6th Grade Language Arts Syllabus 2012 Phone: (770)-923-4131 Education is not preparation for life; education is life

itself. -- John Dewey Friday Folders At the end of each week, the students will be given a Friday Folder. These folders contain important papers such as progress reports, academic contracts, flyers, weekly newsletters, and other school related material used for communication with parents/guardians. Parents/guardians should sign any necessary papers located inside the folders as well as the Parent Signature Sheet to be returned to the teacher on Monday. Parent Portal In todays information age, a wide variety of information is available at your fingertips. The Parent Portal will serve as a valuable resource for information about your child and his or her academic career. The go2 Portal will be your secure connection to GCPS information about your child. Imagine being able to access key school information, safely and securely, anytime from anyplace... all you need is a computer with Internet access and a user ID and password. Grading Scale A- = 100% 9o% (excellent progress) B = 89% 80% (above average progress) C- = 79% 74% (average progress) D = 73% - 70% (below average progress) F = below 70% (unsatisfactory progress) LA Grade Weights 5% Homework 10% Final Assessment 35% Classroom Assessment 50% Summative Assessments

Promotion Sixth Grade Students (For Promotion to 7th Grade) Students must earn passing grade averages each semester with connections classes combined into one semester average. Language arts and Math should be two of the four subjects passed. First Semester average of 1st & 2nd nine weeks progress report grades Second Semester average of 3rd & 4th nine weeks progress report grades:

Dates to Know
September 3: Labor Day Student/Staff Holiday October 1-2: Early Release/Parent Conferences October 5: End of first nine weeks October 8: Columbus Day Student Holiday October 9: Begin second nine weeks November 6: Election Day Student/Staff Holiday November 19-23 Thanksgiving Break Student/Staff Holiday December 19: End of second nine weeks/End of first semester December 20 - January 2: Winter Break Student/Staff Holiday January 3: Begin third nine weeks/Begin second semester

Read, Read, Read! Every child in 6th grade is encouraged to maintain a reading log. Our goal is that every child will read a minimum of 25 books. Therefore please ensure your child brings a book to read EVERYDAY. They are encouraged to read before school and during afternoon bus dismissal.

Readers Rally
Any student that likes to read and compete may like to join the SMS Reader's Rally Team. Students read 20 novels between August and the end of February. Meetings will begin at the end of August and are held after school. A parent would need to pick their child up after each meeting. If you have any questions, please come by and see Mrs. Bean, Coach of the team, or email her at lois_bean@gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

Common-Core Standards Purpose To ensure students are college/ career ready upon high school graduation. Will allow benchmarking of student achievement against other nations. Goes deeper than current standards More critical reading/writing/thinking Higher expectations for all students Apply and analyze rather than identify Heavier focus on informational text- more of what our students need What skills do our students need to be college/career ready?

Rigor

Relevance

What exactly will my child be responsible for in language arts and reading?
Analyzing how chapters of a book, scenes of a play, or stanzas of a poem fit into the overall structure of the piece and contribute to the development of ideas or themes. Gaining knowledge from materials that make extensive use of elaborate diagrams and data to convey information and illustrate concepts. Evaluating the argument and specific claims in written materials or a speech, and distinguishing claims that are supported by reasons and evidence from claims that are not. Presenting claims and findings to others orally, sequencing ideas logically, and accentuating main ideas or themes. Writing arguments that provide clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources. Writing brief reports that examine a topic, have a clear focus, and include relevant facts, details, and quotations. Conducting short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and sharpening the focus based on the research findings. Reviewing and paraphrasing key ideas and multiple perspectives of a speaker. Recognizing variations from Standard English in his or her own and others writing and speaking, and using this knowledge to improve language use. Determining the correct meaning of a word based on the context in which it is used (e.g., the rest of the sentence or paragraph; a words position or function in a sentence). With the implementation of common core standards grammar will not be taught in isolation, but will be addressed through the various genres. Therefore, homework assignments may focus on grammar, so we encourage students to utilize their Language Network Book to assist them with their homework. Also, students will be assigned a book to read each quarter, so I encourage you to find out what book your child is reading! Remember your teachers are here to guide and assist, so please feel free to contact them with any questions/concerns you should have. We look forward to working with your child! Regards, 6th grade language arts department