Mrs. Jarrett ’ s

1. Mrs. Jarrett’s • General Sherman Jr. High • Lancaster, OH • September 8, 2014 • 1st Nine Weeks Language Arts Newsletter The first nine weeks for sixth graders can be very difficult and challenging. They are adjusting to many changes, realizing that being organized is a must, and ultimately finding their own place in their new junior high environment. This newsletter will inform you of upcoming projects and dates that you may not otherwise know about so your child may be better prepared for when that time comes around. With your help, Mr. Burre, myself, and of course your child’s, my goal is to help your child have a successful and educational sixth grade year in language arts. ~Mrs. Jarrett Classroom Expectations Homework/Classwork Assignments Policy: I assign homework because it gives students the much needed practice and repetition necessary for learning. It also prepares students for upcoming lessons, teaches them responsibility, and helps to develop positive study habits. Consequences for missing homework: (per nine week grading period) • First time – no penalty. Students may • return work the following day for full credit. • Second time – no penalty, however, • during the first nine weeks I will notify the parents of the missing work. • Third time and all subsequent offenses – • After School Detention – Parents will be notified by a letter. • If your student continues to miss • assignments after several detentions, a student will then receive a referral where a Tuesday Night School may beassigned. Supplies needed for class: 1. A textbook cover 2. One 1” three-ring binder (this is your child’s Language Arts binder only 3. One pack of 5 tabbed dividers • 4. One two-pocket folder with three ring • holes down the center for paper 5. Loose leaf notebook paper 6. Two highlighter markers (different colors) Skills to be covered during this nine weeks: Reading Skill Focus: The students will be taught the following skills during this first nine weeks. There will be class discussion and PowerPoints for each skill. Students will take guided notes on each skill and keep in their binders as a resource. The students will complete activities, graphic organizers, and other assignments to help them fully understand and practice each skill so they can eventually reach mastery. 1. Characterization 2. Author’s Purpose for Writing 3. Plot and Setting • 4. Cause and Effect • 5. Fact and Opinion • 6. Compare and Contrast Reading Strategies: I teach reading strategies to my students to help with their comprehension,answer multiple choice, and written response questions. The students will be expected to use these strategies every time they answer questions based on a reading selection. • Question Diagramming – used to break • down 2 and 4 point questions. • Working Backwards – used to help with • comprehension of a story. Computer Skill Focus: On September 4th, I took the students to the computer lab. Our librarian, Mrs. Meyer, taught them how to use Microsoft Word and its many functions. This will help them when they create their persuasiveadvertisement for the fantasy novels. Mrs. Meyer also used that time to help them set up their Progress Book passwords and their email account. Skills

2. Individual Book Assignment and Project Genre: Fantasy The students went to the library on September 2ndand chose fantasy novels to read for their independent assignment. They will have10 minutes of silent reading time almost everyday in class. If that is not enough time to finish the novel, then they will need to take the novel home to read. Important Dates: September 2nd– September 26th: read fantasy novel September 29th: take AR Test on fantasy novel in the computer lab during language arts class September 29th: begin fantasy book project which is a Fantasy Persuasive Advertisement October 3rdfinish final draft of Fantasy Persuasive Advertisement October 1st– 3rdwork in the computer lab for the 2nd part of each language arts class to complete the published copy of the Fantasy Persuasive Advertisement October 3rdturn in completed Fantasy Persuasive Advertisement October 6th -7th: peer critique and judge Fantasy Persuasive Advertisements (The advertisements will not have names on them. They will be numbered so students will not know who the advertisements belong to.) Genre: Mystery On October 6th, the students will return fantasy novels and check out mystery novels for the next independent assignment. ★More to come about the Mystery Project in the next newsletter. Important Dates: October 6th– November 3rdread mystery novel Upcoming (Tentative) Quiz/Test Dates: September 11th~Sp. Test 3-1 & District Writing Assess. September 12th~ Voc. Test 3-1 & Question Diag. Quiz September 15th~ TCITA Voc. List #1 Quiz September17th~ Character Quiz September 18th~ Spelling Test 4-1 September 19th~ Voc. Test 4-1 & DLR Quiz #2 September 23rd~ TCITA Voc. List #2 Quiz September25th~ Spelling Test 5-1 September 26th~ Vocabulary Test 5-1 October 2nd~ Spelling Test 6-1 October 3rd~ Voc. Test 6-1 & DLR Quiz #3 *No Spelling/Vocabulary the week of fair Oct. 6-8* October 15th~ Sp. Test 7-1 & Plot and Setting Quiz October 16th~ Voc. Test 7-1 & DLR Quiz #4 October 20th~ DMIIC Voc. List #1 Quiz October23rd~ Spelling Test 8-1 October24th~ Vocabulary Test 8-1 October27th~ DMIIC Voc. List #2 Quiz October30th~ DMIIC Novel Test & Spelling Test 9-1 October 31st~ Voc. Test 9-1 & DLR Quiz #5 September 11th~ Late Arrival September 26th~ Interims for1st 9 weeks October 9th– 10th~ No School (fair) October 17th~ No School (ODE) October24th~ End of 1st 9 weeks November 6th~student-led conferences Novels read as a class: Fantasy: The Castle in the Attic September 8th– October 3rd Mystery: The Dead Man in Indian Creek October 6th– November 3rd ★For each novel, we will have vocabulary lists and quizzes, chapter questions, novel review, and a novel test at the end of the novel. Contact Information Email: s_jarrett@lancaster.k12.oh.us Phone 740-687-7344