Welcome to Mr. Marler's 6th Grade Science Class!

Who is this Mr. Marler guy anyway?

Randy Marler

I am originally from a little town in northern California named Chico. It was there at California State University, Chico that I earned my BA in Liberal Studies and my Elementary Education credential. In 1990 I married my wife, Jennifer, and started teaching. I taught multiple subjects at the 5th and 6th grade level until Jennifer and I moved to Georgia in 2019.  I subbed around Pickens and Gilmer counties and was very pleased to be able to secure a full-time position here at JMS.

I have 3 beautiful daughters. My oldest is married and has 3 boys.  She served 10 years in the Air Force and now has her real estate license. My middle daughter served 6 years in the Navy and has her degree in criminal forensics from UVU in Utah. She currently works with the Salt Lake City Police Department Crime Lab. My youngest is married and has started her college career to become a teacher.

I love teaching 6th graders and I am looking forward to a great school year!

If at any time you need to contact me, please follow the link below:

randymarler@pickenscountyschools.org

Announcements

  • Please note: There has been an adjustment to the late work policy. It has been underlined.

What to expect this year.

  • Mr. Marler-Science Schedule

7:50-8:30 Homeroom

8:30-9:00 Thinking Maps

9:00-9:43 Period 1

9:43-10:25 Period 10

10:25-11:45 Connections

11:45-12:28 Period 3

12:28-1:10 Period 30

1:06-1:31 Lunch

1:35- 2:18 Period 4

2:18-3:00 Period 40

 

 

Accessing your textbook online.

1. Log into Clever.

2. Scroll down to HMH Ed HMH Ed icon.

3. Click on the icon.

4. Click on the 'Discover' tab.

There you go. That's all there is to it!

6th Grade Earth Science 

Mr. Marler

Introduction

Welcome to Mr. Marler’s 6th grade Earth Science class.  Below you will find information about what we will be learning as well as grading, homework, and expectations. Let’s jump right in, shall we?

 

Expectations

As a 6th grader, expectations are higher than they were as a 5th grader.  Obviously the same school rules apply, but there are a few other items that I expect as you come to our room each day.

  • Line up single-file and wait silently against the wall next to the door until the class has been invited in.
  • Enter the room calmly and quietly.
  • Take out the necessary materials for the day’s lesson.
  • Make sure your pencil is sharpened/loaded before the lesson begins.
  • If there are lab materials on the table, do not touch until directed to do so.
  • Use all supplies as they are intended.
  • Clean up after yourself.
  • Raise your hand and wait to be called on.
  • Actively participate in class: ask/answer questions, volunteer to read, be helpful during labs, stay on task.
  • Do all work when it is assigned and to the best of your ability.
  • Put your name on your assignments.
  • Stay in your seat or assigned area.
  • When excused, return all supplies to their appropriate storage, put your books neatly on the designated shelves, push your chair in, gather all of your belongings and exit quietly.
  • If you need help, please let me know.

Curriculum

We will be using the HMH Georgia Science textbook as our main source of information. We will begin our journey this year by exploring the universe and our solar system. We will then bring it a little closer to home by investigating how Earth, the moon and sun work together to affect conditions here on Earth. Next, we will look at Earth’s surface and how it changes through factors like weathering and erosion. We will also learn about soil, minerals and rocks.  From there we will look at forces that shaped Earth over time, with a focus on the Theory of Plate Tectonics. We will then look at Earth’s water, atmosphere, weather and climate. Finally, time permitting, we will explore Earth’s resources.



Classroom

Most of the work we do will happen in the classroom. Besides reading and taking notes, we will participate in demonstrations, investigations, labs, and activities.  That being the case, it is very important that you do your best to be present every day.  While in class, questions and discussion are encouraged, as well as individual investigations. You will keep a lab book which will contain vocabulary, notes from the reading, and lab/investigation write-ups.

 

Grades

Grades will be taken from a variety of sources. 

Formative 

Lab book 

Lesson Reviews

Lab worksheets

Participation

Lesson Quizzes

Summative

Unit Tests

  • Formative grades will be weighted at 40% and summative grades will be weighted at 60%.
  • If you score below an 85 on a unit test, you may do the associated green dots in Progress Learning to raise your grade to an 85.  It is your responsibility to let me know if you have completed green dots.
  • All work must be completed within 10 school days from the due date unless stated otherwise.
  • Work missed due to an absence must be made up within 10 school days of returning to school. 
  • Any work turned in after the 10 day limit will be given 1/2 credit.
  • Late work will be accepted, but may be given partial credit.
  • All summative assignments must be completed at school. Arrangements can be made to make up missed assessments.
  • Any notes missed due to an absence are the responsibility of the student to make up. They may be copied from a friend or you may borrow my lab book. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to copy notes on their time.
  • If you find yourself falling behind or needing extra help, let me know. I am available most days before class and after school to help.

Lab Books

Lab books are a composition book in which vocabulary, notes from reading, and lab/investigation write-ups will be kept.  These will be collected occasionally for grading. The grading will be based on 3 areas:

 

Completeness- Are all of the notes, vocabulary, and lab/investigation write-ups included and complete? Is the Table of Contents updated to reflect the current contents? 

 

Accuracy- Is the information written accurately? Does the data from investigations/labs reflect the actual results? Are vocabulary words spelled correctly? Do the page numbers in the Table of Contents match the actual page numbers and are the pages numbered correctly?

 

Neatness- Is the writing legible? There should be nothing other than the science information in the notebook: no doodles, messes, or work from other subjects. Pages should be intact, without rips or crumpling.

 

Communications


If you need to contact me, you can do so by emailing me at   randymarler@pickenscountyschools.org. I check this daily throughout the school week.  You may also call the school and leave a message. I will call you back as soon as I can.