6 th Grade Language Arts 6A Alpha Dogs Sara Adams

1. 6th Grade Language Arts6A Alpha DogsSara Adams sadams@kyrene.org 480*541*6113

2. The Two Sculptors Author Unknown I dreamed I stood in a studio, and watched two sculptors there; The clay they used was a young child’s mind and they fashioned it with care. One was a teacher; the tools she used were books, and music, and art; The other was a parent who worked with a guiding hand and gentle loving heart; Day after day the teacher toiled with a touch that was deft and sure, While the parent labored by her side and polished and smoothed it o’er. And when at last their task was done they were proud of what they had wrought; For the things they had molded into the child could neither be sold or bought; And each agreed they would have failed if they had worked alone, For behind the TEACHER stood the SCHOOL, and behind the PARENT, the HOME.

4. Parent Communication Progress reports every 4.5 weeks – Please check grades weekly Report cards every 9 weeks Email – If your email address changes at any time throughout the year, please make sure to contact the front office ASAP. Phone calls Parent/student/teacher/ conferences

5. It’s important to check the whiteboard everyday. Class assignments, homework assignments, and tests will be written in different colors to separate. Check daily - subject to change

6. Odds and Ends • Your child’s attendance is extremely important. • Please check the website on a weekly basis. • Your child has an agenda that they will be filling in daily. It is very helpful for everyone if you go through their agenda daily to make sure they are keeping up-to-date with their homework. • Free tutoring available during Learning Lab Tuesdays & Thursdays 3:15-4:00 AND Fridays 7:15-8:00 and grades are accessible on-line through ParentVue and StudentVue.

7. GRADING POLICY Homework/Class work= 20% Reading=80/20% • Book reports • Tests and quizzes on literature • Reading pages Writing= 80/20% • Essays • Research reports • Narratives • Journals

8. GRADING POLICY-ADVANCED LANGUAGE ARTS Classic Greek and Latin Roots= 20% • Two Lessons per test-one lesson per week. • Tests are given every two weeks on Wednesday. Homework/Class work= 20% Writing= 80/20% • Essays • Research reports • Narratives • Journals • Reading=80/20% • Book reports • Tests and quizzes on literature • Reading pages

9. Late Work Our expectation is that all work will be turned in on the date that it is due. Turned in and completed by due date = Full credit Class work or homework : 1 day late = 1/2 credit 2 + days late = 0 credit Assignment must still be completed even though it will receive 0 credit. Projects 1-3 day late = 10% per day 4+ days = 0 credit Students are expected to complete and turn in any assigned project that is more than 4 days late even if they do not receive credit for it. These assignments help us ensure that the students have learned the objectives that we have set out to teach them. If we do not have an assignment, we have no way of assessing the mastery of those concepts.

10. Absences If students have homework, it will always be written on the white board, posted on my website, and papers will be on the “While You Were Out” board. Students are expected to make-up any work they have missed while they were absent. Students have two days for everyday that they missed to turn in work.

11. READING PAGES Requirements: • 300 pages the 1st quarter • 400 pages the 2nd quarter • 500 pages the 3rd quarter • 600 pages the 4th quarter • One book each 9 weeks should be from a genre not read before. • Books read in class can be recorded. • A parent signature for each book read is required on the form each 9 weeks. • Books should be selected that they enjoy and that are at their reading level. • Points will be earned for 100 pages read. For example: 400 pages = 40 points

12. Expectations for Advanced Language Arts Class • Higher level literature books (novels) • Vocabulary book (Classic Roots) SAT prep • Reading Book Log Pages • 400 pages the 1st quarter • 500 pages the 2nd quarter • 600 pages the 3rd quarter • 700 pages the 4th quarter • Book reports = higher level • Expected to maintain a B average or above • Quicker pacing • Depth of discussion, written responses • Making inferences, Interpretations

13. Reading Strategies • Questioning • Connecting • Predicting • Evaluating • Reviewing

14. 6 + One

15. The Writing Process

16. Read these before leaving 6th Grade • Hatchet • Bridge to Terabithia • Island of the Blue Dolphins • When Zachary Beaver Came to Town • My Brother Sam is Dead • Where the Red Fern Grows • Holes • The Cay • Al Capone Does My Shirts • Esperanza Rising • Wringer • My Side of the Mountain • Indian in the Cupboard • The Wish Giver • Tuck Everlasting • Series of Unfortunate Events Some TRUE stories that are amazing: Alive (Andes survivors) Between a Rock and a Hard Place The Climb (Mt. Everest) A Child Called It (need parent permission to check out) If you have books at home that are at a 6th-8thgrade reading level, and you would like to donate to our classroom library, we would LOVE to have them!