“The first duty of a wise advocate is to convince his opponents that he understands their arguments, and sympathizes with their just feelings”—Samuel Taylor Coleridge
WELCOME TO 6th Grade Language Arts/Reading!
Room: 222
SUTTON MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS/READING SYLLABUS 2012-2013
Sutton Middle School is an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program School. This international educational program is designed to help students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.
4360 Powers Ferry Road / Atlanta, Ga. 30327 / phone 404-802-5600
Ms. Cooper’s Contact Information:
School email: CMCooper@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Course Objectives: This course is intended to help you become a master of the art of language. Yes, language is an art, just like painting or drawing, or singing or playing an instrument. But good reading, listening, speaking, and writing—just like good painting, dancing, or singing—requires hard work and dedication. This course is designed to help you understand the purposes and uses for languages, and to use the power of language to empower yourself. People who speak and write well have choices and possess the ability to advocate for themselves and for what they believe in. It is my goal that all of my students understand and then are able to accurately use Language and Words to feverishly fight for themselves and their beliefs.
Big Goals
There are 3 big goals that our class will aim for this year:
1. We will all independently read at least 16 books.
2. We will all grow at least 2 reading levels.
3. We will all learn at least 200 SAT Vocabulary words.
Course Standards and Elements:
· This course follows the Common Core Georgia Performance Standards (CCGPS) outlined by the Georgia Department of Education (GA DOE) (https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Documents/CCGPS_6-8_English_Language_Arts_Guidance.pdf)
ü Narrative Texts and Introduction to Poetry; Research/Library Skills: Students will create their own narrative works and a ‘Life Map’ project as we investigate the theme, “Who am I and where am I going?”
ü Expository Texts and Research Writing: Students will read, explore and produce expository (non-fiction) works. Proper and reliable research procedures will be taught and demonstrated through a variety of short, non-fiction project assignments and an in-depth research study/presentation.
ü Historical Fiction Study: This interdisciplinary unit reflects content in both Science and Social Science classes; students will analyze the author’s use of historical events to create a literary theme and determines mood, tone, and purpose of the work. A culminating project will conclude this unit.
ü Mythology and Drama: There are no limits as to where our creativity will take us!
ü Outside/Independent Reading: Learners will show evidence of independent reading through signed reading logs that will indicate regular outside reading of 25 minutes every evening. These will be periodically checked and assessed. The CCGPS calls for a student to read a minimum of 25 books per year in a variety of genres. That means that approximately 16 books will be read independently by the end of the school year. At least 4 book reports or presentations will be required each 9 week term.
· Vocabulary Workshop, by Jerome Shostak; individual copies will be distributed to each student and must be brought to class daily. Information on accessing online components is available on the first page of the preface. (www.vocabularyworkshop.com)
· Novel Studies
o Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone
o A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens (unabridged)
o Macbeth, by William Shakespeare (age appropriate edition, more information to come)
o Animal Farm, By George Orwell
· In-classroom textbook resources
o Literature Textbook Series: Prentice Hall Literature, Georgia Language and Literacy, Publisher: Pearson Education, Inc.
§ Textbook sets will be available in the classroom. In the next few weeks, your students will be given codes enabling them to access the text and many wonderful coordinating activities at home. Those students who do not have internet access will be permitted to take books home when necessary.
o A copy of Writer’s Choice, published by Holt, Inc., will also be available for classroom grammar, usage, and writing activities
· Additional resources as needed.
Supplies: All students must use a 3 inch binder with dividers for each subject. It should also contain their agendas, notepaper, a zippered pocket for pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, highlighters, etc. You will also need a ‘composition notebook’ to be used as your journal; this will stay in the classroom. For further details, please visit: http://suttonmiddleschool.org/Documents/supplylists2009-10.doc.
Summer Reading: All documentation is to be turned in to the library.
Independent Reading and AR: Your student will be receiving information on AR as soon as the site is running and a detailed handout regarding independent and outside reading policies.
Academic Grading Scale:
A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
F = 69-0
Grading System: Your child’s grade will be weighted in the following categories--
20% - Participation (Journal Entries and Class Activities)
25% - Unit Tests
10% - Independent Reading and Book Reports
10% - Homework
25% - Projects and Presentation
10% - Vocabulary Quizzes and Exit Tickets
Conduct Grade as defined by Atlanta Public Schools:
A – Excellent: sets an example for others to follow in demonstrating desired behaviors
B – Above Average: consistently demonstrates satisfactory conduct
C – Average: demonstrates conduct that needs occasional improvement in some areas
D – Unsatisfactory: seldom demonstrates desired behaviors (parent notified)
F – Unacceptable: disrupts instructional program (parent notified and written referral)
Absences and Late Work: Unless otherwise communicated, homework is due the day after which it is assigned. If absent, a student is required to make up all work and obtain any notes and/or handouts distributed. I suggest students plan to communicate with classmates for assignments. If a lengthy absence, please let me know (via Jennifer Miller in the office) and materials can be sent home. I will be available to assist and offer extra help either during lunch or after school. Absent students are allowed one extra day to turn in their work for every day they were absent. If not sick, a student will lose up to one letter grade for each day an assignment is late. If nothing is turned in after five days, your student will still be required to submit the work, but may earn a “0” for that assignment.
I WILL NOT READ THE FOLLOWING PAPERS: those that are sloppily written, plagiarized, without a proper heading or format, or which otherwise show a lack of effort and respect for the reader’s time and intelligence. I will return them to you ungraded, and you will be responsible for making up the work within 3 days.
Conferences and Communication: Parents will receive Progress Reports and can view their student’s grades via Infinite Campus. Please call the school office (Jennifer Miller) to schedule a conference appointment at (404) 802-5600 at ANY TIME! However, teachers do not conference individually, but meet as a team. For any questions or correspondence specific to Language Arts, you may email me at and I will respond to your e-mail within 48 hours (usually sooner).
Verification of Parent Receipt:
Sign and return to Ms. Cooper by Tuesday, August 14th, 2012. This is a homework assignment.
My parents/guardians and I have read and discussed the syllabus and understand what is expected of me in Ms. Cooper’s Language Arts class.
______
Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature
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