Welcome to Crossroads

1. 2013-2014 Welcome to Crossroads

2. Crossroads Daily Schedule • 8:00 – 8:34 Advisory (Band/Orchestra/Chorus/Essentials) • 8:37 – 9:23 Elective #1 (period 1) • 9:26 – 11:01 Crossroads Block #1 (periods 2 & 3) • 11:04 – 11:34 Lunch (period 4) • 11:37 – 12:23 Elective #2 (period 5) • 12:26 – 2:01 Crossroads Block #2 (periods 6 & 7) • 2:04 – 3:00 Math and pack up(period 8)

3. What We’ve Done So Far Code for Community Categories of Culture Develop Routines Community Building Begin Culture of Family Unit

4. Family <> Community <> Nation Highlights from September – December • Family Novel: Tuck Everlasting • Scientific method inquiry • Family culture project • Writing: A family vignette, expository • paragraphs • Powering Up project/presentation • Community Novels: City of Ember, Girl • Who Owned a City, Gammage Cup • American Experiences (immigrant group) literature circles and research project • Immigrant Perspectives project • Geologyand Natural Resources

5. Cultures of the WORLD: January - June • Four Regions: • South and Central America • Europe and Russia • Africa • Asia • Work in each region will include: • Physical and political geography of region while connecting to science curriculum • Reading experiences (folktale, biography, full-class novellas, and small-group novels) • Writing tasks and assignments • Group projects (with gradual release of responsibility)

6. Self Assessments • 8 per year (about one per month) • Students complete them. • Teachers review and comment • Parents review, comment, and sign • Please refer to schedule – posted on our website

8. Independent Reading Expectations • Independent reading goals: read one book independently each month (9). • How to validate books: • Book reports (7) use form on our website • Book talk with teacher (2) • Nightly reading expectations: 20 min/night

9. Log Response • Prompt given approximately twice per week • Used to: - assess recall of information learned or discussed in class - encourage extension or analysis of topics - make connections between topics of study - practice/build writing skills – especially, supporting ideas

10. Goals Three Levels of Goals: Year-long goals (parents sign off on this) Monthly goals (on self-assessment) Weekly goals (set every Monday morning)

11. Mid-year and End-of-Year Assessments • Major, teacher-generated rubric and narrative assessments of progress • Early February and mid-June

12. Field Trips • Crossroads-only field trips are planned through December: Oct. 2: Mural Tour in Philly (cash trip! During school hours) Oct. 30: Coal Mine #9 and Eckley Miners’ Village (7:30 – 4:30) Nov. __: National Constitution Center (during school hours) Dec. 11: NYC – Tenement Museum and Museum of the American Indian (7:15 – 5:30) • Costs of Oct-Dec trips: approximately $135 • We must collect payment well in advance for most trips • Can be paid in two lump sums (Sept 30 and Nov 4) • Some cash only trips (typically train fare) • This does NOT include Sixth grade field trip costs • Chaperones needed for all trips (sometimes capped by room on bus). Typically parents pay their own entry to museums, etc. • Contact Clyde Diehl if cost is an issue. All students will participate.

13. Navigating the Crossroads Website • How to get there • Long-term assignments • Independent reading validations • Important Dates • Self assessment schedule • Open house schedule • Field trip schedule

14. Be a Partner in Your Child’s Crossroads Year • Keep in contact with us: email (phone, notes) • Use the Crossroads website to monitor all long-term assignments, as necessary • Start thinking of interview options for the Immigrant Perspectives project • Respond to self-assessments • Encourage nightly reading • Be a field trip chaperone • Help your child in identifying an immigrant to interview • Be a literature circle helper (November & May) • Attend Crossroads Open Houses: Thursday Jan. 23rd and Monday June 9th 6:30-8:00pm

15. Thanks for Coming!