Sixth Grade Advanced/Gifted Language Arts I

Ms. Williams


Welcome to the sixth grade and your first language arts class of middle school!
Yes, this is an advanced course, but it will be as fun as it is challenging. My
goal is to help you improve your reading, writing, speaking, and thinking skills
so it will be easier for you to excel in the future.
Grading:
Your grade in this class will be determined by your performance on many different
activities, including class learning and home learning assignments, as well as tests,
quizzes, small projects and participation. Usually the more important or difficult a
task is, the more grades it will be worth. For instance a book test maybe worth 2
grades while a chapter quiz may only be 1 grade. The best way to monitor your grades
is by using the Parent Internet Viewer (theres a link on the Carver Website).
Make-up policy:
It is the students responsibility to make up any work missed due to an excused
absence. For each day absent, a student will have the equivalent number of days to
make up the work. The student is expected turn any assignments that were due on
the day of return. Assignments will also be posted on the class website
http://mswilliamslangarts.wordpress.com. I will not remind students they have
missed work to make up.
Homework:
All parts of the homework must be complete for a grade. UNLESS YOU ARE
ABSENT, LATE HOMEWORK IS NOT ACCEPTED.


READING PLUS
Students are required -as part of their daily homework- to complete 6
sessions of Reading Plus per week. It is the students responsibility to keep
track of the number of sessions theyve completed. They will receive a Reading
Plus homework grade every 2 weeks. A technology issue is not an excuse for
not completing the required sessions.





Classroom Rules:
1. Follow directions the FIRST time they are given
2. Be in the class and seated when the bell rings.
3. Raise your hand for permission to speak.
4. Stay in your seat unless you have permission to be up.
5. Keep hands/feet and all objects to yourself.
Basically Be. Prompt, Prepared, Polite, and Productive

Consequences
If these rules are not followed. There will be consequences, which are as follows:
1
st
offense- Verbal Warning
2
nd
offense-Conduct Cut & Teacher/Student Conference
3
rd
offense- Phone call home and/or Parent Conference
4
th
offense- Referral
Classroom Procedures

Enter the room quietly & pick up all handouts (bell ringer, class work etc)
Be in your assigned seat when the bell rings working on the bell ringer
If you have any questions, ask me before class begins
Take out your agenda, & copy your homework assignment. Homework will be
explained before the end of class
I will collect any homework that is due
Complete & Review the Bell Ringer
Take out any other materials that you will need for class & update table of
contents in Interactive Notebook
We will begin the lesson for the day
At the end of class you will complete your Exit Ticket
I will dismiss the class not the bell

Website Information
Please visit our class website http://mswilliamslangarts.wordpress.com and register
so you will receive notifications of announcements, upcoming tests, homework, and
other information pertinent to class.
Remind
I will use REMIND to send out reminders about important due dates for Reading Plus,
novels and tests. Please visit http://mswilliamslangarts.wordpress.com to sign up to
receive these notifications.






Supplies:
These supplies will ALWAYS be expected of you, no matter what. You need to
have all of your supplies ready to use at the start of each class.

A 3-Subject 150 pages spiral notebook with a sturdy plastic cover (8 X
11in.)
2 glue sticks
A set of highlighters containing at least three different colors
Blue or black pens for most assignments/Red & green for editing
A pack of colored pencils
Sticky notes
Index cards
Notebook paper
Novel we are currently reading

Your novel is our most important learning tool, so keep up with it! Write your
name and my name inside the front cover as soon as you acquire each book.
YOU MUST BRING YOUR NOVEL TO CLASS EVERY DAY UNTIL WE ARE
FINISHED WITH THE UNIT, EVEN IF YOU FINISH READING IT BEFORE
THAT POINT. I assign nightly reading from the novels and almost all of our
classroom discussions are based on these books. Not only will your class
participation grade be lowered by not having your novel during class, but, you
will not be to do well on tests and quizzes, especially if they are open book!
Below you will find a list of novels we will study for the fall and spring. I will
give a two week notice when the next novel is due in class.

Stay ahead of the game and buy your books well in advance.
First 9 Weeks: The Giver/Ungifted
Second 9 Weeks: The Watsons Go to Birmingham/The Outsiders
Third 9 Weeks: The Shakespeare Stealer
Fourth 9 Weeks: Homeless Bird/Chinese Cinderella

Required Reading may be purchased in paperback, hardcopy or as an e-
book. Students opting to use e-readers are responsible for their safety, and for
bringing them to each class with the batteries charged. School faculty and
staff are not responsible for any electronic devices brought to school.

Please sign and return signature page found on class blog for first homework
grade. http://mswilliamslangarts.wordpress.com