6th Grade Individual Comprehensive Plan

6th Grade Individual Comprehensive Plan

 

•         Purpose

Newbern Middle School is committed to promoting the development of socially responsible critical thinkers.

·         Demographics

The students in this 6th grade Language Arts class are between ages 10 to 12.  Most of the students at the writer’s school are residents of an urban community. Eighty percent of the school population receives free or reduced lunches and that percentage continues to increase.  The student demographics are represented by ninety-one percent African American, six percent Hispanic, two percent White and one percent dual nationalities. These children learn best with hands on and step by step instruction.

•         Standards for behavior

This 3-week unit focuses on teaching students how to locate, select, and make use of relevant information from a variety of media sources. This unit is designed for 50-minute periods and students will learn the process for writing a research paper. Students will practice how to do research, make an outline with note-taking skills, learn the procedure for writing a bibliography, learn to develop a strong thesis and ask open-ended questions, and write and how to think critically about their rough draft before completing the final research paper. Students will also learn citation and paraphrasing methods to ensure they properly acknowledge their sources and avoid plagiarism.

•         Title I Compact

Title I program at J.L. Newbern Middle is a federally-funded program that provides for additional instruction, staff development, supplies, or materials to improve student achievement. The goal of Title I Part A is to assist schools in providing a high-quality education for every child, so the program provides extra help to students who need it most.  These are children who are the furthest from meeting the standards the state has set for all children.  Title I resources are directed to schools with high poverty levels. The Title I Program offers smaller classes, additional teachers, and training for school staff, along with extra time for instruction for students.  The Title I Program is reviewed each year by administrators, teachers, and parents.  If goals have not been met they may revise the plans.

·         Consequences for Negative Behavior

The following dispositions may be imposed by school administrators for any violation of this Code of Conduct:

1st offense: Parent contact, guidance referral, and three (3) days of ISS

2nd offense: Parent conference, five (5) days of ISS, and behavior contract

3rd offense: Parent conference and two (2) days of OSS

4th offense: Long-term Suspension or Expulsion

·         In-school Contact for Behavioral Issues

Teachers will refer to the grade-level principal for behavioral issues.

6th Grade Assistant Principal – Mr. Kevin Daw

7th Grade Assistant Principal – Mrs. Virginia Crowell

8th Grade Assistant Principal – Mr. Royce Thomas

·         Safety Plan

Students will learn how to respond to fire and weather drills because they must be held at least once a month while school is in session.  On the day of the drill, the emergency drill alarm should be sounded on the school fire alarm system. Make sure that everyone can recognize the sound of the alarm and knows what to do when it sounds.  Every room in the school should have a map posted identifying two ways out. In schools with open floor plans, exit paths should be obvious and kept free of obstruction.

·         Time Management

The use of routines helps both students and teachers to maintain order and keep a common regiment so that everyone knows what tasks will be completed daily and the time that is allotted for academic subjects.

·         Monitoring Student Progress

I am not currently teaching but I would track and monitor each student’s progress using an Excel document to monitor each student’s progress. I think it would be helpful to examine how each student progresses throughout the school year and watching this behavior can help to ensure that all students are successful.  

     ·         Lesson Plan
Researching a topic can be fun as well as informative. This site will take you through the step-by-step process for writing your research paper. Students should visit this website to find helpful tips while constrcuting the essay. There are also links to other webpages to give you ideas and provide guidance to completing your research essay.

Research Paper Steps:1. Choose a Topic
2. Research & Create Bibliography Cards
3. Write the Essay Thesis Statement
4. Construct an Outline for the Essay
5. Compose a First Draft
6. Edit the Final Essay

Lesson Goals:8th grade students will be able to gather relevant data through library, field and online research.
8th grade students will practice summarizing, paraphrasing, and outline note taking skills.
8th grade students will define and write a clear thesis.

·         Materials

Net books (class set)

Promethean Board

Library resources

Computer lab (internet access for gathering resources online)

The flipped classroom is the model that I would use to teach.   I like the flipped classroom model and would implement it into my lesson plans. I think middle school aged students would learn more effectively with this model. Students will complete reading and homework assignments at home, while class-time will be spent doing labs and interactive activities to teach lessons to the class.  This plan requires a class set of net books for students to review videos, complete group assignments and create an online blog.

·         Self Reflection

The blogs that each student creates will be used as a self reflection tool for the class to write in as they complete their research essays for this 3-week assignment.