Ms.

Sarah Wells Sharks

Language Arts
Githens Middle School
2016 2017
Welcome to sixth-grade language arts! I am looking
forward to my first year of teaching language arts at
GMS. We will read many challenging and highinterest reading selections to help fuel your students
interest in reading and learning.
Contact Information
Phone: 919-560-3966
Email: sarah.wells@dpsnc.net

Website: Sharks Website (via GMS Homepage)

Class Website: mswellssharksela.weebly.com

I look forward to working with parents to ensure that all students have a successful year. Please contact
me with any questions or concerns you may have or if youd just like to know what were working on in
class and how your student is doing. As I am with students during the school day, the best way
to contact me is via email.
PRIDE Expectations - Here at GMS, we expect the best from our students behaviorally and
academically. This year, we will be using a school-wide behavior incentive system called PRIDE in order
to reinforce and reward positive behavior. Our PRIDE expectations are as follows:
Punctual Right place, right time
Respect Treat others as you want to be treated
Integrity Do what is right, even if no one is watching
Dedication No less than best effort
Excellence Strive for greatness
We expect to see all students exhibit PRIDE in themselves and in the classroom, hallway, restroom,
cafeteria, media center, and on the bus. In order to recognize students exhibiting PRIDE characteristics,
all teachers distribute PRIDE tickets. Each month, there will be a PRIDE party for students who have
earned the appropriate amount of PRIDE tickets. Examples of past PRIDE parties include dances, field
day, and ice cream socials.
Parent Conference Procedure - If you would like to come in for a team conference, please contact Ms.
Evans (the guidance secretary) at 919-560-3966, ext. 66226. Ms. Evans sets up all parent conferences
for the school. Para establecer una reunion con los maestros, por favor llame a la Sra. Chremos en la
extension 66206.
6th Grade English Language Arts Common Core Essential Standards - This year, students will be
working in accordance with the standards set forth by the Common Core curriculum. These standards
cover four different strands, or areas of study: 1.) Key Idea and Details, 2.) Craft and Structure, 3.)
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas, and 4.) Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity. For more
information on the Common Core Essential Standards, please visit: http://www.corestandards.org/thestandards/english-language-arts-standards
Grades - Parents can access their students grades at any time using our PowerSchool. Further
information, such as user names, passwords and access codes, please contact the front office.
Grading Scale
A = 100 90
B = 89 80
C = 79 70
D = 69 60

F = 59 0
Grading Categories
Homework
Class work & Participation

10%
45%

Assessments/Projects

45%

Service Learning GMS prides itself on our Service Learning focus. Each team integrates our contentarea curriculums into different projects that will focus on serving our community. Service learning is
different from a community service project. Service learning is defined as a research-based teaching
method where guided or classroom learning is applied through action that addresses an authentic
community need in a process that allows for youth initiative and provides structured time for reflection
on the service experience and demonstration of acquired skills and knowledge. In short, it is the
integration of addressing community issues with our curriculum. As a team, we will develop a service
project aligned with our students interests and communitys needs.
Class work: All class work should be completed in class. ALL ASSIGNMENTS must be completed in
pencil. The assignment should include the correct heading along with any work, explanations, or
drawing needed. ALL work should be neat and free of spelling and grammatical errors. All class work
unless otherwise noted will be completed in their Interactive Notebook and left in Ms. Wells room.
Homework - Homework will be given every night Monday through Thursday for 30 minutes. All
students should have a notebook or planner to write down their homework assignments. Homework
assignments are written on the board every day. It is the students responsibility to copy down the
assignment in his or her planner and to pick up the necessary worksheet, if needed. All homework is
due the next day after it is assigned unless otherwise instructed. When completing homework, it should
include the correct heading.
Late Work - Bonus points will be awarded for on-time work. Ten points will be deducted for each day
that the homework is late. Late homework is not accepted after 5 days.
Make up work - It is the students responsibility to obtain the missing assignments and the handouts
from the Absent Box located in the classroom on the day they return to school. Make up work is due the
following day unless other arrangements have been made.
Language Arts Supplies - The following supplies are needed for language arts class:

8 in. x 11 in. 5 Subject Notebook

(includes folders with pockets and paper)
pencils and/or pens
planner

Donations of gently used books &

magazines, 8 in. x 11 in. 5 Subject
Notebook are always appreciated. Class
Wish List will be on the class website
updated throughout the year.

Reading Throughout the Year - All students should be spending time both in and outside of
the classroom reading. Please ensure that your student has books or reading materials available. I
am always willing to help find and select appropriate and enjoyable material. Here are just a few ideas of
opportunities to develop reading skills:

read a fiction novel

read non-fiction
read a magazine
read a graphic novel
read aloud the evenings dinner recipe
read aloud to a sibling
mute the television and read aloud the
closed captioning

Classroom Expectations
1.
2.
3.
4.

Be responsible and respectful for yourself, your items, and your work.
Do not interrupt instruction or another students learning.
Laugh with anyone but NEVER at anyone.
Be PRIDEful.

Punctual
(Right place right time)
Respect
(Treat others as you want to be treated)
Integrity
(Do what is right even when NO ONE is looking!)
Dedication
(No less than best effort)
Excellence
(Strive for greatness)
5. Bring a POSITIVE attitude to class every day.
**The TEACHER and/or CLASS TOGETHER may change any rule at any time to suit the needs of
the classroom environment.***

Classroom Procedures

Beginning of Class When you enter the classroom, you immediately 1) find
your seat, 2) turn in your homework, 3) get necessary materials including
sharpened pencils, 4) write your homework into your planner, and 5) begin
the warm-up.
Sharpening Pencils This should be done at the beginning of class.
Mechanical pencils and lead are best.
Individual Work Procedures Students will work without talking during
individual/independent activities at all times.
Group Work Procedures Quiet talking is allowed in groups. Only ONE
person will be allowed to get out of his/her seat at a time if needed to receive
materials.
Quizzes/Testing Procedures Students are expected to remain quiet during
the entire assessment time. If there are any questions, students should raise
their hand to be recognized. Talking with a classmate is not appropriate.
Talking & Asking Questions If you have a question, PLEASE raise your
hand and wait patiently to be called upon. Please remember to listen and
respect others as they are talking. Recall expectation #2.
Eating & Drinking There will be NO eating or drinking in the class UNLESS
you receive a treat from the teacher as a reward or if there is a special edible
activity. You are expected to clean up after yourself. Gum is allowed until the
teacher can see or hear it. If trash (wrappers and/or gum) is not picked up,
this rule will change immediately.
Language Students should use appropriate and academic language in class
at ALL times. Profanity will not be tolerated.
Trash Do NOT get up during class to throw away trash. Throw away your
items at the end of class.
Personal Items All personal items (cell phones, toys, make up, etc.) must
be locked inside your locker. DO NOT bring these items to class. They will be
confiscated and turned in to the front office for a parent to pick up.
End of Class You are to wait to be dismissed by the teacher and will line up
at the door. The teacher will dismiss the class when their Interactive
Notebook is turned in the correct Core location and the classroom is returned
to its original order.

Class Consequences You are free to choose, but you are not free from the
consequence of your choice. There are positive and negative consequences for your
choices. Breaking rules will not be tolerated in this classroom by anyone. We are
here to learn and by not following the rules, we are kept from doing our jobs!
+/+/+
+

Phone call home

Note written home
Special privileges/rewards
PRIDE tickets

Referral completed
Silent lunch
Loss of privileges

I have read my ELA syllabus and discussed the expectations of the classroom. I
understand that my Language Arts Class is a team and we work together to build up

our strengths and improve our weaknesses. We respect ourselves, we respect our
classmates and teachers, and we respect our learning. (Student + Parent and/or
Guardian Sign Below if you agree with this statement.)