6th Grade Language Arts
STEM Mission: Inspiring achievement through rigorous, innovative, and authentic experiences.
Teacher: Anita David Contact Information- 720-972-6659
Room: B- 204 [email protected]
Course Description: This course encourages students to determine how reading, writing, speaking and listening is a unique way of thinking, and as a means of constructing and conveying meaning. Students are encouraged to explore and develop their own ideas. They are also encouraged to explore many different ways of conveying meaning through every aspect of language. Through experiences in this course, students are encouraged to see connections between their own world and the global world around them.
Students will:
· Develop ideas for pieces of writing that will matter to writers and their readers.
· Learn the principles of writing- ways to think about writer’s craft to create meaningful writing.
· Read like writers and write like readers.
· Understand what writing conventions mean to the reader- What the readers’ eyes and minds expect from text and how marks and forms give writing voice and power.
· Communicate in a variety of ways to demonstrate their understanding of text.
· Challenge themselves as language users to meet individual goals and continue their development of literacy skills and concepts.
Standards: Reading, Writing and Communicating
· Oral Expression and Listening:
o Formal Presentation requires preparation and effective delivery
o Small and large group discussions rely on active listening and the effective contributions of all participants
· Reading For All Purposes:
o Literary elements, characteristics, and ideas are interrelated and guide the comprehension of literary and fictional text.
o Informational and persuasive texts are summarized and evaluated
o Purpose, tone, and meaning in word choices influence literary, persuasive, and informational texts.
· Writing and Composition:
o Composing literary and narrative texts that incorporate a range of stylistic devices demonstrates knowledge of genre features.
o Organization is used when composing informational and persuasive texts.
o Editing writing for proper grammar, usage and mechanics, and clarity improves written work.
· Research and Reasoning:
o Answering a research question logically begins with obtaining and analyzing information from a variety of sources.
o Logical information requires documented sources
o Reasoned material is evaluated for its quality using both its logic and its use of a medium.
· Units of Study:
o Who am I as a learner? Literacy empowers us a community (Approx. 3 weeks)
o Narrative: It’s in the Detail: Text is an expression of personal voice (Approx. 6 weeks)
o Analyze to Understand and Create Literacy Text: Readers choose literary texts based on author’s style, personal connections, and a desire to expand their world view and interests (Approx. 6 weeks)
o The Power of Persuasion: Words are used to evoke emotion, convey ideas, and appeal to reason and understanding. (Approx. 6 weeks)
o Step by Step: The organization and clarity of texts allows one to solve problems, complete daily tasks, and judge the quality of an idea (Approx. 6 weeks)
o Just the Facts: To establish credibility, one needs a clear focus, coherent organization, sufficient elaboration and adequate detail.
o The Choice is Yours! : A repertoire of strategies is essential to life-long literacy.
Grading:
Adams 12 School District uses standards based grading (SBG) criteria. This includes big changes from previous years and requires a shift in thinking toward proficiencies within each content standard. This grading system turns traditional A-F grading practice on its head and changes what most of us grew up understanding. Moving to this grading system will be rewarding and will require patience, understanding, and communication from all involved. For detailed information about standards based grading in Adams 12 visit: www.adams12.org/student_learning/standards_based_grading.
Important aspects of standards based grading:
Standards are assessed on a four point scale:
4: Advanced Understanding of Standard
3: Meets Standard
2: Approaching the Standard
1: Does not meet the Standard
· ONLY assessments are used in calculating a grade
· Practice is not used to calculate grades but feedback will be given to help students achieve standard
· Grades are not averaged to compute an overall grade; rather, the most recent (trend) data is used to assign an overall grade
· Zeros (missing assignments) are not included in assigning an overall grade
· Students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate knowledge of a standard.
Language Arts Reporting Criteria:
1. Oral expression and Listening
2. Reading For All Purposes
3. Writing and Composition
4. Research and Reasoning
Homework/Late Work Policy:
Students will be expected to participate in all practice and homework activities. Activities will have a direct link to demonstrating standard proficiencies. Practice, including homework, will be assigned and timely valuable feedback will be given to students regarding their learning activities. Responding to this feedback will greatly enhance your student’s ability to demonstrate their understanding of the standard being assessed. Class practice activities and homework will not be used to assign a grade and late penalty points will not be assessed,
Expectations:
Show Respect: Students will be courteous and polite, pay attention, keep their hands on their own supplies and respect the learning environment
Be Responsible: Students will turn in all work on time, be prepared for class, use their time wisely, and focus on their learning.
Be Ready: Students will come to class on time, and ready to work- being focused and engaged is critical!
Attendance and Tardy Policy: Research has shown that absence from class directly impacts student learning growth and success. If an absence should occur, students are responsible for getting their absence excused by having their parent/guardian call the attendance office. When a student misses class, it is the student’s responsibility to check the core website or check the classroom calendar and obtain assignments missed from the provided files.
Reading:
Students are expected to read at least 1 novel every 3 weeks. Independent reading novels are choice driven by individual reading readiness levels. Research shows extended period times of reading promote comprehension growth. Reading aloud increases fluency and is highly encourage as both parties benefit. Students will have independent novel responses and activities through various communication formats throughout the year and assigned activities to promote reading comprehension growth.
Communication:
Open communication is vital to the educational environment. Knowing this, students will be expected to write a list of topics and learning activities for each and every class. Parents please check nightly and review with your child’s agendas, as these may include notes or comments on as needed basis. You may also use this tool to write any questions or concerns as well. Be sure to visit our website (http://stem.adams12.org/) to track daily homework and long-term projects.
I am also developing our own website to access all class projects, activities, homework, and other vital information to keep you informed on a daily bases. A link will be developing for easy access.
The best way to read me is by email. Teachers are not available to answer the phone during instructional time, but feel free to leave a voice mail and I will return your call.
Tardy Policy: Students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings. If tardiness becomes an issue I will contact parents to determine next steps.
Absence Policy: Students will be expected to visit our classroom website to obtain missed work. If they have further questions or concerns they are to see me outside instructional time.
I am looking forward to a successful year knowing we are a community working together toward all students succeeding.