6th Grade Communication Arts Reynolds Middle School 2012-2013 Syllabus

Teacher: Mr. Leonard Contact Information: Phone: (717) 291-6257, EXT. 26214 **Available to provide extra help after school.** Course Description: The Grade 6 Communication Arts course consists of a rigorous curriculum of reading, writing, oral literacy, and collaborative skills and strategies to help students become independent readers, writers and learners. Students express their ideas in a variety of narrative/informative/persuasive modes and learn to analyze their own and other writers text. Reflection, revision, research and persuasion will be the focus of much of the work Text/Materials: Holt McDougal Anthology Literature Grade 6 (2012) Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
Academic and Behavior Expectations RMS: Respect, Make responsible choices, Stay safe Be prepared for class Be on time and ready to learn Turn in all homework assignments on time (points will be lost if not) Work in groups in the appropriate manner

E-Mail: ndleonard@lancaster.k12.pa.us

All assignments should reflect your very best effort.

Assessment/Grading Policy 40% Class Work/Notebooks/Class Participation Class time independent work, literature circles, classroom discussions, small group work 30% Tests/Quizzes For example, the mid-term and final. 20% Projects/Essays For example, but not limited to: book jackets, pamphlets, research papers, power point, presentations, etc... 10 % Homework Homework is intended to reinforce classroom learning. It will be given with regularity and completion of homework is often critical to subsequent classroom learning and work.

Grading Scale 90-100% 80-89% 70-79% 60-69% 59% and below A B C D F

Grading Periods

Marking Period 1 Marking Period 2 Marking Period 3 Marking Period 4

8/26/13 - 10/29/14 10/30/13 - 1/15/14 1/16/14 3/24/14 3/25/14 - 6/2/14

Assessment Instruments Students will be assessed four times throughout the year using a variety of tools, such as teacher designed tests, quizzes, homework, and classwork. The SDOL district also administers the following assessments throughout the year: 4Sight Assessment (Four times a year) PSSA Reading Assessment A Common Writing Assessment (Twice a year) Mid-term exam Final exam

What You Need to Do to Succeed in Class 1. Bring your CA materials to class every day a. Red CA folder b. Textbook/workbook c. Pencil d. Silent reading book 2. Keep your CA notebook up to date -Inside of notebook class notes and class work 3. You are responsible for: a. class work b. homework c. class notes d. making up missed work and tests When you are absent, check missed homework schedule and come to the teacher if you need to make up a test. You may have to borrow a classmates notebook or stay after school and copy from the teachers notebook to get any assignments and notes you missed.

Plagiarism Policy: All assignments are given for your personal growth. Please do not take shortcuts by trying to copy or plagiarize any work. Plagiarism is defined as the lack of attribution from any source (internet, film, book, magazine, newspaper, television, song, art of all sorts) for any or all words, images, graphics, unique and original ideas and artistic expression. Any and all form of plagiarism will result in no credit for the assignment. All work should contain MLA Works Cited Section.

Tentative Course Outline: Marking Themes/Units Period Intro- The Power of 1

Ideas: Becoming an Active Reader

ReadingsIncluding but not limited to: The School Play

Instructional Goals Unit 1: Students will be able to use reading strategies to read and comprehend fiction text on grade level, independently and proficiently.

8/2710/30

Unit 1-Whats Happening? Plot, Conflict, and Setting

The Prince and the Pauper Woodsong All Summer in a Day The Horse from The Land that I Lost The Pasture Unit 2: Students will be able to use reading strategies to read and comprehend fiction text on grade level, independently and proficiently, focusing on the development of character and point of view. Unit 3: Students will be able to enhance critical thinking within the elements of fiction and nonfiction text to promote comprehension focusing on interpreting theme and conflict.

2 10/311/16

Eleven The Red Guards from the Red Scarf Life Doesnt Frighten Me Ghosts of the Lagoon Unit 3- The Big Idea: Esperanza Rising (Novel Understanding Theme Study) Color of My Words (Novel Study) Nadia the Willful Dreams Without Commercials
Unit 2- Person to Person: Analyzing Character and Point of View Unit 8- Know the Facts: Information, Argument, and Persuasion Unit 4- Writers Craft: Sensory, Language, Imagery, and Style

3 1/173/26

SuperCroc News Report No Thought of Reward Tuesday of the Other June Primer The Problem with Bullies The Phantom Tollbooth (Act 1) The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Unit 8: Students will be able to use effective critical thinking across genres to deepen understanding of informational, argumentative, & persuasive texts. Unit 4: Students will be able to use effective critical thinking to analyze sensory language, imagery, and style components of a text through literary devices. Unit 5: Students will be able to use reading strategies to read and comprehend fiction text on grade level, independently and proficiently, focusing on the analysis of figurative language.

Unit 5- Word Pictures: The Language of Poetry

Change Windshield Wiper Is the Moon Tired Ode to an Artichoke A Long Hard Journey Im Nobody, Who Are You?

4 3/276/3

Unit 7- Life Stories: Biographies & Autobiography

Up Over the Top Story of My Life From Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba American Sign Language Spellbinder: The Life of Harry Houdini For Gwen In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles

Unit 7: Students will be able to use reading strategies to read and comprehend nonfiction text on grade level, independently and proficiently, focusing on analyzing authors intended purpose with textual examples.

Unit 9- Investigation and Discovery: The Power of Research

Freak the Mighty (Novel Study) Scorpions (Novel Study)

Unit 9: Students will be able to use reading strategies to read and comprehend nonfiction text on grade level, independently and proficiently, focusing on gaining/expanding knowledge through research of a variety of credible sources.