Tutoring

**Tutoring will begin THIS week!**

Content area specific, as well as general, tutoring will be available Monday-Thursday as outlined in the schedule below:

        Morning (7:25 – 7:55am): 
          Tuesdays:      Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason
          Wednesdays: Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason
          Thursdays:    Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects) - Mrs. Mason

         Afternoon (3:00 – 4:30pm):

Mondays:        Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects)
                                    Room 619 (Geometry w/ Mrs. Eldridge)

Tuesdays:        Downstairs Computer Lab (Science w/ Mrs. Armstrong)

                                    Room 612 (English w/ Mrs. Mann)

                                    Room 621 (Math w/ Mrs. Carnevali)

Wednesdays:   Downstairs Computer Lab (All subjects)

Thursdays:      Downstairs Computer Lab (Social Studies w/ Mr. Hood)

                        Room 615 (English w/ Mrs. Mason)

                                    Room 607 (Math w/ Mrs. Fannin)

Opening a Smart Board Presentation

Opening Smart Board Presentation

Save the SMART notebook file on your computer before opening it in SMART Express

Go to the following site: http://express.smarttech.com/

Once you are on the site, open the file you wish to view

Standards Based Grading

6^th Grade English/Language Arts – 2016-2017 – Grading Policy and Procedures

Standards Based Grading (SBG) will be implemented into this course. During this school year Mrs. Mann and Mrs. Mason will be using Standards Based Grading. SBG is designed to give students more direct feedback pertaining to specific learning objectives.  Students will know the areas in which they have performed well and areas that need improvement.  The following will outline how this grading system operates and what students can expect.

1.      During each unit students will be provided with learning targets written in student friendly language.  These “I Can” statements specify exactly what students need to know, be able to do with what they know, and how to demonstrate that knowledge.  Daily lessons will focus on specific “I Can” statements.  Students will be assessed throughout the unit to see how well they have grasped each target.  This information will provide feedback to the teacher and student on the progress being made and what additional instruction is needed.

2.      At the end of each unit students will be assessed on their understanding of the learning targets.  Each unit assessment will be planned out so that each target is assessed an effective and appropriate way.  The assessment will be scored on a 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 scale with 4 being the highest possible score and representing ‘Mastery’ of the target. The total points they earn divided by the total points possible will then determine the student’s percentage grade for the unit. (A score of 3 represents a solid understanding of the learning target, a 2 represents ‘Developing’ knowledge, a score of 1 represents ‘Limited/Basic’ understanding of the target, and a 0 means students lack any understanding of the target, or the assessment was not completed by the student.

3.      After receiving feedback on their performance, students will have an opportunity to take an additional assessment (a ‘retake’).  This opportunity will allow students to show if there has been an improvement in their understanding of individual learning targets with which they initially had trouble.  If students show an improvement on their learning target performance, the lower grade will be replaced by the higher grade. If they don’t show improvement, their grade remains the same.  There is no penalty for taking longer to demonstrate competency of a learning target. Retakes must be completed within 2 weeks of the initial assessment, and students must successfully complete Target Practice for the target they have requested to retake. Retakes must be completed outside of regular class times, and must be student initiated. It is the student’s responsibility to complete the practice and the retake within the designated time. (Reminders will not be provided.)

This grading process allows students (and teachers) to pinpoint specific areas of greatest understanding, as well as specific areas of needed improvement. It’s a great way to see exactly what concepts need to be retaught, practiced, and reassessed. 

A Little About Mrs. Mason...

Greetings and welcome to Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Mann's Blog! Although I would LOVE to say this blog will be updated on a daily basis, I fear that might be an impossible feat. Rather, we will try our very best to post weekly (maybe even biweekly, if we're on our A game!:) announcements, important reminders, updates, etc. We will also do our very best to post homework assignments (if electronic copies are available for posting/publishing/distributing online). If you are unable to find the information/material you desire on this site, PLEASE send your ELA teacher an email (amanda.mason@rowan.kyschools.us or sheena.mann@rowan.kyschools.us) and we will be in touch asap.

Now... to the nitty gritty! 

I won't go into a crazy amount of information about me on here (hopefully my students will be able to provide an accurate description of me after spending a little time in my classroom... some might say I'm a little crazy... but I don't consider that a bad thing. ;)

In my opinion, here's the most important information you need to know about me as a teacher:

1. I LOVE teaching and I LOVE my students! (I will treat them like my own while they are under my care... I'll love them fiercely, while maintaining high expectations in regards to their behavior, work ethic, respectfulness of others, and honesty.)

2. I will try to make my students' (most commonly referred to as 'my kiddos') English/Language Arts experience as fun as enjoyable as possible, while never losing sight of our ultimate goal... to learn, understand, retain, and apply as MUCH knowledge as we can!

3. I will support and encourage my students far beyond the walls of my classroom, as I have a genuine desire to get to know them as a person, and not just a 'student.'

4. I will never hold a grudge against a student, and I expect the same courtesy in return. We all make poor choices... my philosophy is 'learn from a mistake, try not to make it again, and most past it.'

And, if you care to gain a little insight on me as a person, here's the most important information you need to know:

1. I have two AMAZING, AWESOME, WONDERFUL, FABULOUS children of my own.... Landrick (7) and Milyn (5), and a crazy hubby, Sam. I love them more than life, so be prepared to hear stories about them at any time. (Most of the stories are quite entertaining, so I promise you won't be bored;)

2. I love camping, good books, taking photographs, tie-dye, Harry Potter, and coffee! (My students will get a good understanding of my obsession for these things rather early on.:)

3. I love to teach! (Yes, I know I said this was about me 'as a person,' but teaching is part of the person I am... it completes me. Cliche? Yes. Truth? Yes!)

What do I need from you? (You had to see this coming, right?:)

1. Stay involved! (Sign up for REMIND - see instructions in REMIND post- and quickly obtain an Infinite Campus (IC) parent/student portal login. This will allow you to stay connected, even if the student in your life wishes you to stay disconnected. ;) 

2. Be encouraging! (To your student, yourself (if you are the student), parents, peers, teachers, etc. There's no better feeling than that of 'someone' always being in your corner. Stay honest, but be encouraging.)

3. Play your part. - If you're a student, then be the best student you can be. Complete your work, read at least 20 minutes a day (seriously, at least 20 minutes), get to bed early, turn in assignments, complete practice (aka homework), always give your best effort. If you're a parent/guardian, set your student up for success by requiring them to complete their work, ask them to see their completed homework (even if you don't know if it's correct), listen to them READ for at least 20 minutes a day, establish a set bedtime, encourage creativity, and communicate with your student about school.

The year will be as great as we want it to be.... I want it to be AWESOME, and am willing to do what it takes to meet that expectation.... I hope you will do the same!

Mrs. Mason;)

(Maybe I should also mention that I have an incredibly annoying habit of using old school smiley faces in any and all informal communication... ;)

About Mrs. Mann

About Mrs. Mann....

      My name is Sheena Mann and I am a sixth grade Language Arts teacher here at RCMS. This is my eighth year of teaching, and I couldn't image doing anything else! I am originally from Sparta, Kentucky where I graduated from Gallatin County High School. I earned my bachelor degree in Middle Grades Education from Northern Kentucky University and a Masters in Counseling from Morehead State University. I currently live in Morehead with my husband, Jordan Mann, who is a PE teacher at Rowan County High School and the JV boys' basketball coach. We also have a 5 1/2 year old daughter, McKynlee, and 2 year old daughter named Maylee. They both keep me pretty busy outside of school, but when I have free time I like to read and run. I am looking forward to another great year here at RCMS!