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6th Grade English
English Team Leader
BA - University Of Walla Walla
MA - Hoboken State College
6th Grade English
English Team Leader
UNIT OVERVIEW:
We spent our first two weeks of school establishing routines, gathering writing samples, focusing on Reading To Perform a Task, and taking diagnostic tests to verify accurate placement of students. On September 14 & 15 we were in the Media Center for orientations about the technology and print resources our students will be using for the next three years.
As we move steadily into the 1st quarter of the year, we'll be spending a great deal of time focusing on reading informational texts. We'll be building vocabulary skills this quarter as well, moving beyond the traditional "spelling tests" of elementary school to a deeper understanding of word meanings. Watch for novel studies to be included near the end of September.
GRADING POLICIES:
Grading policies were be reviewed in class on September 1, 2009. Information was sent home with students on that date. Homework is worth 10% of the total grade; class work is worth 50%; assessments and projects are both worth 20% of the final grade. On occasion, mid-term reports might not include assessments and/or projects. When this happens, grades will be adjusted accordingly with the value of any missing category being added to the class work average. For example, if a grade report does not include a project grade, that 20% of the grade will be added to the class work grade.
Students may revise CLASSWORK assignments that have a score of 75% or lower. Such assigments will be sent home to be signed by parents. Please note that any classwork assignment with a grade of 75% or lower may be revised after a parent has signed it. A place for a parent signature might not be indicated on each assignment, but the option to revise the work still remains. Students will need to return the original assignment with a parent signature in order for the revised work to be accepted. All revisions need to be completed within one week of being sent home for the parent signature. The grade of the revised assignment will be averaged with the grade of the original assignment. Any assignment not revised within one week will be given the original grade. An exception to the revision policy: assignments
that have received a grade of 75% or lower because of lateness will not be considered for revision if the original grade would have been higher than 75%.
HOMEWORK INFORMATION:
You can expect Reading Calendar homework nearly every week. Vocabulary homework may also be included at times, but not every week - at least in the early part of the year. Homework will be checked at the end of each week, and you may decide when you can best complete the work according to your schedule. Remember, though, that homework such as your Reading Calendar is meant to be an ongoing reinforcement of your reading skills throughout the week rather that something you do at the last minute. Reading often (at least four days per week) is an excellent way to increase or maintain good vocabulary and reading fluency.
Reading calendars are DUE THIS WEEK. The next due date for the reading calendar: Friday, October 9.
When a Reading Calendar is due, remember to read AT LEAST 4 NIGHTS and get a PARENT SIGNATURE, as the directions on the Reading Calendar indicate. To avoid running 150 copies of the calendar here each week, I'm asking students to print a reading calendar from this site. To get a copy of the calendar online, please click here. You'll see a PDF version that you can print at home. If you can't (or choose not to) print your calendar, you should write one by hand. The most important thing is to make sure you turn one in!
Please note that homework will typically be checked at the end of each week. Students will be expected to show/turn in completed reading calendars (and vocabulary journals if any vocabulary homework was assigned) at that time. All homework may be turned in one day late for half credit, but after that time homework is considered to be incomplete and the student will earn a grade of zero for that assignment. No extra credit points are applied to late homework.
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