Dear Parents,

It has been a pleasure getting to know your child and watching our Falcons SOAR through Quarter 1. We are super excited to welcome Mrs. Abdulhadi to the Sixth Grade family!

Important Dates & Reminders

• October 9: Student Holiday (No School)
• October 10: Final day of Book Fair
• October 26: Fall Picture Retakes
• November 3: End of 1st Quarter and 2 hour early dismissal at 1:35 p.m.
• Reminder: Please do not send soda, candy or gum to school with your child. 
• Students should be reading at least 20-30 minutes each night.

Language Arts

What are we learning?

• Character traits  
• Evaluate character development 
• Learn, recognize and compare about multiple points of view and cite evidence to substantiate them. 
• Writing- we are learning how to write a memoir.

Home/School Connection

•  Please have your child read aloud to you each night to help build their fluency and comprehension skills. 

Books We’ve Been Reading 

• How to Survive the 6th Grade
• Mr. Terupt Falls Again
• 5 Things about Ava Andrews 

Math

What are we learning?

• Ratios and using them to compare quantities  
• Learning about equivalent fractions, decimals, and percents
• Advanced Math: Ratios, Proportions, Unit Rate, Negative Integers and Exponents

Home/School Connection

• Review multiplication and division facts.
• Advanced Math Students: ST Math, Reflex and Frax, Discovery Techbook

Science

What are we learning?

• Astronomy 

Social Studies

What are we learning?

• Geography of the World and United States

Home/School Connection

• Ask your students about the different geographic regions of the United States.

Specials 

What are we learning? &  Home/School Connections:

• Library: 6th graders will continue exploring the concept of books as mirrors and windows (books can be mirrors, reflections of their own identity and experiences, and windows, ways to see and understand the identities and experiences of others), and how they can find stories that are mirrors and windows for them. They will also dive deeper into the features of the library catalog that can help them select books that meet their needs for informational and pleasure reading.
• PE: After mastering our first unit- “Rules, Routines, and Expectations,” all classes are progressing to the next unit. Students in grades 3-6 are mastering throwing and catching concepts and proper form. Our connection to FCPS’ “Portrait of a Graduate” is currently connected to “Communicator” traits. Please contact Ms. Brod or Mr. Bergin for any questions or concerns.
• Music: Ms. Shaw’s Music Class 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th Grade: Recorders! We are building our music theory knowledge and repertoire of recorder music!
• Music: Mr. Sawasky’s class: K – 6th grade will continue to explore traditional Hispanic music for Hispanic heritage month. 
• CHORUS 5TH & 6TH: Falcon Singers have been getting to know each other and learning how to blend our voices. We have been practicing the Star Spangled Banner for our performance with Lewis High School on Oct 13, 2023. (Participation is optional for this performance)
• STEAM: 6th graders will learn about space exploration and solar energy as they design and build solar powered rovers.
• Art: 

In the Forestdale art program, the primary goal is to create an environment in which every student feels confident, safe, and supported by Ms. Barrett and by the other students. The goal is that each student will reach a level of technical mastery and self-confidence that allows them to take risks with their own artwork and create work that they value.

In October all students will be wrapping up their printmaking units and doing their planning drawings for the upcoming painting unit! 

•  6th grade made marker prints of their own planetary system! Because the sixth graders study the solar system in their classrooms, the art program does an extension of that unit! Students create colored drawings of their own planetary systems in their Art Planning and Reflection books. They then transfer the drawings onto Presto foam printing plates by etching the lines into the foam with red and blue ballpoint ink pens. They color the printing plates with markers and Ms. Barrett prints them onto watercolor paper. 

ESOL - English Speakers of Other Languages

Greetings from the Forestdale ESOL team! There are 5 teachers on staff this year – Jena Rogers, Atkeh Al-Shami, Atija Softic, Judy Kelliher and Catherine Canada. ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) teachers specialize in helping students who speak more than one language as they develop their English skills, while also supporting instruction in reading and basic content knowledge like science and social studies. Check out this section of the monthly newsletter for ESOL information and resources!

During the month of October, we are highlighting the language of informing. Here are some questions you can ask your students and sentences you can use to help them practice how to inform.

• Tell me about what you noticed.
• Tell me what happened.
• What does that look like?
• How might you describe that?
• I notice that __________.
• That is __________.
• That has __________.
• This shows __________.