7Th Grade Language Arts

6th Grade Standard Language Arts

2015-2016 School Year

Teachers: Mrs. Lori Sutherland & Ms. Tess-Ella Brooks Room: D128

Emails: &

Wiki Page: http://sutherland.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/

Addtional Tutorial Times: Monday 8:30-9:05 a.m. & 4:15-4:45 p.m.

6th Grade Curriculum

Sixth grade students use oral language, written language, and media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Students also explore the structure of language and study grammatical rules in order to speak and write effectively. While emphasis in sixth grade is placed on personal expression, students also:

·  Interpret and synthesize information.

·  Develop an understanding of the foundations of argument.

·  Critically analyze print and non-print communication.

·  Use effective sentence construction and edit for improvements in sentence formation, usage, mechanics, and spelling.

·  Interpret and evaluate a wide range of literature (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, etc.).

The pacing for the curriculum is based on student needs and will be specific to each class.

Supplies for Language Arts

·  1- 1” three ring binder notebook

·  Loose Leaf Notebook paper (must have paper every day-I suggest college ruled)

·  1- 3 subject spiral notebook with double pocket dividers (college ruled)

·  Ear buds or headphones to use with chromebook

·  5 divider tabs

·  #2 Pencils (you must have at least 2 sharpened #2 pencils with you each day)

·  Crayons, colored pencils, or colored markers for projects and assignments in class (students may choose only one or all of these for personal use only).

·  Clear Tape and/or Glue Sticks (no liquid glue) for Interactive Notebook (IN), Ruler, pencil sharpener, additional pencils.

·  Agenda (I highly recommend each student has an agenda/calendar of some type to write down assignments each day for all classes)

·  1 pack of printer paper (white or any color)

·  Optional items: hand sanitizer, pocket tissues (students will not be allowed to get up during instruction to get tissues)

Mrs. Sutherland's Wish List of Items for a healthy productive classroom:

·  hand sanitizer

·  Kleenex (everyone should supply at least one box)

·  Lysol disinfecting wipes and/or spray

·  Colored copy paper and construction paper

Policies and Procedures

Rules of the Classroom

The following rules are posted and should be followed by all students in order to create an orderly and safe environment for learning in language arts:

1. No talking without permission.
2. Stay in your assigned seat at all times.
3. No food or drink (except water).
4. Raise your hand if you have a question or comment.
5. Use appropriate language at all times.
6. Keep you hands and other items to yourself.
7. No throwing object (including paper).
8. Stay on task at all times.
9. Be respectful to peers and adults.

Consequences

Consequences for inappropriate behavior will include, but is not limited to, the following:

First Offense-Verbal Warning.

Second Offense-2nd Verbal Warning/Parental Contact.

Third Offense-Time Out in My Classroom/Parental Contact.

Fourth Offense-Time Out in Another Teacher’s Room.

Fifth Offense-Referral to an Administrator/Parental Contact.

A copy of the Northwest School of the Arts Discipline Documentation form is included in this syllabus for your convenience.

Team conferences and requested meetings:

Team conferences to address any academic or behavior concerns will occur on Tuesdays only during 2nd block planning (10:50-12:00). Please contact Mrs. Washington at or (980) 343-5500 to schedule or modify these appointments. Please be patient when scheduling these appointments as we have a lot of parents/students with various needs to address with the team. We want EVERY parent to have our full attention during your scheduled time so it is important that you arrive on time or you will need to reschedule as we have these meetings at 15 minute intervals. Please make Mrs. Washington aware if you feel you will need longer than 15 minutes to address your student/parent concerns with us. The team suggests that you reach out to the individual teacher via email for immediate needs prior to our team meeting with you to help resolve any issues or clarify information. Your child should be able to clearly communicate assignments and deadlines to you as we provide these in class to be written in the agenda for the day. Notes for the teacher can also be written in the agenda and presented to the teacher by your child. My wiki page will also provide lots of information and a list of all important deadlines for formal projects and tests. Homework will not be posted on my wiki page and it is the responsibility of your child to copy it into the agenda from the white board at the front of my room where it is consistently posted when they enter each day.

Grading

CMS grading policy for Middle Grades is:

65% Formal-Tests/Projects/Quizzes

35% Informal-Class work/Warm up/Journal Entries/Homework/Reading Logs

Grading Scale: A-100-90; B-89-80; C-79-70; D-69-60; F-59 and Below

Classroom grading policy:

The grading of all work will be as follows in Powerschool:

Completed work on time: full credit

Late work (it must be fully complete to be accepted as late): no more than 60

Missing or incomplete work: zero

Homework Policy

Homework is assigned every day in Language Arts (reading is a must!). Unless otherwise stated, fully completed work is due the next class. Homework that is assigned that day should be completed that same night. Do not wait!! This will help reinforce what you have learned in class. I also recommend you have a friend from class to contact if you need additional help at home. Homework that is turned in after the due date is considered late and will receive PARTIAL credit (no more than 60).

Make-up Work

Make-up work is for those students who are absent from class/school. Students who lose their work, choose not to turn in work, or have any other excuse will not receive full credit if turned in late (see late work policy above). Students will be responsible for initiating contact for getting their make-up work from the teacher or other students (class work and homework) within 5 days of returning to school. If a student is out for a long period of time, we will make special arrangements. Please contact me via email if your child will be out for more than 2 days. It is important that parents and guardians help teach children that they must be responsible and turn in their work when it is due.

Progress Reports and Report Cards

Progress Reports go out each quarter. Students are responsible for taking them home, getting them signed by a parent or guardian, and returning them back to the teacher. Report Cards will go out at the end of each quarter. Your child’s two quarterly grades determine the semester grades. At the end of the year, your two semester grades are averaged together for the year’s final grade.

Progress Report Dates Report Card Dates

September 24-25 November 5

December 3-4 February 3

February 24-25 April 14

May 5-6 June 23-Last Report Card Mailed

Projects & Writing Assignments

Each quarter, you will have a project and writing assignment to complete for Language Arts. I will send home information about the projects each quarter, requesting a parent signature to show that it was received (this will count as a completed grade for the students). Please make note of all due dates and use your agenda to break assignments into small, manageable pieces to meet all the deadlines for full credit. All of these assignments will be recorded in the formal grading category that will make up 65% of your grade each quarter. As projects/writings are assigned, more forms/information can be found on my wiki page at: http://sutherland.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/

Reading Homework: How much and how often will my child need to read each day?

Reading is homework each night for your child for language arts. According to research, children who read at least 45 minutes a day with a 90% comprehension rate see the greatest gains in reading EOG scores. Therefore, your child should have at least 20 minutes set aside for reading at home each school day (Monday-Thursday) to add to the reading done in class. Your child MUST complete a reading log that is to be signed by a parent and turned in EVERY Tuesday for a grade. I will give them one copy to keep in their interactive notebooks as a reference to set up the format each week. You can, also, find an additional copy on my wiki page if you need it or if you prefer to print them off for your child to attach in the interactive notebook each week. For language arts, students will be expected to complete various assignments relating to their reading (tic-tac-toe book activities, projects, book reports, book talks, etc.). I will send home more information as the each component is introduced to students and it can be found on my wiki page at: http://sutherland.cmswiki.wikispaces.net/ Students may be given opportunity to read in class at various times also, especially if the work for that day is completed. Therefore, your child should have his/her book with her every day to read from if time is provided.

How can you help your child become a better reader?

As with anything, performance improves with practice. Encourage your child to read at home. Create a culture of reading in your household by reading with your child, starting a home library, visiting your local library or bookstore on a regular basis, letting your child see your reading, and discussing books that each of you has read. When reading with your child, stop and ask questions to be sure your child comprehends what is read. Reading with your child, no matter what the child’s age, is an important part of developing a good reader, building a lifelong love of reading and learning, and creating a loving relationship between you and your child. Make learning a family affair!

Interactive Notebook (IN) for LA:

Students will be required to keep an Interactive Notebook with an ongoing and up to date “Table of Contents” for LA. Students will need to have this with them daily. They will also need colored pencils/crayons, scissors and glue to use with the IN daily. The “Table of Contents” document will be update weekly on my wiki page for you to check for accuracy.

What is a wiki and how can I find it?/ How do I find an email address for a teacher?

A wiki is a web-based page where teachers can post assignments and information that parents and students need to know and use. Email is a great way to communicate with the teacher. Both resources can be located by going to the NWSA homepage and clicking on the “faculty & staff” tab. Scroll down and find the teacher’s name. Click on the globe to go to the wiki for the teacher. Click on the envelope to send the teacher an email. Be sure to include your child’s first and last name in the subject line of any email correspondence so the teacher will know who you are referencing in the conversation. You can locate my wiki and email address at the top of this document too. If you have not received a team email by the third week of school, please email me personally to let me know to add you to the group emails for team news.

What workbooks will my student use this year if I want to purchase him/her a copy?

I will have a class set of all workbooks to be used in LA. These workbooks will NOT be allowed to leave my classroom under any circumstances. If a child is absent, he/she must stay during tutorial time to gain access to the book for make-up work. However, here is a list of the workbooks if you wish to purchase a copy for your student to write in/keep for my class:

Standard LA: 1) Wordly Wise 3000® 3rd Edition Student Book 6 (order from Educators Publishing Services at eps.schoolspecialty.com or 800-225-5750) Item #7606- $12.40 ea. 2) 180 Days of Reading for Sixth Grade (Bell Ringer each day) (order from Shell Education at www.shelleducation.com or 877-777-3450), 3) Buckle Down to the Common Core State Standards-6-English Language Arts Student Workbook USR2048WI at www.buckledown.com or 800-776-3454

SIXTH GRADE TEAM REQUEST*** When emailing any teacher please put your child’s name in the subject heading. Many parents/guardians do not share the same last name as the student.

Expectations for ALL visitors:

*** It is CMS policy that no visitor (including parents, grandparents, siblings, etc.) is in the building at any time or for any reason without first going to the main office and registering and get a badge. PLEASE do not show-up at any teacher’s classroom without first making arrangements in advance with that teacher. The same applies to the cafeteria during lunch and bringing in food from outside for students. It is unfair to you as well as the teacher if we cannot afford you the proper time and respect you deserve. PLEASE do not put us in an embarrassing situation by having to ask you to leave and/or calling security. These policies are in place to ensure that your child is in a 100% safe learning environment.

NORTHWEST SCHOOL OF THE ARTS DISCIPLINE DOCUMENTATION

Student:______Teacher:______Room:_____