6th GradeLanguage Arts

Tuesday, September 8th, 2015

Welcome to Room 406

Course Syllabus

To be successful in life, students must be adequately prepared and able to communicate effectively with others in the English language. The curriculum for Sixth Grade Language Arts is designed to continue students’ exposure to a variety of literary texts with adequate understanding, and to refine grammar skills and improve writing through the writing process. We also prepare the students to take the state mandated PSSA Test, which will be given in the spring.This year the students will be expected to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. Novel activities will include a variety of comprehension skills, writing, and art interpretation. The writing pieces will model the different writing styles. Writing assignments will include timed responses, journal writing, essays, critiques, and creative pieces. Vocabulary, spelling, and grammar assignments will also be an important part of this class. Because the classroom will be a community of learners, the students will also be expected to work periodically in group situations and to present information to their peers in groups or individually.

Class Rules

Class Rules

All students will follow the Incentive for Success behavior

system.

“FLEX”●40 minutes Period 3 on Day 3 & 4

●All students

●Smaller groups●Led by 6th grade teachers: Mrs. Coyle,

Miss. Killian, Mr. Lampus, Miss. Nasser, Mrs. Nichol, and Mrs. Zollinger

●Focused instruction in math and reading

●Math – Day 3

●Language Arts – Day 4

●Group determined by PSSA tests, study island pretest, classroom observations and will change based on student needs.

Recognizing the students who“Do the Right Thing”

●Each student begins each 9 week grading period with 0 points.

●Students who have 19 or less points at the end of the 9 weeks will qualify for an award.

Students who continue to accumulate points:

●If your point value reaches 20oYou will receive a verbal warning from your teacher.oYour parents will be notified.oYou will not be a part of the behavior reward

●If your point value reaches 40oYour parents will be notified.oYou will be written up for lunch detention

●If your point value reaches 60oYour parents will be notified.oYou will be written up for 3 after school detentions

●If your point value reaches 80:oYour parents will be notified.oYou will be referred to Mr. Dell for consequences.

How does a student accumulate points?5 POINT INFRACTIONS

● No student planner● Not ready for start of class● Inappropriate remarks/questions● Inappropriate language● Talking without permission● Not following directions● Insufficient use of class time● Disturbing others● Lack of group participation● Not returning materials to proper place/leaving area messy

● Out of seat without permission● Failure to return home correspondence● Inappropriate hallway behavior● Chewing gum● Using property without permission● Recess behavior/late to line● Bathroom behavior/wrong bathroom● Lunch behavior

10 POINT INFRACTIONS● Disrespect toward student● Inappropriate group behavior● Tossing/throwing objects

15 POINT INFRACTIONS● Disrespect toward teacher/staff member● Pushing/shoving

POSITIVE Behavior Points

●Students will earn positive points for good behaviors!

●**Note: positive points will decrease the number of negative points for consequences

ACCESS ONLINE

●View your behavior totals online at www.classcharts.com

●You will receive login information the first week of school in STEM/Keyboarding class.

●When viewing behavior point totals make sure you are viewing the current grading period.

 ●You will need a folder for each subject.● One for reading, one for grammar, and one for writing

  

●Folders are cleaned out at the end of each chapter or unit.

Folders

Additional Supplies

Black EXTRA Fine-tip marker Colored Pencils Dictionary and

Thesaraus

Dry erase markers

Sock to use as an eraserfor whiteboards

Absent Work

●HW Buddy or teacher writes

down HW

●Papers in absent folders

●Assignment sheet in your class

period folder

●Upon return, student: ogets assignment sheet and

checks absent folder for your

class period.

Absent Work Guidelines●Student homework will not

be sent home each dayoAbsent work sent home

after a 3+days of absence.

●If you do want work sent home:oPlease call the office 724-

295-9020

Planners●Every day

●Every subject

●No blanks

●Fill out even

when absent

●Parents should

monitor planner

●Take to Advisory

Late Work

●Homeworko1 day late = half credito2 days late =zero

credit

●Projects & other assignmentsoTeacher discretion

BRAND NEW● The online pulse of 6th Grade● Assignments posted daily on a calendar● Will take some tests via schoology● Some assignments completed using schoology● Teachers can post handouts, links, etc... for each class● online discussions, surveys● and much more!

Which do I use?Mrs.

Nichol’sWebsiteSchoology PowerSchool

BEST STARTING POINT

Will find:

General Information

Syllabus

Incentives for Success

Links to other Tools

ANYTHING SUBJECT RELATED

Links & videos used in class

Notes/handouts

Daily posting of HW

Some assignments and quizzes completed here

Online Discussions

Reminders of deadlines

Online community

To check your grades

Check Attendance

English - Grammar

Interactive

Presentations

Schoolhouse

rock videos &

others Student

whiteboard

practice

Practice

book pages

&

worksheets

Tests &

Quizzes

Analyzing texts with a focus on grammar skills

English - Writing●5 Paragraph Essays Encompassing all Types of Writing

Conventions, spelling & grammar focuses assessed

●Typically one essays every other month ●Essays assessed using “student friendly” version of

state writing rubric●Do not edit at home!!! We will be following the complete

writing process in class, editing and revising included.

Skills and Concepts

●Sentence types and fragments●Parts of speech●Subjects and predicates●Compound sentences●Punctuation and Capitalization●Following the writing process●Proofreading written work●Writing all types of essays●Poetry●Fictional story writing●Using correct spelling, grammar and

conventions in writing●Public speaking ●Develop love for writing!!!!

Reading

                   ●Skills include:                               ●Vocabulary/Word Study●Comprehension●Fluency●Written Responses●Variety of genre's will be presented.●Dictionary/thesaurus skills reinforced and utilized

during vocabulary/word study.●A skills assessment test and vocabulary test will

be given at the end of a novel study.

Reading                    ●Novels●Students will read at least 8 novels this year.

Novels will replace the reading book. Reading skills will be taught with the emphasis on written responses, comprehension strategies, and vocabulary.

 

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