2012-13 Ridal

6th grade Language Arts “What you leave behind is not what is

engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”

— Pericles, Greek politician, 495-429 B.C.

Somerset Academy

Welcome to Class Welcome to Ms. Ridal’s language arts class for 6th grade. As you

embark on your middle school journey, you will be going through many changes – and as such “Change” is our theme for the year. You

will be examining how you see yourself and how you see yourself changing. You will also be looking at how the world changes around

you.

Matter, at its most basic level, is comprised of vibrating atoms,

rotating to the hum of the Earth. So even things that seem solid undergo transformation. You will see yourself transform into a more

thoughtful reader and writer with a voice of your own in ways that you may not have expected. Remember that no one challenges you

more than yourself.

I am your guide on this year’s journey, and I don’t have all the

“right” answers for you, for the truth is oftentimes a matter of perception. You only have what you can prove or disprove. So like

Alice, let’s travel down the rabbit hole together.

Contact Information

I am available for parent conferences before or after school. To schedule a conference, send an e-mail at

sridal@somersetacademy.com or at missridal@gmail.com.

SpringBoard Units

Unit 1

Unit 2

Unit 3

Unit 4

Students explore changes in themselves.

Students explore changes

in their world.

Students view changes in

self-perception.

Students measure the

changes in themselves.

Page 1

Unit 5 Students perceive changes in

time and places.

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Classroom Procedures Assignments

All papers should have in the top right corner your name, period, and date. Illegible and/or nameless work may not be accepted. Most assignments will be completed in your SpringBoard workbook. Only tear out assignments when requested. SpringBoard assignments can be found online and printed. Some assignments may be turned in online.

Missed Work

If absent on an assignment date, you have as many days as you were absent to make up work. You are subject to the guidelines in the Somerset Academy handbook. If absent, work may be sent via e-mail or may be picked up if necessary. You are responsible for presenting an excused absence slip to the front office.

Notebook

Most of your classwork will be in your Springboard workbook, which will be kept in class. Copies of the workbook activities are available online. All other work should be kept in a 3-ringed binder. Bellwork, activities, vocabulary, notes, group work, and other handouts should be stored in it. You will need a one-inch binder with your name on it. Keep your material organized.

Bellwork

Students will have a daily bellwork topic to complete. Students are to begin thinking and writing as soon as they come to class. Bellworks will be collected periodically and counted for classwork credit. Bellwork topics often lead into assignments and/or discussions.

My Access

Students will be required to write and/or upload essays to My Access, a Web-based program. Essays are given a score based on a 6-point rubric scale similar to the FCAT. These essays are due by the assigned due date. Because of program restrictions, no late essays will be accepted for credit.

Google Documents

Students will be submitting some work via Google Documents, where students will be allowed to comment, critique, and revise each other’s work. An e-mail address is needed to access the online program (g-mail account preferred).

Ms. Ridal’s cat, Hallie, is named after a book character.

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Classwork (30%)

Homework (15%)

Often you will be asked to read, write, and create. Participation and completion of assignments on time enhance class discussions. SpringBoard activities and other assignments are designed to assist you in practicing skills for the embedded assessments found in the workbooks. Most of your classwork will be in your SpringBoard workbook. Copies of SpringBoard activities are available online. My Access essays will usually be counted as homework. Sometimes you will need to work in groups to complete assignments and projects.

Grades will be based on quality and accuracy of work as well as individual/group participation and behavior.

Exams (35%) Quizzes (20%)

In SpringBoard there are embedded assessments, which are formal evaluations of your learning. Assignments are designed to assist you in practicing skills for the embedded assessments. You also will have a test at the end of each unit. Vocabulary and skills quizzes also may be given. Some group projects also may be counted as exam grades.

Late Work

Assignments turned in up to two class periods late may lose 20 points. Work turned in after that period may receive a 60 percent or less. Late My Access essays will not be accepted because of program restrictions.

“Their story, yours and mine—it’s what we all carry with us on this trip we take,

and we owe it to each other to respect our

stories and learn from them.”

— William Carlos

Williams American poet (and pediatrician)

Grade Scale

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59 and below

Grading

SpringBoard

SpringBoard is the College Board’s curriculum that prepares students to take Advanced Placement classes their junior and senior years.

SpringBoard’s curriculum has been aligned with the Sunshine State Standards as well as with the National Council for Teachers of English standards.

For more information go to http://professionals.collegeboard.com/k-12/prepare/springboard/about

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Guidelines for Student Conduct

1. Respect yourself and show respect to others by taking responsibility for your actions and using good judgment.

2. Do not talk while Ms. Ridal is teaching or while others are presenting. Raise your hand if you have questions.

3. Come to class prepared and on time. Bring pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, workbooks, homework, and/or any other requested materials.

4. Be ready to learn and be open to ideas different from your own. Create a positive environment.

5. Follow guidelines as listed in the student conduct handbook.

Consequences

Students who disrupt the learning of others will first receive a warning depending on the severity of the disruption. Further violations will result in discipline procedures: parent contact, after-school detention, in-school suspension, and outside suspension.

Online platforms are subject to the same behavior guidelines as the classroom. Poor conduct will not be tolerated and may result in loss of access to the programs.

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Consequences in student handbook will be followed.

Electronic Devices

Electronic devices are to be turned off and be out

of sight. If I see or hear the device, I will hold it

until the end of the day until 2:45. Upon the second infraction, I will bring the phone to the front office for parent pick-up. The third infraction will result in after-school detention as well as parent phone retrieval.

Expectations

Objectives

Based on the Common Core State Standards, after completing this course successfully, students will be able to do the following:

1. Recognize that writing and reading have a variety of purposes and functions.

2. Use strategies to read, comprehend, interpret, analyze, and respond to various types of media.

3. Refine vocabulary for interpersonal, academic, and workplace situations, including figurative, idiomatic, and technical meanings.

4. Perceive changes in themselves as well as in their world.

5. Use technology for obtaining, analyzing, and disseminating information.

6. Collaborate with classmates by sharing ideas and insights productively and respectfully, using critical thinking skills to make decisions and solve problems.

7. Determine main idea, author’s points of view and their effects on texts, tone, style, and mood.

8. Synthesize information from multiple sources to draw conclusions. Cite textual evidence to support inferences drawn from the text.

9. Develop test-taking skills and reading comprehension strategies to be successful on the FCAT.

10. Reflect on learning process and create a portfolio of work that demonstrates learning.