Teacher: Mrs. Abraham

Welcome to 6th Grade Language Arts!

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Welcome to John Sells Middle School! Sixth grade Language Arts has an expanding curriculum that stems from prior knowledge and transitions to new concepts that promote lifelong reading and writing. I am looking forward to a challenging, yet really fun year!

A Year at a Glance/Curriculum:

We will follow the Dublin City Schools curriculum for sixth grade Language Arts. The more you practice your reading and writing, and the more you learn about words, the stronger a reader, writer, listener, speaker, and thinker you will be. You will be required to read a minimum of 12 books (around 3 books a quarter)within this school year. Throughout the year we will have great discussions about our reading in both teacher/student conferences and amongst your peers. You will select your own books and create reading goals for yourself. My goal is to turn my non-readers into reading lovers and to extend my already avid readers. In addition, the following is a list of topics we plan to cover this year:

Persuasive/Argumentative Writing

Narrative Writing

Informational/Explanatory Writing

Speaking and Listening

Novel units

Reading workshops (short stories)

Grammar/Vocabulary/Spelling

Using and learning with technology

6th Grade Language Arts Information:

Classroom Rule:

Show respect for teachers, classmate,classroom & school property.

Supplies Needed Daily:

1-inch (or 1 1/2-inch) 3 ring binder

1 journal (Literature Log) can stay in the room if you choose

Pencils or Pens!!!

Independent Novel

Planner or something to record homework in

Daily Routine:
In order to facilitate smooth transitions and increase the instruction time the students are required to follow the Daily Routine:
1. Get your language arts binder and journal (unless otherwise stated on the agenda)
2.Write your homework in your planner
3. Check the Agenda on the board for important information about the day – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday students will be required to read silently from their personal independent novel for the beginning 15 - 20 minutes of the period. Tuesday and Thursday will be some type of writing activity in your journals.

Independent Reading:

Students are required to read 3-6 novels per nine weeks with accountability checks that measures higher -level thinking. Students will be given 15 – 20 minutes 3 days a week of in-class reading. Each quarter the reading requirements will slightly increase:

100 minutes for Quarter # 1150 minutes for Quarter # 3

125 minutes for Quarter # 2175 minutes for Quarter # 4

Minutes will be recorded on a weekly reading log located in your student planner, and you will also be recording your minutes on line on readingrewards.com (accounts will be made for each student the second week of school).

Homework:

Assigned once or twice a week, possibly weekends (if you do not stay on top of things)

Posted on white board in front of classroom, online (Progress Book).

Guidelines for Work:

Day to day work can be done neatly in either pen or pencil.

FinalProducts must be either typed or hand written in pen (unless one is preferred over the other and is specified).

Be sure you first and last name are on everything you turn in!

Late work policy:

1 day late = 1/2 credit. I will always accept late work at any time within the quarter and you will always at least earn some credit for it, I would rather you do the work late rather than not do the work at all.

Long-term projects not turned in on time will lose 10% each day, not exceptions.

Grading:

Grades will be calculated using the following categories:

Writing & Reading Assessments/Projects
Writing & Reading Homework
Responsibility (being organized and prepared for class daily, not going to your locker for supplies you should have everyday!)
Other

*** You can keep track of all your grades on Progress Book, you should be checking PB daily to keep up to date with homework, assignments and your grades! ***

L.A. PROCEDURES:

HEADING YOUR PAPERS :

Head papers in upper right corner beginning on top line

ENTERING THE CLASSROOM:

Sit in assigned seat

Check board for the days agenda and get supplies out that you will need

ALWAYS have your LA binder, Literature Log, pen or pencil, and your independent reading novel with you! You WILL lose responsibility points each day you do not have these items!

RETURNING FROM AN ABSENCE: -It is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed while absent—all homework will be posted on Progress Book and in the classroom. Actual handouts are located in the weekly absent bin in classroom, on my webpage and Progress Book.

As a general rule, students receive 1 day for each day absent to make up missed work with no penalty. However, if the assignment/test had been scheduled prior to the absence, students are expected to turn in the assignment or take the test on that date

WHEN FINISHING IN-CLASS WORK EARLY:

Read silently

Work on Language Arts homework, or other homework, anything to avoid disrupting others who are still working.

“RESPONSIBILITY” POINTS:

You will begin each quarter with 100/100 points for responsibility

You will keep all 100 points unless you do things that are irresponsible

You can lose points for each time you “break” one of the responsibility rule

There are 3 ways to lose your responsibility points:

BeingTARDY without a pass
Having to go to your LOCKER (because you forgot something for class)
BeingOFF-TASK during class (i.e. excessive talking, inappropriate behavior, out of seat, disrespect toward classmates or teacher)

7.USING CLASSROOM SUPPLIES:

Classroom supplies are yours to use IN-CLASS ONLY…DO NOT TAKE THEM WITH YOU WHEN YOU LEAVE MY ROOM! Once the supplies are gone they are gone for the rest of the year and you will have to supply your own.

When you return supplies, make sure to put supplies back in CORRECT drawers!

8.SIGNING OUT & RETURNING CLASSROOM LIBRARY BOOKS:

Sign book in and out with Mrs. Abraham during study center or at the beginning or endof class (be sure you have me sign you in and out, if not you are responsible for any missing books)

Return books to Mrs. Abraham (I will put the returned books back on shelf for you)

Books returned in a damaged condition or books that are lost will need to be replaced!

9. Important Websites to Use:

Please familiarize yourself with the resources listed below. Our class time is precious, so I do as much as I can to provide you with out-of-class resources to help you stay on track AND learn how to be a successful and responsible student.

Teacher Webpage:

ProgressBook:

Reading Rewards: