novels for the course
Teaching part of a class lesson to their peers
During one of our later novel units, each student group takes responsibility for teaching the first portion of a class period. This is structured so students have the support they need and helps students learn how to learn.
A student records homework in a planner, checks the Topics page, brings the correct materials, and keeps track of upcoming assignments.
Which sixth-grade “superpower” is this student developing?
independence
a large focus of this year!