Confidence doesn't come out of nowhere.

It's a result of something....

Hours and days and weeks and years

of constant work and dedication

(Unknown writer)

My wonderful 6^th grade students,

One thing to contemplate

“One must always strive to make themselves better by doing their best no matter what!!!!”

Mr. Garcia

What is happening the week of Jan 31^st to February 3^rd?

Monday January 30th

All classes will finish “Egypt Quest for Immortality” For those classes that have not taken the quiz you will be.  For those classes that have finished the quiz there will be a 15 minuet warm up.

Tuesday and Wednesday Jan 31 Feb 1

Will be starting the story of “Isis, Osiris and Set, the story of how life started among the Ancient Egyptians.  This will take me the entire period to tell.

Thursday and Friday Feb 2^nd and 3^rd

Mr. Garcia will be at the beach with period 1.  Students who are not participation will be watching DVD.

Any more information needed just call or text me

Mr. G

My amazing and brilliant 6th grade students, by my calculations there is a total of 5 months until you graduate to the 7th grade.  Where has the time gone????

What words of wisdom shall I put in your wonder minds this week????

I'm thinking...................still thinking..................................be patients, it will come to

me................................................................it's coming, I promise..........................

'What's happening this week?

Monday:

Unit Common Core Test on Mesopotamia.

Tuesday through Wednesday;

Introduction into Ancient Egypt.

1. In class Political Map on Egypt

Students will be given a political map of Egypt.  They will be labeling, locating and coloring a political Ancient Egyptian map in class,  

2.  Students will not be able to take the map home to finish until Mr. Garcia has corrected it. 
3. Students will have more than enough class time to finish labeling their map or complete it before the time is up.  This will be an in class assignment.

Thursday and Friday:

All students will be given a bit more time to finish their map then we will watch Time life's Ancient Egypt's Quest for Immortality.

If you have any questions text or call me 

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

• One additional topic
• Proper nouns are captatalized
• A paragraph starts with a capital letter and ends with a period.
• Simple spelling is a must.  I don'e mean hard ancient words, but for example: "this, that, mountain, canal, you us ect...."

You believe that it is already Thanksgiving.  OMG!!!!!! Time fly's so fast

There are only two school days next week. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope all of you learned and enjoyed making fun of yourself doing the hunter and gatherer role play on Thursday and Friday.  It is important that all of you understand that language and its understanding is so important in all of our lives.   People who are learning English as a second language are going through a hard time and it takes patients dealing with them.  So be kind and understanding.

What is happening on Monday and Tuesday?

All students will be doing their Modern Middle Eastern Map.  Attached to this email will be the map, instructions and location of each of the countries you need to memorize.

All students will have enough time to label all of the countries, capitals, seas and rivers by the end of class and should be able to take the map home and color it in a political format to turn in on Monday

Modern Middle Eastern Map will be on December 1st and 2nd

If you have any questions call or text me.

Mr. Garcia

• learn all of the 18modern middle eastern countries and capitals
• know their geographical location
• the rivers and seas that surround the middle east

"Attitude is a little thing

that makes a big difference" 

Winston Churchill 

Look at what Winston Churchill said a long time before you were born. Very important for all of you to understand, how you look at how your day or school is going makes a big difference. You and only you is the person who can make or break your day. That being said, tell yourself every day it going to be great, wonderful and fun. I promise you it will, because you will make it that way, but if you do the other, by saying this day is going to “Suck,” guess what IT WILL!!!!!!

Shouto​ut on first Midterm:

       I want to send a shout out to all of my wonderful 6th grade geniuses.  All of you are amazing and extremely brilliant young boys and girls.  I am so proud of all of you for your first important midterm test in my class.   Most of all of you did a wonderful and amazing job.

       What you need to do is not get to comfortable, but keep trudging on and don't slack off.  All of you are doing a great and amazing job s keep it up. 

        Remember there is an Ancient Man Common Core Unit test on Monday and Tuesday, or whenever you have me.  Everyone should have the study guide that has already been passed out.  If you have lost them, you need to download them from this site.

         Although this test will not affect your grade this test is important and is a one shot deal, there can be no makeups, so every one of you needs to do your best.  YOU NEED TO REVIEW THE STUDY GUIDE EVERYDAY!!!!!! 

         All of you know the topics we have been studying these last two month, have confidence, trust yourself and review daily and all of you will do great.

Whets happening the Week of November 7th to the 11th. 

Monday and Tuesday 

Ancient Common Core unit test.  Wednesday and Thursday.

Starting a new Unit on Mesopotamia or the Land between the Rivers.  

Annotation homework Chapter 3 will be assigned on Monday, as well as annotation warm-ups at the beginning of class each day. 

As always if you do not understand any of what has been written, all you need do is call me.

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

​

By Monday every 6th grader should have their 6 topics chosen for the Mid-term this Thursday and Friday October 27 and 28.  We have since October 10th been practicing how and what to write on your 8 paragraph essay midterm.  This Test is 25% of your overall grade.  You need to be READY for this test.

Remember you are the ones that choose their topics to write about.  You must have the following

1. One topic on Religion
2. One topic on Science
3. One topic on Geography
4. One topic on Ancient man 
5.  Two extra topics from one above.  It is your choice

With your introduction and conclusion it totals 8 paragraphs.

DO NOT COME TO CLASS ON THURSDAY OR FRIDAY WITHOUT YOUR TOPICS CHOSEN.  YOU WILL ONLY HAVE 1 HOUR TO START AND FINISH YOUR ESSAY.

Remember the topics are Ancient Man, Religion, Science and Geography.  What ever you chose to write about, your job is to explain your topic, and then most importantly you must then tell me why it is important.

The Week of 24th to the 28th

We will be going through Ancient Man to get ready for the Mid Term.  On Wednesday there will be an exit ticket on Ancient Man.  Please go through all of the Annotation warm ups we have been doing on ancient man.

TEST is Thursday and Friday

There will be a quick write on Tuesday and Wednesday that will last about 5 or 10 minutes.  Attached is a study guide about Ancient man

Like always if I have not made myself clear, call me.

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

This is test is to be completed by a sixth grade mind based on what has been taught since the beginning of the school year.  I am looking for understanding and your hypothesis why your topics are important.  The only person you are going against in YOU, no one else.  You are giving me your best hypothesis based on what you and only you know.  DON'T FREEK OUT, if you have been listening and doing what you have been responsible for these last 9 weeks all of you will do good.  BUT if you do not research and,  are not ready the day of the test it will be hard

1. An introduction
2.  Six topics -(explain each topic and why it is important to man)
   1. one on Religion
   2. one on Science
   3. one of Ancient Man
   4. one on Geography 
   5. two extra topics of your choice from the topics above
3. Conclusion
4. Remember that you must explain what the topic is, then give me a reason why it is important to Humans.

YOUR HOMEWORK IS TO CHOOSE YOUR MIDTERM TOPICS, RESEARCHING THEM TO READY YOURSELF FOR THE MIDTERM ON OCTOBER. 

"School is the best place to open your mind to all the wonders of the world."

By Mr Garcia

My wonder 6^th grade Students,

Wow can you believe that first quarter is coming to an end.  Where has the time gone?  I don’t know about you but I having a wonderful time this year with all of you.  Thank you for being such amazing students.

Attached to this weekly summary is the cheat sheet on Geography, Religion, Science and Ancient man.  The cheat sheets contain all of the topics we have gone through these past weeks.  All of you will be incredibly surprised on how much you have learned so far in 6^th Grade social studies.  You are becoming great historians.  This is Awesome!!!!!!!!! 

On October 20 and 21 all students will be writing a Mid-term, eight paragraph essay on Geography, Religion, Science and Ancient Man.  This is an open note open book test.  You will have two weeks to prepare for this test.  I will discuss more in-depth on Monday.

The Week of October 10 -14

We will complete the viewing of the “Bible” pertaining to the topic of Religion, take the quiz then view the video call “Allosaurus” that follows the scientific method.  Once the video is completed we will take the quiz then get into the topic of Ancient Man.  As with your notes on the “Bible,” you will be able to use your notes on the quiz on the video of “Allosaurus” as well

Students for the last three weeks chapter 2 and annotation 1 through 7 have been on the topic of Ancient Man.  So everyone will have some prior knowledge of this subject when we start discussing it in class.  Make sure that all students review your Ancient Man annotations so you don’t forget.

Home work for this week will be reviewing all of the annotation papers that you have done since the beginning of the school year.  For those who have lost these annotations all are available on line to download.

Like always,

If you do not understand what has been written text or call me

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

You have to take the Stairs.

Find a Job You Love and You Will Never Have To Work a Day In Your Life

"Saying by Confucius"

To My amazing and Brilliant 6th Graders.  Read the quote above its important

I will talk about your Unit test Monday.

What is happening September 26 to September 30?

      Just a reminder, I will be checking all annotations in class on Monday. All of my students should have completed lessons two and three chapter 2 "learning to farm and raise animals", and lesson three "The first communities," as well as warm up number two "The Agricultural Revolution" completely done and ready to be stamped at the beginning of class.

On Tuesday and Wednesday

All students will be taking a geographical map quiz. This map will include areas that we learned on our in class geographical map. Everyone should be reviewing the map I have online knowing where specific locations are. Do not freak out, all of you know these locations; we have been studying them a long time.

 You should know the following:

• The Equator, Prime Meridian and International Date line
• Tropics Cancer and Capricorn
• The Seven Continents of the World
• The Five Major Oceans
• Mediterranean, Black, Caspian, Arabian, and Red Seas.
• The Amazon Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, Indus, Ganges, Huang He, and Chang Jiang Rivers.
• Rocky, Appalachian, Andes and Himalayan Mountain rages

We will start the topics of Religion vs. science and dive into Ancient Man.

Any questions please call me

Mr. G.

310-871-3679

What’s happening the week of Sept 19^th to the 23^rd.

Just a reminder, that on Thursday and Friday, there will be a Common Core Geography test.  This is depending when you have me of course. Your job this week is to go over all of the annotated worksheets and homework packet about geography, continents, oceans, rivers, seas, map reading and geographical terms you will need to know for this test.  You will also need to know where things are located a blank map.  SO GO OVER OVER THE FINISHE DWORLD MAP ON THIS WEB SITE AND REVIEW!!!!!.  

Remember us average people need to review and review and review, then when your are done, review, then review and review again and again. NEVER STOP REVIEWING!!!!!!!!

Homework:

An annotated packet on chapter 2 in your social studies book will be given out on Monday to all students.

For Period 1, 3, and 5.  Your homework assignment will be the following

• Monday night is Lesson 1 Due Tuesday
  • “Hunters and Gatherers”
    • Vocabulary
    • Annotation
  • Tuesday and Wednesday night is Lesson 2, and 3 Due Thursday
    • Learning to farm and Raise Animals
      • Vocabulary
      • Annotation
    • The first Communities
      • Vocabulary
      • Annotation

For Period 2 and 6.  Your homework assignment will be the following

• Monday and Tuesday night is Lesson 1 and 2 Due Wednesday
  • “Hunters and Gatherers”
    • Vocabulary
    • Annotation
  • Learning to farm and Raise Animals
    • Vocabulary
    • Annotation
  • Wednesday night is Lesson 3 Due Friday
    • The first Communities
      • Vocabulary
      • Annotation

Remember you can do one lesson a night or the entire packet at once!!!!

On Monday we will be reviewing Geography

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be starting Ancient Man with

Religion versus Science 

We will have an annotated warm up each day.  When possible we will be starting a movie called The “Iceman” and the “Bible”

If you have do not understand what will be happening this week call or text me

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

Well my little Chisadees, 

We are now starting our third week of school, our of a total of 40 weeks in the school year.  Are all of you having fun yet? Well I am if you were wondering. 

Homework that is due on Tuesday and Wednesday:

All of you in my class were given Chapter 1 lessons 1, 2 3, and 4 that needs to be completed on Tuesday or Wednesday whenever you have me.  A complete copy of the packet is on this homework web site if you loose your original one.

REMEMBER I CANNOT ACCEPT LATE HOMEWORK, AND IF IT IS NOT COMPLETED YOU WILL RECEIVE A "0."

              It is very important that you understand, I'm expecting you to do your best annotating the packet that was given to you.  Every one of you will have a different packet that will be completed.  I am asking you to take a leap of faith and do the best you can.

There are no wrong answers, what annotation is forcing you to do is read then explain in your own words what you read.  I promise you it will get a lot easier as time moves on.  Our class is going to be doing a lot of annotations!!!!

Things you need to do to complete your homework assignment.

• Complete all vocabulary words. 

(You do not have to go to your social studies dictionary for the definitions of these words.  On the paper handed out they are "Bolded and underlined" and the answer is either to the left or right of the vocabulary word.)

• Highlighting:

 Is done when you have a vocabulary word you are not familiar with

• Underlining:

Is used to paraphrase your sentence or paragraph

• Empty Space to the right of the packet:

At the left of your packet your annotation is paraphrasing in your own words the sentence or paragraph you read.

What's happening this week in class:

To let you know there will always be a warmup before class starts at every meeting. Each and every one of you will be annotating information that the class is going over at the moment.

            We will be finishing up the Geographical statements and afterwards all classes will be creating a Seven Continent Map. Instructions on how to create it will be given in class. The class will have a total of 1 class period to finish this in class project, that is 90 minutes. This is more than enough time to complete this project. It is YOU and only you that will be responsible to complete this task.

            Those who finish this assignment in the allotted time will receive 100%, and those who do not will receive a "0," and the only way to change that "0" to 100% is by finishing the assignment on their own time either during lunch or afterschool in my classroom. I will not let you take this project home.

Any question or concerns all each and every one of you need do is CALL or TEXT me!!!!

Mr. Garcia

310-871-3679

Let me introduce myself my name is Richard Garcia, I am one of three 6^th grade social studies teacher at Culver City Middle school teaching 6^th grade social studies. I started my student teaching at the middle school during the 1991-1992 school year and officially started as a teacher during the 1992-1993 school year. To date unofficially this is my 24^th year and officially 23^rd year at Culver City Middle School.

I am so excited for this New Year at CCMS for all new students and parents.  I know how stressful this can be entering a new environment, no longer in the safety of your previous elementary school that is comfortable and safe.  Now all of you head into the abyss of the unknown not knowing what to expect. This in itself can be a monumental challenge.

I assure you that all of the new students entering this wonderful school have nothing to fear.  Your are entering a family environment that will painstakingly do all their best to make you feel safe and welcomed in your new environment.  This I promise you 100%.  

Now I may be a bit biased because this is my official 23^rd of 24 years at CCMS, but all of you are entering the best District and middle school in the state if not the country.  Each and every one of you will get the best possible education this world has to offer, I guarantee it. 

Every single teacher will do their job implanting the best education possible, but it is very important that you students, as students give your best in absorbing this education, this success can be accomplished through dedication, hard work, and a drive to learn.  It is you, and only you that will succeed and thrive as a CCUSD student.  All of you need to know, the success is yours to have, by your hard work.

A lot to read but important information!!!! 

Students, let me inform you that this class will either be your favorite, or at least one of the top two favorite class you will have this year. Not to say I’m vain, but, I love my job, and don't tell anyone but I get paid for this job. I want all of you to know that I will always try to inspire you to expand your knowledge whether in school or not. I will try to burn this phrase into your minds, and pray that it takes hold in inspiring your future goals.

Confucius say’s ”Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” I haven't worked in 24 years, amazing huh?

My job this year is to introduce you to the aspect of Ancient Civilization but, remember I can only touch the tip of the ice berg doing this. There is so much information about each and every civilization we will be learning this year that it is impossible to deeply get into the substance. What I will be doing is getting you ready, by introducing you to research, historical essay writing, map making and the reasons why things happened, that of course leads up to today, and how all of us live our lives. 

What is needed for all of my students .

Student’s, every single one of you must understand that you have to be in school. The moment you understand and agree that school is your future, school will be fun and rewarding. Without an education all of your dreams and desires in your life will be limited. An education will open up anything and everything you may desire to do in your life, and only you, will stop this from happening, not mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, siblings, aunts, uncles or friends! You are the creator of your wants, desires and dreams, and only you can fulfill them. Remember that always!!! 

Every school year is a total of 180 days put into August to June, nine months and two weeks. We are in school from 8:20 until 2:20 a total of 6 hours. Our school has block scheduling meaning each class Tuesday to Friday is 90 minutes long so, social studies, math, science, language arts, P.E., and your elective will be broken into periods.

Wednesday day and Friday will be period 2, 4 and 6, 90 minute block periods

Tuesday and Thursdays will be period 1, 3 and 5, 90 minute block periods 

Monday will be called “Stack Day,” in which you will be going to all of your classes that will be 50 minutes long 

What this breaks down to, is you will only have three days of any class. My students will only see me three days a week. For example. If you have me on Wednesday and Friday, I will not see you on Tuesday and Thursday, and of course if you have me Tuesday and Thursday, I will not see you Wednesday or Friday. This schedule will make it feel like the year will go by extremely fast, and of course it will. 

On Monday the bell rings at 8:15, and you have 5 minutes to get to class. When period 1 ends you will again have 5 minutes to get to period 2, and the same goes with the rest of your classes. Just getting to class accounts a total of 30 minutes a day, then there is lunch which is 35 minutes. So, a total of 1 hour and 5 minutes is eating and getting to class. So on Monday you are not in class 6 hours, but 4 hours and 55 minutes.

On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday there are five 5 minute transition or 25 minutes, on top of 35 minutes for lunch and 30 minutes for PAWS, in total that is 90 minutes going to class, eating and PAWS. Subtract that from the 6 hour day and students are in class a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes. Wednesday is an early day ending at 1:35 p.m., of a 5 hour and 15 minutes of the school day, lunch is 35 minutes and three transition is 15 minutes or a total of 50 minutes, bringing your school day to only 4 hours  and 25 minutes. 

There is a lot of information that needs to be taught to all of you this school year and in the beginning it going to seem impossible, but do not worry, as hard as it seems all of you will adjust, and be successful as a 6^th grade student. All of you are scared, excited and most of you are ready for a new school year. I have extreme confidence in all of you that you will succeed and thrive at Culver City Middle School. 

Welcome, and I cannot wait to start teaching all of you Ancient History

Your wonderful and amazing Teacher

Mr. Garcia :)

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