English-Language Arts Syllabus
Interactive Notebooks: We will be keeping an interactive Language Arts notebook, it will serve as our own personal textbook. This notebook is required to be in class each day and will be used daily. Students need a composition notebook, rather than a spiral bound notebook. All of our class notes, as well as some assignments, will be completed in the notebook.
Stems: In 6th grade students begin a new vocabulary study that is titled “Stems”. Each week your student will be given a list of 8 or 9 prefixes and suffixes. A test will be given each Friday. The tests are cumulative, meaning each test will not only contain the weekly stems, it will also test students’ knowledge of stems studied in previous weeks.
Homework: Students should study their stems at home every night. They should also read 30 minutes each night, and then respond to their reading in a Reading Response Journal. Journal prompts will be assigned at the beginning of each week. The Reading Response Journal will be checked daily for progress.
Reading Counts: Independent reading is very important for student success. Each student will be required to read independently throughout the whole school year. When a book is completed, it is the student’s responsibility to complete a Reading Counts quiz on the book they chose to read. Students will be assigned a certain number of points to obtain within a 3 week period of time. Reading Counts points are a grade.
Grading Policy
Summative Assessments: 70% of grade (unit tests, weekly stem tests, Reading Counts, and projects)
Formative Assessments: 30% of grade (quizzes, journal writing, class work, etc.)
Students are required to complete the work as it is assigned. Homework is assigned to help give students practice at the content taught in class each day. Therefore it is crucial that homework is completed. Grades are received based on mastery of concepts. A student will receive an MIR for not turning in an assignment; however, missing assignments are still expected to be completed. Since the mastery of concepts is the goal, students have the opportunity to retake summative assessments after completing remediation.
Absences: It is the STUDENT'S responsibility to get his/her make-up work and turn it in the next day unless there are extenuating circumstances. If so, please see me for further assistance.
Tutoring & Re-test: I will be available for tutoring/test re-takes on select afternoons from 3:30-4:30. If your child plans to attend, he/she must have a note signed by a parent or guardian. All students must have transportation home and be picked up at 4:30 in the front of the school. If students are picked up late more than once they will no longer be allowed to stay after school for tutoring.
I am looking forward to working with you and your child this school year. Feel free to contact me with any concerns you may have.