Back to School Night6th Grade Language Arts

Welcome!

Thank you for entrusting us with the important job of partnering with you in the Catholic education of your child. Let’s begin in prayer.

Opening Prayer

Oh Heavenly Father, make me a better teacher/parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say. Keep me from interrupting them or contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them be to me. Holy Spirit, always fill my heart with joy and love for my precious child. Amen.

Teacher Introductions6th Grade Team Miss Foley –B.A. English and Multiple Subject Credential,

UCI-3rd year at Serra-Attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Escondido

Miss Davidson - B.A. English Lit and Multiple Subject Credential, UCI - Student taught in 1st and 6th grades

-Serra Alumni • Mrs. Daley

Mrs. Pantano

Tonight’s AgendaCurriculum

Book Clubs

Writing Program

Homework Policy

Classroom Management

Language Arts CurriculumLiterature

Book ClubsText /workbookNovels

Writing/Grammar-6 Traits of Writing and Jane Schaffer

LiteracyWe will implement reading strategies, note

taking, and study skills throughout the year. Our goal is to increase literacy and reading skills across all subject areas.

LiteratureBook ClubsNovels

WonderNumber the StarsStargirlTuck Everlasting

“In the Zone” Reading: reading on technology

Textbook/workbook

Book ClubsWho: 6th Grade Language Arts students, hosted by Miss Davidson and Miss FoleyWhere: 6A and 6B ClassroomsWhat: Structured discussion meetings with a small group of peers who are also reading the same novel How: Participate in “In the Zone” reading and weekly Book Club meetings; read one assigned novel per trimester, and complete one trimester project, as well as Edmodo postsWhen: Designated Fridays

EdmodoA closed, secure educational site that allows

for communication and opportunities for use of technology

Look for information and log in informationMrs. Muzzy and many Serra teachers

presently using this siteStudents will post comments to each other

about their selected book club books-structured by teachers

All posts supervised by teachers

Using the Internet, go to the edmodo site by typing http://www.edmodo.com/ into your browser

Next: Enter the site as a student

Once you have signed up as a student you will access your edmodo page along with the group assignment….

Customize your page by clicking

on “Settings”

6 Trait Writing Consider the following quote from Jerry

Seinfeld’s book Sein Language, 1993, p. 164:

“I always did well on essay questions. Just put everything you know on there, maybe you’ll hit it. And then you’d get the paper back from the teacher, and she’s written one word across the entire page, “vague.” I thought “vague” was kind of a vague thing to say. I’d write underneath it, “unclear,” send it back.

6 Trait Writing

Ideas: the heart of the matter; generates thought and holds the interest of the reader; focuses on the main goals or points of subject; reasonable and thought provoking

Organization: strong coherence and order to sequence of events in writing; strong transitions that keeps the reader on the right path; effective leads and conclusions

Voice: generates emotion/feeling/opinion; demonstrates comfort with topic; written with passion, a careful eye, and zest

6 Trait Writing Word Choice: selection of words that are like

“Baby Bear” from Goldilocks “just right” (not too verbose and not too limited); words selected create visual images that paint a “showing” not telling picture; stimulates the senses

Sentence Fluency: sentences flow easily and effortlessly; a variety of complex, compound, and simple sentences are present

Conventions: Application of accurate knowledge of grammar, spelling, capitalization, punctuation; allows piece to be understood and prevents frequent re-reading of text

Sample Graded Essay Based on 6 Trait Writing

Stargirl’s Triumphant Fall from Grace: Analytical EssayIdeas: 2 Organization: 2Word Choice: 2 Conventions: 2Sentence Fluency: 3 Voice: 2

Comments: You identified one part of the main idea in Stargirl’s fall from popularity, and how this is foreshadowed by Spinelli. Definite improvement noted from your original draft. You are moving closer to the middle of the river on the 6 trait writing guide! Keep swimming! Be prepared with one question you would like to ask me when I conference with you about this piece next week (How can I improve my word choice? I don’t really understand how to come up with better ideas for my work? ).

 

Jane Schaffer

Writing program which specifically addresses organization

Created by a classroom teacher

Simple formula- TS, CD, CM, CM, CS Response to Literature, Analytical Writing Skelton that assists students in excelling in 6 Traits

Language Arts Late Work Policy1st Day Late- demerit; teacher will offer

student opportunity to attend a lunch time ZAP (Zeroes Are not Permitted) session the day the assignment was missing or incomplete supervised by middle school staff

2nd Day Late-25% will be deducted from assignment

3rd Day Late- 50% will be deducted from assignment

4th Day Late-0% for assignment

Parent/Teacher/Student CommunicationTeacher web pages

AnnouncementsEventsHomework assignmentsAttachments-students need to print assignments onlinePreferred method of communication/contact – emailcdavidson@serraschool.orgkfoley@serraschool.org

Classroom Management RespectRemember

Every

Single

Person

Expects

Courteous

Treatment

Classroom Management

Weekly Merit/Conduct CardResponsible behavior

Toward all others while on campus or representing SCS on a field trip, retreat, etc.

Work HabitsAre they turning in work, homework, signed

parent notices on time?

Positive and Negative ConsequencesPositive ConsequencesCommendations, Raffles, Positive

encouragement, and Class jobs and privileges

Negative ConsequencesNatural consequences-if disrespecting peer

verbally=compliment peer verballyLoss of merit point(s)

Organizational SkillsDuring September please help your child stay on

track by :Checking student’s planner

Before starting homework After finishing homework

Check the teacher web page with your child

Help your student pack his/her backpack for the next day of school

Organizational Skills

Also, please help us teach them to problem solve and accept personal responsibility by:

NOT bringing forgotten items to school

homework lunch books clothes

Thank you for coming.

Siempre Adelante

“Always Forward”