WELCOME TO CURRICULUM CHAT

ATLIBERTY PINES

ACADEMY

Mrs. Cash’s 6th/7th Grade

Language Arts Class

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME…

This is my 4th year at LPA, my 18th year teaching.

Prior to teaching at LPA, I was teaching in Miami-Dade county.

I have two children, a son in 10th grade and a daughter who is in 6th grade.

I attended Nova Southeastern University where I received my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and furthered my education by earning a Masters at the University of Miami in Reading and ESE. With SJCSD, I have received my Gifted Certificate as well.

LANGUAGE ARTS CURRICULUM

Sixth and seventh grade Language Arts focuses on developing literacy appreciation and skills through reading, writing, and oral communication.

The purpose of this course is to continue the development towards mastery of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and vocabulary skills and processes with the ultimate goal of attaining college and career readiness with the use of AVID strategies.

WHAT ABOUT READING?• Students will be able to interpret literature and cite specific textual evidence that most strongly supports their analysis of the text.

• Students will be able to determine central ideas and themes in literature and understand their development and relationship with characters, setting, and plot.

• Students will be able to analyze how dialogue and story incidents propel the action and reveal aspects of the characters in the text.

• Students will use strategies to determine and interpret words and phrases as they are used in the text, acquiring new vocabulary, through utilization of context clues, multiple meanings, meaningful word parts, and reference materials when applicable.

• Students will demonstrate understanding of figurative language and word relationships, and demonstrate independence in gathering new vocabulary.

• Students will analyze text structure, point of view, and author’s purpose.

• Students will be able to read and understand complex texts independently and proficiently.

WRITING FOCUS• Students will be able to write with persuasive, explanatory, informative, entertaining, and narrative purposes, utilizing the writing process and all of its elements.

• Students will be able to conduct research projects while assessing credibility of sources and drawing from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection and research.

• Students will practice and work towards mastery of the conventions of standard English Grammar and Usage when writing or speaking, including proper usage of capitalization, punctuation and spelling.

WHAT ABOUT GRADES?

Grading Scale Across All Content Areas:

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

D 60-69%

F 59% and below

WHAT ABOUT GRADES?Summative Assessments are assessments designed to measure mastery. These will include, but are not limited to:

Tests, Exams, and Projects – 75%

Classwork – 20%

Homework – 5%

Formative assessments in the form of classwork that becomes homework, quizzes, activities done in class, etc. Through formative assessment we can better shape teaching to meet student needs.

Homework is an assignment that is truly only given to be completed at home. (Vocabulary, Grammar, etc.)

WHAT ABOUT TESTING?

Each quarter students can expect to have a minimum of 4 summative assessments, given approximately every other week. These assessments should generally consist of 3 tests and 1 essay/project in a quarter. A portion of each test will include a cold read to assess the standards focused upon in that quarter. Standards for each quarter were provided on the syllabus.

A district common 1st semester exam (midterm) will be administered at the end of the first semester and will count as a summative grade.

Students will take the state mandated FSA in April which is considered their final exam.

Students will be tested at the end of the year on a focal standard based on the selections they have read.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADE RECOVERY POLICY

Students scoring 69% or below will be eligible for retesting.

Students are responsible for requesting a retest by the means of a completed retesting contract.

Once tests and essays have been graded, posted on HAC,and returned, students must complete remediation and retesting within the following week.

The highest grade entered in the grade book will be a 70% after retesting.

Students can only retest once.

Only specific assessments qualify for retesting. Students must fill out a Retake Contract complete with the parent signature - this is your ticket in to the Grade Recovery testing.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD?

Be involved… but remember we are also trying to foster independence. The next stop is high school.

Have your child take responsibility and be accountable – We have given them the code therefore encourage them to check Home Access Center frequently. My own children check regularly. It really helps with accountability.

Check planner and Schoology– I update Schoology daily –giving a synopsis of what happened in class and what should be completed from classwork or homework (updates/events on the calendar). I always attach the resource materials provided in class. There’s really no excuse for not being prepared.

Help with homework – If nothing specific has been assigned they should be reading for Journey thru Genres quarterly. I recommend 15-20 minutes daily.

HOW CAN YOU OR YOU CHILD REACH ME OR ACCESS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION?

E-mail – Genell.Cash@stjohns.k12.fl.us – I will be quick to get back in touch with you.

Schoology– I provide as much information as possible and check posts regularly.

6th Grade Website – http://teachers.stjohns.k12.fl.us/lpa-grade6/

Planner – write me a note.

Phone – 547-7900

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THIS

OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH YOUR WONDERFUL

CHILD! WE HAVE A CHALLENGING AND FUN

YEAR AHEAD!

PLEASE WRITE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE NOTECARDS PROVIDED AT YOUR TABLE. LEAVE THEM WITH ME AND I WILL DO MY BEST TO

ANSWER THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.