INSTRUCTORS:

Stephanie Vasquez

COURSE SUMMARY:

Students will use written and oral language, along with media and technology for expressive, informational, argumentative, critical, and literary purposes. Sixth graders will broaden their reading experiences through the study and analysis of compelling literature. During sixth grade, students will become engaged writers as they expand their use of descriptive techniques, experiment with new writing strategies, vocabulary and sentence structures, as well as learn the fundamentals of various genres of writing and literary elements. As students make oral presentations, actively listen to others, and share ideas, they will become editors who constructively critique their own and others' work. Students will become increasingly adept at understanding an author’s biases, the use of complex rhetorical devices including logical fallacies, and tailoring his or her own prose for maximum influence. While continuing with a variety of literary non-fiction, students will begin to tackle more technical information text as well. Literary selections will include foundational material from mythology, cultural histories, and religious traditions.Throughout the year, we will use “real-life” applications of writing and encourage students to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, risk takers, balanced, caring, and reflective in their learning.Our study of these topics in language arts will be:

  • Holistic: Students will recognize and apply knowledge of writing in everyday life in preparation for becoming lifelong learners
  • Intercultural: Students will understand and appreciate various languages and cultures extending and broadening their viewpoints and international mindedness.
  • Communication: Students will utilize all methods or forms of communication in Language Arts, which address the Common Core Standards, standard English usage and elements of speaking, viewing, and listening skills.

UNITS OF STUDY:

  • Informational Text /Argumentative Writing
  • Literary Text/Informational/Explanatory Writing
  • Informational Text/Informational/Explanatory Writing
  • Literary Text/Argumentative Writing

COMMON CORESTANDARDS:

The course content for sixth grade English Language Arts is designed to help students focus on the performance standards. Cobb County has now adopted national common core standards for Language Arts.

MYP LANGUAGE A AIMS:

Language A provides students with opportunities to:

  • Become active learners, efficient test takers, effective time managers, excellent organizers, competent researchers, and skillful communicators
  • Read and interpret a variety of texts
  • Analyze and talk and/or write about texts that have been viewed
  • Ask and answer pertinent questions
  • Write in a variety of forms
  • Improve vocabulary
  • Conduct simple and advanced research and present research findings orally and in writing
  • Use the media center and information technology effectively
  • Reflect critically on their own work and that of their peers

KEY CONCEPTS:

During this course, we will use the key concepts to build connections between students’ knowledge and experience related to the real world. Students will utilize prior and present knowledge from their environment, school, and other social outlets in order to effectively communicate using written and verbal language. Language A students will learn and utilize skills that will enable them to become life-long learners by applying knowledge and skills necessary for high school and college.

METHODOLOGY:

In the MYP, instructors work together to develop a variety of opportunities for learning focusing on the approaches to learning, especially critical thinking and reflection. Individual and collaborative active learning are at the heart of the classroom instruction. Real world connections and opportunities to investigate and inquire about society will help students become world citizens who understand contemporary issues with a depth and wisdom drawn from experience and future trends.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT:

The use ofSynergy Internet Viewer (SIV) by parents and students is encouraged to view grades, each assignment, and class attendance at any time via the online grade book. An access code may be obtained by contacting administration. A balance of formative and summative assessments will be used to assess student learning. Rubrics and checklists will provide students with assignment expectations.

Class average will be determined using the following weighted averages for Common Core Standards to be covered during the year.

  • Reading 40%
  • Writing and Language 40%
  • Speaking and Listening 20%

(Independent Reading, Classwork, Tests, Projects, and Homework will be graded and categorized by standard)

*Students are responsible for checking the teacher’s blog each night

CMS Independent Reading Program:As part of the ELA curriculum, students are required to read two books per month and complete a performance task for each book. Performance tasks are due on the last school day of each month and will count as part of the ELA grade. Students must track their progress in the CMS Independent Reading Log which can be found in their agendas. ELA teachers will distribute information regarding due dates, task options, and Lexiles. Also, it is recommended that students read 20-30 minutes each day. If a student misplaces a CMS Media Center book, a fine will be issued and the child will not be allowed to check out another book until the matter is settled.

In addition to those graded areas above, at least two specific tasks (assignments) are assessed for the three criterions each quarter. Reflecting on these assessments over time and with an eye toward growth over the course, the teacher and student will work together to make a final judgment for each criterion. The sum of these final levels of achievement, as determined by current MYP grade boundaries, establishes the student's final grade in the course – supplying each student with a numerical CCSD grade and a school wide MYP International Baccalaureate grade. These include: Criterion A: Content;Criterion B: Organization; Criterion C: Style and Language Usage.

Submitting work past due is discouraged. If a student turns in an assignment that is past due for any reason other than being absent, a penalty will apply. Students with excused absences are given the amount of days absent from class to submit an assignment. Regardless of the reason, it is the child’s responsibility to get the work missed during an excused absence and to make arrangements with the instructor to reschedule missed tests or quizzes.If a child is absent for an extended amount of days, parents should contact the school to request work for pick-up by the parent to take to the child.

CONDUCT:

Student must follow the CMS Scholarly Expectation Plan as outlined in the Campbell Middle School Student Agenda given to all students on their first day of school. The agenda must be with students at all times and will serve as their hall pass. If the agenda is lost, students must pay a $10.00 replacement fee for a new agenda book. In addition, students are expected to abide by ALL classroom procedures and expectations, as well as dress in the CMS Standard Dress Attire. Conduct grades will be determined using the number of classroom infractions earned by a student during the grading period. Additionally, the teacher’s assessment of the student’s overall behavior in his/her class will be considered in assigning conduct grades.

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Student Name (Print) DateParent/Guardian Signature Date

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Parent/Guardian Contact Number(s)E-mail Address