6 th Grade Language Arts

1. 6th GradeLanguage Arts Ms. Lyons D-31

2. Welcome • Please fill out a parent information sheet: • Please take one of each: • School Site Council ballot (pink) • Parent information form • Block presentation summary (canary) • We’ll begin shortly.

3. Background • 24th year in the teaching profession • 6th Grade Language Arts • B.S.- San Diego State University • M.A. –St. Mary’s College • Ed.D. at University of San Francisco • Officially Dr. Lyons

4. 6th Grade Transition • Procedural • What does each teacher require? • How do I organize my materials so I know what’s happening for each class? • How do I arrange my time to meet all the demands in my life? • Social • New friends, cliques, differing levels of maturity • Academic • Grading system point-based • Less one-on-one support • More need to be independent learners

5. Support the Transition • Check teacher websites weekly • Make sure child writes homework in organizer • Initial organizer • Help your child make weekly plans to attend to their tasks • Clean out backpack/binder weekly • Acknowledge students’ positive efforts for self-control, self-management, and independence

6. Harvest Park Character Ed. • Compassion • Honesty • Respect • Responsibility • Integrity-Academic Integrity • Self-discipline

7. Professional Mission • Inspire inquiry • Encourage risk-taking • Facilitate independent learning skills • Develop depth of thought • Celebrate students’ unique gifts • Nurture social skills & friendships

8. Educational Philosophy • Parents & teachers are partners • Utilize multiple modalities for learning • Honor individual strengths • Explicit instruction • Assessment drives instruction • Deliver instruction in concert with BRAIN-MEMORY learning theory

9. Differentiated Curriculum • Acceleration/Compacting • Testing out of material, independent work, self-paced • Depth • Develop expertise & learn a subject in great detail • Novelty • Student centered, interest-based, exhibit creative products demonstrating learning • Critical Thinking Skills: • Open-ended assignment, higher level of Bloom’s Taxonomy

10. Differentiated Instruction • Bloom’s Taxonomy • Knowledge—recall, listing, defining • Comprehension—summarizing, • Application—use knowledge in new situation • Analysis—compare/contrast/ infer/deduct • Synthesis—create novel ideas from prior knowledge • Evaluation—judge & defend judgment • Habits of mind • Self-motivation • Self-regulation • Independence • Reflection

11. Curriculum • Common Core State Standards • Pleasanton Unified School District Course of Study

12. Reading • General Topics-Literature • Plot elements • Characterization • Theme • Literary Devices • Poetry • General Topics-Non-Fiction • Main idea & details • Citing evidence to support analysis • How events & ideas are developed in non-fiction

13. Reading • Literature Reading • The Boy in the Painted Cave • The Cay • Where the Red Fern Grows • Literature Anthology- Holt • Book Club: free choice—2nd semester • Informational Texts • Scopemagazine articles • Various articles connected to content • Informational text from Holt Literature Anthology

14. Reading continued • Class work-Gradual Release of Responsibility • Thinking aloud-Read aloud • Shared response-Shared text • Independent reading response/Conferencing • Homework • Reading logs-practice reading strategy • Literary Analysis- • Grading • Project Rubric score • Comprehension Assessments • Response Journals/reading logs/book projects • 20 Book Challenge

15. Writing • Main focus-Essay with text-based responses & analysis-(2+ per genre) • Autobiographical Narrative—1st quarter • Response to Literature-2nd & 3rd quarter • Argumentative Research Reports-3rd & 4th quarter • Writer’s Workshop • Analyze Mentor Texts • Mini-lesson • Independent practice/conferring/reteaching • Pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing • Publishing

16. Technology • Google account • We will update PUSD Google accounts & passwords tomorrow • Writer’s Workshop Mode • 10 Chromebooks • Bring your own device when we are in Writer’s Workshop mode • Download Google Drive to smart phones • No Red Ink • On-line grammar exercises—differentiated by mastery • Will start in two weeks • Narrable • Digital Story-telling

17. Spelling/Vocabulary • Guiding Questions • What are the origins of English words? • What are the structural elements of words? • How can you learn the meaning of new words? • What are the levels of “understanding” a word? • How does word knowledge impact your understanding of the curriculum? • Learning Material • 10 vocabulary words • Text: Vocabulary for Achievement • Weekly homework menu—on website • Weekly quiz on Friday

18. Grammar • Guiding Questions • How are different parts of speech formed? • How does knowledge of POS impact writing? • How does punctuation or lack of it impact writing? • What dictates which words are capitalized? • Assessments • Monthly grammar pre-assessments & quizzes • Compact out if score 90% higher on pre-assessments • Drill & practice work—2 homework assignments/week • Text: Holt Handbook & No Red Ink Website • Apply skill in writing & editing

19. Language Arts Grading • 15% Spelling • 10% assessments & 5% assignments • 15% Grammar • 10% assessments & 5% assignments • 35% Reading • 20% assessments, 10% assignments, 5% 20 Book Challenge • 35% Writing • not weighted

20. Assessments • Based on evidence of mastering the state standards: • Projects/Writing/ Assignments- • Rubric descriptors correlate to grades • Skills practice- percentage scores • Tests • fill-in, multiple choice-percentage score • essay response-rubric scores

21. Homework • Homework is assigned every Friday & is due the following Wednesday or Friday • Spelling/vocabulary- 4 times a week • Grammar- 2 times a week • Reading or Writing- 1 or 2 assignments a week • Tutorial & make up days • Mondays-Thursday at lunch

22. Late Work • Missing Work • Student will fill out a missing work form & bring it home to have it signed. If not returned the next day, the student will email/call home when work is not turned in on a due date • Extenuating circumstance-note/phone call • Late work accepted only during the first semester • the day after it’s due for 50% credit

23. Grades • Updated bi-weekly on Q-Zangle • Can use your own code to access your child’s grades as often as you’d like

24. Absent/Late Work • Absences • Retrieve work from weekly file • Have one week to turn in work

25. Discipline Policy • Rules 1. Arrive to class on time. 2. Follow procedures and directions. 3. Begin work immediately. 4. Focus attention on person speaking. 5.Treat others with kindness & respect • Consequences 1. Warning 2. Think Sheet 3. Miss Break 4. Home Contact 5. Office Referral

26. Communication • Website • Update on Fridays • Post homework on website weekly • Instructional objectives • Project descriptions, due dates • Upcoming school events • Phone calls • Share success and concerns • Check in • Notes & email • Communicate progress • Share successes

27. Contact information • E-mail • Preferred means of communication • elyons@pleasantonusd.net • Web page: • Link from Harvest Park site • http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/ELyons/

28. LET’S HAVE A FABULOUS YEAR!!! • Time of transition • Change takes time for some kids • Challenge is its own reward • We are a team 