Ms. Walsh's 6th Grade Math

How does my child get promoted to high school?
Look at the bottom of page 8 in the white pages of your student’s planner.

There it says:
To be promoted to high school, your child must earn a minimum of 12 credit hours as follows:
Social Studies: 3 credits
Science: 3 credits
Language Arts: 3 credits
Math: 3 credits

How are credits awarded?Credits are awarded beginning the 2009/2010 school year as follows:
.5 or 1/2 credit per semester per course that a student has passed.

There are two (2) semesters in the school year.
The first semester = 1st 9 weeks, 2nd 9 weeks, plus end of semester exam.
The second semester = 3rd 9 weeks, 4th 9 weeks, plus end of semester (or year) exam.

To pass a semester’s course, a student must earn 6 points.
Points are awarded as follows:
For each of the nine weeks, taken separately:
A = 8 points
B = 6 points
C = 4 points
D = 2 points
F = 0 points

For semester exam grades:
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points

(In other words, nine week periods are weighted at 20% each, and the semester exams are weighted at 10% each, to total 50% at the end of each semester. At the end of the year, the total would add up to 100%, BUT credits are NO LONGER awarded by year. They are ONLY awarded by semester.)

What if my child received an F?
If your child received an F in any class this first nine weeks, they now have 0 points earned in that subject.

The can earn the 6 points they need to pass in the following ways for the rest of the semester:

0 + 8 + 0 = 1st nine weeks (F), 2nd nine weeks (A), Semester Exam (F or higher)
0 + 6 + 0 = 1st nine weeks (F), 2nd nine weeks (B or higher), Semester Exam (F or higher)
0 + 4 + 2 = 1st nine weeks (F), 2nd nine weeks (C or higher), Semester Exam (C or higher)
0 + 2 + 4 = 1st nine weeks (F), 2nd nine weeks (D or higher), Semester Exam (A minimum)
If your child receives another F in the same subject, they can not possibly pass this semester.

DO NOT COUNT ON THE SEMESTER EXAM TO BRING YOUR GRADE UP.
The semester exams in all subjects are HARD. They are hard to pass, so do not put yourself or your student in the position of having to rely on the semester exam to pass a course this semester. Use it as nice bonus points.
It is MUCH easier to earn a B during a 9 week period, than to earn a passing grade on the semester exams.

What if my child received a D?
If your child received a D in the first nine weeks, they now have 2 of the six points they need to pass this semester. This means they must earn an additional 4 points this semester.

They can do that in the following ways:
2 + 8 + 0: 1st nine weeks (D), 2nd nine weeks (A), Semester Exam (F or higher)
2 + 6 + 0: 1st nine weeks (D), 2nd nine weeks (B or higher), Semester Exam (F or higher)
2 + 4 + 0: 1st nine weeks (D), 2nd nine weeks (C or higher), Semester Exam (F or higher)
2 + 2 + 2: 1st nine weeks (D), 2nd nine weeks (D or higher), Semester Exam (C or higher)
2 + 0 + 4: 1st nine weeks (D), 2nd nine weeks (F or higher), Semester Exam (minimum A)

What about reading?
Reading is a subject tested by the state of Florida every year until 11th grade through the FCAT.
Reading scores on the FCAT will be used to determine if your child is eligible to participate in high school programs and courses. The higher your child scores on the Reading FCAT tests they take from now through 8th grade, the more options they will have availabe to them in high school (and in college).

The reading test is not a reflection of one’s joy for reading. It tests all of the many aspects of reading comprehension. The main focus on the reading test every year is “main idea”. As a student enters higher grade levels, the texts they are tested on become more prominently non-fiction texts. Although poetry, non-fiction, and environmental print such as schedules, or timetables, maps, etc. may also appear.

Just to clarify. Reading is a cornerstone in educational ability. The more a student reads every day (with understanding), the better they do in all subjects in school.

Math is also tested every year on the FCAT until the 11th grade.

Science will not be tested on the FCAT again until the 8th grade, and then the 11th grade (once every 3 years).
Social Studies is not tested on the FCAT at all at this time. (This may change at any time, by law.) HOWEVER, a student is required to pass Social Studies and earn a full 1 credit to be promoted to the next grade.

Language Arts is tested on the FCAT through the FCAT Writing Exam. The next FCAT writing exam after 5th grade, will occur in 8th grade. HOWEVER, a student is required to pass Language Arts and earn a full 1 credit to be promoted to the next grade.

The 10th grade Math and Reading FCAT exams must be passed in order for the student to be awarded a regular high school diploma.
Students may retake these exams in subsequent grades to attempt a passing level, if they failed them in tenth grade.
If students do not pass these exams, there are alternate methods available to show mastery of the material. Generally, these methods would be utilized for students with IEPs. This would be discussed in advance with the team that creates the Individualized Education Plan for the student.